WEDNESDAY 2
Exploratorium’s Final Day at the Palace of Fine Arts
After today, San Francisco’s exemplary “science, art, and human perception” museum will go dark — that is, until it shapeshifts into “Exploratorium On the Move” pop-ups around the city, and eventually winds up in a new home at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero (April 17). Before all that happens, take one last spin around the iconic Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, and do it all for free. Interact with those child-and-adult-friendly exhibits, touch the displays, play music, learn about animals, freak out your perceptions, drink from a water fountain toilet. Then traipse around the grounds and soak up the architecture — and chattering ducks in the pond — one last time. To find the pop-ups, follow the museum on Twitter: twitter.com/theexplainers. It’ll be tweeting its location multiple times a week. (Emily Savage)
10am-5pm, free
3601 Lyon, SF
(415) 563-7337
FRIDAY 4
“Speak Your Peace”
SOMArts has curated an exhibit of local artists that focuses on one thing we can never seem to stop talking about: peace. The show focuses specifically on the iconographies of peace and intercultural communication. Artists from a smattering of cultures will cover issues equally as diverse as identity, the prison-industrial complex in the United States, and Salvadorian military history, to name a few. The exhibit should be a multidimensional one, beginning with billboards advertising peace outside the building, and continuing in the gallery with minimalist drawings by Palestinian artist John Halaka, a graffiti-style installation by Persian artist CK1, and much more. To add to a show that already brings content off the walls and into creative forms of installation, the opening night will feature Nathera Mawla’s poetry on sexuality and identity, as well as non-violence themed music by Brotha Chaz Walker and the Peaceful Vibes. (Molly Champlin)
6pm, free
SOMArts Cultural Center
934 Brannan, SF
(415) 863-1414
Kreayshawn and Chippy Nonstop
No question, pint-sized pop rapper Kreayshawn had a rough year. But this free-with-RSVP, trill team-hyped night might be the right way to start fresh after that whole Somethin ‘Bout Kreay debacle, and remind the Bay of her youthful indiscretions and early “Gucci Gucci” oeuvre. The buzzy, bouncy 1015 Folsom lineup is filled out with local twerk champ Chippy Nonstop (“Kicked Out Da Club”), Oakland rap duo RnB Millionaires, 120 Minutes’ reliable DJ Marco De La Vega, and Swerve DJs Neto vs Sowhat. There’ll be additional ass in the air thanks to Trill Team 6’s Pony Loco, Willie Maz, and Starter Kit, along with Sick Sad World’s Spaceghost, Bobby Peru, and Gummybear. Bring it, Kreay and Co. (Savage)
10pm, free with RSVP
1015 Folsom, SF
RSVP at www.1015.com
SATURDAY 5
“The Listener: Short Stories on Stage”
Beloved local theater veteran Charlie Varon (2012’s Fwd: Life Gone Viral; 2009’s Rabbi Sam; and 1994/2004’s Rush Limbaugh in Night School) returns to the Marsh with a new cycle of five comic stories, presented in staged-reading form in two parts (with a couple of chances to hear all of ’em at once; check web site for schedule). Written and performed by solo specialist Varon (with development help and direction by David Ford), the stories revolve around characters dwelling in a San Francisco retirement community, hailing from a generation that grew up during World War II — and now exists amid a culture obsessed with texting, reality TV, and YouTube. As you might expect given the material, the tales are described as “comic, poignant, and brimming with ideas.” (Cheryl Eddy)
Through Jan. 27
Opens Sat/5, 8pm
Runs Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm (Jan 27, shows at 3 and 7pm), $15–$50
Marsh San Francisco
1062 Valencia, SF
The Meat Sluts
Start 2013 off right with San Francisco’s own carnivorous rock’n’rollers, the Meat Sluts. The Sluts shake shit up with fuzzy, distorted surf rock guitar, junkyard pounded drums, and spooky howls à la the Gories, the Trashwomen, more recent local acts such as Shannon and the Clams, and all their trashy-fun ilk. But this quartet puts a fleshy spin on it all with tracks such as “Johnny Con Carne” and “Meat Sauce.” This time, the Sluts open for legendary ’70s SF punk band, VKTMS. Finger lickin’ good. (Savage)
With Scrapers
9:30pm, $7
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
(415) 923-0923
French Cassettes
French Cassettes — a local indie-pop four-piece — formed in the flat expanses of Central California. The group has grown into a stronger groove since its relocation to San Francisco though, making the best of the tools and influences available. In the past this has included horns and a lo-fi sound but now explores more pop leanings with tightly knit guitar riffs and sweet crooning vocals. I’m not sure if there is a sad song in the band’s repertoire, which isn’t surprising, considering band leader, Scott Huerta’s constant big smile and brightly colored ensembles. Though I should note, the only thing really French about the French Cassettes’ music is a silly song about tongue kissing. Nevertheless, their live shows are upbeat and unconventional — it could just turn into a danceable jam session on stage. (Champlin)
With Coast Jumper, A Yawn Worth Yelling, Mr. Kind
8pm, $8
Brick and Mortar Music Hall
1710 Mission, SF
(415) 800-8782
“Bowie and Elvis Birthday Bash”
The King of Rock and Roll, the Thin White Duke, Pelvis, Ziggy Stardust. Both Elvis and David Bowie have risen so beyond their humbled human forms, they need(ed) multiple nicknames just to justify the scope and magnitude of their rapturous appeal. Along with visionary musical prowess, rock’n’roll-ability, and sexy, slinky moves, the two icons share a birthday (Jan. 8). Naturally, those who love both stars equally have found a way to combine it all for one big sexy, slinky birthday party. This will be the Castle’s third annual Bowie and Elvis Birthday Bash, and like previous fetes, there will be DJs playing copious Bowie and Elvis cuts. Plus, there’ll be an appearance by the First Church of the Sacred Silversexual. Dress up in black leather for Elvis, a white jumpsuit for Bowie. (Savage)
9pm, $5
Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary, SF
(415) 885-4074
SUNDAY 6
Sad Boys
With rallying cries of “Eat Shit” and “Frolic!,” Brooklyn’s Sad Boys are headed our way for a dynamic daytime spectacle at the Knockout with Drapetomania, Neon Piss, Kommplex. The rapid-fire, female-fronted punk band — which double dips members in acts such as Nomad, Putrida, Long Pigs, and Zatuson — has gained favorable comparisons to Injections, Recess Records faves the Grumpies, and…insert-your-own high-pitched late ’80s pogo punk band. They’re just gaining steam in this particular unit, releasing a hyper debut demo in 2012 with the aforementioned track titles, but something tells me we’ll be hearing more from those (gender-neutral) Boys in 2013. (Savage)
3:30-8pm, $5
Knockout
3223 Mission, SF
(415) 550-6994
Viva La Vegas
Holy loose slots, there are a zillion movies set in Las Vegas — but one of the earliest to capture the desert oasis’ anything-goes energy is 1964’s Viva Las Vegas. The kitschy classic stars Elvis (as a singing, dancing race-car driver) and Ann-Margret (as a singing, dancing lifeguard) — they were a couple off screen, too, and the chemistry between them is as brilliant as a neon sign. Viva Las Vegas screens just before the King’s birthday (Jan. 8) as part of “Thrillville Theater,” a weekly event programmed by local author, cult-film connoisseur, and Elvis fanatic Will Viharo at Oakland’s freshly opened New Parkway Theater — which brings back the old Parkway’s model of offering beer, pizza, and other goodies on its snack-bar menu. Edited to add: due to a print switcheroo, Blue Hawaii (1961) will be screening instead of Viva Las Vegas. Fear not, King fans: not only does the replacement flick contain Angela Lansbury (playing Elvis’ mother, though she was just 10 years older than him in real life), it also featuries the original performance of slow-jam staple “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Aloha! (Eddy)
6pm, $6
New Parkway Theater
474 24th St, Oakl.
(510) 658-7900
TUESDAY 8
ABADÁ free capoeira class
Smack dab in the center of a busy holiday party season, we attended a recent graduation ceremony for the SF chapter of the ABADÁ capoeira school, which started in Brazil and now has an international presence. Of course, our city’s group is special. At the graduation, a smilingly diverse group play-sparred and tumbled with each other — all ages, ethnicities, able-bodied and developmentally disabled alike. Márcia Treidler, a.k.a. Mestranda Cigarra, came from Brazil to become one of the few women in the organization to rise to her elevated teaching rank. And don’t be fooled by ABADÁ’s inclusivity, it still hosts a fierce workout. Check it for yourself at today’s edition of the no-cost monthly fundamentals class. (Caitlin Donohue)
6-7:30pm, free
3221 22nd St., SF
(415) 206-0650
“Breaking News: A Radical One-Night-Only Collaboration”
Just shy of its one-year anniversary, creator Kolmel WithLove’s new–queer performance series The News explodes its own formula with a one-night-only “Breaking News” edition, instigated by choreographer and guest host Laura Arrington, recognized expert on spontaneous queer performance (aka SQUART!). Inspired by Arrington’s recent collaborative participation in Keith Hennessy’s outstanding performance venture, Turbulence (a dance about the economy), “Breaking News” forgoes the usual proscenium approach, opening up the site of presenter SOMArts Cultural Center to more than 30 prominent and under-the-radar interdisciplinary artists whose performances, experiments, and in-process projects unfold around an audience invited to watch, perform, move around, or plop down and inertly absorb a one-of-a-kind happening in free-for-all formation. (Robert Avila)
7:30pm, $5
SOMArts Cultural Center
934 Brannan, SF
(415) 863-1414
thenewsperformance.eventbrite.com
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