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WEDNESDAY 1
East Bay Science Cafe Cafe Valparaíso, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. www.lapena.org. 7-9pm, free. In an attempt to involve the community in the scientific issues of the day, the Berkeley Natural History Museums hold this discussion night in La Peña’s cafe space. Tonight, Gallant Laboratory researcher Mark Lescroart talks about how damage to the visual cortex affects our ability to understand what we see.
Mommy’s Playdate Good Vibrations, 1609 Polk, SF. www.goodvibes.com. 7-9pm, free. Kate Hooper wrote about the power of the mommy blogger in her new book Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers. At this Good Vibrations event, she’ll be sharing why it’s important for moms to speak their piece – if you attend, you’ll also get a chance to hear GV staff sexologist Carol Queen talk sex after childbirth, and meet other sex-positive moms. Drop into Dunya Mediterranean from 5-7pm across the street for a $10 glass of wine and appetizer special.
THURSDAY 2
Anna Joy Springer and Janice Lee Modern Times Bookstore, 2919 24th St., SF. www.mtbs.com. 7pm, free. The two Jaded Ibis Press authors will cover the full gamut of queer and weird – semiotic cults, chewed glass, the Goddess, and cyborgs.
Spacecraft CELLspace, 2050 Bryant, SF. www.cellspace.org. 8pm-midnight, free. Local artists interpret what affect science and fiction play in our lives.
FRIDAY 3
Dancing with the Stars Jack London Square, Oakl. www.jacklondonsquare.com. Every Friday through Aug. 31 8-10pm, free. Grab your rug-cutting loved one – no, not Kristie Alley or Joey Fatone – and head down to Oakland’s gorgeous waterfront to learn to dance under the night sky. You can learn a new way to boogie every Friday in August – today’s lesson is on the fox trot, but you’ll have the chance to cha cha, hustle, and do something called the “night club two step” on future dates.
SATURDAY 4
Bay Area Aloha Festival San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga, San Mateo. www.bayareaalohafestival.org. Also Sun/5. 10am-5pm, free. Spend your weekend immersed in Pacific Islander culture – snack on kalu, lomi, and malasadas when you’re exhausted from perusing the 100-plus Polynesian merchants, kid’s ohana corner, and two dozen musical and dance acts.
Nihonmachi Street Fair Japantown, SF. www.nihonmachistreetfair.org. 11am-6pm, free. Celebrate Asian-Pacific culture (and the wonder that is an icy boba tea on a hot day) at the 39th year of this classic Japantown celebration.
Risk for Deep Love Temescal Art Center, 511 48th St., Oakl. (510) 526-7858, www.temescalartcenter.org. 8pm, free. Frank Moore brings you his altered sense of reality in his shamanistic performance art. You are encouraged to bring your own musical instrument to this sure-to-be-bizarre participatory show.
Meet the Animals Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF. (415) 554-9600, www.randallmuseum.org. Every Saturday in August. 11am, free. Did you know that over 100 animals who were injured and can’t live in the wild anymore. Instead, they’re hanging out providing educational opportunities for families who want to meet rodents, amphibians, and even a great horned owl.
Beer garden clothing swap Classic Cars West, 411 26th St., Oakl. www.classiccarswest.com. 2pm-dusk, free. We’re not sure what kind of styles you’ll find at this clothing swap hosted by a classic car shop – but after a couple rounds of microbrews and Rosamunde sausages, we’re not sure you’ll care. Bring a bag of tired ties, or had-it heels.
Summer Cinema on Center Street 2219 Center, Berk. (510) 642-0808, bampfa.berkeley.edu. 7:30pm, free. Before The Atomic Brain (the story of a mad scientist who implants a cat brain into an abducted au pair’s body), Smooth Toad Jug Band will fiddle away, an artist will showcase neuronic sound-emitting sculptures, and there will be a talk on the brain’s neural connections. Random, yes. Fun, probably!
K9 Playtime open house K9 Playtime, 590 Brannan, SF. (415) 796-2245, www.k9playtimesf.com. Also Sun/5. 10am-4pm, free. Bring your furry friend down to this doggie happy hour at this doggie daycare center. There will be a professional pet photog on hand to document your day, snacks for humans and pups alike, and the self-wash bathtub where you can suds up your best friend, gratis.
SUNDAY 5
Prepare for the Playa Cafe Cocomo, 650 Indiana, SF. www.preparefortheplaya.com. Noon-7pm, free. Snag everything you need for your Burning Man adventure – over 50 vendors and designers amass at this event to provide you with hella fun fur (and other things, maybe.) Plus live performances by spinners, dancers, hoopers, and playa art installations.
Sunday Streets at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts 2868 Mission, SF. (415) 821-1155, www.missionculturalcenter.org. 11am-4pm, free. Celebrate the closed streets of the city’s play day at MCCLA, where there will be taiko, a zumba class, cumbia orchestra, and more.
Gay Men Drawing Vaginas Dolores Park Gay Beach (area near Church and 20th St.), SF. Facebook: Gay Men Drawing. 1-5pm, free. You have nothing to do with vaginas, you say? Tell that to your mom’s midwife. Today a bunch of dude-loving dudes are going to get together to draw lady parts. Editors Shannon O’Malley and Keith Wilson will be culling from the scribble-scratch for entries that will appear in their new book. Anatomical authenticity should not be a concern for you – the book’s called Gay Men Draw Vaginas.
Jerry Day Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park, SF. www.jerryday.org. 11:30am, donations suggested. When Jerry Garcia’s estate donated the money needed to renovate a rundown Excelsior playground, the neighborhood found a way to give back. It renamed an amphitheater after the Grateful Dead frontman who grew up in the neighborhood, and holds a yearly concert honoring his legacy.
The Blasphemists zine assembly party Cafe Royale, 800 Post, SF. www.theblasphemists.webs.com. 3-5pm, free. Gotta poem? Get published at this zine-making party. All it takes is 100 copies of your work on a 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper – the lot will be assembled and distributed as Blasphemy: Public Assembly Magazine.
MONDAY 6
Showga Starline Social Club, 2232 Martin Luther King Jr., Oakl. Facebook: Bay Area Showga. Every Monday 6:30-8pm, $5-$15 sliding scale. Katie Colver started this live music-yoga showcase for those of us turned off by staid studio-yoga culture. Come through to hear up-and-coming Bay bands while you walk your down dog.