A view of San Francisco just days before the earthquake.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Nerd Nite: AI Bias, Swarm Robots, and Fungi!
You had me at robots, but getting fungal in the jungle isn’t a bad hook. Join Nerd Nite for a deep dive into the world of how humans bias AIs, how to develop a swarm of robotic ants to understand some of the most complicated issues in robotics, and finally journey deep into the jungle to understand the weird fungi that emerge in tropical environments.
WED, APR 17, 7PM, Rickshaw Stop, SF; $10

1906 Earthquake and Fire Remembrance
There were many heroes in the great fire that raged through San Francisco post the 1906 earthquake. Firefighters, shopkeepers – everyone helped tried to stop the spread of the fire as it raged through the Mission. When most of the cities fire hydrants failed, a heroic hydrant in the Mission helped save many churches in the area. Every April 18th, it receives a fresh coat of gold paint to celebrate its efforts. I love the plaque nearby – “Though the water mains were broken and dry on April 18, 1906 yet from this Greenberg hydrant on the following night there came a stream of water allowing the firemen to save the Mission District.”
THU, APR 18, 5AM, Lotta’s Fountain, SF; FREE

Poems under the Dome
Every time I walk through City Hall and stare up at that dome, I wonder how amazing a space it is and how it should be used more than just for the occasional wedding and press conference. That is not a unique thought – because the same idea crossed the mind of celebrated counter-cultural icon Diamond Dave Whitaker in City Hall and said “What a great place for poetry!”. Come out for one of the more interesting location for an open mic poetry nights. It’s a popular event – I can already hear the snapping of hundreds of fingers under the dome.
THU, APR 18, 530PM – 8 PM, City Hall, SF; FREE

After Dark Cannabis
Cannabis is legal – kinda. And while that move by the state has largely been celebrated, it brings up many environmental, social, economic, justice conversations about the role of cannabis plays in our society. The Exploratorium embraces the multidimensional topic on Thursday – with hands-on explorations, talks, and exhibits. I’m personally stoked for the conversation between Rodney Holcombe, staff attorney at the Drug Policy Alliance, and Eugene Hillsman, acting director of San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis on whether legalization has truly benefited everyone equally.
THU, APR 18, 6PM – 10 PM, Exploratorium, SF; $19.95

Tiny Garage Concert Series
Move over NPR Tiny Desk concerts! It’s time for Tiny Garage concerts – an East Bay series where different bands rock out in that precious, yet bizarre spaces we call garages. This month brings a twist with a Tiki themed night with a DJ, tiki cocktails and appetizers, but the same small garage. Boonation Custom Cycles hosts the laid back event every month – what better way to kick off the weekend with an umbrella in my drink.
FRI, APR 19, 430PM – 8 PM, Boonation Custom Cycles, Emeryville; $5 Donation

Love Notes to Newton
Nope, not that Newton. We’re talking “The Newton” – made by Apple – ridiculed by the bullies on the Simpsons. It spent six years in production, boasted an elegant design, captured the spirit of a small, devoted following, but was eventually doomed to failure. Love Notes to Newton is a film about a little green computer and the people who love it. Filmmaker Noah Leon, early Apple Newton team members Steve Capps and Walter Smith discuss the beloved Personal Digital Assistant before the film screening.
FRI, APR 19, 6 PM, Computer History Museum, Mountain View; RSVP Required

Stanford Holi
The largest Holi celebration on 420 should make an interesting day of color and music. Throw as much colored powder as you can handle while shaking to non stop music. It gets crowded and your clothes may not be recoverable, but its worth the mess. Proceeds go to support Asha for Education that supports basic education activities in India.
SAT, APR 20-SUN, APR 21, 11AM – 3PM, Sandhill Fields, Stanford; $10-$30

The Menagerie: Oddities and Curiosities Market
Do you enjoy the oddity or two? Maybe even the macabre? Are you a Tim Burton fan? Then the Menagerie of the Curious and the Mysterious is for you. It is an oddities market featuring 2 floors with 40+artists and vendors of the macabre and obscure: taxidermy, medical & natural history items, antiques, dark art, memento mori and curiosities. I have my eye on some bone jewelry, but I’m not quite ready for the framed sea creatures from the deep.
SAT, APR 20, 11AM – 7PM, Alameda Elks Lodge, Alameda; $5

Earworm! In the Hall of the Mountain King
Mommy Shark do do dodododoo. I heard that playing at a hockey game last night and the earworm still persists. Science says either focus on something else, or just embrace the earworm. Focus is overrated, so I choose the latter. This is a night of intentional earworms – where you’ll hear the same song over and over and over and over again. But there will be shadow puppets, trolls, and pie fights. Daddy Shark do do dododo do.
SAT, APR 20, 8PM – 12AM, Raining Chainsaws, San Francisco; FREE

Bring your Own Big Wheel
Look – this event is a hot mess and can get a little bro-y from time to time. Plus, did it sell out when the 49ers mascot participated last year? IDK, but watching adult children in crazy costumes slide down the actual steepest hill in San Francisco, while riding toy tricycles is just a SF classic. I hope the Snowspeeder guy is back. He’s way better than Mario.
SUN, APR 21, 3PM – 6PM, Vermont and 20th St, SF; FREE, Donations encouraged.