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Crosscurrents

Arts/Culture/Weekend: Russian Fest, Drunken Spelling Bee, & Oscars with Peaches Christ

James K. Buck
/
Wikimedia Commons

Yes, President’s Day is over. No, we don’t have another three day weekend until May, not that I’m counting. But buck up kids, the weekend will not only bring sun, but also the promise of international celebration with Russian festivals, Chinese New Year parades, record-setting rappers, and the glamour of the red carpet as stars gather for the 85th Academy Awards. So, grab your fur hat and a glass of champagne and prepare yourself for a weekend that just might live up to its three-day long predecessor...

Welcome to your Arts/Culture/Weekend:

WEDNESDAY (Tonight!)

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus// Do you ever have that dream where a bloodthirsty shark and a ruthless octopus duke it out just off the California coast and then the shark takes a giant bite out of the Golden Gate Bridge? Me too! Except now, the Aquarium of the Bay is bringing that dream to life with this installment of their adults-only "Bad Movie Night." Ticket to the movie includes free popcorn, two free drinks, commentary from the Dark Room Theater, and entry to the aquarium, all in one package. Awesome. // DETAILS: February 20, Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, SF, Doors at 6, show at 7:30 pm. Cost: $16 at door, $10 online with code FUNCHEAP, 21+

THURSDAY

HashTag Game Sketch-a-Thon // There are moments where everyone looks at a tweet and thinks, “How funny would it be if someone drew that?” (Read: breaded cat doing the harlem shake.) Get yourself to the Cartoon Art Museum and and watch local artists illustrate suggestions that are tweeted to @TheHashTaggame. Art will be scanned in and posted in real time while attendees and tweeters worldwide will all suggest their own ideas. // DETAILS: February 21, Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission St., SF, 7-9 pm, Cost: FREE

Party with Fastest Rapper in the World // In the radio world, it’s generally problematic when someone speaks a mile a minute. Become a rapper, and there’s fierce competition to prove your ability to do it. The rapper known as Twista raps even faster than that; he’s able pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. Seriously, he’s actually in the Guinness Book of World Records. See for yourself and dance with him tonight at 1015 Folsom. King Most, Ant-1, KoolKarlo, and other friends will be performing as well. // DETAILS: February 21, 1015 Folsom St., SF, 10 pm-2 am, Cost: FREE with online RSVP, $10 tickets at door, 21+

FRIDAY

Russian Festival // Наздоровье! Celebrate the Russian Festival’s 25th year with food, dance, music and art, including a special performance by members of the Ballet Russe. The festival will take place all weekend, and I highly encourage any and all of you to learn how to Cossack Dance – culture and exercise all in one mighty blow! // DETAILS: February 22-24, Russian Center, 2460 Sutter St., Cost: $10

SATURDAY

Bayview Branch Library Grand Opening // What could be better than a brand new library? Only a brand new library with living green roof gardens and a shindig! Join the San Francisco Public Library family at Mendell Plaza for a kickoff musical parade and official ribbon cutting, which will include Mayor Ed Lee and lion dancers. Library services will begin at noon, and visitors will be able to view photograms by artist and Bayview resident Ron Saunders. // DETAILS: February 23, Bayview Branch Library, 5075 Third St., SF, 10 am-12 pm, Cost: FREE

Chinese New Year Parade // One can get jaded about parades, but this particular one is not to be missed. Named one of the world’s top ten, the Chinese New Year Parade will celebrate the year of the snake with floats, marching bands, martial arts, acrobatics, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA, and of course, The Golden Dragon, the parade’s grand finale. It’s also a great opportunity to find out what 600,000 firecrackers going off at the same time sounds like. // DETAILS: February 23, begins at Kearny & Sutter, SF, 5:15 pm, Cost: FREE

Radical Queer Vegan Anti-Social// The basics of this event are pretty much summed up by the title. Munch on vegan grub while sharing ideas about radical queer politics in this event hosted by GayShameSF. // DETAILS:  February 23, Modern Times Bookstore, 2919 24th St., SF, 5:30 pm, Cost: FREE

SUNDAY

Oscars Bash with Peaches Christ // It’s that golden time of year again folks, and who better to lead you through the excitement of the 85th annual Academy Awards than San Francisco’s own Peaches Christ? Joined by celebrity commentators Lady Bear and Hugz Bunny, Peaches will host the “ultimate queer superbowl,” providing commentary throughout. Don’t forget to dress to impress for the Oscar Character Costume Contest – my favorite category is Drag of the Southern Wild. // DETAILS: February 24, The Midnight Sun, 4067 18th St., SF, 3 pm, Cost: FREE

Drunken Spelling Bee // Oscars shmoscars –if you’ve had enough of all this celebrity fluff and are ready for some serious intellectual activity,head over to Cafe Royal to enter a spelling bee where the words are tricky and the drinks keep coming. Hosted by Jimi Moran, the night is sure to expand your vernacular and probably your gut as you compete through the rounds. // DETAILS: February 24, Cafe Royal, 800 Post St., SF, 6 pm, Cost: FREE, but you gotta buy your own drinks

Arts/Culture/Weekend is a roundup of our favorite events coming up around the Bay Area. Please do let us know if you have an event coming up in your neighborhood, and we'll try to include it!

Crosscurrents
Ninna Gaensler-Debs is a reporter and editor for Crosscurrents. Since 2012, Ninna has worn a variety of hats at KALW - she was both a producer and event planner for Localore project Hear Here. Ninna also programmed and organized the Sights and Sounds live events - two in Bayview, and most recently, one in East Oakland.