Music
Rodrigo y Gabriela
You've got two chances to see the faster-than-light, guitar-strumming duo live. If you haven't ever seen Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero in person, you'll want to grab tickets to one of these two shows now.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tues. 7/9 and 7:30 p.m., Wed. 7/10
Where: The Masonic, 1111 California St. and The Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga
Music
SFJAZZ Summer Sessions
Get your jazz fix all summer long with a broad spectrum of global acts including Mali's famous blind couple Amadou & Mariam (playing Davies Hall on 7/11) and Ethiopian-born, SF-dwelling soulful songstress Meklit Hadero (at SFJAZZ Center on 7/12).
When: Wed. 7/10–Sun. 8/25
Where: SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St. and Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave.
Art
American Fistfight
Jon Fischer's interactive film installation American Fistfight, part of the group exhibit "Character Profile," is a multilayered study of moving pictures. His ocean-themed images with accompanying text—screen-printed by hand onto 35-mm slides—are projected onto the gallery wall. Showgoers can rearrange the sequences of the slides. The result is a synthesis between silent film and animation that explores form, language, and storytelling.
When: Wed. 7/10–Sat. 7/27
Where: Root Division, 3175 17th St.
Performance
Botany's Breath
Local choreographer Kim Epifano turns Golden Gate Park's Victorian Conservatory of Flowers into a performance venue this week with a site-specific contemporary dance work complete with live music and video. The piece will take you on a journey from room to room of lush tropical galleries, and video will be projected onto the whitewashed building from outside.
When: 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. and 9 - 10 p.m., Wed. 7/10–Sat. 7/13
Where: The Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Dr., Golden Gate Park
Lit
Allen Ginsberg Festival
The Contemporary Jewish Museum, along with local literary orgs like City Lights Books, launches this week's Allen Ginsberg Fest to coincide with its "Beat Memories" exhibit. Get a lit tour of North Beach with Ginsberg's biographer Bill Morgan, check out a panel on the legacy of Ginsberg's seminal poem Howl, or check out performances at the Beat Cafe.
When: Thurs. 7/11–Sun. 7/14
Where: Various venues
Film
Fruitvale Station
The much-talked-about, already award-winning documentary (it took the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance and Best First Film at Cannes) about the BART shooting of Oscar Grant—written and directed by Oaklander Ryan Coogler—finally hits local theaters this Friday. The film stars The Wire's Michael B. Jordan and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer.
When: Fri. 7/12
Where: AMC Metreon in SF, Oakland's Grand Lake Theater, and Berkeley's California Theater
Film
The Hot Flashes
Brooke Shields, Wandy Sykes, Virginia Madsen, Daryl Hannah, and Camryn Manheim star in SF screenwriter Brad Hennig's hilarious new comedy The Hot Flashes. Don't tune out yet thinking you're too young for this—imagine Dodgeball with a female bent. The flick is the story of a basketball team of women in their 40s who challenge high school state champs in a fundraiser to keep the local mobile mammography unit in operation. The movie even features an original song by Sheryl Crow. Round up the girls and get ready for some serious laughs this weekend. Just leave the boys at home.
When: Fri., 7/12
Where: Various venues
Art
"Electronic Pacific"
In SOMArts' July group show, shipping containers become installation spaces for 20 artists who interpret the ways in which culture is conveyed, packaged, transported, and consumed across international boundaries.
When: Fri. 7/12–Sat. 8/17
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St.
Food
CUESA Summer Celebration
On Sunday, CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) celebrates 20 years of the Ferry Building Farmers Market with unlimited food and drink from star chefs and bartenders including Ryan Farr, Charles Phan, and Dennis Lee. Tickets are $125, but $85 of that counts as a tax-deductible donation!
When: 6 - 9 p.m., Sun. 7/14
Where: Ferry Building, One Ferry Plaza
Music
Kronos Quartet with Amon Tobin, Geographer, and Magik*Magik
The legendary Kronos Quartet celebrates their 40th anniversary with a special performance at Stern Grove featuring a world premiere by internationally recognized musician Amon Tobin and opening acts by local indie-electronica rockers Geographer and a foursome from SF's Magik•Magik Orchestra.
When: 2 p.m., Sun. 7/14
Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Blvd. and 19th Ave.
Theater
This Is How It Goes
Neil Labute's provocative dramedy was extended through the end of the month after rave reviews. The story deals candidly with race and relationships in a way NY Mag hails as "smart and stylish." You know it will be good when the site claims, "For Mature Audiences Only."
When: Through Sun. 7/28
Where: Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley
Local
Urban Gardening Series
The JCC hosts a series of classes on its rooftop garden to teach the aspiring urban gardener a few tricks of the trade. Sign up for the whole series, or choose between urban composting, container gardening, fermenting and preserving, or art from nature.
When: 1 - 3 p.m., Sun. 7/14–Sun. 8/11
Where: Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St.
