The Castro is always packed to the gills with event choices that are fun and interesting to do. In the next week there are several excellent choices to go check out that fall outside of the usual, same ol same ol, club nights.
Poster for the 14th Annual SF Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival
Over at Cafe Du Nord and the Swedish American Hall (2170 Market) the neighborhood's only live music venue, the 14th Annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival is in full swing. The festival is held at different locals throughout the Bay Area, but, in SF its home away from home is Cafe Du Nord.
SF is one of the cultural, urban epicenters for Bluegrass and Old Time music. The genre found an audience here during its early days of popularity when Bluegrass first gained nationwide attention. That love affair continues with this music rooted in Irish/Scottish folk disciplines crossed with African-American Blues and unique Americana country elements into today with this festival.
Cafe Du Nord, built in 1907 named one of Americas top 40 'Live Music Venues' by Paste magazine, has always been a great spot to see a show. If you've never experienced Bluegrass this is a fantastic opportunity to step outside of your musical comfort zone give it a whirl with some of the best examples of the genre currently around.
The full calendar is contained within the link but tonight, Saturday the 16th, features two choices to try. First, downstairs at the Cafe, its new, 'Alternative Bluegrass', sounds with The Fucking Buckaroos, Big Jugs and Supermule. Doors are at 8, tickets, $15, 21+.
Option Two, upstairs at the Swedish American Hall, you can lose your mind with the Festivals official Square Dance event featuring Triple Chicken Foot, Knuckle Knockers and special guest caller, Jordan Ruyle. All levels of dancers welcome. The Square Dance is ALL AGES so everyone can come and join in. $15, Doors at 7.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihiQJelPMZE
Our second major plug for where to spend your hard-earned entertainment buck is over at the historic Castro Theatre (429 Castro). They're playing host to a showing of the brilliant, 2011, intimate documentary on Diana Vreeland, legendary fashion editor and icon aptly titled, 'Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel'.
Diana Vreeland-The Eye Had To Travel, billboard ad touting it's merits.
This special screening event takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 20th. Banana Republic is sponsoring and the film's director, Lisa Vreeland who married the late editor's grandson, will be on hand to take Q&A's from the audience. There will also be a cocktail party at 7 PM pre 8PM movie showing.
Diana Vreeland's influence on fashion is without parallel. Her time as Fashion Editor at Harper's Bazaar, 1936-1962, and then Editor-in-Chief at fashion powerhouse Vogue, 1963-1971, heralded a time of great change within the world of women's apparel, society, politics and what role a woman played in every aspect of life itself.
Known as the 'Empress of Fashion', Ms. Vreeland was named to every 'Best Dressed' list ever assembled, broke new ground in fashion from her first editorial she ever headed at Harper's and also helped nurture and curate an ongoing interest in fashion as art and historical artifact by heading up the Costume Institute at the ever influential NY Metropolitan Museum of Art. This woman's life is worth knowing and this film is a love letter to her spirit and drive. Tickets are $12, can be purchased in advance here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU3USR7o43w&feature=player_embedded
