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WEDNESDAY 24
"A Passion for Waiting: Messianism, History, and the Jews" International House Auditorium, UC Berkeley, 2299 Piedmont, Berk. (510) 643-7413, www.grad.berkeley.edu/lectures. 4:10pm, free. Literary editor of The New Republic and author of Nuclear War Nuclear Peace, Against Identity, and Kaddish Leon Wieseltier will be delivering this lecture as part of the UC Berkeley Graduate School lecture series.
Sister Spit anthology release party City Lights, 261 Columbus, SF. (415) 362-8193, www.citylights.com. 7pm, free. Join author Michelle Tea at the City Lights bookstore in what promises to be an uproarious night celebrating the best of feminist, queer-centric writing. Occupying center stage at this event will be the debut of the anthology Sister Spit: Writing, Rants, and Reminiscence from the Road, a collection of poetry and narratives from Tea’s beloved spoken word tours.
Altered Barbies 50 Shotwell, SF. (415) 240-2202, www.alteredbarbie.com. Through Nov.18. Opening reception: 1-8pm, free. This year’s installment of the vaunted altered Barbies will be politically-themed (as is appropriate.) Babs for president? This exhibition invites participants to project their thoughts on cultural and social issues through the medium of unrealistically-proportioned plastic women, in an effort to facilitate community-building discourse.
FRIDAY 26
Vintage Poster Fair Conference Center Building A, Fort Mason Center, SF. (800) 856-8069, www.posterfair.com. Fri/26, 5-9pm; Sat/27, 10am-7pm; Sun/28, 10am-6pm, free–$15. The International Vintage Poster Fair makes a return to San Francisco this year, and taking center stage will be "Seven Deadly Sins," exhibit showcasing vintage posters from as far back as the 1890s.
"From Here" UGallery, 3367 20th St., SF. (415) 742-8417, www.ugallery.com. Through Dec/28. Opening reception: 6-9pm, free. A manifestation of the Bay Area’s rich diversity through art. Come witness Mexican artist Pablo Solares’s portraits of his fellow countrymen, Korean artist Michael Van farmland depictions, and the conceptual imagery of Lana Williams.
SATURDAY 27
Chinatown history presentation SFPL, 100 Larkin, SF. (415) 557-4277, www.sfpl.org. 11am-12:30pm, free. History buffs take careful note here. Acclaimed architect and Chinese American studies professor Philip Choy will be giving a talk about his newest book San Francisco Chinatown: A Guide to its History, which details the long and remarkable history of the city’s Chinatown.
CODAME Adore Space, 135 Dore, SF. www.codame.com. 8pm, free. It’s an art and tech mashup y’all! Started in 2010 by Bruno Fonzi CODAME seeks to combine the city’s passion for art and tech together in a multi-dimensional environment in the mediums of time and space. Complementing this art-tech amalgamation will be an indie gaming tournament, fire dancing, and, to go along with the holiday spirit, a Halloween costume contest.
Moon Goddess Exhibit Modern Eden, 403 Francisco, SF. (415) 956-3303, www.moderneden.com. Through Nov.11. Opening reception: 6-10pm, free. Come one, come all to worship the moon goddess in all her glory and supernatural mystique. This international exhibit showcases numerous artistic interpretations of what such a lunar deity would look like. And in case you were wondering, the next full moon will be on the 29th. Plan your visit accordingly.
Bay Area Science Fair Various times and locations. www.bayareascience.org. Through Nov.3. Eight days of scientific splendor and pageantry mark this mega-fest of scientific thinking. Learn about how science plays a crucial role in our everyday lives at a star party, a zombie edition of Cal Academy’s weekly Nightlife event, even a special Discovery Days at AT&T Park and Sonoma County Fairgrounds. There’s so much jam-packed into the affair that by its end, you’ll be qualified to apply to any of Cal or Stanford’s Ph.D science programs. (No guarantees.)
SUNDAY 28
Nerd Nite The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph, Oakl. (510) 444-6174, www.nerdnite.com. 7pm, $8. Nerd alert! Nerd Nite will be making its way across the Bay to Oakland where it will be launching its first event in Oakland. Talks on the such as nerd favorites as Darwinian evolution and nanocrystals will be given to satisfy your geeky thirst.
TUESDAY 30
"Race and Religion at the Golden Gate" Pacific School of Religion Chapel, 1798 Scenic, Berk. (510) 849-8222, www.psr.edu. 6:30pm, free. An event tailored for the liberals major in all of us, acclaimed professors such as Hatem Bazian, Rudy Busto, Zayn Kassam, and more will be tackling the intricate intersection of race and religion with in the context of the Bay Area at this panel discussion.