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Free Group Fiction Read: “Blue Ruins” + “Sulphur” Talk (Oakland)

Saturday, July 25, 2026 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Nomadic Bookshop | 326 23rd St, Oakland, CA 94612

Event Details

We love to enjoy books in community. If you do too, this is the event for you. We are Kokonut Head Media, a nonprofit literary educator and publisher, and we’re hosting an afternoon of reading, discussion, and community. We’ll spend our time together reading and discussing two stories. The first is called “Blue Ruins” by Roseline Mgbodichinma, and the second is called “Sulphur” by Damilola Omotoyinbo. Each story takes less than 15 minutes to read aloud, so we’ll move through both as a group and spend the bulk of our time in discussion. No reading required beforehand.

 

About the Stories
In “Blue Ruins”, Ahachi has always lived at the edge of the ocean, half-wild, half-invisible to the village that raised her. When Nkasi rises from the water and chooses her, it feels like the first time anyone ever really has. But Nkasi’s love is possessive in the way of deep water: it doesn’t ask, it pulls. And the further she lets herself fall, the harder it becomes to find the surface. You can read it for free online here: https://kokonutheadmedia.com/stories/blueruins
In “Sulphur”, Mary has always been a good girl. A church girl, the role model, the daughter who never gives anyone a reason to worry. But goodness, she learns, is just another word for hiding. As she gets older, she discovers a self she was never given permission to want, and every time she gets close to it, it disappears. You can read it for free online here: https://kokonutheadmedia.com/stories/sulphur

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: Community, Discount Tix / Promo Codes, In Person, Literature, Pride
Venue: Nomadic Bookshop
Address: 326 23rd St, Oakland, CA 94612

Saturday, July 25, 2026

9:00 am   Yoga + Sound Healing in the Gallery: July 2026 Session (Morgan Hill)  $35*
*Ages 14+
9:30 am   Free “Legion of Honor” Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Timed advanced tickets required
9:30 am   Free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Advanced timed tickets required.
10:00 am   2026 Italian Family Festa: 44th Annual Celebration (San Jose)  FREE*
*This event is open to all and is FREE
10:30 am   Lindy by the Lake 2025: Free Taster Class + Social Dance (Oakland)  FREE
11:00 am   Free North Shattuck Block Party 2026 (Berkeley)  FREE
12:00 pm   Gourmet Cheese + Date Syrup Pop-Up: Free Samples (SF)  FREE
12:00 pm   Presidio Chapel Concert Series: Free Opera Gala 2026 (SF)  FREE*
*Please RSVP for in-person attendance at presidiointerfaith@gmail.com
12:00 pm   Free Pup Crawl: Dog-Friendly Music + Treats (SF)  FREE*
*RSVP
12:00 pm   Golden Gate Park “The Whale’s Tail” Beer/Wine Garden + Live Music (Summer 2026)  FREE*
*Free admission and entertainment for all ages. Dogs and bikes welcome. Food and beverages available for purchase.
1:00 pm   Wizards & Wine: A Harry Potter Inspired Market (East Bay)  FREE
1:00 pm   Free Family Vendor Fair: Food, Bounce House + Raffles (Antioch)  FREE*
*FREE Please Use Link to Register
2:00 pm   Epic Musical Screening: ‘Loving the Silent Tears’ by Al Kasha (Millbrae)  FREE
2:00 pm   “San Francisco Mime Troupe” Live Summer Musical in the Park (2026)  *
*Free, but donations are accepted
2:00 pm   SF’s “ChoreoFest” Outdoor Dance Festival: Day One (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)  FREE*
*FREE
2:00 pm   Free Musical Screening: ‘Loving the Silent Tears’ w/Vegan Treats (Millbrae)  FREE
3:00 pm   Charity Combat Night: Pro Fights + Wine in the Vines (Napa Valley)  $535*
*535.00
3:00 pm   Sip + Sample: Free Fresh Victor Tasting Party (SF)  FREE
3:00 pm   Historic Boxing + MMA Charity Gala w/ Wine (Napa)  $535*
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4:00 pm   SF’s “Bhangra & Beats” Night Market 2026  FREE
5:30 pm   Legendary Jazz Night: Dick Whittington’s 90th Birthday Show (Oakland)  $30
6:00 pm   Union Square’s Free Outdoor Movie Night: “The Princess Diaries” (July 2026)  FREE
7:00 pm   2026 Silicon Valley Speed Dating Party for 30s/40s (Sunnyvale)  $30
7:00 pm   “Crazy Funny Asians” Free Comedy Showcase (SF)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $25 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   “Golden Gate Comedy Night” SF’s Most Intimate Comedy Club  FREE*
*Free with RSVP. 21+
7:30 pm   Comedy Night w/ Naughty Jokes + Free Wine (SF)  $25*
*Includes Complimentary Beverages
7:30 pm   Paul Simon Meets Talking Heads: Adrian West Band Live (Davis)  $10*
*Ticket link coming soon.
7:30 pm   DIVA or Die 2026: Sequins, Laughter + Summer Chaos (SF)  $40*
*$3 off each ticket when you use the code earlybird3 at checkout. Offer ends July 19th.
8:00 pm   Improv Date Night: Brief Tiny World’s Unscripted Drama + Laughs (Sacramento)  $17.10*
*Your ticket also gets you into all of our other shows for the evening! We will stamp your hand to ensure you can come and go.
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*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required, but pre-rolls start at just $7
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9:00 pm   SF Neo-Futurists “The Infinite Wrench” (30 Plays in 60 Minutes, every Fri & Sat)  $18.60*
*$13 + roll of a die at the door, OR $16 online. Group discounts—bring friends!
9:00 pm   Free Tix: HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SF (7p + 9p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people. $25 at door without RSVP
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