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Events

Events: April 23 – 29, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 23

Susie Hara Green Arcade, 1680 Market, SF; www.thegreenarcade.com. 7pm, free. The author launches her new noir, Finder of Lost Objects.

“101 Vagina” Goforaloop Gallery, 1458 San Bruno, SF; www.101vagina.com. Noon-8pm. Free. Through Sun/27. Exhibit of 101 photographs (by artist Philip Werner) and 101 accompanying stories (by each photo’s subject) celebrating the female body.

Gertrude Stein centennial SF Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 6-7pm, free. Celebrate the author’s Tender Buttons with editor Seth Perlow and guests Michelle Tea, Juliana Spahr, and Renate Stendahl.

“Word Performances” Lost Church, 65 Capp, SF; www.wordperformances.com. 8pm, $14. Poetry, prose, comedy, fiction, and memoir reading with Tina D’Elia, John Panzer, Ginger Murray, Tomas Moniz, and others, plus music by the Mark Growden Trio.

THURSDAY 24

Nitza Agam BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal, SF; (415) 564-8080. 7pm, free. The author discusses her memoir Scent of Jasmine.

Andrew Demcak Books Inc., 2275 Market, SF; (415) 864-6777. 7:30pm, free. The poet and writer shares his latest, Ghost Songs.

Andrew Sean Greer Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The novelist reads from his latest work, The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells.

“Poems Under the Dome” City Hall, North Light Court, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place, SF; www.poemdome.net. 5:30-8pm, free. Ninth annual celebration of National Poetry Month, with readings by SF poet laureate Alejandro Murguía and others.

Tony Serra City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The veteran attorney celebrates the release of Tony Serra: The Green, Yellow and Purple Years in the Life of a Radical Lawyer.

FRIDAY 25

Anne Carson San Francisco State University, Humanities Building, Rm 133, 1600 Holloway, SF; moderngreekstudies.sfsu.edu. 7pm, free. The MacArthur-winning scholar, poet, and translator reads from her latest work.

Omnidawn Book Party Pegasus Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berk; www.omnidawn.com. 7pm, free. Celebrate National Poetry Month with readings by Robin Caton, Maxine Chernoff, Gillian Conoley, and others.

SATURDAY 26

“Bug Day!” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Wy, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 10am-2pm, $3. Family fun day all about bugs, with an “Insect Olympics,” honeybee hives, bug-related crafts, edible bugs, and more.

“Make It Reign 2014” Runway Style House Boutique, 1635 Broadway, Oakl; oaklandfashion.wordpress.com. 8pm, $5. Fashion show highlighting 18 Oakland and Bay Area indie designers.

Treasure Island Flea Great Lawn, Treasure Island; www.treasureislandflea.com. 10am-4pm, $3. Through Sun/27. It’s wine month at Treasure Island Flea — because nothing makes shopping more fun than a wine-tasting break. Also new: a produce part, a new section for DIY workshops, and more.

“Wrong’s What I Do Best” Walter and McBean Galleries, San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut, SF; sfai.edu/walter-and-mcbean-galleries. 7-10pm, free. Exhibit through July 26. Group show examining “the self-searing impulses of artists playing the role of one’s self as someone else.”

SUNDAY 27

Northern California Book Awards SF Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 1-4pm, free. This year’s award-winning authors read, discuss, and sign their works.

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Half Moon Bay Airport, 9850 N. Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay; www.miramarevents.com. 10am-4pm, $5-20. Showcase of more than 2,000 antique, classic, custom, and exotic motorized marvels, plus boats, aircraft, live music, a “kidzone,” and more.

SF Native Plant Garden Tour Various locations, SF; www.sfnativegardentour.org. 11am-3pm, free. Check the website for the self-guided tour route, which offers a chance to see San Francisco-specific and Bay Area-native plants in gardens both wild and carefully tended.

MONDAY 28

Tess Taylor and D.A. Powell City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The poets read from their works, including Taylor’s new collection The Forage House.

TUESDAY 29

“Customs and Traditions of Ohlone Natives in the Bay Area” St. Philip’s Catholic Church, 725 Diamond, SF; www.sanfranciscohistory.org. 7:30pm, $5. SF History Association presents this talk by Ruth Orta and her daughter, Ramona Garibay, descendents of the Ohlone/Bay Miwok native people of the Bay Area.

Pamela Turner Saylor’s Restaurant (upstairs room), 2009 Bridgeway, Sausalito; www.acs-sfbay.org. 7-9pm, $5. The science writer, author of The Dolphins of Shark Bay, discusses bottlenose dolphins. *

 

Events: April 16 – 22, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 16

“Globular Clusters of the Milky Way” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. Calling all Cosmos fans: UC Santa Cruz Professor of Astronomy Graeme Smith delivers this talk as part of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers’ 2014 lecture series.

Myra McPherson Green Arcade, 1680 Market, SF; www.thegreenarcade.com. 7pm, free. The author discusses The Scarlet Sisters: Sex, Suffrage, and Scandal in the Gilded Age.

Elizabeth Scarboro and Louise Aronson Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The authors read from My Foreign Cities and A History of the Present Illness, respectively.

“Smack Dab” Magnet, 4122 18th St, SF; www.magnetsf.org. 8pm, free. Open mic for writers and musicians, with featured performer Blair Hansen.

Kevin Young City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The poet reads from his new collection, Book of Hours.

THURSDAY 17

Kaya Press 20th Anniversary City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. With Sesshu Foster, Gene Oishi, Amamath Rawa, and Shailja Patel.

“The Natural and Cultural History of Yerba Buena Island” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Wy, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. The 2014 SF Natural History Lecture Series continues with this talk about Yerba Buena Island’s ecological secrets by Ruth Gravanis.

FRIDAY 18

“Birding the Hill” Corona Heights Park, behind Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 8am, free. Beginning birders are welcome to this 2.5 hour walk scouting the park’s avian inhabitants.

SATURDAY 19

Emil DeAndreis Green Apple Books, 506 Clement, SF; www.greenapplebooks.com. 6pm, free. The author reads from Beyond Folly.

Earth Day Bay Area Discovery Museum, Fort Baker, 447 McReynolds, Sausalito; www.baykidsmuseum.org. 9am-5pm, $11. Live music, hands-on craft projects using recycled materials, storytelling, and more for kids and their families.

Earth Day SF UN Plaza, Civic Center, SF; www.earthdaysf.org. 10am-6pm, free. This year’s theme is “A Call to Action,” so look for speakers and booths addressing climate change, green activism, and other social-justice topics. Of course, there will also be plenty of music (by headliners New Monsoon and the Earth Day All Star Band, among others), dance performances, an eco fashion show, a sustainable chef showcase, and more.

“Earth Day on the Bay” Marine Science Institute, 500 Discovery Pkwy, Redwood City; www.sfbaymsi.org. 10am-5pm, free. The Institute opens to the public just once a year, and today’s the day. Families are invited for hands-on science fun (touch a shark!).

“Eggstravaganza 2014” Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, SF; www.sfrecpark.org. 11am-3pm, $8. Egg hunts, carnival rides, games, live entertainment, and a barbecue competition between city agencies highlight this family-friendly Easter event.

“Great Egg Hunt” Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakl; www.dunsmuir-hellman.com. Noon-3pm, $3-5. Oakland’s largest egg hunt (also on tap: a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, and more) covers the grounds of the 1899 mansion.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Japantown, SF; www.sfcherryblossom.org. Times and prices vary. Through Sun/20. Celebrate Japanese culture and the Japanese American community at this 47th annual street fair, boasting food booths, live music, martial arts demonstrations, and more.

“Party for the Planet” Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakl; www.oaklandzoo.org. 10am-3pm, $11.75-15.75. 50 local environmental organizations participate in this zoo bash, which will feature over 50 “interactive Earth Stations” throughout the facility. Plus: live animal presentations, live music, and more.

“SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot” and “Vinyl: The Sound and Culture of Records” Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak, Oakl; www.museumca.org. 11am-5pm, $6-20. Through July 27. Two new exhibits open today at OMCA: the first highlighting 15 artists associated with Asian and Asian American pop culture-focused magazine Giant Robot, and the second exploring “the social and cultural phenomenon of listening to, collecting, and sharing records.”

SUNDAY 20

“Easter in Golden Gate Park” Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, SF; www.thesisters.org. Children’s Easter, 10am; main event, noon. Free. Hunky Jesus has risen! And this year, he’s got Foxy Mary with him! It’s the 35th year for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s flamboyant Easter festivities. Crucial info: the theme is “The Emerald Jubilee, A ‘Trip” to Oz;” and since Dolores Park is temporarily closed, it all goes down in Golden Gate Park.

Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics 40th Anniversary Party City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 5pm, free. Andrea Rexillus hosts readings by Robert Gluck, Juliana Spahr, Cedar Sigo, Eric Baus, Michelle Naka Pierce, and Chris Pusateri.

“The Szyk Haggadah” Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission, SF; www.thecjm.org. 1-2pm, free with museum admission ($10-12). Also April 27, 3-4pm. The Arthur Szyk scholar discusses the artist’s masterwork in this gallery talk.

Union Street Easter Parade and Spring Celebration Union between Gough and Fillmore, SF; www.sresproductions.com. 10am-5pm, free. A parade, an Easter bonnet contest, live entertainment, and lots of kid-friendly fun highlight this 23rd annual event.

TUESDAY 22

Doug Fine Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. Celebrate Earth Day with this reading by the author of Hemp Bound: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Next Agricultural Revolution.

Sixteen Rivers Press reading City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm. With poetry readings by Beverly Burch and Murray Silverstein. *

 

Events: April 9 – 15, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 9

Poetry reading Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 649-1320. 7:30pm, free. With Raina Leon, Erica Lewis, Alexandra Mattraw, and Val Witte.

Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The fashion bloggers discuss Everyone Wants to Be Me or Do Me: Tom and Lorenzo’s Fabulous and Opinionated Guide to Life and Style.

THURSDAY 10

Arlo Crawford Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses A Farm Dies Once a Year: A Memoir.

Emma Donoghue Alexander Book Co., 50 Second St, SF; www.alexanderbook.com. Noon-1pm, free. The author reads from her new mystery novel Frog Music, with musicians Patrice Haan and Tony Marcus playing tunes that were popular during San Francisco’s Barbary Coast days.

Leslie Jamison City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The author reads from her new essay collection, The Empathy Exams.

Fred Martin BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal, SF; (415) 564-8080. 7pm, free. The author discusses his new book, Abraham Lincoln’s Path to Reelection in 1864.

“Off the Grid: Twilight at the Presidio” Main Post, Presidio, SF; www.offthegridsf.com. 5-9pm, free. Every Thursday through June 26. This ongoing evening event features lantern-lit dining cabanas, cocktails, fire pits, and food trucks galore.

FRIDAY 11

“Chomp! They Came from the Swamp” Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Dr, Golden Gate Park, SF; www.conservatoryofflowers.org. 10am-4pm, $1.50-8. Tue-Sun through Oct 19. Explore the oddly alluring world of meat-eating plants at this exhibit, starring California’s own cobra lilies and the ever-popular Venus flytrap. Who’s hungry?

“An Evening with Nightboat Books: Mostly New Work” Green Arcade, 1680 Market, SF; www.thegreenarcade.com. 7:30pm, free. With Brian Blanchfield, Laura Moriarity, George Albon, Brandon Som, and Kevin Killian.

“Walk to Work Day” SF; www.walksf.org. Hoof it to work today and get a reward (snacks, Clipper cards, etc.) at a number of “hubs” stationed around SF. All of the supervisors will be hanging out in cafés in their districts (7:45-9am) to encourage walkers; check the website for more deets.

“YBCA Teen Night 2014: Visions of an Abolitionist Future” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. 6-10pm, free. Youth-created performance and exhibition that looks at the crisis of mass incarceration in America.

SATURDAY 12

Berkeley Bay Festival Berkeley Marina, Berk; cityofberkeley.info/bayfestival. 11am-4pm, free. Live music, environmentally-themed exhibitors, boating, and “green” vendors highlight this event celebrating the bay.

“Jack of All Trades” Jack London Square, 55 Harrison, Oakl; www.jackofalltradesoakland.com. 11am-5pm, free. Treasure Island Flea hosts this gathering of local makers, indie designers, artists, and more.

“Nicolas Cage Art Show” Balancoire, 2565 Mission, SF; eventbrite.com/e/nicolas-cage-art-show-san-francisco-tickets-11103499867. 8pm, $8-10. Group art show paying tribute to the many nuances of the Oscar-winning, delightfully odd actor.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Japantown, SF; www.sfcherryblossom.org. April 12-13 and 19-20, free. Celebrate Japanese culture and the Japanese American community at this 47th annual street fair, boasting food booths, live music, martial arts demonstrations, and more.

“SiteWorks: Archaeologies of San Francisco Performance, 1969-85” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. 3-4:40pm, free. Artist Nick Kaye discusses an ongoing, site-specific Google Maps project gathering “archival remains of past ephemeral art and performance in the present city of SF.”

“Writers with Drinks” Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St, SF; www.writerswithdrinks.com. 7:30-9:30pm, $5-10. With Eileen Gunn, April Sinclair, Caitlin Donohue, Nona Caspers, and Siouxsie Q.

SUNDAY 13

“Foster Family Fun Day” Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge, Berk; www.habitot.org. 2-5pm, free. Foster, kinship, and adoptive families are welcome to visit the museum and enjoy free, exclusive access to the hands-on exhibits and creative art activities.

Darick Robertson Two Cats Comic Book Store, 320 West Portal, SF; www.twocatscomicbookstore.com. 3pm, free. The comics artist (Transmetropolitan, The Boys, Marvel Knights) discusses his work with Comic Vine’s Corey Schroeder.

MONDAY 14

Market Street Kiosk Youth Poster Series Bus kiosks along Market Street, SF; www.sfgov.org. Through July 7. Budding photographers working with San Francisco Arts Commission photo-mentoring program First Exposures exhibit scenes snapped in their neighborhoods — the Tenderloin, SoMa, and Central Market — in public displays along Market Street.

TUESDAY 15

Matthew Zapruder City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The poet celebrates the release of his new collection, Sunbear. *

 

Events: February 19 – 25, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 19

Anita Diamant Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro, San Rafael; www.marinjcc.org. 7pm, $15. The best-selling author (The Red Tent) and essayist discusses marriage, parenthood, recovering from loss, and other topics.

Owen Egerton Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from his collection of short fiction, How Best to Avoid Dying.

“Unwrapping the Visual Discovery of Spiral Nebulae” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. Illustrated astronomy lecture by visual observer Steve Gottlieb.

THURSDAY 20

Mary Ellen Hannibal Northbrae Community Church, 941 the Alameda, Berkeley; www.northbrae.org. 7-9pm, $5. Golden Gate Audobon Society presents this talk by the author of “conservation biography” The Spine of the Continent.

“Happy Birthday Edward Gorey!” Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; thirdthursdaysf.wordpress.com. 5-8pm, free. Celebrate the late author and artist’s 89th birthday with dramatic readings, tea and cookies, and more. Costumes encouraged.

Michelle Richmond Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The novelist shares her latest work, Golden State.

“YBCA ConVerge” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. 4-8pm, free. Artist Ilana Crispi shares her new project, “Tenderloin Dirt Harvest: Please be seated on the ground,” featuring drinking vessels made from Tenderloin soil, plus discussions and storytelling about the neighborhood.

FRIDAY 21

“Birding the Hill” Corona Heights Park, meet in front of Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 8am, free. Kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Explore the park and check out its current bird population with Audobon experts.

Russian Festival of San Francisco Russian Center of San Francisco, 2460 Sutter, SF; www.russiancentersf.com. Today, 5pm-12:30am; Sat/22, 11am-10pm; Sun/23, 11am-7pm. $6-10. Performances by Russian dancers, musicians, and others, plus Russian cuisine, crafts, gifts, and more.

“Word/Play: Shenaniganery of the Highest Brow” Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7pm, $10. Book and lit-themed game show starring Nate Waggoner, Melissa Manlove, Steven Westdahl, Casey Childers, Sarah Griffin, and Lara Starr.

SATURDAY 22

“Great San Francisco Crystal Fair” Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Buchanan, SF; www.crystalfair.com. Today, 10am-6pm; Sun/23, 10am-4pm. $8. Featuring crystals, minerals, beads, psychic readings, and more.

“Hidden Cities: Experiments and Explorations” SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan, SF; www.somarts.org. Opening reception 6-9pm, free. Exhibit on view through March 22. Twenty-six moving and still images and interactive, site-specific installations that present alternative ways of exploring San Francisco.

“Lost Landscapes of Oakland” Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak, Oakl; www.museumca.org. 3-5pm, free with museum admission ($6-15; seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis). Rick Prelinger brings his popular historical screening and discussion series, with audience participation encouraged, to Oakland for the first time.

“Who Are We? Exploring Black Identities” Center for History and Community, 2488 Coolidge, Oakl; www.peraltahacienda.org. 6-7:30pm, free (RSVP to info@peraltahacienda.org). Panel discussion about African American identity moderated by Rick Moss, chief curator of the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

SUNDAY 23

Lemony Snicket and Lisa Brown Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 3pm, $5. The author and illustrator discuss 29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy. Buy a copy and get a free Melancholy Sour Phosphate from the Ice Cream Bar.

TUESDAY 25

“From Pillar to Post: The 100-Year Peregrinations of the Sutro Library” St. Philip’s Catholic Church, 725 Diamond, SF; www.sanfranciscohistory.org. 7:30pm, $5. The Sutro Library’s former head librarian discusses the long history of the unique rare book and manuscript collection.

Anna Leonard Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The debut novelist discusses Moth and Spark.

“Now That You’re Gone … San Francisco Neighborhoods Without Us” SF City Hall, Ground Floor, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, SF; www.sfgov.org. Opening reception 5:30-7:30pm, free. Exhibit on view through May 23. San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries’ Art at City Hall Program and PhotoAlliance presents this exhibit of works by NorCal emerging and established artists, showcasing SF urban landscapes and neighborhoods without any people in them.

“Whale Disentanglement in Northern California” Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito; www.acs-sfbay.org. 7-9pm, $5. Kathy Koontz from the Whale Entanglement Team — working to rescue whales from entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris — discusses how the public can get involved in the group’s Northern California efforts. *

 

Events: February 12 – 18, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 12

Black History Month programs San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, aboard the Balclutha, Hyde St Pier, and in the Visitor Center, 499 Jefferson, SF; nps.gov/safr. Daily throughout Feb (9:30am-5pm in the Visitor Center, free): “African Americans in the Maritime Trades: A Photographic Exhibition.” Sat/15-Sun/16 (3pm in the Visitor Center, free): “The Saga of Captain William Shorey,” slide lecture. Sun/16 and Feb 23 (2:15pm aboard the Balclutha, $5): “The Great Migration in Alaska: African Americans, the Alaska Packers Association, and the Politics of Race at Sea, 1896-1929,” interactive program. Feb 22 (1-1:45pm aboard the Balclutha, $5): “Chanteys: The African American and Caribbean Connection,” musical program.

“Darwin Day Celebration” Revolution Books, 2425 Channing, Berk; www.revolutionbooks.org. 7pm, free. Presentations and videos on the topic “Evolution: What it Means for Science and the Struggle to Radically Change the World.”

Habitot Children’s Museum Valentine Play Date Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge, Berk; www.habitot.org. Children with special needs and their families are invited to this free afternoon of hands-on, safe, and accessible fun at the museum.

Cecile Pineda Latino Hispanic Community Room, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 6:30pm, free. The Neustadt International Prize for Literature nominee, also a noted anti-war activist, reads from her award-winning first novel, Face.

San Francisco Middle School Science Fair Randall Museum, 199 Museum Wy, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. On display through Feb 21; museum hours Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm. Free. Check out all the exhibits in the 32nd annual fair, with participants hailing from 30 local public and private schools. The 200 projects on display are chosen from 4,000 total entries, with prizes going to the top three winners in each grade. Sat/15, 10am-2pm, visit the “Science Fair Fest,” celebrating the fair and engaging in interactive science experiments.

THURSDAY 13

Falu Bakrania Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from Bhangra and Asian Underground: South Asian Music and the Politics of Belonging in Britain.

Eileen Cronin Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The author reads from Mermaid: A Memoir of Resilience.

“Curator’s Talk with Professor Al Camarillo” California Historical Society, 678 Mission, SF; www.californiahistoricalsociety.org. 6-8pm, $5. The curator and Stanford university prof discusses the exhibit “Juana Briones y Su California: Pionera, Fundadora, Curandera,” as well as the life and legacy of its subject.

“Ricky Vincent: Party Music: The Inside Story of the Black Panthers’ Band” Humanist Hall, 390 27th St, Oakl; www.humanisthall.org. 7:30pm, $15. With hip-hop historian Davey D, Marcus Books proprietor Blanche Richardson, original Black Panthers, and others.

“Valentine’s Day from Cleis Press” Books Inc., 2275 Market, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7:30pm, free. The veteran LGBT publisher visits the indie bookseller for a night of reading and romance, with authors Felice Picano, Lewis DeSimone, and Rob Rosen, plus the releases of the Best Gay Romance 2014 and Best Gay Erotica 2014 anthologies.

FRIDAY 14

Mass wedding Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, Berk; www.downtownberkeley.com. 5pm, free. Any and all couples (queer and straight, as long as you have your IDs and a valid marriage license) can get hitched at this mass wedding to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the end of Prop 8 and DOMA; three couples will win a mini honeymoon package for dinner, hotel, theater tickets, and more Berkeley-centric gifts. Yes, there will be cake.

SATURDAY 15

Chinese New Year Spring Festival Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny, Third Flr, SF; www.c-c-c.org. 11am-3pm, free. This year’s theme, “Old School/New School,” is embodied by performances by Starr King Elementary School students and Pacific Wushu, as well as China Dance Theater, traditional lion dancing, calligraphy art activities, and more. Make sure to visit the exhibit Between Modern and Contemporary: Fong Chung-ray, highlighting the work of the abstract art pioneer.

“Oakland Art Murmur’s Third Saturday Guided Gallery District Tour: Developing a Critical Eye” Meet at Manna Gallery, 473 25th St, Oakl; oaklandartmurmur.org/walking-tours. 2-4pm, free. Free guided walking tour of several galleries in Uptown Oakland.

“Valentine’s Day Weekend at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach” Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, 10979 San Pablo, El Cerrito; www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org. Sat/15-Mon/17, 10am-5pm. $10-15. Special Valentine’s-themed games and prizes in addition to all of the arcade’s usual attractions: pinball, amusement devices, penny arcades, and more.

SUNDAY 16

“Ex Postal Facto Lectures” Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 1-4:30pm, free. Correspondence art is the topic of this lecture series, with panels entitled “The History of West Coast Mail Art” and “Artistamps and Their Makers: Seeing the World in Miniature,” plus a reception and “passport stamping.” Participants include artists Lowell Darling, Leslie Caldera, Carl Chew, and Anna Banana, as well as James Cline, James Felter, Harley, and Ginny Lloyd.

TUESDAY 18

“Capp Street Project’s 30th Birthday Party” CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, 350 Kansas, SF; www.wattis.org. 8pm, free. Celebrate the groundbreaking visual-arts residency program Capp Street Project with 1980s jams, a display of custom-crafted piñatas by Capp Street alum, and more.

Peter Mountford Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from The Dismal Science and discusses his work with Peter Orner. *

 

Events: January 29 – February 4, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 29

Sean Strub Books Inc., 2275 Market, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival.

THURSDAY 30

“Playland After Dark” Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, 10979 San Pablo, El Cerrito; www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org. 6-10pm, $10. Adults (18 and up) get full run of Playland’s pinball and carnival games, plus board games galore and unique exhibits.

SATURDAY 1

Lunar Chinese New Year Festival on Fourth Street Near 1780 Fourth St, Berk; www.teance.com, www.fourthstreet.com. Noon-4pm, free. Welcome the Year of the Horse with Chinese Opera vignettes by Kei Lun Martial Arts, traditional lion dancing, drummers, and more.

“Sam & Max: A Look Back with Steve Purcell” Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; www.cartoonart.org. 4-5pm, free (reception, 7-9pm, $5). Booksigning celebrating The Collected Sam & Max: Surfin’ the Highway. The later reception also includes Purcell in person and a chance to check out the Cartoon Art Museum’s Sam & Max exhibit, as well as the concurrent exhibits “Grains of Sand: 25 Years of the Sandman” and “Searle in America.”

“Peralta Hacienda Saturday Kids Club” Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave, Oakl; www.peraltahacienda.org. 2:30-5pm, free. Ongoing through May 31. Outdoorsy games, sports, and team-building fun for kids, who can learn about Ohlone Native American life, make crafts using dyes drawn from local plants, and go birdwatching, to name just a few of the offered activities.

Art Peterson Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno, SF; www.emtab.org. 2-5pm, free. The author reads from Why Is That Bridge Orange? San Francisco for the Curious.

“Sick Plant Clinic” UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial, Berk; events.berkeley.edu. 9am-noon, free. Feeling like a green-thumb failure? Bring your ailing plants (covered or in a container) for diagnosis by volunteer plant pathologists and entomologists at this long-standing monthly event.

Gene Luen Yang SF Public Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 2-3:30pm, free. The two-time National Book Award finalist discusses and signs his latest work, graphic novel Boxers & Saints: A Historical Duology of the Boxer Rebellion.

SUNDAY 2

Exploratorium free day Exploratorium, Pier 15, SF; www.exploratorium.edu. 10am-5pm, free. Regular adult admission is $25, so here’s your chance to check out (for free!) the science museum’s six exhibit galleries, including a Bay Observatory, and other attractions.

“Poetry Unbound #9” Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck, Berk; berkeleyarthouse.wordpress.com. 5:15pm, $5 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds). With Paradise, Jan Steckel, and Martin Heimstra, followed by a brief open mic. Hosts are Clive Matson and Richard Loranger.

MONDAY 3

Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7pm, $5 (advance tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com). Portland, Ore.-based author Meloy (also known at the lead singer and songwriter of the Decemberists) and illustrator Ellis — real-life partners and parents to two sons — share their latest literary collaboration, fantasy epic Wildwood Imperium: The Wildwood Chronicles, Part III. *

 

Events: January 22 – 28, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 22

“Black Widow Stars: Vengeful Star Corpses” Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte, Los Altos Hills; foothill.edu/ast. 7pm, free (parking, $3). Stanford’s Dr. Roger Romani delivers an illustrated, non-technical talk on the intriguingly violent “black widow” star corpses discovered by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

Kirsten Chen Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. Chen discusses her “foodie love story” Soy Sauce for Beginners with fellow author Aimee Phan.

FRIDAY 24

Gem Faire Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael; www.gemfaire.com. Noon-6pm, free. Also Sat/25, 10am-6pm; Sun/26, 10am-5pm. Over 70 importers, exporters, and wholesalers gather to showcase fine jewelry, costume jewelry, precious and semi-precious gemstones, crystals, minerals, jewelry-making tools, and more. Jewelry repair, cleaning, and ring-sizing services will also be available.

SATURDAY 25

Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva, Daly City; www.goldengatekennelclub.com. 8:30am-5pm, $7-12 ($30 for both days for a family of four). Also Sun/26. Nearly 1,500 dogs representing over 135 breeds vie for the coveted “Best in Show” title at this long-running competition. The event also features a “dog rally” grading dog-handler partnerships as well as a dog fashion show and “dog dancing.”

Chris Johanson Adobe Books and Arts Cooperative, 3130 24th St, SF; www.adobebooks.com. 6-10pm, free. As part of indie stalwart Adobe Books’ 25th anniversary, the Mission School artist signs copies of his new book on Phaidon Press. With live music by Ovarian Trolley.

“Knitting Hour” Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge, Berk; www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org. Sat/25, 3:15-4:45pm. Free. Learn how to knit at this intergenerational knitting group, aimed at all ages 8 and above and all skill levels.

“MakeArt: Aluminum Foil Sculpture” Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third St, SF; ww.sfmcd.org. 1:30-3:30pm, $10. No tin-foil hat jokes here — this workshop (aimed at kids ages 8-12, or kids 6-7 with parent participation) guides kids in creative fun inspired by “A Sense of Balance: The Sculpture of Stoney Lamar.”

San Francisco Fine Print Fair Golden Gate Club, Presidio Trust, 135 Fisher Loop, SF; www.sanfrancisco-fineprintfair.com. 10am-6pm, free. Also Sun/26, 11am-5pm. The International Fine Print Dealers Association presents this annual survey of printmaking by renowned artists, with a full gamut of goods: traditional Japanese woodcuts, 19th century etchings, contemporary works, and more.

“Vascularium: Closing Show for Freya Prowe” Accident & Artifact, 381 Valencia, SF; (415) 437-9700. 7pm, free. A closing reception for artist Freya Prowe’s “Vascularium,” an exhibit filled with inky, visceral works inspired by arteries, roots, and tentacles.

TUESDAY 28

Jessica Alexander Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses her memoir, Chasing Chaos: My Decade in and Out of Humanitarian Aid.

Melinda Chateauvert Books Inc., 2275 Market, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses Sex Workers Unite: A History of the Movement from Stonewall to Slutwalk. Visit sexworkersunite.brownpapertickets.com for info on Chateauvert’s participation in a fundraiser for the Litigate to Emancipate Fund this week.

“Dennis McKenna: The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss” Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno, SF; www.emtab.org. 7-8:30pm, free. The younger brother of late philosopher, writer, and counterculture icon Terence McKenna discusses their relationship at this event co-hosted by City Lights.

“The Shape of Sound” Saylor’s Restaurant, 2009 Bridgeway, Sausalito; www.acs-sfbay.org. 7-9pm, $5 suggested donation. The San Francisco Bay Area American Cetacean Society presents this talk by Mark Fischer on his work creating images from the sounds of birds, whales, and dolphins using the Aguasonic process.

“Sutro’s Glass Palace: The Rise and Fall of Sutro Baths” St. Philip’s Catholic Church, 725 Diamond, SF; www.sanfranciscohistory.org. 7:30pm, $5. Ever wondered about those ruins out by the Cliff House? Get the full story on the Sutro Baths at this San Francisco History Association-hosted talk by fourth-generation San Franciscan and professional researcher John Martini. *

 

Events: January 15 – 21, 2014

Michael Redmond
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0

WEDNESDAY 15

“Lyrics and Dirges: A Monthly Reading Series” Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berk; www.pegasusbookstore.com. 7:30pm, free. With authors Brian Ang, Carmella Fleming, Judy Juanita, Hugh Behm Steinberg, and Harold Terezón.

Peace Corps recruiting event San Francisco Public Library, Mary Louise Strong Conference Room, 100 Larkin, SF; www.peacecorps.gov. 6-7:30pm, free. Learn about opportunities from returned Peace Corps volunteer Jazmian Allen.

THURSDAY 16

Sam Wasson Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses Fosse, his biography of the legendary and influential choreographer.

Michael Shorb poetry reading Books Inc., 3515 California, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. Toast the late, award-winning poet with a reading from his collection Whale Walker’s Morning.

FRIDAY 17

“An Afternoon in Conversation with David Broza” Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro, San Rafael; www.marinjcc.org. 3:30-5pm, free (pre-register at marinjcc.org/broza). Israeli superstar and activist David Broza sings, signs CDs, and discusses his life and career.

“Literary Foolery Finale Show” Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 8pm, $10. Literary Clown Foolery closes out its series at Booksmith with a performance and interview with the store’s owner, Christin Evans.

“Sea Lion 24th Anniversary: Opening Day” Pier 39, SF; www.pier39.com. Tours at noon, 1, 2, 3, and 4pm, free. Through Mon/20. Gather at the Sea Lion Statue for a free, 20-minute stroll with Aquarium of the Bay naturalists around sea lion central to celebrate the blubbery beasts’ spontaneous arrival at Pier 39. The tour includes a stop at the aquarium’s brand-new, educational Sea Lion Center.

SATURDAY 18

“BAASICS.4: Watershed” ODC Theater, 3153 17th St, SF; baasics.com/baasics-4-watershed/. 9pm, free/sliding scale (seating is limited, so reserve tickets in advance). A diverse group of artists and scientists — including Megan Prelinger, Derek Hitchcock, and Jay Lund — gather to discuss the Bay Area watershed.

“Good Food Awards Marketplace” Ferry Building, 1 Sausalito, SF; www.goodfoodawards.org. 9am-2pm, $5. This year’s Good Food Award winners — in categories that include charcuterie, cheese, and chocolate — showcase blue-ribbon fare at this special marketplace, with tasty treats available for sampling and purchasing.

SUNDAY 19

“Pedestrian Press: A.D. Winans and John Domini” Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno, SF; www.emtab.org. 7pm, $5. The Pedestrian Press authors read from their works.

“Zeitgeist Press Release Party for Joie Cook Collections” Readers Café and Bookstore, Bldg C, Rm 165, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna, SF; friendssfpl.org/?Readers_FM. 2-4pm, free. The late poet is celebrated with two new collections, read by local literary luminaries including Jack Hirschman, Julia Vinograd, Q.R. Hand, Kathleen Wood, and others.

MONDAY 20

Free square dance lessons St. Paul’s Church Hall, 1399 43rd Ave, SF; www.sfsquaredancing.com. 7-9:30pm, free. Also Jan 27. Caper Cutters, the oldest square dancing club in SF, hosts two free introductory classes for aspiring do-si-do-ers. Wear soft-soled shoes.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration” Piedmont Community Center, 711 Highland, Piedmont; piedmontdiversity.wordpress.com/about/. 1-4pm, free. The Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee hosts the city’s annual MLK Day celebration, with speakers and performances from Piedmont Choirs’ Ensemble Choir, Oakland School for the Art’s One Voice Choir, and others.

“MLK Day with Uhuru Furniture” World Ground Café, 3726 Macarthur, Oakl; uhurufurniture.blogspot.com. 10am-3pm, free. Uhuru Furniture and the African People’s Education and Defense Fund present a one-hour program of historical clips of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement. Volunteers (email apedf.volunteer@yahoo.com) are needed for a community outreach service project that follows. *

 

Event Listings: Jan. 1-6, 2014

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 8

"Radar Reading Series" San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin, SF; www.radarproductions.org. 6pm, free. With Mica Sigourney, Dax Tran-Caffee, Shanthi Sekaran, and Caitlin Donohue.

THURSDAY 9

"Etsy Night at MCD: Super Hero Emblems" Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third St, SF; www.sfmcd.org. 7-9:30pm, $10. Create your own wearable super hero emblem using recycled toy and plastic parts, with the help of Accessorize with Toys founder Emiko Oye. For adults 21 and over.

"Shipwreck: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Edition" Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7pm, $10 (includes drinks). "Erotic fan fiction for literary perverts" inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book — written by local authors and recited by actor Steven Westdahl.

FRIDAY 10

Sid Gershgoren and Zara Raab Nefeli Café, 1854 Euclid, Berk; (510) 841-6374. 7pm, free. The poets read as part of the Last Word Reading Series, followed by an open mic.

Chang-Rae Lee Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from his latest novel, On Such a Full Sea.

"Prom Night: Redux" Women’s Building, 3543 18th St, SF; www.sfindie.com. 8pm, $5-10. Celebrate the launch of SF IndieFest’s Sweet 16th year with a prom-themed party, with tunes by DJ Shindog (New Wave City) and DJ Junkyard (Litterbox). Don’t forget to also check out the Roxie’s related film series, "I Was a Teenage Teenager" (Jan 10-14, more info at www.roxie.com).

SATURDAY 11

"Dr. Stephen Barton on Berkeley Mayor J. Stitt Wilson — Social Crusader and Socialist" Berkeley Public Library, Third Floor Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge, Berk; www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. 2-3:30pm, free. A discussion of the first Socialist mayor in America, elected in Berkeley in 1911.

"Save Our Station! A Benefit Show" Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore, SF; www.kpoo.com. 1-4pm, $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds). Help keep nonprofit community radio station KPOO 89.5 on the air by attending this benefit show, featuring performances by Victor Little, DJ Lamont, SoulGlo DJ Miss J, and more.

"Writers with Drinks" Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St, SF; www.writerswithdrinks.com. 7:30-9:30pm, $5-10. Readings by Richard Kadrey, Melissa Pritchard, Cheeming Boey, Scott Poole, and Neelanjana Banerjee.

MONDAY 13

"Dog Night with Kira Stackhouse" Books Inc., 1760 Fourth St, Berk; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. Dogs and owners (and friends) are welcomed to this event featuring Bay Area photographer Kira Stackhouse (Project DOG: A Celebration of Dogs). Come early for free pooch portraits (5:30-6:30pm).

Grace Marie Grafton Book Passage, One Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The author reads from Jester: A Book of Poetry.

Judy Wells Himalayan Flavors Restaurant, 1585 University, Berk; www.himalayanberkeley.com. 7pm, free. Poets Judy Wells and Dale Jensen read.

TUESDAY 14

Maria Hummel Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. Launch party for the author’s story collection, Motherland, inspired by tales from her father’s German childhood.

Randy Shaw Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic shares his revised and updated Activist’s Handbook: Winning Social Change in the 21st Century. *

On the Cheap: November 20 – 26, 2013

Michael Redmond
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0

Listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 20

“The Diversity of Habitable Zones and Their Planets” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Wy, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. San Francisco State astrophysicist Dr. Stephen R. Kane discusses, among other things, advancements in knowledge about “planets in highly eccentric orbits” and “super-Earths.” Geared for adults but all ages are welcome.

“Lyrics and Dirges” Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 649-1320. 7:30pm, free. Reading with a mix of prominent, emerging, and beginning writers, including Charles Kruger, Monica Wesolowska, Airial Clark, and others.

Michael McClure City Lights, 261 Columbus, SF; www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. The legendary Beat author reads from his recently reissued Ghost Tantras.

THURSDAY 21

Bay Street Tree Lighting Bay Street Emeryville, 5616 Bay, Emeryville; www.baystreetemeryville.com. 6-8pm, free. The shopping center ushers in the winter-holiday season with the lighting of its 34-foot tree, plus a light and sound show, photos with Santa, hot chocolate, and more.

Holiday Craft Fair Simple Family Health, One Rio Vista, Oakl; www.simplefamilyhealth.com. 6-9pm, free. Nine different craft artists — fleece hats, cute polka-dot items, fascinators and headbands, and more! — share their wares.

Paul Koudounaris Bone Room Presents, 1573 Solano, Berk; www.boneroompresents.com. 7pm, free. The author discusses and signs copies of his macabre, beautifully-photographed books The Empire of Death and Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs.

Karen Luk Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; thirdthursdaysf.wordpress.com. 5-8pm, free. The author and illustrator discusses her new release, Steampunk ABCs, at an appropriately steampunk-y event (hint: costumes encouraged!)

“Survival Not Extinction: A Fundraiser for Tribal Rights” Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, 2323 Mission, SF; (415) 503-1254. 6pm, free. A gallery, short film, raffle, photo booth, and other activities highlight this happy-hour fundraiser for Survival International, an international rights organization working to assist the Awá tribe of Brazil. The bar will donate 10 percent of its proceeds from the evening, so show up thirsty.

FRIDAY 22

“Pancakes and Booze Art Show” Minna Gallery, 111 Minna, SF; www.pancakesandbooze.com. 8pm, $5. Through Sat/23. Over 75 underground and emerging artists display their works — plus a performance by Xpander Xperience, a photo booth, body painting, and an all-you-can-eat pancake bar.

“Rude, Glued, and Screwed” Red Door Studios, 50-A Bannam Place, SF; www.collagemuseumsf.com. 7-10pm, free. Opening exhibition celebrating the launch of the Collage Museum of San Francisco, curated by Winston Smith.

SATURDAY 23

“Art and Ideas Day Festival” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. Noon-9pm, free. In conjunction with its current “Dissident Futures” exhibit, YBCA hosts a festival aiming to inspire explorations of “possible futures,” with workshops, lectures, performances, interactive media and more presented by robotic experts, food activist, designers, environmentalists, and other experts.

“Magic Makers: The Bay Area’s Queer Art and Craft Fair” Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th Ave, Oakl; themagicmakers.wordpress.com. 1-8pm, free. A marketplace and showplace for Bay Area queer artists. Hey, the gift-giving season is approaching — and what better presents than jewelry, prints, body-care products, candles, and other items created by local makers?

“Operation: Fork 4!” Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 444-6174. 6pm-midnight, five cans of food or $10. Cobra 1st Legion hosts this costume party-dance party-food drive (with help from the Bay Area Ghostbusters). The Alameda County Community Food Bank benefits from donations, and Disastroid, Victoria and the Vaudevillians, MHA, and Maritime Wilderness provide the tunes. Costumes are encouraged.

“Ukranian Holodomer: Genocidal Famine of 1932-33 (80th Anniversary)” Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF; (650) 281-6927. 2pm, free. Speakers, including survivors and witness accounts; music; and a documentary screening highlight this historical commemoration of the Ukraine’s tragic famine.

SUNDAY 24

“Patchwork Indie Art and Craft Festival” Jack London Market Building, 55 Harrison, Oakl; www.jacklondonsquare.com. 11am-5pm. Over 140 local artists gather to sell handmade goods, including art, housewares, paper crafts, and clothing. Plus: food trucks, free DIY craft stations, a DIY gift-wrap booth, and more.

“Thangs Taken: Rethinking Thanksgiving” La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk; www.lapena.org. 7pm, $10-25 sliding scale. Artists and activists come together to explore Thanksgiving’s complex history through music, dance, spoken word, and other avenues. Produced by the Free Land Project and curated and hosted by Ariel Luckey. *

 

On the Cheap: November 6 – 12, 2013

Michael Redmond
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0

On the Cheap listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 6

“The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories” Good Vibrations, 1620 Polk, SF; www.goodvibes.com. 6:30pm, free. Contributors read from editor Rachel Kramer Bussel’s latest erotica anthology.

David Henry and Joe Henry Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College, Oakl; www.dieselbookstore.com. 7pm, free. The brothers (David’s a screenwriter; Joe’s a musician) discuss their new book, Furious Cool: Richard Pryor and the World That Made Him.

THURSDAY 7

Bill Ayers Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author discusses Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident, a sequel to his Fugitive Days that delves into his life after the Weather Underground.

Travis Smith and Chris Bale Books Inc., 2275 Market, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7:30pm, free. The authors discuss their best-selling travel book, Guide for the Modern Bear, at this official SF Bear Pride Week (www.sfbearpride.com) event.

FRIDAY 8

“Last Word Reading Series” Nefeli Caffe, 1834 Euclid, Berk; (510) 841-6374. 7pm, free. Poets Ivan Arguelles and Mary-Marcia Castoly read, followed by an open mic.

“A Planned Disappearance Of” Proxy, 432 Octavia, SF; www.deptofarchitecture.com. 6-9:30pm, free. Also Sat/9, noon-8pm, free. Dept. of Architecture gallery presents this pop-up event with sound performances, temporary exhibitions, talks, music, and more.

SATURDAY 9

Daniel Alarcón Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College, Oakl; www.dieselbookstore.com. 7pm, free. The San Francisco-based author discusses his latest novel, At Night We Walk in Circles.

“Celebration of Craftswomen” Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Buchanan at Marina, SF; www.fortmason.org. 10am-5pm. Through Mon/11. $7-9 (free for children 12 and under; two-day pass, $15). Over 190 female artists showcase their wares and skills at this 35th annual juried event. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Building.

“Come Out & Play Festival” Today: Everett Middle School, 450 Church, SF; www.comeoutandplaysf.org. 11am-7pm (Journey to the End of Night, pre-registration required, 7pm), free. Sun/10, Mission Recreation Center, 2450 Harrison, SF. 11am-4pm, free. Local and visiting designers and street-game enthusiasts take to the Mission for smart phone-based games, alternative sports, sidewalk chalk-based adventures, and more.

“Diwali: The Festival of Lights” Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, 401 Baker, SF; www.bksanfrancisco.com. 6-8pm, free (register online). Celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali, or “festival of lights,” with music and meditation to envision “the dawn of the era of peace, happiness, and prosperity.” Supervisor London Breed is the special guest.

“Issue in Focus: The Chocolate Industry” Eric Quezada Center for Cultura and Politics, 518 Valencia, SF; www.518valencia.org. 6-9pm, $5-10. Food Empowerment Project screens two short films (The Dark Side of Chocolate and The Shady Side of Chocolate) at its first-ever public event.

San Francisco Opera Free Community Open House War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness, SF; www.sfopera.com. 10:30am-2:30pm, free. Onstage musical demonstrations, stage combat workshops, makeup and costume demos, a costume photo booth, scavenger hunt, food trucks, and more highlight this second annual event. Register online to win tickets to The Barber of Seville or The Barber of Seville for Families at sfopera.com/openhouse.

SF Green Festival Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth St, SF; www.greenfestivals.org. 10am-6pm; Sun/10, 11am-5pm. $10-15. Two-day festival celebrating sustainability and ecology, with cooking demos, environmental films, speakers, activities for kids, a green-biz marketplace, and more.

SUNDAY 10

Novemberfest in Temescal Alley Temescal Alley, 49th St at Temescal, Oakl; www.temescalalleys.com. Noon-4pm, free (beers, $5; all-you-can-drink tasting glass, $15-25; proceeds benefit Walk Oakland Bike Oakland). Live music and a showcase of local craft brewers, including Linden Street Brewery, Calicraft, Ale Industries, Drakes Brewing Company, and others.

MONDAY 11

Gail Carriger Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia, SF; www.borderlands-books.com. 7pm, free. The steampunk author reads from Curtsies and Conspiracies, the second title in her “Finishing School” series.

TUESDAY 12

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft, Berk; www.universitypressbooks.com. 6pm, free. The author discusses indigenous resistance and the re-release of The Great Sioux Nation: Sitting in Judgment on America. There will also be a poetry reading by Julie Thi Underhill, a descendant of the indigenous Cham of Vietnam.

“The Fabulous World of Queer Pulp Yesterday and Today” Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 6pm, free. Pulp icon Ann Bannon, historians Martin Meeker and Jenny Worey, and authors F. Allen Sawyer and Monica Nolan gather to discuss queer pulp paperbacks.

Warren Lehrer Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The artist and author discusses A Life in Books: The Ride and Fall of Beau Mobley. *

 

On the Cheap: October 16 – 22, 2013

Michael Redmond
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0

On the Cheap listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 16

“The Birth of Star Clusters” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free (donations accepted). UC Berkeley’s Dr. Steven Stahler speaks about how stars form.

THURSDAY 17

Mike Madrid Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; thirdthursdaysf.wordpress.com. 5-8pm, free. Author and comics expert Mike Madrid (The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines) presents his latest book, Divas, Dames and Daredevils.

“Odd Couples: Extraordinary Differences Between the Sexes in the Animal Kingdom” Bone Room, 1573 Solano, Berk; www.boneroompresents.com. 7pm, free. Evolutionary biologist Dr. Daphne Fairbairn gives a talk on “gender gulfs” in the animal world.

“Writing That Risks: New Work from Beyond the Mainstream” Alley Cat Books Gallery, 3036 24th St, SF; www.alleycatbooksgallery.com. 6-7pm, free. Independent publisher Red Bridge Press celebrates the release of its new short-story collection, featuring emerging writers “who delight in exploring the boundaries of content and style.”

SATURDAY 19

“Apature Comix and Zines Expo” Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; apature2013.brownpapertickets.com. 11am-5pm, $7. Cartoon Art Museum and Kearny Street Workshop present this celebration of Bay Area Asian Pacific American talent, with artist tables, crafts, workshops, screenings, DIY activities, and more.

Ceramics Annual of America Civic Center Plaza, SF; www.ceramicsannual.org. 9am-6:30pm, free. Through Sun/20. Exhibition and art fair showcasing contemporary ceramics from around the world, including Australia, China, Mexico, and Italy.

Classic car show Jack London Square, Broadway and Embarcadero, Oakl; www.jacklondonsquare.com. 10am-4pm, free. Ogle Model As, T-birds, and other souped-up beauties from the 1920s to the 1960s at this vintage-vehicle extravaganza.

Potrero Hill Festival 20th St between Wisconsin and Missouri, SF; www.potrerofestival.com. 11am-4pm, free. Family-friendly fun awaits those who scale Potrero’s mighty hills, with food trucks and local food vendors, two stages with a talent show, over 40 local merchants and artists, pony rides for kids, and more.

“SFMusic Day: Live + Free” San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak, SF; www.sffcm.org. Tonight, 8pm, free; Sun/20, noon-7pm, free. Free concerts that hew to the festival’s 2013 Latin theme, with performances by Cascade de Flores, Orquesta La Moderna Tradicion, Quintento Latino, the John Santos Sexed, and more. (Check the website for a full schedule.)

St. John Armenian Annual Food Festival St. John Church, 275 Olympia, SF; (415) 922-1961. Noon, free. Through Sun/20. Purchase authentic Armenian food (in both dinner and a la carte form) at St. John’s annual fundraiser. Don’t miss the intriguing-sounding Kufta, described as “a meatball within a meatball.”

SUNDAY 20

Free community day at the Haas-Lilienthal House 2007 Franklin, SF; www.sfheritage.org. 11am-4pm, free. Tour the 1886 landmark Queen Anne gem, a “living monument” to San Francisco history, for free. (Admission is usually $8.) There will also be a pumpkin patch and other autumn treats for younger visitors. *

 

On the Cheap: October 2 – 8, 2013

Michael Redmond
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On the Cheap listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 2

Nicholson Baker Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from his new novel Traveling Sprinkler, featuring the same protagonist as his previous best-seller, The Anthologist.

Marty Brounstein Northbrae Community Church, 941 the Alameda, Berk; (510) 526-3805. 7:30pm, $5 suggested donation. The author speaks about his book Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.

Cory Doctorow SF Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF; www.sfpl.org. 6pm, free. The noted author appears in conjunction with “One City One Book: San Francisco Reads,” discussing his novel Little Brother.

LGBT Career Fair SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market, SF; register at lgbtcareerfair30.eventbrite.com. Noon-3pm, free. The nation’s largest LGBT career fair unites job seekers with leading Bay Area employers.

THURSDAY 3

Bob Shacochis Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from his new thriller The Woman Who Lost Her Soul.

FRIDAY 4

St. Vartan Armenian Church Bazaar and Food Festival St. Vartan Armenian Church, 650 Spruce, Oakl; www.stvartanoakland.org. 5:30pm-midnight (also Sat/5, noon-midnight), $1-3. Calling all Armenian food fans: this fest is your jam for authentic cuisine, with full meals available until 8pm. Also on tap are cultural displays, dancing, games for kids, and more.

SATURDAY 5

Arab Cultural Festival Union Square, Powell at Geary, SF; www.arabculturalcenter.org. Noon-6pm, free. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Golden Era of Arabic Music,” so expect to see an array of traditional music (including Algerian singer Fella Oudane and Palestine hip-hop crew DAM), theater, and folkloric dance performances taking the stage. Between acts, browse a bazaar featuring jewelry, crafts, and other artwork — plus spices, teas, traditional foods, and more.

Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow and Indian Market Civic Center Park, Allston at MLK, Berk; www.ipdpowwow.org. 10am-6pm, free. A full day of indigenous culture, with Native California and Aztec dancers, drumming, dance contests, Native American food and crafts, and more.

SF SPCA’s 145th Anniversary Carnival SF SPCA, 201 Alabama, SF; www.sfspca.org. 11am-6pm, free. Adoption fees are waived all weekend in honor of the organization’s landmark anniversary, which will be celebrated with a carnival-themed street fair. Food trucks, a Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon cast performance, and a doggie costume contest (registration begins at 11am; contest at 1:15pm) are sure to be among the highlights.

“Star Wars Reads Day!” Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; (415) 776-1111. 7pm, free. With authors Pablo Hidalgo (of starwars.com) and Steven Sansweet (“head of fan relations” at Lucasfilm), plus movie trivia, giveaways, and “members of the Golden Gate Garrison of the 501st Legion,” which means you’re pretty likely to see at least one fantastically realistic R2-D2 rolling around.

SUNDAY 6

“Bikes to Books” tour and reading For bike tour, meet at Jack London (north side) and South Park, SFl www.burritojustice.com. 10:30am-2pm, free. Reading, Jack Kerouac Alley (near Broadway and Columbus), SF; www.burritojustice.com. 2-4pm, free. Follow the “Bikes to Books” literary street map (created by Guardian contributor Nicole Gluckstern and local-history buff Burrito Justice) from Jack London to Jack Kerouac, then settle in for a City Lights Bookstore-adjacent reading hosted by Evan Karp.

“A Day on the Water” Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina, Berk; tennrlw.wix.com/a-day-on-the-water. 11am-6pm, free. Free waterfront music festival heavy on the reggae and classic-rock genres, with Zulu Spear, Rock Candy, Caesar Myles and the Dreaded Truth, and more.

Coit Tower 80th Birthday Celebration News conference at Coit Tower, 1 Telegraph Hill, SF; www.protectcoittower.org. 10am, free. Party and art show, Live Worms Gallery, 1345 Grant, SF; www.sflivewormsgallery.com. 6-9pm, free. Celebrate the SF landmark and its benefactor, Lillie Hitchcock Coit, with a Coit Tower birthday cake in the morning. In the evening, head to Live Worms to check out artwork by muralists who worked on the original project, plus new works by San Francisco artists inspired by Coit Tower.

MONDAY 7

Lily Brett Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The NY-based author reads from her new book, Lola Bensky, about a teenage rock journalist covering London’s late-1960s scene.

TUESDAY 8

Colin Winnette Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from Fondly, a tale of a Texas family comprising two linked novellas. *

 

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