COMING UP THIS WEEK:

District Attorney Candidate Debate
For the past 100 years, an incumbent DA has been on the slate. This election is all newcomers. Get to know them at your local debate.
WED AUG 7, 6:00 PM; SF County Fair Building, SF; FREE

John Law on Bridges
The best events come with the caveat “special surprise if we can get it together in time!” Complete (potentially) with a good ol’ fashioned Kodak carousel slide show, John Law looks back on “infiltrating” bridges.
THU AUG 8, 7:00 PM; Pro Arts Gallery & COMMONS, Oakland; $8

Spirit of ’45 Living History Day
It’s D-Day for big band music and dancing, Victory parades, vintage fashion and car shows and more, celebrating the first time we had to defeat fascism. Sigh.
FRI AUG 9, 8:00 PM; History Park, San Jose; $15-20
SAT AUG 10, NOON; History Park, San Jose; $5

Ways of Seeing Tobacco in Cultures, Past and Present
Still salty over the Juul ban? Put in context with this 3 hr seminar on the ethnobotany of tobacco.
SAT AUG 10, 1:00 PM; Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Berkeley; $70
EDIT: Cancelled 🙁

When Worlds Collide
Space isn’t so empty, and Earth is regularly bombarded with debris. Occasionally catastrophically. Learn about the latest science from a NASA Ames planetary scientist, because we won’t always have Bruce Willis to save us.
SAT AUG 10, 8:00 PM; Trojan Point, Mill Valley; FREE/DONATION

Rosie Rally Home Front Festival
Don your kerchief and roll up your sleeves — we can do it!
SAT AUG 10, 11:00 AM; Richmond, CA; FREE

Mare Island Navy Cemetery Tour
The oldest naval cemetery on the West Coast is the site of decorated heroes, accused murderesses, and possibly even a bear.
SAT AUG 10, NOON & 1:00 PM; Mare Island, Vallejo; FREE/DONATION

SOFA Santa Rosa Salon des Refusés
A scientist fellow I know, well-known in his field, updates his CV with every single professional rejection he gets. If he can get rejected left and right and still be awesome, then there’s hope for the likes of me. Here’s a gallery of contemporary artworks that have been refused somewhere for some reason.
SAT AUG 10, 11:00 AM; Seishin Studio, Santa Rosa; FREE

The Weird and Wonderful World of Quantum Materials
When physics gets small — really small — it gets weird. But understanding this weirdness has led to dramatic technological breakthroughs.
SUN AUG 11, 2:00 PM; Alameda Free Library, Alameda; FREE/DONATION

Alameda Mini Maker Faire
Artists, DIYers, and businesses gather to make stuff. Family-friendly.
SUN AUG 11, 10:00 AM; Alameda Point, Alameda; $5-7

Second Sunday Synthesizer Soundbath
Bring some pillows and chill out with some vintage electronic sounds.
SUN AUG 11, 1:00 PM; Vintage Synthesizer Museum, Oakland; $5

SF Magic Hour
Experience wonder monthly at one of my fave venues.
MON AUG 12, 8:00 PM; PianoFight, SF; $20

Conversation w/ Dan Pfeiffer (Pod Save America/Obama WH Communications Dir)
Manny’s wades into national politics with a popular partisan podcaster. (And also Marianne Williamson on 8/15, if that’s your thing.)
MON AUG 12, 7:30 PM; Manny’s, SF; $15

Intoxicating Plants Walking Tour
A botanical pairing with the “Pleasure, Poison, Prescription, Prayer: The Worlds of Mind-Altering Substances” exhibit.
TUE AUG 13, 1:00 PM; UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley; FREE

Monica L. Smith – Cities: The First 6,000 Years
Archaeologist Monica Smith takes you on a brief history of cities, and where they’re going. (And if you can’t attend, there are links to the livestream, podcast, or video.)
TUE AUG 13, 7:30 PM; SFJAZZ Center, SF; $25

The Pullman Porters of West Oakland
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Union became the anchor that transformed West Oakland from a rail terminal into a community.
TUE AUG 13, 6:00 PM; California Historical Society, SF; $10

Am I Overthinking This? Book Launch w/ Michelle Rial
Your life, in data visualizations.
TUE AUG 13, 7:30PM; The Bindery, SF; FREE (and the book is only $15)

Everything Is Terrible! (Oakland)
I don’t even know how to explain this. Found footage retro weird viral comedy videos? Here, just read this, then go to the show.
TUE AUG 13, 8:00 PM; The New Parish, Oakland; $25

Everything Is Terrible! (San Francisco)
WED AUG 14, 7:00 PM; The Independent, SF; $25