Another weekend approaches and it just so happens to bring a very North Beach-esque event with it, along with plenty of music, comedy and other activities to get you out and about. (Note: we've included some waterfront activities to give you further options that are slightly outside the neighborhood).
Culture
Beatnik Shindig - Friday through Sunday
The first-ever Beatnik Shindig, sponsored by North Beach's own Beat Museum, will be held at Ft. Mason this weekend. Billed as the the largest Beatnik gathering in 20 years, the event helps celebrate the 60th anniversary of Allen Ginsberg's first public reading of Howl, which North Beach-based City Lights published the following year. The event will bring together writers, scholars, poets, filmmakers and casual fans and feature poetry workshops, discussions and even a Hudson Car show. If all that's not North Beach enough for you, Tony's Pizza is sponsoring the event as well. You can purchase tickets online and check out beatnikshindig.com for more information.
Beat Shindig poster. Graphic: The Beat Museum/Facebook
Historic Waterfront Walking Tour - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am
Join a Park Ranger to discover the history behind the Aquatic Park District, Hyde Street Pier, and Fisherman's Wharf. Free and open to the public.
Live from the Galapagos: Exploring the Deep Sea with Exploration Vessel Nautilus - Saturday, 1:40pm
Visit the Exploratorium and join a live chat with scientists and educators on board the Exploration Vessel Nautilus as it explores the vibrant ecosystem around the Galapagos rift zone. The event is free with Exploratorium admission and, if you can't make it, there's a web chat version as well.
This is the last Sunday you can join park rangers on board the the Balclutha and learn more about rigging in addition to aloft demonstrations. The event is weather-specific, so call (415) 447-5000 for more information. Tickets at $5, children under 16 years old are free.
Photo via NPS.Gov
Laughs
Cobb's Comedy Club - Def Comedy Jam and Curb Your Enthusiasm veteran J. B. Smoove takes the stage with two sets on Friday and Saturday night. On Sunday, Hot 105.7 DJ Chuy Gomez and San Diego-based For The People Comedy Present "The Funny Drop". As always, check out cobbscomedyclub.com for tickets and information.
Punchline - Comedian and podcaster Bryan Callen is performing two sets on Friday and Saturday night. On Sunday, the weekly SF Comedy Showcase begins at 8pm. Check punchlinecomedyclub.com for tickets.
Sounds
Doc's Lab: Friday evening will include a trifecta of performances from SF native Lou Evans, Tony Glaser and Brett Hunter (doors open at 7pm). It gets kicked up a notch on Saturday with performances from post-punk outfit Roadside Memorial, SF-based In Letter Form, Untamed Creatures, the Funeral Kings, Starr Noir, Noveli and SF-based Davey Bones (doors open at 7pm). On Sunday, the 17-piece big band Electric Squeezebox Orchestra returns for their free Sunday show alongside performances from Jazz in the Neighborhood and the El Cerrito High School Jazz Quintet (doors open at 5:30pm).
Fior d'Italia - The Italian eatery will host Mal Sharpe Big Money in Jazz Band on Sunday from 2:30-5:30pm.
Maggie McGarry’s: Dance/funk/hip hop group Hella Good hits the stage at 10pm Friday followed by Bay Area originals SuperBad! on Saturday, also at 10pm.
Pier 23 Cafe: The Bay-side cafe will feature the jazz outfit Mikael Garcia Band on Friday (8pm - free), SF-based reggae group The Native Elements Raggae on Saturday (10pm - $10 at the door) and country music group Lonesome Fugitives on Sunday. (5pm - free)
Rose Pistola: The North Beach All Stars, lead by SF native Ned Boynton, will perform at 9pm Friday. Saturday evening will feature "gritty saloon jazz" from Tumbledown House (9pm) and the Eric Markowitz Trio takes the stage Sunday evening at 8pm. Reminder: there's no cover charge to see any of the Rose Pistola performances.
The Condor: The adult venue closes out this month's music offerings with performances from Jose Simoni on Friday, the Ben Suncin Band on Sataurday and Blues Jam featuring Cole Alanson on Sunday.
The Saloon: Another jam-packed weekend for the oldest saloon in the city, including harmonica player Spencer Jarrett and Blues singer Jan Fanucchi on Friday, R&B outfit Tony Perez and 2nd Hand Smoke along with SF-based guitarist Ron Hacker on Saturday and Sunday mainstay Blues Power along with blues-quartet The Door Slammers to round out the weekend.
Photo: Tupelo/Facebook
Tupelo: '70s groove band Hot Einstein hits the stage at 9:30pm on Friday, followed by Tony Perez and 2nd Hand Smoke's second set of the day (first one is at the Saloon in the afternoon) starting at 9:30pm on Saturday. Finally SF-based funk and jazz group The Love Gangsters perform at 9pm Sunday.
Workshops
Aging in Place and Shared Housing: The Transition Network-HOME and NEXT Village SF have come together to host a three-part summer series on aspects of living alone or sharing one's home with a non-family member. Topics will include how to support aging independently (transportation, meal delivery, finances, access to healthcare, etc.) and issues that may arise that affect a successful home share, whether as an owner, renter or housemate. The workshop starts this Sunday at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center on Lombard and continues again on July 26th and August 23rd. It's $45 for the series; please email [email protected] or call Janet Crane at (415) 398-4094 for more information.
Let us know if we missed anything in the comments!
