This week in San Francisco: Jason Meyers’ new book, “The Mission” is released in the Haight, Jose Arenas and Phillip Hua encourage you to choose your own adventure at the opening of their show American Pastiche, and Improv Everywhere encourages you to take off your pants in public, for the sake of hilarity and public performance art.
Monday 1/4: More mellow than an evening with Alice Cooper, spend yours at Yoshi’s SF with Al Kooper, a rockstar in his own right who has done studio work with with Bob Dylan Stephen Stills. 21+, 8pm, tickets $18. 1330 Fillmore (@ Eddy).
Tuesday 1/5: Help Jason Meyers celebrate the release of his new book, “The Mission”, with drinks and a signing at Booksmith. “The Mission” tells the story of a young man on a life changing trip taken at his late brother’s request and is the follow up to Meyers’ first novel, “Exit Here”. 7.30-10pm, 1644 Haight Street (@ Cole).
Wednesday 1/6: Grab an old t-shirt and head down to the De Young Museum’s Kimball Education Gallery to participate in the opening of January Artist-in-Residence Suzanne Husky’s Forrest exhibit. Up through the end of the month, Husky will begin the development of her upcycled textile Forrest today. 1-5pm, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive.
Thursday 1/7: It’s the first First Thursday of the year, so make it count at American Pastiche: Choose Your Own Adventure, the opening reception of Jose Arenas and Phillip Hua at Hang Art Gallery. The nostalgically familiar format sets the viewer as protagonist, wandering through myriad options for adventure. 6-8pm, 567 Sutter Street.
Friday 1/8: Burlesque of North America takes over Lower Haters, but not in the way you might be imagining. The graphic arts group will redefine the space with a show devoted to the music we love, and the art they’ve created for it. 7-11pm, 587 Haight Street (@ Steiner).
Saturday 1/9: Get hip to underground art. Literally. Crash the opening reception of Max Lawrence’s latest show The Hex Inverter and Kimber Lite And The Pipes by Max Lawrence: artist and mechanical mad scientist, at MoMa’s Natoma Street parking garage and adjoining alley (of which I can find absolutely no official listing for on MoMA’s website)! Complete with an animatronic band, real bands, a lightshow, food, and drinks, this is one opening self-proclaimed lowbrow snobs will not want to miss. 5-8pm, Natoma @ Montgomery/3rd Street.
Sunday 1/10: Participate in something bigger than age, sex, race, and ultimately, bigger than pants. Be a part of Improv Everywhere’s eighth annual No Pants! Mission, which takes place in major metropolitan subways nation wide. Similar in principle to last year’s Reindeer Run Flash Mob, the rules are fairly simple: ride around town unapologetically pantsless, and be glad you’re not half naked in midst of New York City’s winter. To learn about Improv Everywhere’s other missions, check out their website.
