San Francisco is home to a breathtaking diversity of cultural events. Between our fair city’s world-class museums, restaurants, bars, art galleries, music scene, festivals, and clubs, between all that is weird and quirky and purely San Franciscan, there’s something going down, somewhere, every single day of the year. Check out our Flavorpill social discovery engine, where you can create and share events with friends, and follow our carefully curated editors’ picks. Below, you’ll find Flavorpill’s top picks for this week — just a little bit of help as you set out into this beautiful wide world of SF’s happenings.
Monday, July 29
CONFERENCE: Nerd Nite East Bay #10 Nerd Nite, which by now is a national phenomenon, derives much of its monthly sold-out success from an unlikely combination of beer and intellect. Bringing together three bona fide nerds each month to give PowerPoint presentations on topics that run the gamut from epigenetics to the science behind Rock-Paper-Scissors, Nerd Nite is like a mini TED conference, but with more swearing and more beer. Tonight, Nerd Nite East Bay’s tenth event promises to regale you with newfound knowledge about sports fandom, weird structures, and cannabis chemistry. Three cheers to the revenge of the nerds! — Bonnie Chan
Tuesday, July 30
MUSIC: Sun Volt w/ Colonel Ford
Wednesday, July 31
BOOKS: Chronicle Books Warehouse Sale Question: What’s your poo telling you? Answer: Weirdly enough, it’s telling you to check out Chronicle Books’ Semi-Annual Warehouse Sale, which starts today at its 2nd St. location. The “Poo” publisher — which is known for its distinctive and creative approach to books, including The Beatles Anthology, Griffin and Sabine, that barrage of Worst Case Scenario Handbooks (two million copies sold to two million pessimists), and everybody’s favorite fluid-based sequel, What’s My Pee Telling Me? — brings the savings (65% off everything in the store) as if to issue a gentle whisper of, “If you don’t buy your summer reading from us, you’re a total idiot.” Yes, Chronicle Books is in the mood for a book sale. Does your summer reading list need updating? — Jory John
Thursday, August 1
FILM: Movie Night at Rickshaw Bagworks: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) There’s no scarcity of summertime movie screenings to go around, but a movie night at SF-based bike messenger bag company Rickshaw Bagworks means you’re in for an especially fashionable, urban-cyclist-aesthetic film night and a nice breezy bike ride through the Dogpatch. Tonight’s film: cult classic Big Trouble in Little China (1986), starring a young Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall, plus some (what else?) Chinese food to fuel your ride home. — Bonnie Chan
Friday, August 2
MUSIC: Rancid w/ The Transplants and The Interrupters Cut off your sleeves and stock up on safety pins, Rancid is on tour! It’s time to stop pretending you’re too cool and admit that Rancid is one of the best pop-punk bands of all time. “Ruby Soho”? How can you not like that song? You can’t. And how about “Sidekick”? You’re stoked, don’t deny it. The band that defined a generation of punks is still going strong, with more than a few classics under its belt — and tonight you can see them at the Warfield, with the equally not-to-be-missed The Transplants and The Interrupters as supporting acts. — Cooper Berkmoyer
ART: Oakland Art Murmur / First Fridays
Saturday, August 3
FILM: Film Night in the Park presents The Princess Bride (1987) The big-screen adaptation of William Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride (1987) earned a loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on a swashbuckling adventure. For all its derring-do and over-the-top characters — played by a cast including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, André the Giant, Mandy Patinkin, and Billy Crystal — the joy is most distilled in the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Catch this beloved cult classic on an outdoor screen at Dolores Park, as part of the ongoing Film Night in the Park summer outdoor movie series. — Heather McCalla
Sunday, August 4
MUSIC: AmericanaramA feat. Bob Dylan w/ Wilco and My Morning Jacket Bob Dylan & His Band, Wilco, and My Morning Jacket on the same bill? Pinch us; we must have gone to folk-rock heaven. It’s called the AmericanaramA Festival of Music and it takes these musical bigwigs to parks, amphitheaters, and outdoor stadiums all across our fair land. Talk about tour of 2013. — Mindy Bond
Ongoing
FESTIVAL: Art & Soul Oakland East Oakland duo Los Rakas (aka Raka Dun and Raka Rich) put on a show that is not to be missed. The cousins blend Panamanian melodies with hip hop, dancehall, reggae, and bilingual mic skills to create their own throbbing take on reggaeton. And Los Rakas is just one of a number of outstanding headlining performers — along with Leela James, Lisa Loeb, Mara Hruby, and Quinn Deveaux — who represent the Art & Soul of Oakland this weekend at this 13th annual bustling, sprawling two-day festival of food and music. — Connie Hwong