It’s official, holiday season is in full swing! The city is teeming with bubbles, baubles, bunnies and elves. Check out the events listing below, as well as SFKids’ copious holiday events flyer and best bets of this week.
Kids re-enact the first Thanksgiving on video, in a more accurate portrayal of race relations, warm fuzzies and all. Nancy López reports on proposed eviction law to keep families in the city, and Garrett McAuliffe covers urban teen literature. Need a cozy quiet nook to snuggle with your book? Come read in Kaleidoscope Free Speech Zone’s storytime every Wednesday 5:30-7 p.m. Read the debate on medical marijuana for teens. Also, scientists discover dirt is healthy and we are grateful.
For the morning lark in your life, L’s Caffe celebrates their fourth anniversary with new menu specials, including a $3 children’s bagel breakfast. Breakfast with Enzo on Saturdays for a fun musical jumpstart to the weekend. Boogie barefoot on Sunday mornings in the Heart of the Mission Dance. Late-rising families can brunch at Foreign Cinema, Los Jarritos and Los Pastores. Not to mention the other gadzillion unyelped places that offer sleepy-eyed chow. Cafe Gratitude offers free Thanksgiving meals and volunteer opportunities, and Lucca’s got fresh Turkey Ravioli, ready to cook. Of course, there’s the Thanksgiving leftovers – a tradition of its own.
Keep your eyes peeled for A Curious Cinema, presented by Marina McDougall (co-founder of Studio for Urban Projects) and educator Bryan Welch (A Curious Summer). The new film series “has been designed to captivate, spellbind and intrigue 6-year-olds and up.” It begins Dec. 4 with Secret Life of the Sewing Machine (1988, 30 mins.). Evening program includes movie screening, hands-on creative clothing modification and a vegetarian meal. Happy Thanksgiving!
I don’t want you to just sit at the table.
I don’t want you just to eat, and be content.
I want you to walk into the fields
Where the water is shining, and the rice has risen.
I want you to stand there,
Far from the white tablecloth.
I want you to fill your hands with mud,
Like a blessing.
(Mary Oliver, from “Rice”)
Events: (subject to change, confirm time)
Sing Along Sound of Music
Screening of classic Julie Andrews musical with song subtitles. Set in pre-WW2 Austria, a dropout nun becomes governess to seven stage-worthy children of a strict widow. Love blooms like edelweiss. Dress up in costume, receive a goody bag, and frolic in widescreen hills that echo with vigorous yodeling. Nov. 25, 7pm, and Nov. 27-29, 1pm and 7pm. $10-15. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St. (at Market St.)
Thanksgiving Appreciation Meal
Gobble mindfully or serve delicious raw vegan food. For free meal or to volunteer, just drop by — no need to RSVP. Thurs., Nov. 26, 11am-3pm. Free. Cafe Gratitude, 2400 Harrison St. (at 20th St.)
Fuck Black Friday
“M-A-L-L.” Say it slow and low, and it sounds like zombie sex. Just another reason to do your holiday shopping at this three-day arts and crafts fair featuring unique gifts by local indie artisans. Fri.-Sun., Nov. 27-29, 10am-6pm. Kaleidoscope Free Speech Zone, 3109 24th St. (at Folsom St.)
The Greatest Bubble Show on Earth
Gobs of bubbles brew in the Marsh: flying saucer bubbles, smoky square bubbles, cosmic bubbles, centipede bubbles, even kids in bubbles. Float into an iridescent paradise with Louis Pearl, the Amazing Bubble Man. Audience participation, bubbly music and breath caught between thoughts. Nov. 27 – Dec. 27. $7-10. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St. (near 22nd St.)
The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams’ classic tale of everlasting love between a boy and his threadbare toy rabbit is brought to stage with music, dance and dynamic narrative. Presented by contemporary dance company ODC/Dance, this holiday production is in its 23rd season. Nov. 27 – Dec. 13. $15-45. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard St. (at Third St.)
Rosas en el Mar
Todas son nuestras hijas / they are all our daughters. Declare solidarity with women around the globe and commitment to heal from violence. Teach-in (on origins of patriarchy and violence against women), music, poetry, dance, altar and healing session. Performances by Lorna Dee Cervantes, Mamacoatl and others. Part of 16 Days of ARTivism for the Elimination of Violence toward Women and Girls. Sat., Nov. 28, 6-9pm. $10(no one turned away). Dance Mission, 3316 24th St. (at Mission St.)
MUMC Holiday Tree Lighting
Colorful tree lighting, holiday music and carols from all traditions, strolling musicians, and palm trees festooned with big red bows. Donna Sachet hosts, and special blessing by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Entertainment features SF Gay Lesbian Freedom Band, SF Gay Men’s Chorus, MCC Choirs and SF L/G Chorus. Santa, Ms. Donna Claus and their special Elf do the honor of lighting the tree. Mon., Nov. 30, 6-6:30pm. Free. Castro and 18th St. Plaza.
Kids Climate Justice Clean-Up Parade
It’s Int’l Day of Action for Climate Justice. Skip school and work, bring a mop and march down Market Street to Nancy Pelosi’s office. Write a message to Obama and the climate negotiating team on signs and rags. Rally with thousands across the globe to inherit a better world. Mon., Nov. 30, 11:30am. Justice Hermann Plaza (near trees, grassy field area)
Exit Cuckoo
“Lisa Ramirez gives an inside look into the complicated, disturbing and often overlooked world of mothers, nannies and children… Both brave and funny, Exit Cuckoo deserves our attention.” (Eve Ensler) Wed., Dec. 2, 7:30pm. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St. (near 22nd St.)
Coming up (RSVP/tickets on sale):
Dec. 1-6 Second Annual International Body Music Festival
Body music and body percussion.
Dec. 3-5 Left Coast Leaning
Celebrating West Coast dance, theater and music.
Dec. 4 A Curious Cinema: Secret Life of the Sewing Machine
Film, stitch and vegetarian meal.
Dec. 5 Fiesta del Tamal 2009
Tamale love.
Dec. 11-12 Sha Sha Higby
Mesmerizing otherworldly dance-sculpture.
Dec. 12 Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness (1927)
Presented by SF Silent Film Festival.
Dec. 13 Dance Brigade’s The Revolutionary Nutcracker Sweetie – The Kidz Version
Clara and Freedom Fighting Nutcracker
Dec. 12 Dance-Along Nutcracker
“Blazing Nutcrackers!”
Dec. 12-Jan. 3 Fun-derful Holidaze
With clown Unique Derique and friends.
Dec. 18-Jan. 3 Mr. Yoowho’s Holiday
European clown/ mime/ Japanese Kyogen/ Yiddish absurdism.
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