WEDNESDAY 17
“A New Space Telescope Project: Testing What We Think We Know About the Universe” Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF. (415) 554-9600, www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. Research astrophysicist Michael Gregg will flash fascinating, lovely images of space taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Surprise — they also mapping an area of the universe four times farther out than any previous distance measurement technology.
Smack Dab open mic Magnet, 4122 18th St., SF. www.magnetsf.org. 7:30pm, free. A gently regimented open mic (one song or two-and-a-half double spaced pages of prose only, people) leads up to a performance by Fleigh, a queer underground ukelele duo.
thursday 18
“An Evening With the Collection: Celebrating the Fall Harvest” California Historical Society Museum, 678 Mission, SF. (415) 357-1848, www.californiahistoricalsociety.org. 5:30pm, $4 donation suggested. The historical society’s ongoing sneak-peeks at its collection continue, tonight with a look at agricultural-themed ephemera. Produce labels, harvest propaganda, olive ads, and more. Snacks served!
“Ken Shelf: Life Contained” The Rare Bird, 3883 Piedmont, Oakl. (510) 653-2473, www.therarebird.com. 6-9pm, free. Ken Shelf loves plants. He owns Succulence, Bernal Heights’ cacti supply central, and now is expanding into an even more artistic allegiance with flora. This art opening, held in conjuncture with the Piedmont Art Walk, features a shower of glass globes, enclosed terrarium ecosystems suspended from the ceiling.
FRIDAY 19
Free acupuncture Friday Potrero Community Acupuncture, Suite B, 1796 18th St., SF. (415) 658-5132, www.potrerocommunityacupuncture.com. 10am-4pm, free. Welcome Potrero Community Acupuncture into the neighborhood — the low-cost puncture providers are holding their grand opening today, and you can be the beneficiary. Just head over to the business’ Facebook page to sign up for a free acupuncture treatment.
SATURDAY 20
Japan Center Malls “Waikiki Paradise” celebration Japantown Peace Plaza, Post and Buchanan, SF. www.sfjapantown.org. 2-10pm, free. This day-long event kicks off with kiddy crafts — ti leaf bracelet-making, origami, hula, and more — continues with hours of traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian performance and finishes out with a screening of the first of three successful Elvis-in-aloha flicks: Blue Hawaii.
Art and Soul Festival Frank Ogawa Plaza and City Center, Oakl. (510) 444-CITY, www.artandsouloakland.com. Also Sun/21. Noon-6pm, $15 one-day admission. Goapele, the Kev Choice Ensemble, Tower of Power, and Sistas in the Pit, and an all-day gospel stage on Saturday are but a few of the soulful sounds coming from this public transit-accessible summer jam.
American Indian Market and Powwow Julian between 14th and 15th sts., SF. www.friendshiphousesf.org. 10am-6pm, free. Dancers, arts ‘n’ crafts, drum groups, and Indian tacos — a day to honor Native American families and their contributions to their community. The fair is put on by Friendship House Association of American Indians, Inc., a group that has been supplying substance abuse treatment through an 11-bed residential program since 1963.
Literary Death Match Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF. (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org. Noon-8pm, free. Literary luminaries duke it out in this showdown of the minds: slam artist Chinaka Hodge, Portuguese Artists Colony founder Caitlin Myer, and authors Susan Steinberg and Jonathan Keats will throw down. Plus, check out the artists featured in YBCA’s Bay Area Now 6 Festival, for free.
SUNDAY 21
Open Cockpit Day Oakland Aviation Museum, 8252 Earhart, Oakl. (510) 638-7100, www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org. Noon-4pm, $9. True enthusiasts of this event will find the following words thrilling: A-3 Skywarrior, A-4 Skyhawk, P-51B Red Tail Mustang, USAF T-39 Sabreliner — and of course, the Solent flying boat from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Yes indeed, today is the day you can lumber into all of these aircraft at the aviation museum, try out cockpit stimulators, and generally geek out on airborne enthusiasm.
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