THURSDAY
Ross Mathews at The Regency Ballroom // Funny man Ross Mathews started out doing bits on Jay Leno then he graduated to The Celebrity Fit Club. Now he's a regular irregular on The Chelsea Handler Show and has a new book coming out, Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence. You can learn more about him at his website, Hello Ross// DETAILS: Doors open: 7:00PM // The Regency Ballroom, All Ages, 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109, (415) 673-5716 // PRICE: $32.50 in advance, $35.00 at the door
FRIDAY
‘Step to Poetry’ Stair Crawl // An exclusive after-hours launch event for Step to Poetry, a colorful literary art installation on the library’s main staircase written by WritersCorps youth. This event features a stair crawl from the first to fifth floors with youth performing their poems about popular culture along the way. // DETAILS: 6:00PM // San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street (use the Grove Street entrance). // FREE but RSVP required, contact hello@writerscorps.org or (415) 252-2546.
San Francisco Grotto Writers - 3 Minute Reads / A fast-paced and irreverent evening, showcasing new work from the students of the San Francisco Writer's Grotto writing classes. On this Friday evening, both fiction and nonfiction writers will read their work — but only for three minutes each! Their instructors (Grotto authors) will enforce the time limit. Wine, fun, and fresh new writing. // DETAILS: 6 - 9:00 PM // Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111 (415) 835-1020 // FREE
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
Maker Faire / Over 900 maker exhibits. Paradise for tinkerers and DIY-ers – and the people who love them. Ogle and test home-made musical instruments, rockets, quad-copters, mutant vehicles, flying machines and all sorts of robots. Learn how to make cheese and vinegar and even butcher a lamb, should you desire. // DETAILS: Saturday 10AM - 8PM & Sunday 10AM - 6PM // San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Dr., San Mateo. // PRICE: $30, Adult Single Day Pass.
Big WOW! ComicFest // Stan Lee will be there on Sunday. Billed as "the only major comic book convention in the Bay Area this year!" The festival includes panels, top artists, lots of comic books, costuming, gaming, anime and manga. // DETAILS: Saturday 10AM - 6PM (with after hours programming), Sunday 10AM - 5PM, San Jose Convention Center, 150 West San Carlos Street // PRICE: $15, Adult one-day ticket
SUNDAY
The 102nd Bay to Breakers Race // There is still time to register if you want to run or walk. Whether you're a runner or a watcher this is a truly original San Francisco tradition. Over 30,000 runners are expected to participate and ten bands will be positioned along the route. Security will be a little tighter this year, because of Boston events so leave your backpacks at home. Registered runners can participate in the costume contest at the finish line festivities on The Great Highway between Fulton & Lincoln Street. DETAILS: // 7:00AM to 12PM // Race Route through the city // PRICE: Runners: $58 / Oglers: FREE
Bad Movie Night: Octopussy // "Skyfail 007" at the Dark Room. From their website: "There's a lot of reasons why they probably should have stopped making James Bond movies by the early 1980s. Roger Moore was too old and too not-caring, certainly, and didn't really wanna do it anymore…just maybe, they were out of ideas. Out of good ideas, anyway." The night is hosted by Sherilyn Connelly, Mikl-Em, and Maura Sipila. // DETAILS: 8:00PM to 10:30PM // The Dark Room, 2263 Mission Street, between 18th and 19th, San Francisco // PRICE: $6.99
Arts/Culture/Weekend is a roundup of our favorite events coming up around the Bay Area. Please do let us know if you have an event coming up in your neighborhood, and we'll try to include it.