Carolyn Terry & Todd Pickering’s “The Tenderloin Diaries” + Mr. Lucky’s “Detective Story”

Writers Carolyn Terry & Todd Pickering return to the Tenderloin Museum with two new episodes of “The Tenderloin Diaries,” their yet-to-be-produced television serial about the “hard working” and the “hardly working” denizens of San Francisco’s Tenderloin in the 1990s. 

Inspired by Terry’s 30+ years of life in the Loin and journaling about it, “The Tenderloin Diaries” translates her stories and colorful characters into the format of an ensemble cast TV sitcom that is funny and irreverent, heartfelt and keenly observed. In early 2024, Terry and Pickering brought their pilot episodes to life at TLM with a riotous staged reading delivered by a full cast of local luminaries who directly understood the (sur)reality of the Tenderloin contained in the screenplay.

Now, the pair continues the saga with another fully cast performance at TLM’s Compton’s Cafeteria Riot venue at 835 Larkin St. Didn't see episodes 1 & 2.? Don’t worry, we'll catch you up quite quickly! 

During the break, Mr. Lucky–lounge singer, ex private eye, and original Original Joe’s best customer extraordinaire–performs his upcoming “Detective Story,” new fiction set in a rich world of Tenderloin noir.