How Will the Upcoming Tech IPOs Affect San Francisco?
At the same time that Uber and Lyft drivers are on strike, SF’s Chief Economist addresses how these companies’ massive IPOs will affect the City as a whole. (Take public transit.)
WED, MAY 8, 6PM, Manny’s, SF; $10

What is the Story Here? Remnants in SF Parks – a Visual Presentation
Christopher Pollock is the SF Rec and Park Dept historian-in-residence and he’ll take you into the past of many of your favorite green spaces. Think “the Ken Burns of parks”.
WED, MAY 8, 6PM, SFPL Main Library, SF; FREE

Exploratorium After Dark: Designed by Data
I’m always enamored with Explo programs, but this program especially tickles me by exploring how we bring data to life in curious ways with scientists, musicians, cartoonists, data scientists, and journalists. And of course cocktails.
THU, MAY 9, 6PM, Exploratorium, SF; FREE

East Bay Science Cafe – The Nature of UC
If you study ecosystems, you need access to ecosystems that aren’t suddenly one day going to be bulldozed and turned into a motel, which is what catalyzed the UC system into becoming a custodian of lands collectively larger than Rhode Island. Learn about this “library” of ecosystems.
THU, MAY 9, 6PM, Cafe Leila, Berkeley; FREE

Global Cities and Their Discontents
Cities are complicated beasts, more so as they become globally integrated. Urbanists Saskia Sassen and Teresa Caldeira converse about the past and future of the SF Bay Area in the context of globalization.
THU, MAY 9, 7PM, SFMOMA, SF; FREE (I think?)

Crockett’s Town-Wide Yard Sale
At the very tip of Contra Costa County lies Crockett, a vibrant small town dominated by the old C&H Sugar Factory. It also has lots of vintage goodies, delightful artists, and charm. Make a day trip of it. (The Warehouse Cafe in nearby Port Costa is also worth going out of your way for.)
SAT, MAY 11, 8AM, Crockett; FREE

Mt Tam Astronomy Night, The Largest 3D Maps of Our Universe
Sit beneath the stars atop Mt Tam in an open-air amphitheater as an astrophysicist explains the hows and whys of mapping hydrogen in the universe. Bundle up, the cold vastness of the cosmos will give you chills. Also, it gets cold on Mt Tam.
SAT, MAY 11, 7PM, Mt Theater on Mt Tam, Mill Valley; FREE

SF Ghost Sign Walking Tour
One of my favorite walking tours in SF. As buildings are torn down, century-old signs painted on the walls of neighboring buildings are suddenly revealed. These “ghost signs” tell little stories about their neighborhoods, and Kasey is a terrific ambassador for them. Multiple dates throughout Spring and Summer.
SAT, MAY 11, 11AM, Tenderloin, SF; $15

Pop-Up Magazine
Hardly an obscure event, but there are still some tickets for the Oakland show (SF’s is sold out). If you’ve missed the buzz, this “live magazine” performance/lecture/storytelling mash-up program is usually a treat, featuring radio producers, writers, filmmakers in a mixed media format.
SAT, MAY 11, 7:30PM, Paramount Theatre, Oakland; $38+

The Enchanted Forest: A Sonic Journey into Awareness & Connection
I confess I’m not a spiritual person, but I do like immersive sound sculptures. And any event where lying down on the floor is more expensive than sitting in seats piques my interest.
MON, MAY 13, 7:30PM, Grace Cathedral, SF; $20+

The Amazing Acro-Cats
I’m also not a cat person, but I’m going to make another exception. See the fabulous felines from Rock Cat Rescue perform whisker-raising feats of daring and wail on musical instruments.
THRU MAY 14, Various times, Fort Mason Center Southside Theater, SF; 20+