*THIS* Weekend's Rough Notes Events In The Bay
Join me for a series of Valkyries & Pioneers events.
I’ve been working on a bunch of events (okay, 3!) with a few different collaborators, all of which take place between July 12 - July 15 in the Bay Area. It’s part of the convalescence around the Valkyries’ ‘History of Women’s Basketball in the Bay’ Theme Night at their home game on July 14th, honoring the San Francisco Pioneers & the San Jose Lasers.
So here’s the full, packed itinerary: I sincerely hope you can join for at least 1 event (but feel free to come to all 3!) Think of it as a Big Ass Rough Notes weekend.
Saturday, July 12: Valkyries Watch Party w/ Rough Notes + Valqueeries
1pm PT / White Horse Bar / 6551 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA
This Saturday, our road-trippin’ Valkyries take on the Aces, this time in Vegas. Can they recreate the all-smothering defensive strategy on A’ja? Time to find out. I’m excited to team up with the Valqueeries for this watch party, who have been hosting queer-focused events for Valks fans around the Bay. This one is at the historic White Horse Bar, which is opening early & special for us. This is BYOfood: bring something to eat if you want!
Sunday, July 13: The Pioneers Are Back In Town w/ Rough Notes + Donut Time Designs
3-6pm PT / Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar / 2223 Market St, SF
Okay, this one is huge.
As you probably know from reading Rough Notes, the San Francisco Pioneers played pro women’s ball in the Bay from 1979-81, helping to to pave the way for the WNBA & the Golden State Valkyries. But the team has never reunited in the city where it all started… until now.
Meet former members of the Pioneers at this celebration of the team + meet & greet at Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar, bringing together a bunch of former Pioneers players (Anita Ortega, Anna Johnson, Gerry Booker, Jan Ternyik, Molly Kazmer & Pam Martin) and the largest collection of Pioneers memorabilia ever displayed. I’ve teamed up with an awesome artist from Oakland — Tiffany Threets — to produce this afternoon Tiffany & I are also working on creating limited edition Pioneers ‘trading cards,’ which you can learn more about at the event… I’m hellllllllla excited about this project.
Tiffany is the co-creator of Donut Time Designs alongside her wife Jane Rabanal, making bold & impactful & inclusive designs that celebrate women in sports, including some really dope indie gear for the Golden State Valkyries, I highly recommend.
Tuesday, July 15: BOUNCE: Honoring the San Francisco Pioneers - Live & In Person!
7pm PT / KALW Event Space / 220 Montgomery St, SF
Join me for a live event with KALW’s BOUNCE Podcast, covering the Valkyries inaugural season. I’m producing an episode all about the Pioneers for their show, and we’re taping an in-person panel on Tuesday where you can hear directly from the players themselves. I’m so excited to be interviewing a number of these women I admire so much, in front of a live audience. Plus, there will be free pizza!
And, of course, consider getting tickets to see the Pioneers as they’re honored at the Golden State Valkyries’ home game against the Phoenix Mercury, on Monday, July 14th. The theme of the night is is ‘History of Women’s Basketball in the Bay Area’!
The Pioneers tribute @ GSV is gonna be like this one, featuring Anna Johnson, but this time even bigger, and including 9 former Pioneers players at once!
