This week in San Francisco, the Booksmith hosts some radical readings, Last Gasp teams up with 111 Minna for a showing of legendary Japanese erotica, SoEx’s Cinema by The Bay, and the Day of the Dead!
Monday 11/1: A struggling artist mother, Bolshevik assassinations in the family, and enduring the pre-swan years of her ugly duckling syndrome drove Kate Moses to seek solace in the kitchen. Her new memoir, Cakewalk, is the story of Moses’ life before becoming an acclaimed author and Salon editor. The Booksmith celebrates with a launch party tonight at 7:30pm. Free and all ages @ 1644 Haight Street.
Tuesday 11/2: First of all, get out there and vote. Then, head down to the Mission for the annual Dia de los Muertos procession beginning at 22nd and Bryant Streets. If you can’t make it to the procession, the altars will be in view in Garfield Park between 4 and 10pm. Free & all ages, 6pm @ 22nd and Bryant Streets.
Wednesday 11/3: Head back to the Booksmith for Quiet Lightening’s first bookstore event, and get the latest copy of sPARKLE & bLINK. On the roster this month: Maisha Johnson, Hollie Hardy, Chris Cole, Nic Alea, Matthew James DeCoster, Amanda Snyder, Matt Stewart, Andrew O. Dugas, Alia Volz, H.K. Rainey, M.L. Heath, Daniel Ishofsky, and Rumpus editors Jeremy Hatch, and Seth Fischer! $3, 7-9pm @ 1644 Haight Street.
Thursday 11/4: It’s the first Thursday of the month, time for new art and old booze. This month, underground comic publishers Last Gasp have teamed up with 111 Minna to bring the godfather of Japanese erotica stateside for a solo exhibition. Toshio Saeki’s latest art show comes just in time for the release of his new book, Onikage, or “Demon Shadow”. Free, 21+, 5pm @ 111 Minna Street.
Friday 11/5: Little Bird Coffehouse hosts a collection of new skateboard art by the collective Ten Loko and the premier of the L.A. skate-doc Toasted. Then, head next door to Little Bird’s sister establishment, Whiskey Thieves, for an after party and drink specials. Art opening 8:30pm/screening 10pm, free and all ages @ 835 Geary Street.
Saturday 11/6: The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents two performances by the San Francisco Taiko Dojo as a part of this year’s Japanese Drum Festival. Get your culture on with dancing, drumming, loud noises, and sweet costumes at either two of Saturday’s performances or Sunday afternoon’s. Tickets $45, shows at 2pm and 8pm @ 700 Howard Street.
Sunday 11/7: San Francisco is such a fertile breeding ground for independent film that sometimes it seems as though there’s a new film festival every other weekend. This weekend, Southern Exposure and the San Francisco Film Society team up to present Cinema By The Bay: Crosscuts, a collection of works by Melissa Day, Anthony Discenza, Kota Ezawa, Jonn Herschend, Desiree Hollman, Packard Jennings, Rebekah May, Chris Sollars, Richard T. Walker, Anne Walsh and Chris Kubrick, and Lindsey White. Tickets $11-12.50, 9pm @ 3030 20th Street.
