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 4
“The Neuroscience of Magic” SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St, SF; www.askascientistsf.com. 7pm, free. Buy yourself some tasty food-truck vittles, then settle in for Ask a Scientist’s lecture and demonstration with the brain-expanding duo of neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and magician Robert Strong.
Mark Brennan Rosenberg Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The Single Life blogger shares his new memoir, Eating My Feelings: Tales of Overeating, Underperforming, and Coping with My Crazy Family.
THURSDAY 5
Michael Shea Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The author reads from his apocalyptic, Hollywood-tinged thriller Assault on Sunrise.
FRIDAY 6
“Word/Play” Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7pm, $10 (includes drinks). Two teams of writers (including Eric Berkowitz and Sarah Griff) do battle in “made-up games of literary ridiculata.”
SATURDAY 7
“Bone Brewfest and Street Fair” Pyramid Alehouse, 901 Gilman, Berk; bonebrewfest2013.eventbrite.com. Noon-4pm, free (beer-tasting tickets, $30). Pyramid Alehouse and 107.7 the Bone team up for this street fair featuring live music (Van Halen tribute band Hot for Teacher and Led Zeppelin tribute band Custard Pie), food trucks, beer tastings, and more.
Crucible Fall Open House Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakl; www.thecrucible.org. Noon-5pm, free. The industrial-arts space’s seasonal open house is themed “Tools to Table,” so you know what that means: fire meets food! In addition to the obligatory food trucks, look for flame workers crafting chopstick rests and swizzle sticks, “kinetic cocktail machines,” handmade dinnerware sets, an auction for a totally unique “Crucible Picnic Basket,” and more.
Bruce Neuburger Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 1pm, free. The author reads from his memoir and labor-movement commentary Lettuce Wars: Ten Years of Work and Struggle in the Fields of California.
“Urban Gardens and Heavy Metal: Keeping Lead off the Menu” Spiral Gardens, 2850 Sacramento, Berk; www.ecologycenter.org. 10am-noon, free. The Ecology Center hosts this lecture and demo on avoiding lead exposure for urban gardeners with Daniel Miller, executive director of Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project.
SUNDAY 8
Theron Humphrey Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 2pm, free. The author of Maddie On Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics presents a talk and slide show with the help of his Internet-famous dog, Maddie — who’ll be “pawtographing” copies of Humphrey’s book.
“KUSF’s Rock ‘N’ Swap Record Fair” McLaren Hall, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton, SF; www.kusf.org. 10am-3pm, $3 (USF students get in free; “early bird shopping special,” 6-10am, $10). Calling all collectors: this long-running event features vendors with rare vinyl, CDs, DVDs, posters, books, and more. You need it all!
“Sunday Streets” Western Addition, SF; www.sundaystreetssf.com. 11am-4pm, free. Portions of Fulton, Fillmore, Grove, and other nearby streets close down for this sprawling block party; there’ll be live music, an REI rock climbing wall, a “re-imagine Fulton Street” project, a “History of Wrestling” exhibit, pet activities, and more.
MONDAY 9
Lucy Corin Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses, her latest collection of short stories.
TUESDAY 10
David Bacon Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The journalist and photographer discusses The Right to Stay Home, his new book about how economic politics and free trade agreements have affected Mexican immigrants.
Mitchell S. Jackson Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The African American author, who grew up in one of America’s whitest cities (Portland, Ore.), reads from his autobiographical novel, The Residue Years.
Laurie R. King Books Inc., 3515 California, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The New York Times best-selling author reads from her new thriller, The Bones of Paris.
“Poetry Tuesday” Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, 4th St at Mission, SF; www.ybgfestival.org. 12:30-1:30pm, free. The senior wordsmiths known as the TODCO Poets read works on romance, family, aging, politics, and more. *