Leslie Katz

A good handful of Bay Area literary, journalistic and cultural stalwarts are speaking about their new releases, both fiction and nonfiction, this month. A

San Francisco Symphony Music Director Designate Elim Chan has begun her tenure with joy, love, and, not surprisingly, great sounds.

Leslie Katz, Senior Contributor When John “Trey” Rogers III watches the 2026 World Cup, he'll be paying closer attention to the grass than to the players crisscrossing it.

At 91, trumpet great and pop music impresario Herb Alpert sounds pretty darned good.

New novels, memoirs, histories, guidebooks, and political and sociological titles are in the lineup this month. To submit an event to the calendar, email [email protected].

Friday, July 18 Miranda Yaver : The Bay Area native and assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh

Miranda Yaver: The Bay Area native and assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh speaks about “Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States,” an examination of the causes and consequences of coverage denials (often through the mechanism of prior authorization) by drawing on a nationwide survey of 1,340 adults, administrative data and numerous interviews with patients, physicians, health insurance lawyers and former health insurance executives.

Historical novels, thrillers, fantasies, non-fiction, memoirs and literary fiction by local and visiting award-winning writers are subjects of sessions this summer. To submit an event to the calendar, email [email protected].

A UNESCO magazine article about South Africa's education system inspired a San Jose high school student to turn his passion for mathematics into a global mission.

Soul singer Al Green headlines the season-closing Stern Grove Festival "Big Picnic" concert on Aug. 16, 2026 in San Francisco. (Leslie Katz/Bay City News)