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Issue 310 |
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Your cultural event guide
Here's a snapshot of our favorite things to do in San Francisco this week. |
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San Francisco
Apr 8-14, 2008
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Blame it on the balmy weather, but festivals are springing up this week like so many wild flowers. Epicures will no doubt find sweet succor at the International Chocolate Salon, while film buffs can raise their social consciousness at the Women's Film Fest, or simply blow their brains out with Japanese action cinema. And, across town, the dulcet ring of mandolins might bring to mind another classic shoot 'em up.
- Matt Sussman, Managing Editor
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Jad Abumrad
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WNYC's Radiolab is breaking new ground with its innovative audio storytelling; each episode tackles sprawling topics such as music or morality from various scientific and anecdotal angles. Co-host Jad Abumrad spoke with our sister publication Boldtype about how telling a story is like composing music, what makes for a good science read, and why Orson Welles was an evil genius.
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One Step Beyond
Simian Mobile Disco tore up our sold-out NYC party. Up next: Matthew Dear.
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Flavorpill Mobile
Access Flavorpill listings, rate events, and find friends on the go, all via your handheld device.
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MORE FLAVOR: Discussion
City Arts & Lectures presents Amy Richards and Dan Savage
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Tuesday Apr 8 (8pm)
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Herbst Theater (401 Van Ness Ave, 415.621.6600)
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$19
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It's not hyperbole to claim Dan Savage as one of America's most influential journalists. Since his internationally syndicated "Savage Love" advice column premiered in 1991, he has doled out radical, frequently hilarious sex advice to the horny and the hopeless. The self-described "gay Ann Landers" is too clever for many of his critics, some of whom are card-carrying liberals. Tonight's co-speaker, Amy Richards, also writes an advice column, though she's probably best known for her controversial 2004 essay about becoming pregnant with triplets and opting for a "selective reduction" from three fetuses to one. Her upcoming book, Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself, considers the many faces of motherhood.
- Max Goldberg
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Rock/Pop
Acid Mothers Temple w/ Mammatus and Numinous Eye
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Tuesday Apr 8 (9pm)
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Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th St, 415.621.4455)
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$12
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Acid Mothers Temple's frothy psychedelia references everything from Blue Cheer to Albert Ayler. And yet, guitarist Kawabata Makoto (the mutable group's guiding light) leads half-hour gonzo jams that give AMT an intensity all their own. These Japanese rockers are also known to bring super-limited vinyl releases to their epic performances, so don't forget to swing by the merch table. The young guns in Mammatus warm things up with their heavy take on prog rock, for the distinguished Holy Mountain label. Written from the Santa Cruz mountains, their multi-part songs dabble in fantasy and narrative, but still manage to be as much free jazz as King Crimson.
- Max Goldberg
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Festival
San Francisco Women's Film Festival
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Wednesday Apr 9
More times»
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| where: |
Various locations
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| price: |
Various prices
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Hitchcock, Scorsese, Kubrick, Tarantino, the Coen brothers — the book of cinematic history is filled with the names of male filmmakers and their achievements, while the equally gifted Sofia Coppolas and Jane Campions of the world are often but footnotes in its margins. Scarlett Shepard founded the San Francisco Women's Film Festival as a platform for local, student, and international women filmmakers to gain more of the recognition they deserve. This year's selection of narratives, documentaries, shorts, and experimental films spans the topical spectrum, from Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night (2005), an exploration of globalization, capitalism, and identity, to Passion & Power: The Technology of Orgasm (2007), a documentary about the history of the vibrator.
- Annie Lo
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Dance
The Crucible's Fire Ballet: Stravinsky's Firebird: L'oiseau de feu
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Wednesday Apr 9 (7:30pm)
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The Crucible (1260 7th St, 510.444.0919)
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Various prices
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Departing from the classical mode of ballet, the artists, dancers, and musicians at the Crucible pay modern homage to Igor Stravinsky's musical tale of a Russian prince and a fiery bird with magical plumage. A backdrop of fire-breathing sculptures by resident artists and a musical score updated with contemporary twists by Scott Sterling (aka Drumspyder) support this new production, while dancers, aerialists, and motorcycle stuntmen re-envision the story under the direction of choreographer Viktor Kabaniaev.
- Tanya Feldman
[Info Source]
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FILM
No Borders, No Limits: 1960s Nikkatsu Action Cinema
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Thursday Apr 10
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Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St, 415.978.2787)
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$8
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In the '60s, Japanese studio Nikkatsu created a super-stylized new breed of action film — one that reflected many of the post-war period's cultural sea changes. Portrayed by an exclusive line of marquee names, Nikkatsu's lone wolves and hit men hung out at rock and jazz clubs, drove hotwired foreign cars, and rebelled against Japanese organized crime's obeisance to filial piety. Though the films of Nikkatsu alum Seijun Suzuki have already recieved much attention, YBCA and Outcast Cinema showcase some of the studio's underappreciated gems, such as Takashi Nomura's awesomely titled A Colt Is My Passport (1967); Koreyoshi Kurahara's roughneck version of La Strada, Glass Johnny: Looks Like a Beast (1962); and Toshio Masuda's The Velvet Hustler (1967).
- Matt Sussman
[Info Source]
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MUSIC
Arlo Guthrie
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Thursday Apr 10 (8pm)
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Zellerbach Hall (2100 Bancroft Way, 510.642.9988)
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$24 - 52
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Because commercial radio found his songs too long or too offensive, massive stardom often eluded folk hero Arlo Guthrie. Still, the celebrated troubadour's catalogue helped define a generation. The offspring of folk icon Woodie Guthrie, Arlo is perhaps best known for 1967 hit "Alice's Restaurant," the 18-plus minute Vietnam war-protest paean that inspired the subsequent Arthur Penn feature. Of course, he also penned similarly ubiquitous tunes like "The Motorcycle Song," and his covers ("City of New Orleans" is a standout) and collabs with artists like Pete Seeger and his dad rivaled the originals. Expect a slate of revolution tunes tonight, as Guthrie hits UCLA armed with two guitars, a harmonica, and his legendary razor-sharp wit.
- Julian Hooper
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Comedy
Point Break LIVE!
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Friday Apr 11
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Xenodrome (1320 Potrero Ave, 415.285.9366)
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$25
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Point Break LIVE! is like the production of a traveling Shakespearean theatre troupe — only the royal court is a downtown theater and it's, like, set at the beach. The show reenacts the 1991 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze movie amid bar stools, with histrionic, half-naked actors "skydiving" in jerry-rigged suspension systems, and "surfing" as the audience is sprayed with water pistols. And, in a nod to reality television, the role of FBI agent/undercover surfer Johnny Utah is played by a different audience member every night. Keanu hopefuls must prove their aptitude by auditioning with gems like "No, I say when the ride is over," and "Vaya con Dios, brah." Fingers crossed for a Roadhouse LIVE!
- Celine Malanum
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: DJ
Timo Maas w/ Hercules and Love Affair
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Friday Apr 11 (10pm)
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Mezzanine (444 Jessie St, 415.625.8880)
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$22
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Revered deck-master Timo Maas' ample cred hangs on his panache for captivating dance-floor cognoscenti with dark, crunchy, mind-melding stadium techno that meshes electro, rock, and rap. At his most cohesive, his bottom-heavy, rubbery bass and pile-driving thump betray latent, radio-friendly noblesse, flashing endearing glimpses of a gifted DJ in full crossover bloom. Equally saavy in regards to genre-hopping production, recent DFA darlings Hercules and Love Affair have been setting blogs and dance floors on fire with their slow-burning mix of early Chicago house, latter-day disco, and present-day diva vocals courtesy of Antony Hegarty.
- Matt Sussman
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Party
Yuri's Night Bay Area 2008
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Saturday Apr 12 (2pm–2am)
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NASA Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, 650.604.5000)
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$50 / $40 advance
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As part of a worldwide celebration of space exploration, Yuri's Night (named for Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space) brings together scientists, engineers, artists, and musicians to showcase our collective space legacy and hopes for the future. With the topic of "Radical Technology for a Sustainable Future," this year's event includes 75 space-themed art and science installations, along with keynote speakers, cutting-edge interactive demonstrations from local green-technology companies and NASA projects, and performances by Phil Lesh's new band, Telstar, and Amon Tobin.
- Annie Lo
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Rock/Pop
Nick Lowe and Robyn Hitchcock
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Saturday Apr 12 (9pm)
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The Fillmore (1805 Geary Blvd, 415.346.6000)
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$35
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Nick Lowe is one of power pop's original architects, long known for his association with Elvis Costello (he produced the spectacled singer's debut album, My Aim Is True, and wrote his big hit "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" Lowe's reputation might finally stand on its own, though, with the recent reissue of his 1978 debut, Jesus of Cool — an eclectic set of whip-smart rock that stands up to any of Costello's early albums. Lowe's baritone voice has mellowed, but he's still the consummate tunesmith. Co-headliner Robyn Hitchcock continues to be underappreciated outside his native England, although his early-'80s take on psychedelic punk seems increasingly prescient.
- Max Goldberg
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Food/Wine
San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
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Sunday Apr 13 (10am–6pm)
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Fort Mason Center (99 Marina Blvd, 415.721.4770)
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$20 / $17.50 advance
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The Chocolate Salon welcomes everyone — from candy-shop owners looking for new products to gourmands with a sweet tooth — for a delicious all-day feast. Among the many vendors offering samples of their confections are Guittard, Coco-Luxe, and the Tea Room (whose truffles are infused with bergamot, green tea, and everything in between). Demonstrations and talks with chocolatiers are scheduled throughout the day, as well as a screening of the new documentary short In Search of the Heart of Chocolate by award-winning filmmaker Sarah Feinbloom.
- Tanya Feldman
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Party
Donuts! presents Enon w/ the Blacks
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Sunday Apr 13 (9pm)
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Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th St, 415.621.4455)
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$10
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Traversing the boundaries between pop and electro-noise anarchy, Enon are a thinking-man's crazy band — a sometimes smooth, most-times jitter-inducing excursion into off-kilter indie rock. Buzzing guitars writhe over Toko Yasuda's affected cool-kid croon, as static from unidentifiable sources envelops the whole hip-shaking rock mess, beseeching even the shoegazers in the crowd to get down and dirty. That's not to say it's all fun and games; there's definitely an avant-garde approach to electronics happening here. It's just that Enon see style, experimentation, and substance as mutually inclusive endeavors. Transcontinental punks the Blacks get the party started, and DJ Pickpocket ensures that the dancing continues long after the bands have stopped playing.
- Andrew Phillips
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Rock/Pop
Eels
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Monday Apr 14 (8pm)
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Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (3301 Lyon St, 415.421.8497)
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$32.50
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While fans will have already bought tickets for this gig, others may be thinking, "Well, their albums get great reviews, but who wants to sit through two hours of angst?" They'd be off the mark: Eels are all about catharsis. In the tradition of the greats of blues and soul that they follow, E and his band focus on the (sometimes downbeat) human condition, but in the end it's what's at the end of the rainbow that matters. As proof, their regular encore is called "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)." You may even leave with a smile on your face.
- Nick Clarke
[Info Source]
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READING
What Am I, Chopped Liver? Stories of Food and Jews
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Monday Apr 14 (8pm)
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JCC East Bay (1414 Walnut St, 510.848.0237)
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$12
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From the matzoh of Exodus to Alexander Portnoy's onanistic union with his family's chicken-liver dinner, stories of Jewish culture have always involved food. This inaugural East Bay edition of Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick's Porchlight storytelling series sets a full table, with courses from UC Davis Associate Professor Lawrence Bogad, NPR commentator Dayvid Figler, queer-punk writer/performer Nomy Lamm, Rabbi Alan Lew, journalist Emily Richmond, and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain. In addition to seders gone awry and weight-obsessed bubbes, each storyteller provides a family recipe, so you can continue the conversation in your own kitchen.
- Matt Sussman
[Info Source]
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ART
The Way That We Rhyme: Women, Art & Politics
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Tuesday Apr 8 (noon–5pm)
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Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St, 415.978.2787)
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| price: |
$7
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American culture always seems poised to pronounce feminism down for the count, when it clearly still has plenty of fighting to do. To that end, the politically minded female artists in Yerba Buena's energizing group show The Way That We Rhyme make for a hell of a posse. While the younger generation may question the activists, professors, and artists who came before them, the works in this exhibition are bound by their strong connection to history. Artists like Leslie Labowitz, Suzanne Lacy, and Miranda July open their archives to the public, while drag provocateur Vaginal Davis makes her entire room accessible for public riffling and reflection.
- Matt Sussman
[Info Source]
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ART
Lucas DeGiulio, Bill Jenkins, and Chadwick Rantanen
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Thursday Apr 10 (noon–6pm)
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Jancar Jones Gallery (965 Mission St, Suite 120, 415.281.3770)
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| price: |
FREE
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Jancar Jones Gallery consecrates its new space with a group exhibition showcasing works from Lucas DeGiulio, Bill Jenkins, and Chadwick Rantanen. Though the three men have independent practices and are aesthetically distinct, this untitled show does well to wrangle them all into one (incredibly tiny) room. Each artist imbues familiar objects with cryptic and peculiar significance. DeGiulio's delicate pieces are built on the striking and often poetic contrast between manufactured materials and the natural world, while Rantanen's works examine interior scenes and convey far grimmer tones. Jenkins, meanwhile, adds a more playful touch with his textured assemblages.
- Isaac Amala
[Info Source]
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About Us |
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Cultural Partner
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Editors
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Flavorpill San Francisco
All events featured on Flavorpill SF are pure editorial — we never accept paid promotions or advertisements. If you know about an upcoming event that you think should be covered in Flavorpill SF, email us | |
