Whether you want to crash test a piñata (and honestly, why wouldn't you?) or get a taste of Swiss ingenuity along the Bay, you're got plenty of options this weekend around North Beach.
In case you haven't seen it yet, the 2016 Big Book Sale —billed as the biggest used book sale on the West Coast—started yesterday and runs through Sunday at Fort Mason. The event features over 500,000 books & media in over 70 categories for only $3 or less; if you can hold on until Sunday, all prices drop to $1. If that isn't enough for your inner bookworm, the organizers also support free poetry readings every Tuesday night at the North Beach Library (850 Columbus Ave.)
Friday night marks the re-opening of San Francisco's historic Pier 17 (right next to the Exploratorium), which will be the one-month home to swissnex, a new innovation lab that plans to bring Switzerland and San Francisco's academics, creatives, and entrepreneurs together under one hangar. They're hosting a festival this weekend with talks, workshops, parties and concerts, but you must RSVP to attend. If you can't make it this weekend, don't worry; swissnex's exhibits will be open to the public until the end of October.
On Sunday, the annual Latino Engineering Day returns to the Exploratorium (Pier 15). The free, all-ages event combines panel discussions, presentations on the engineering heritage of Latinos, and activities such as crash testing a piñata and scribbling machines. The fun-filled day kicks off at 10am.
In local news this week, a man was attacked with an ax following an argument on Powell and Bay, and the suspects are still at large. Emma Zhou, the woman who was struck by a pine tree limb in Washington Square Park last month, has filed a lawsuit against the city for improper pruning. And CNBC checked in with a CEO who started a multi-million dollar startup from his North Beach living room.
Now, on to our editor's picks for the days ahead. For a full list of what's going on around town this weekend and beyond, don't forget to check our hoodline.com/events. If you see a local event missing and want to get in on the fun, submit it for free for the chance to see it featured in our next events roundup.
