San Francisco's April calendar is packed with events, and it marks the start of the unofficial festival season. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival turns 45 years old in 2012. Besides the San Francisco International Film Festival, there is the San Francisco International Women's Film Festival. If you love goats, fishermen or bugs, there are April celebrations for you, too.
Innocents Abroad:Travels with the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit & Humor
Through May 31
The world’s largest public collection of wit and humor is in San Francisco—specifically, in our main library (no April-Fool’s joke!). It began thanks to bibliophile and globe-trotter Nat Schmulowitz, who collected humor books wherever he went during the first half of the 1900s, and in 1947 donated more than 90 of the books to the public library. The Schmulowitz Collection of Wit & Humor (SCOWAH) now contains more than 22,000 books in 37 languages and dialects. His travel journals, scrapbooks, letters and ephemera are also on display.
At the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco 94102. Free.
Reflections 2012
April 5, at 5-8 pm
The opening of an exhibit of works by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Genea Barnes, Jack Hirschman,
Amanda Lynn and other artists who used mirrors as the medium to express themes of self-reflection, self-realization or transformation. The show runs through April 26. Sale proceeds go to North Beach Citizens, which supports local homeless and low-income citizens.
At the Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth St., Suite 111, San Francisco 94133. Free.
Ed Lee: What’s Next for San Francisco
April 10, at 6 pm
Our mayor talks about creating jobs, balancing the budget, revitalizing neighborhoods and fixing other problems.
At The Commonwealth Club, 595 Market Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94105.Tickets $7-45.
The Future of Travel Writing
April 10, at 6-8 pm
Travel writers weigh in on where their industry is heading, in this panel discussion sponsored by Gogobot. Panelists include Broke-Ass Stuart a co-founder of EthicalTraveler.org, and a writer for Lonely Planet.
At Monarch, 101 6th St., San Francisco, 94103. Tickets $12.
Mortified
April 13 at 7:30 pm; April 14 at 8 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.
April 13: DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., San Francisco; tickets $14, 21. April 14: Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; tickets $13, 20.
West Portal Avenue Sidewalk Arts & Crafts Show
April 13-15, at 10 am-5 pm
More than 60 artists display their handmade sculptures, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woven rugs and other creations.
On West Portal between 15th and Ulloa. Info: West Portal Avenue Association, (415) 566-3500.
San Francisco International Women's Film Festival
April 13-15
The opening film is The Education of Auma Obama,, about President Obama’s older half-sister, a community activist in Kenya described as “an academic overachiever” with “a post-colonial, feminist identity.” The festival closes with the comedy That's What She Said and a Q&A session with its screenwriter.
At Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., and Ninth Street Independent Film Center, 145 9th St., San Francisco, 94103. Ticket prices vary
Spring Open Studios
April 14 & 15, at 12-6 pm
More than 100 artists open their studios in the Mission to the public.
At numerous venues in the Mission. Free.
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
April 14-15 and 21-22
The 45th annual celebration of Japanese and Japanese-American culture that includes food booths, dance, martial arts, live bands and the Cherry Blossom Queen pageant—and that this year also celebrates the 100th year of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. The grand parade from City Hall to Japantown is on April 22.
On Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore. Free.
San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center’s Blue Ribbon Luncheon
April 17, at 12-1:30 pm
Actress Ashley Judd, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright are the keynote speakers at this annual lunch to benefit the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center.
At Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St., San Francisco. Tickets: Contact Alysha Catalano at 415-213-7447.
CATROCKSHOW
April 19, at 8 pm
Indie singer-songwriters Cynthia Lin, Kris Racer and Annie Lin converge to deliver a night of thoughtful lyrics and soul-filling music. Give-aways of cat-themed items, too.
At Hotel Utah, 500 4th Street San Francisco, 94107.Tickets $10. Ages 21+.
See next page for the SF International Film Festival and more April events.
