Conversation
Maureen Dowd
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd—winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary and the only female columnist at the NYT—shares her personal lens on current politics and gender issues at the JCC. Dowd's fearless criticism and irreverence toward powerful politicians on both the left and the right has made for a highly anticipated lecture; tickets are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for last-minute cancellations and Craigslist resales. JCCSF will also be offering the lecture on their website as a live stream.
When: 7 p.m., Thurs. 10/24
Where: Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St.

Shopping
SF Fall Antiques Show
The Gatsby revival continues at this year's San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, where seasoned patrons can play out their Prohibition-era fantasies among the ornate art, furnishings, and trappings of the Art Deco era. Grab a coup of Champagne, and shop for 1920s fashion prints and vintage costume jewels.
When: Thurs. 10/24—Sun. 10/27
Where: Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd. and Buchanan Way

Theater
The Pianist of Willesden Lane
Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true story of the young and aspiring Jewish musician Lisa Jura. Set in Vienna in 1938 and London during the Blitzkrieg, Jura's story recounts the interruption of the Nazi regime on her musical dreams. Mona Golabek, daughter of the late Lisa Jura, will perform live on the keyboard in accompaniment to her mother's story of survival.
When: Fri. 10/25—Sun. 12/8
Where: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley

Dance
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
The LINES Ballet features a variety of performances for the Fall 2013 season, bringing home Writing Ground for its San Francisco premiere and hosting the world premiere of a highly physical full-company work set to Bach's Double Violin Concerto. Writing Ground, commissioned in 2010 by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, is set to a collection of sacred early music from a variety of religious traditions and challenges the company to expand its physical territory. Choreographed in collaboration with writer Colum McCann, the performance is lyrical and emotionally searing in its storytelling power.
When: Thurs. 10/25–Mon. 11/3
Where: YBCA, 701 Howard St.

Art
David Hockney
"David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition" goes a long way toward highlighting the pop artist's tech-savvy approach to his renderings of the natural world. In the de Young Museum's largest, and perhaps most complex, exhibition to date, more than 300 works include grand oil paintings juxtaposed against simple pencil works, as well as iPad drawings of Yosemite that counter painstakingly detailed charcoal sketches of East Yorkshire forests. A notable plus: Eighteen digital cameras, mounted in a grid formation on the museum wall, will simultaneously record and display varying perspectives of a single work of art in what Hockney calls a "cubist" landscape.
When: Thurs. 10/26—Mon. 1/20
Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.

Exhibit
"New West Coast Design 2"
Who is the Saarinen, the Eames, the Noguchi of the next generation? Ponder the question at the Museum of Craft and Design, where "New West Coast Design 2" showcases forward-thinking designs on the verge of iconic status. Standouts include Carlo Aiello's Parabola chair, Brandon Adams' Pallet Drum tables, Andrew Kudless' Sevenstar wall, and Po Shun Leong's Fortune cookie stool.
When: Sat. 10/26—Sun. 1/5
Where: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St.

Party
Foreverland Thriller Halloween Ball
With a 2nd night added by popular demand, the Foreverland Halloween Ball kickstarts the Halloween weekend with mesmerizing hits from the Jackson 5 era through the end of Michael's unforgettable career. Foreverland, a 14-piece tribute group based in San Francisco, has toured nationwide since 2009 to continue the legacy of Michael Jackson's music and legend as the King of Pop. Opening for the group is The Killer Queens, a fellow tribute band of four talented females celebrating Queen's musical depth and intelligence.
When: 8 p.m., Fri. 10/25—Sat. 10/26
Where: Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave.

Music
Bridge School Benefit
The 27th Annual Bridge School Benefit is back again at the Shoreline Ampitheatre, and the powerful lineup includes popular names such as Queens of the Stone Age, Jack Johnson, and Fun. The Bridge School is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with severe speech and physical impairments to achieve full participation in their communities; all proceeds from the benefit go directly to their efforts. Recently added to the highly anticipated lineup is Arcade Fire, performing on Saturday.
When: Sat. 10/26—Sun. 10/27
Where: Shoreline Ampitheatre, One Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View