WEDNESDAY 27
On the Cheap listings compiled by Cortney Clift. Submit items at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for listings, see Picks.
After Hours at the Conservatory of Flowers Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy, SF. www.conservatoryofflowers.org. 6-10pm, $13. The Conservatory is romantic during the day, but add drinks, an award-winning violinist, and special access to its old Victorian greenhouse, and it’s downright swoon-worthy. Jill Tracy will be playing violins from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and talking about the natural materials used to make them. A musical séance is also set to take place, channeling compositions from beloved treasures that you, the audience, will supply.
THURSDAY 28
Tears of Gaza screening Berkeley City College, 2050 Center, Berk. www.mecaforpeace.org. 7-9:30pm, $10. A documentary recording the effects of the 2008-’09 three-week bombing of Gaza by Israeli military (backed by US-made weapons). In this emotional film, Norwegian director Vibeke Lokkeberg and Palestinian cameramen show us the devastating effects of war on civilians. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion including a Palestinian refugee, a former resident of Gaza, and Barbara Lubin, an aid worker who was in Gaza during the assault.
FRIDAY 1
Gay Men’s Sketch art show Magnet, 4122 18th St., SF. www.markichester.com. Opening reception: 8-10pm, free. To celebrate 25 years of weekly meetings and sketch sessions that celebrated the male form, Gay Men’s Sketch wanted to put together a best-of showing of its work. 21 artists were responsible for these pieces, rendered in pencil, pastel, ink, watercolor, and even with an iPad. If you’re in the mood for something a little saucier there will also be work from Hot Draw! a subgroup of Gay Men’s Sketch that focuses on erotic, explicit poses.
Tall ship sailings at Jack London Square Jack London Square, Oakl. www.jacklondonsquare.com. 4-5pm, $3 donation requested. Grab your sea legs and hop on board two historic seafarers. The Lady Washington is a replica of one of the first US ships to explore North America’s west coast. The Hawaiian Chieftain is a steel-hulled replica of a typical 19th century coastal trader. The vessels are set to sail into town on Thu/28 and stay through Feb. 6. For just $3, you can take a tour of the tall ships and speak with the crew.
“Titti Trifecta” MOCO, 371 17th St., Oakl. mocoart.tumblr.com. Opening reception 6-10pm. In celebration of Women’s History Month, head to this all-female show and enjoy art, free wine, hors d’oeuvres, and live music. Later this month the exhibit will host a DIY sex toy workshop, an artist talk entitled “Slut, Cunt, Bitch, Whore,” and a feminist film night.
“UNPLUG SF: Device-Free Drinks” Inner Mission, 2050 Bryant, SF. www.unplugsf.com. 7pm-midnight, free. Feel like a screen-free night out? UNPLUG SF wants to help. Check your phone at the Digital Detox cell phone check-in station and receive a reboot cell phone sleeping bag. While your phone takes a break grab a non-Instagrammed cocktail and step into the analog zone of typewriters and board games. Enjoy community art, live music and vinyl DJs spinning soul, Motown, and oldies.
SATURDAY 2
“Free Your Mind” black literary festival San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin, SF. www.sfpl.org. 11am-5pm, free. An eclectic day-long program for families at the library. Check out a performance by author Kirk Waller and a presentation on African American genealogy, meet revolutionary authors, and take in a keynote talk by Oba T’Shaka, a civil rights leader who spent 38 years as a SF State professor.
“Muni Diaries Live” Elbo Room, 647 Valencia, SF. munidiarieslive9.eventbrite.com. Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm, $12. Advance ticket purchase suggested. Even if you’ve ridden the Muni just once chances are you probably saw something weird. With usual sightings of crazy cat ladies and men with no pants, a trip on the Muni is anything but boring. Join fellow bus goers (and even a BART operator) as they share their wackiest stories. The evening will also include the second Muni Haiku Battle where writer James Nestor will fight to keep his crown as champion.
Babylon Salon spring reading Cantina SF, 580 Sutter, SF. www.cantinasf.com. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm, free. Hugo Award-winning science fiction author Terry Bisson and Tamin Ansary, scribe of West of Kabul, East of New York will perform readings from their acclaimed works. Transmedia artist and Lady Gaga blogger Kate Durbin, author of The Plume Hunter Renee Thompson, and short story author Rashaan Alexis Meneses will also be reading.
SUNDAY 3
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Marina Green, 500 Marina, SF. www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com. Race starts at 7:30am, fitness expo 6:30am-2:30pm. If your New Year’s resolution has long since given way to take-out and TV-filled evenings, pre-register for (or just set up a folding chair and cooler to watch) the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon for some serious motivation. 2,000 triathletes will complete a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco shoreline, an 18-mile bike ride around the Presidio and an eight-mile run in Golden Park, finishing back at the Marina Green. There will also be a fitness expo throughout the weekend featuring dozens of vendors, products, demos, and more.
TUESDAY 5
Bay Bridge Grand Lighting Ceremony Embarcadero, 4 Embarcadero Center, SF. facebook.com/thebaylights. 8pm, free. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Lights is a light sculpture set to sparkle everyday from dusk to midnight for two years on the San Francisco Bay Bridge’s west span. 25,000 white individually programmed LED lights will create intricate algorithms and patterns. Head over to the waterfront this evening to be one of the first to take in this monumental moment.