This week in San Francisco: Finally muster the courage to hit on that one cute chick/dude at this month’s Monthly Rumpus, decorate your pad like it’s 1982 and you just got Walk Among Us at Pops’ Cheap Art Show: Skull Edition, get your nerd on at Techshop’s Open House, and check out SF Sketchfest.
Monday 1/10: Warm Bodies, Cold Nights: No, it’s not the title of some melodramatic soft-core indie-porn or twee band’s latest album, it’s the January Monthly Rumpus! Catch readings by Derrick Brown, Bucky Sinister, Andrew Nelson, Peter Orner, and Amber Tamblyn, a performance by Abe Streep and Rushad Eggleston, comedy by Nato Green, and music by Danny Pearson. As always, $10, cheap, 21+, 7pm @ the Makeout Room (3225 22nd Street).
Tuesday 1/11: Need a creative boost? Head to Pecha Kucha‘s first art event of 2011 to be inspired by works of architecture, industrial design, graphic design, motion graphics, fashion design, and animation from a variety of local artists. This month’s theme: ONE: from unifying ideas, to individual visions, grand gestures or solitary interventions, new beginnings, or a final result (whew!). $5 donation, happy hour 7pm/show 8:20pm @ 330 Ritch Street.
Wednesday 1/12: Dying to trick your apartment out like the Día de los Muertos parade had a love child with some Misfits paraphernalia? Head to Pop’s Bar for their monthly Cheap Art Show, this month’s theme: skulls. Get your brokeass art on with pieces priced at $50 or less (that’s at least a few dozen cans of Hamm’s with a crappy tip). Free, 21+, 5pm @ 2800 24th Street.
Thursday 1/13: Although it’s not actually in San Francisco, I’ve heard too many fantastic things about Why There Are Words to leave it out of this week’s notables. WTAW celebrates their one year anniversary with readings by Michael Alenyikov, Tamim Ansary, Catherine Brady, Stephen Elliott, Alice LaPlante, and Janet Thornburg, so find a friend with a car, catch the ferry, or bike like the wind over to Studio 333 in Sausalito. $5 at the door, 7pm @ 333 Caledonia Street.
Friday 1/14: Reading! Machines! Technology! And snacks! Techshop hosts an open house with Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired and general tech-guy about town. Tour Techshop’s facilities for free, pick up a copy of Kelly’s new book, and get on those New Year’s resolutions with Techshop classes. Free, 5pm @ 926 Howard Street.
Saturday 1/15: Start off SF Sketchfest properly with the Delocated Witness Protection Program Variety Show at Cobb’s. See Todd Barry, Andrew Daly, Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, burlesque dancer Mynx d’Meanor, and special musical guest, A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers. Tickets $30, 10:30pm @ 925 Columbus Avenue.
Sunday 1/16: Head back to Cobb’s to laugh even more at the Dave Hill Explosion. I could try to describe the evening’s entertainment, but Hill does a better job himself: As they say in proctology circles, brace yourself as Dave talks, reads, sings, dances, shows a short film or two, and just sort of touches hearts in general. Bring the whole family or maybe just someone you’d totally like to bone. Also, special guest: Moby. Do you think he’ll show up in a space suit? One can only hope. Tickets $30, 7pm @ 925 Columbus Avenue.
