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WEDNESDAY 16
“The James Webb Space Telescope: Science Potential and Project Status” Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, SF; www.randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. Tom Greene of NASA Ames Research Center discusses the highly advanced James Webb Space Telescope.
“Lyrics and Dirges” Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berk; www.pegasusbookstore.com. 7:30pm, free. Monthly reading series curated by Sharon Coleman, with Joyce E. Young, Monica Zarazua, Joshua McKinney, Katayoon Zandvakili, Rusty Morrison.
Celeste Ng Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The author shares Everything I Never Told You, her debut novel about a mixed-race family in 1970s Ohio.
THURSDAY 17
“The Heights of Birding in Colombia” First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, SF; www.goldengateaudobon.com. 7-9pm, $5. Photographer and birding instructor Bob Lewis shows images of birds he observed in the Colombian mountains. Sponsored by the Golden Gate Audobon Society.
LaborFest 2014 Meet at M stop at 19th and Holloway, SF; www.laborfest.net. 2-3pm, free. Park Merced Housing Walk led by members of the Park Merced Action Committee. Also 518 Valencia, SF. 7pm, donations accepted. “FilmWorks United: International Working Class Film and Video Festival:” “The Plundering” (Ressler, 2013), “Made in the USA: Tom Hudak’s Plan to Cut Your Wages” (Gillespie, 2013), “Judith, Portrait of a Street Vendor” (Pirana, 2013),” and “High Power” (Indulkar).
FRIDAY 18
“Bay Area Now 7” opening night party Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. 8-11pm, $12-15. Celebrate the opening of YBCA’s signature triennial, an exhibit highlighting works by local artists who capture “the spirit of now,” with tunes by Honey Soundsystem.
LaborFest 2014 First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, SF; www.laborfest.net. 7pm, donations accepted. “FilmWorks United:” Empire of Shame (Hong, 2013).
SATURDAY 19
“East Bay SPCA Pet Adopt-a-Thon” Jack London Square, Washington at Embarcadero, Oakl; www.jacklondonsquare.com. 10am-3pm, free. Meet your new best friend at this event highlighting East Bay adoption agencies — and the dogs, cats, bunnies, rats, guinea pigs, birds, and reptiles they care for that need new homes. The event also features canine demos and $10 microchip implants.
“GeekGasm” Club OMG, 43 Sixth St, SF; geekGasm.eventbrite.com. 9pm-2am, $5 (free with advance RSVP and before 11pm). Let your inner geek out with fellow nerds, dorks, cosplayers, furries, sci-fi fans, gamers, and gaymers at this party, which features dancing, a costume contest, drink specials, and more.
LaborFest 2014 ILWU Local 34 Hall, 801 Second St, SF; www.laborfest.net. 10am-1pm, free. “Life and Death! The Attack on OSHA, Workers Health and Safety, and Injured Workers” public forum. Also National Japanese American Historical Society, 1684 Post, SF. 2pm, free. “ILWU and Japanese Americans” presentation. Also ILWU Local 34 Hall. 7:30pm, donation. “Movement Energy: A History of May Day and the Eight Hour Day,” performance by the Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus, Sat, 7:30.
Sara Lautman Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, SF; www.cartoonart.org. 1-3pm, free. The July cartoonist-in-residence shares and discusses her work.
“Meet Your Maker” David Brower Center, 2150 Allston, Berk; www.browercenter.org. Noon-6pm. Free. Celebrate the alternative economies of the Bay Area at this event featuring artisans from Treasure Island Flea, educators from Institute of Urban Homesteading, Urban Ore scavengers, and more, plus a craft market, food trucks, workshops, presentations, and more.
SUNDAY 20
“How a Chinese Game Shaped Modern America” Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission, SF; www.thecjm.org. 1-2pm, free with museum admission ($10-12). Stanford’s Annelise Heinz discusses mah jongg’s journey from China to America’s Jewish community, with a focus on the Catskills and San Francisco. Part of the CJM’s new exhibit, “Project Mah Jongg.”
LaborFest 2014 First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, SF; www.laborfest.net. Noon-2pm, free. Reception for “Union Artists and Labor Art,” with works by Attila Cziglenyi, Carol Denny, David Duckworth, and others. Also 240 Second St, SF. Noon, free. “Irish Labor History Walk.” Also Niles Station, 37001 Mission, Fremont. 2pm, $7-12. “All Aboard the Niles Canyon Train and Films,” train ride and film screening at the Edison Theater.
TUESDAY 22
“We Are CA: Glen Denny and Yosemite in the Sixties” California Historical Society, 678 Mission, SF; www.californiahistoricalsociety.org. 6-8pm, $5. Veteran Yosemite climber Denny shares photographs and recounts his experiences climbing with the 1960s icons of “Camp Four.”
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