Great food and restaurants, beauty from garbage, dark humor and dark films are themes of some of the SF Bay Area events to catch in January 2013. Our separate guide to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities, mostly on Jan. 21, lists films, concerts, volunteer opportunities and live broadcasts of President Obama's inauguration.
Mortified
January 11, at 7:30 PM
On stage, adults pull out their adolescent diaries, poems and letters to share their most embarrassing true tales from the past with complete strangers (i.e., you). You laugh, cringe, blush and shudder. Prize give-aways, plus freestyle satirical rap from The Freeze.
At DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., San Francisco 94103. Tickets $14, 21.
An Evening with Kadir Nelson
January 15, at 6 pm
Winner of the Coretta Scott King and the Caldecott Honor awards, Nelson discusses his new, illustrated book of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famed “I Have a Dream” speech. The book includes a CD of the speech that King gave at the 1963 March on Washington.
At the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free.
Ham Pants Productions Presents!
January 15, at 8 pm
The premiere of a variety show of comedy sketches, singing, dancing, “psychotic love poetry” and “general chicanery.”
At Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia St., San Francisco 94103. Tickets $10.
Dine About Town
January 15-31
There’s still no free lunch, but dozens of San Francisco restaurants are serving prix-fixe lunches for $18.95 and/or three-course dinners for $36.95. The restaurants range from Absinthe to Zingari.
3rd Base Microhood
January 17, at 6-8 pm
At this open house of the Dogpatch ‘hood by The Bold Italic & Triple Aught Design, merchants such as Sutton Cellars, Magnolia Magnolia Pub & Brewery, Poco Dolce, Workshop Residence, Oberon Design and Rickshaw Bagworks will be offering discounts, specials, tastings, tours and free drinks. The Bold Italic & Triple Aught Design are co-producing the event.
At 3rd & 22nd streets, San Francisco 94107. Free.
Michael Ondaatje
January 17, at 7 pm
Man Booker Prize winner Ondaatje (The English Patient) has written novels, poetry and memoir. Find out what makes him tick.
At the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., San Francisco 94118. Tickets $15-30.
The Edwardian Ball & World's Faire
January 18 & 19, at 8 pm-2 am
This celebration of darkly quirky author-illustrator Edward Gorey and turn-of-the-century art, theater, music, fashion and technology boasts San Francisco’s highest concentration of top hats, corsets and absinthe. Entertainment includes an enactment of Gorey's tale "The Doubtful Guest," ballroom dancing, burlesque, circus and acrobatic acts, bands, steam-powered machines, curiosities on display, DJs, an antique portrait studio, parlor games and performances by Vau de Vire Society, Wanderlust Circus Orchestra and John Brothers Piano Company. A vendor bazaar offers period garments and accoutrements.
At Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Ave. Tickets $30-90.
Good Food Awards Marketplace and Beer & Spirits Garden
January 19, at 9 am-2 pm
Taste and buy the best charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, pickles and preserves from across the country, as determined by the Good Food Awards, which honors U.S. farmers and food producers who craft delicious food items with sustainable and socially conscious operations. Separately, beer and spirit makers will pour drinks and cocktails at the hall upstairs in the Ferry Building from 11 am-2 pm.
At the Ferry Building, Market St. & the Embarcadero, San Francisco 94111. Marketplace admission: suggested donation $5; early access tickets $15. Beer & Spirits Garden admission: $15.
Member for a Day
January 19
If you’re a member of any one of a dozen Bay Area museums, today you and a friend can get into the 11 others for free. Each museum is also hosting special activities. One membership card allows for free admission for two people. Participants are: the Asian Art Museum, Cartoon Art Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum, de Young and Legion of Honor, Museum of the African Diaspora, Oakland Museum of California, SF Camerawork, SF MOMA, UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, University of California Botanical Garden, Walt Disney Family Museum and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
National Park Fee-Free Day
January 21
All national parks offer free admission--such as Muir Woods, Sequoia and Yosemite.
Sketchfest
January 24-February 10
A tribute to the Portlandia TV show and its creators, an Iron Comic game show, the cast and creators of Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete and Pete, and appearances by Janeane Garofalo, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Fred Willard, Greg Proops, Will Franken and many others.
At various venues in San Francisco. Ticket prices vary.
San Francisco Dump Artist in Residence Exhibition
January 25, at 5-9 pm; Jan. 26, at 1-3 pm; and Jan. 29, at 5-7 pm
For four months, Michael Damm, Julia Goodman and Jeff Hantman have scavenged stuff from the dump (such as rags, paper, and photographic slides) and made it into art. Come see the results. The artists discuss their work on Jan. 29 at 7 pm at 401 Tunnel Ave., near the art studio.
At Recology San Francisco Art Studio, 503 Tunnel Ave., San Francisco. Free.
Noir City
January 25-February 3
More than 25 film noir classics presented over ten days, including new restorations of Sunset Boulevard and other films, an adaption of author Richard Wright's Native Son and a tribute to Peggy Cummins of Gun Crazy, who appears opening night. A Noir City Nightclub party (Feb. 2 at the Regency Lodge, 1290 Sutter St., San Francisco) features dancing, drinks, vocalists, jazz musicians and a striptease dancer.
At Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., San Francisco 94114. Film tickets: $10, 15.
Macworld | iWorld 2012
January 31-February 2, at 10 am–5 pm
Talks, art, films, music, learning and shopping all related to Apple technology and products, including workshops on iPhoneography and productivity and sessions with Fred Armisen, Chris Breen and the creators of the OUT THERE animated comedy. An army of developers show off the latest products and apps.
At Moscone Center West Hall, , 747 Howard St., San Francisco 94103. Tickets $25 & up.
