Tonight begins the three-week run of this year's edition of the San Francisco International Arts Festival (May 21-June 7 at Fort Mason Center). There's a lot of excitement on offer.

And it's a wrap! The 58th San Francisco International Film Festival closing-night film, "Experimenter," lit up the huge Castro Theatre screen last Thursday night, and Out There was honored to be in the house.

One of the joys of visiting an old-school, bricks-and-mortar bookstore is the opportunity to browse. OT uses the highly unscientific open-to-a-random-page, dip-in method to determine whether a book is for us.

Longtime X-Men member Bobby Drake (a.k.a. Iceman) is gay, and the storyline made its debut in Marvel's recently released "All New X-Men" #40 comic book.

Out There was Johnny-on-the-spot for all of the fun, both in the moviehouse and at the house of wax.

In the past few weeks we've had more than a few of the kind of art experiences that qualify as "perfect moments" for us.

The Lily Street Fair, which existed in San Francisco from 1981 to 1990, was part block party and part potluck, with a good dose of Easter bonnets and Easter parade thrown in to add zest.

The Alliance Francaise of San Francisco was the happening place last Thursday night for a reception and talk in celebration of the publication of "In the Spirit of Monte Carlo" by Pamela Fiori, full of vintage photos of the storied capital.

Out There is proud to present the deserving winners from eight Arts & Culture entries of the Bay Area Reporter 's 2015 Besties, the LGBT Best of the Bay awards. Hit it, maestro!

A friend calls, asking for a date. Out There says sure, reaching for our calendar. We can fit you in the last week of April. Yes, OT is a wee bit overscheduled. Why is this? Take a look.

Monaco, that magical and mythical principality on the Mediterranean coast, has long been the glamorous playground for millionaires and playboys, royals and rogues, film stars and philanderers. Check out the free exhibition "Monte-Carlo Legends."

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, or so the old adage would have us believe. There is a worse fate, however: To be forgotten and fade into obscurity.

SoundBox is a new, nightclub-like venue for musical exploration led by San Francisco Symphony (SFS) musicians and guest artists.

So, what's Purim? Some might call it a Jewish Halloween. It's an annual celebration in which Jews dress in costumes and party down while they recall the story of Esther, who saved the Jews from the evil Prince Haman in ancient Persia.