Marianne Williams

Fools Gold plays the Clift Hotel this Saturday

​The pre-Valentine's Day weekend: If you're in a relationship, spend it smooching and taking in a romantic folk show, art exhibit, or do whatever it is you young lovers like to do. If you're on the prowl, hit the clubs and flash that sweet wad of cash you've saved -- thanks, of course, to our handy-dandy list of 10 things to do this weekend in San Francisco for less than the price of a red velvet-dressed box of drugstore chocolates:

Literary Death Match @ Elbo Room (Fri.)
The stereotypical literary reading is about as thrilling as televised fly-fishing, with tweed-jacketed professorial types mumbling through their work. Unlike many stereotypes, there's more than a bit of truth to this one, which is why we're grateful for the literature-as-bloodsport approach of the Literary Death Match. It introduces cutthroat competition and high stakes to readings, like an Ultimate Fighting Championship for word nerds. At this LDM, queer pulp novelist Monica Nolan, poet Geoff Bouvier, self-avowed straight male expert John Scott, and The Aristobrats author Jennifer Solow each have seven minutes to assert their storytelling dominance. The panel of judges includes former Chronicle book editor Oscar Villalon, novelist April Sinclair, and Sam Barry of HarperOne books. ($7, 7 p.m.) -- Paul M. Davis

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X-Ray Press plays Hemlock Tavern this Saturday

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There's plenty to do this weekend -- even a few things as enticing as the free party thrown tonight by this very blog, All Shook Down. (Hehe.) Here's our list of 10 things (or, um, ours plus nine) to do this weekend for less than the price of a bottle of sunscreen:

"A Sensory Feast" @ SomArts Cultural Center (Fri.)
San Franciscans are obsessed with food. Maybe it's because food is one of life's ultimate pleasures, especially in those moments when it transcends its role as mere sustenance and activates all five senses at once. The group show "A Sensory Feast" offers just such stimulation, serving up work by 10 Asian-American artists who tackle the edible in their art and invite visitors to see, sniff, and taste. Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik uses the pungent scent of curry powder in her work, Kira Greene paints unusual still-life works of hunks of meat, and artist Jean Chen displays pictures of the various fruit and vegetable designs she has inked on her clients over the years. Attendees can sample savory nibbles from local food trucks. The opening for "A Sensory Feast" starts at 6 p.m. (Free, 6 p.m.) -- Heidi De Vries

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Rachel Williams

Man/Miracle plays Hemlock Tavern this Friday

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Why is it that short weeks always feel the most traumatizing? It's like our bodies got used to the longer weekend and never quite got back into the routine of workweek. If you're as exhausted as we are, the only cure is good old fashioned fun times with friends. Here's our list of 10 things to do for less than your daily lunch:

The Huge Whisper @ Thrasher Halfpipe (Fri. and Sat.)
The Huge Whisper underground music event highlights some of San Francisco's excellent but lesser-known musicians. The idea is to illuminate acts for the local community. So if you want to be able to say you knew about them way back when, you should probably consider stopping by. Day one includes live performances by the Buxter Hoot'n, Jugtown Pirate, Con Brio and more. Blank Tapes, Mark Matos & Os Beaches, and Dirty Boots will be amongst the nine acts set to play day two.
($10 per day, 6 p.m.)

Birdlovesbee Zine Release @ Space Gallery (Fri.)
This is how it works: writer Camille Ikalina Robles, founder of One Red Delicious press, creates a collection of eleven pieces of her writing then hands them off to another artist who creates their reaction to her work in their chosen medium. Then they share these two parts in a handmade zine -- birdlovesbee. During this release party, photographer Audra Marie Dewitt and film artist Dennis Maxwell will be showing the work they created for their respective collaborative projects. Silian Rail will be performing an acoustic set at the event, along with select pieces from their birdlovesbee collaboration. And DJ Shortround will be spinning between performances. (Free, 8 p.m.)

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Royal Baths plays Amnesia this Saturday

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San Francisco is obsessed with artisan food. Perhaps the SF Appeal said it best earlier this week with its simple statement; "Things San Franciscans Like: Food." Simple as that. This weekend is bloated with food-friendly events along with the expected (and celebrated) art openings and live shows. Even better, those events all cost less than an expert mustache grooming kit. Here's our list of 10 things to do this weekend for under $10:

"CUSP" @ Luggage Store (Fri.)
If Chris Rock's Good Hair is an American arena concert, Akosua Adoma Owusu's Me Broni Ba (My White Baby) is a secret show: intimate, and the ideal realization of the vision of a valuable genius. Both are good, and in the world of commentary on the poetic, unfair world of black hair, both are good to have. In the world of art film, Owusu is the protégée of Kevin Jerome Everson, a filmmaker of international renown -- this former professor and student team exhibit together at "CUSP." They share a "sparse, rugged formalism," as Everson says of his work, as well as a lyrical attack on other people's observational deficiencies. (Free, 7 p.m. opening reception) -- Hiya Swanhuyser

Colin L. Orchestra @ Hemlock Tavern (Fri.) 
Colin Langenus may be best known as the co-founder/guitar player from USAISAMONSTER, but he's been involved with dozens of other projects over the years -- from playing to producing to hosting as venue owner. His current act, Colin L. Orchestra, might be his most ambitious yet: a nine-piece orchestra that consists of a bunch of dudes making improvisational psychedelic jams. The band's sound has been described as "if Shuggie Otis joined the Dead and only played Dark Star." Reason enough to see them live. Colin L. Orchestra plays Hemlock Tavern with Common Eider King Eider, CSC Funkband. ($7, 9:30 p.m.)

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The Babies plays Hemlock Tavern this Saturday

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There is heavy metal and ethereal ambient noise, transsexual fashion shows and fancy vintage paper, Go-Gos and Babies. It's all here this weekend, in San Francisco, for less than the cost of taking a heterosexual date to Chick-fil-A. Here's our list of 10 activities this weekend under $10:

Entamoeba @ El Rio (Fri.)
Influenced by both Bjork and Cat Power, Entamoeba's calm, ambient sound is the perfect way start to a weekend. Just like yoga for the mind. The four-piece San Francisco band employs four loop stations along with more traditional instruments like cello, upright bass, and guitar. During live performances, Entamoeba builds and crescendos, wave-like, as its looping sound builds. The band plays El Rio with folky Devon McClive and Cash Pony. ($5, 6 p.m.)

Gestapo Khazi @ El Rincon (Fri.)
Gestapo Khazi plays old school, 1980s-revival L.A. surf punk. But this isn't some new-to-the-pit, nostalgia act -- it has chops. The band is made up of legit Long Beach punk stock: front-man John Roller is formerly of thrashy act Geisha Girls. The cheapie El Rincon show is rounded out by San Francisco all-stars such as Ty Segall, Grass Widow, and Rank/Xerox. ($6, 9 p.m.)

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Moncrief Speaks

Muni Party: Ride Muni for free on New Year's Eve

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Ticket prices for New Year's Eve events are notoriously jacked up. Save yourself the worry and the cash, and check out our list of cheap, way-cooler options. Here are 10 things to do this weekend in San Francisco for less than the morning-after brunch:

Muni @ Various locations (Fri.)
Okay so Muni isn't an event per se, but it's free all evening! You can travel the 7x7 grid in grimy style and gain countless anecdotes to the delight of your clueless, personal vehicle-besotted friends. Or you can just take it to get where you're going. This is also your chance to check out your party competition en route. (Free, 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.)

NYE Roller Disco @ CELLspace (Fri.)
Disco on skates in the front room, New Wave dance floor in the back. What could be cooler? There's also a full bar, so the chance of seeing someone eat it in full-1970s attire is high. The rink and skate rental comes courtesy the legendary Black Rock Roller Disco crew. Be safe, boozy roller skaters. ($10, 8 p.m.)

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Hanna Quevedo

This Saturday marks the 13th annual Black X-Mass with Karla LaVey at the Elbo Room.

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Can't stand another minute of the eye-drooping boredom of this whole holiday family time thing? Or are you stuck in town due to circumstances beyond your control? Either way, to fix the problem, here's our extra special Thursday-extended list of 10 cool, weird, and cheap S.F. events this weekend for less than a black market bottle of Xanex (or so we're told):

Kitten and Tropicana @ Madrone Art Bar (Thurs.)
Madrone offers two very different, yet equally entertaining, club nights this Thursday. During happy hour, Kitten on the Keys will recall Tin Pan Alley with her soulful crooning and keyboard styling. Then, by 9 p.m., the bar turns to Tropicana, with DJs Don Bustamante, Apocolypto, Santero and Mr. E spinning salsa, reggaeton, and merengue. (Free, 6 p.m.)

Sita Sings the Blues @ Red Vic Movie House (Thurs.)
In 2002, Nina Paley's husband moved from San Francisco to India for a six-month contract, an upheaval that ended with him dumping her via e-mail. Paley, an animator with a long résumé of short films, took solace in the sweet-voiced jazz stylings of Annette Hanshaw as well as the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic telling stories of several Hindu gods. These two post-breakup fixations also provided the inspiration for her first feature, an accomplished charm offensive called Sita Sings the Blues. Using digital, hand-drawn, and collage animation, Paley traces the love story between gods Sita and Rama, creating a witty symbiosis between her images and the ingenious narration provided by a chummy peanut gallery of three Indian voices. ($6-$9, 7:15 and 9:15 p.m.) -- Michelle Orange

Baxtalo Drom @ Amnesia (Fri.)
Once a month, Amnesia is overrun by a boisterous gypsy punk cabaret. San Francisco's Baxtalo Drom brings back those titillating vintage entertainment styles like vaudeville, burlesque, and live belly dancing. ($7-$10, 9 p.m.)

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Christopher Fairman

Agent Ribbons plays the Crescent Hotel this Friday

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San Francisco spoils you. It really does. There are so many free or dirt-cheap shows this weekend, you'll have your choice of genre and neighborhood. We hope you feel blessed to live in such an music-friendly city. Here's our list of 10 things to do this weekend for less than a roundtrip BART ride to some other city:

Agent Ribbons @ Crescent Hotel (Fri)
A trio of talented ladies, Agent Ribbons is a proto-feminist dream. The women cite both the Zombies and The Threepenny Opera as influences. Which means the Sacramento-born, Austin-based band plays a wide range of American music. This weekend Agent Ribbons plays the Crescent Hotel alongside Antenna Farm Records labelmates Social Studies and Amores Vigilantes in honor of the owners' joint birthday party. Your (non-birthday) birthday gift: the show is totally gratis. (Free, 8 p.m.)

Silian Rail @ Hemlock Tavern (Fri.)
Ambient instrumental metal -- say that twice -- duo Silian Rail plays Hemlock Tavern this Friday with Summer Darling and Honeycomb. The guitar-plus-drums duo's simultaneously jarring and harmonious second album Parhelion was released this summer on Parks and Records, so it will likely plough through excellent tracks such as "To Ruins." ($7, 9:30 p.m.)

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Jennifer Jamieson Photography and Sweethardt Photography

Macy's Holiday Windows are back with cute puppies and kitties

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This weekend you can scour cool handmade gift ideas, check out cute puppies and kitties in holiday-decorated windows, or dance in sweaty packs at a barrage of city clubs -- all for less than $10.

Mission Holiday Block Party @ Mission District (Fri.)
If any district in San Francisco knows about partying, it's the Mission. The third annual Mission Holiday Block Party includes 45 participating independent businesses -- many of them featuring live music, galleried art, and booze. A few highlights: wine bar and music by Sour Mash Hug Band at Five & Diamond, kombucha cocktails and a trunk show at Ruby, and free drinks and snacks at the Curiosity Shoppe. (Free, 5 p.m.)

Boom! @ Southern Exposure (Fri.)
What does the word "BOOM!" bring to mind? That Thomas Pynchon line about a jet engine tearing through the sky? The mics held by stiff-armed tall people on a soundstage? Art submissions responding to this ambiguous word were sought for a juried exhibition of work by local artists. Works have been judged by provocative political artist and curator Astria Suparak, the director of Carnegie Mellon University's Miller Gallery. Despite the competition element, the exhibition retains a collegial and inclusive tone by not requiring an entry fee and opening submissions to any artist who lives in Northern California. It's wide-open by design, emphasizing the gallery's desire for conceptual diversity and a wide array of viewpoints and media. (Free, 6 p.m.) -- Paul M. Davis

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Chrissy Piper

Tim Kerr plays Needles+Pens this Friday

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Can you feel it? The holidays are coming. Well, the oily latke meals of Chanukah are already in full swing, and Christmas decorations began to sparkle throughout the city last week. Want a fine way to celebrate this chilly first weekend of December? Here's our list of 10 things to do for less than a tiny, fake decorative tree:

Lower Haight Holiday Art Walk @ Haight Street (Fri.)
Live music, cool art, and drink specials -- all holiday-themed of course. There will be deals and fun stuff to look at in and around 26 Lower Haight shops. Among the best options: a X-mas pop-up shop inside Wak Shak Salon, live music by Hightower at Idle Hand Tattoo (along with $60 Get What You Get tattoos), art raffles at Lower Haters, and an art opening with booze at Edo Salon. (Free, 6-9:30 p.m.)

Come One, Come Yall @ Needles+Pens (Fri.)
While Tim Kerr is perhaps best known as guitarist of Austin, TX punk act The Big Boys and a slew of other bands, he also is a painter by trade, and has shown his pieces around the world. In 2007 he and artist Rich Jacobs presented a well-received collaborative show, "Are You an Outsider, and Do You Like it There?" at Needles+Pens. He returns to the Mission shop this weekend, this time to curate a group art show, "Come One Come All" -- and to perform an old-timey jam session. Artists featured in "Come One, Come Yall" include Jacobs, Merrilee Challis, Clint Woodside, Karoline Collins, and Kenneth Holland. Soak in some modern art and listen to Kerr's endearing Texas drawl. (Free, 6:30 p.m.)

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