March 18 2003

8 Days a Week

March 19-26, 2003

TRAVELING BY TRAIN , you see pieces of the country nobody meant you to see – the back doors, the dumping grounds, the graffiti on the walls. And if you're hitching rides on freights, what you witness is a whole world apart from what the paying guests of Amtrak view from their windows. That's one of the ideas behind 'Pretty Gritty,' a two-night benefit art show and sale – presented by the Institute for Unpopular Culture, Rayko Photo, Film Arts Foundation, and the Luggage Store Gallery – that takes as its loose theme the outsider aesthetic of the hobo, the railroader, and the down-and-outer. The show, cocurated by Bill Daniel and Karen Kirchhoff, includes paintings, photos, films, and video installations, including Daniel's Girl on the Train in the Moon and Iggy Scam and Sarolta Jane Cump's Homeless Home Movies. Other artists include San Francisco's Barry McGee, Rigo 03, Chris Johanson, Jo Jackson, and Alicia McCarthy, railroad poet buZ blurr, box-car artists Adikts, and many others. Musical entertainment is provided by Peggy Honeywell and Tommy Guerrero (Fri/21) and the Len Brown Society (Sat/22), and proceeds go toward the completion of filmmaker Daniel's 20-year study of railroad graffiti. Fri/21-Sat/22, 6-11 p.m., Rayko Photo, 428 Third St., S.F. $10-$25 (sliding scale). (415) 495-5377, billdaniel@hotmail.com. (Lynn Rapoport)

March 19

Wednesday

Too darn hot There may be some people who don't consider Cole Porter the very acme of wit, elegance, and style, but you wouldn't want to meet them. In fact, you can avoid them entirely and instead rub shoulders with fellow sophisticates at Red, Hot and Cole, the two-act revue being offered up by the New Conservatory Theatre Center. The show follows Porter's career from his start in Peru, Ind., through his charmed and glamorous life in the café society of Paris, Venice, and New York and the riding accident that didn't stop him from composing some of the "deloveliest" melodies ever written. But the real treat is hearing more than 25 clever and sexy Porter standards, including "Anything Goes," "Night and Day," "I Get a Kick out of You," and "Love for Sale." Through April 13. Previews tonight and Thurs/20-Fri/21, 8 p.m. Opens Sat/22, 8 p.m. Runs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; March 30, April 6 and 13, 2 p.m., New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, S.F. $15-$35. (415) 861-8972, www.nctsf.org. (Amir Baghdachi)

March 20

Thursday

Welcome back It's taken eight years and $160.5 million to remake San Francisco's former Main Library across from City Hall into the new home of the Asian Art Museum. But if architect Gae Aulenti managed to muster even a fraction of the magic he worked on the old train station that is now Paris's glorious Musée d'Orsay, then it will have been worth the wait. Today the building is unwrapped, literally, as the drapes swathing the exterior are raised and 300,000 firecrackers are ignited in celebration of the grand opening, dubbed 'Treasures Unveiled.' After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the museum's extensive collection is open for all to explore. There is live entertainment throughout the day, and – best of all – the whole shebang is free of charge. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 581-3500, www.asianart.org. (After today, museum hours are Tues.-Wed. and Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. $6-$10; Thurs. after 5 p.m., $5). (Kerry Rodgers)

March 21

Friday

Refracted reflection While the press is noisily proclaiming the return of the brassy and sassy musical, those in the know will always be eager for the lean and stripped-down intensity of a one-act play, like the new Three Women and a Mirror, presented by Hardcore Thrush. Born of the felicitous mating between cabaret troupe Hardcore Rewoow and performance-art program Thrush TV, Hardcore Thrush is only in its first year but can already claim a handful of world premieres to its name. Three Women, penned by Beth Mann, appears at first to be an evening of girl talk, as three friends giggle together and groan about guys. But when one of them makes hints that she might give up on dating men altogether, friendships break apart and reality itself deteriorates. Through March 29. Runs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Shotwell Studios, 3252A 19th St., S.F. $10. hardcore@thrushtv.com. (Baghdachi)

Whoa, Nelly London art-school dropouts Ikara Colt skip along at a brisk, thrashy clip with plenty of minor-chord menace, driving tempos, and Mark E. Smith-like shouts by singer Paul Resende. Guitarist Claire Ingram and bassist Jon Ball keep songs such as "One Note" and "Sink Venice" (both former Kerrang! singles of the week) raw, blunt, and frantic. Speed, urgency, and John Peel Sessions – it should all make for a night of memorable rock with the definitely hot Sahara Hotnights. Washdown also play. 9 p.m., Slim's, 333 11th St., S.F. $11. (415) 522-0333. (Kimberly Chun)

March 22

Saturday

Both sides now While klezmer, the instrumental folk music of Yiddish-speaking Eastern European Jews, is the central component of the 18th Annual Jewish Music Festival, whose theme is "Sounds of Tradition/Rhythms of the Future" – with performances by the Klezmatics (featuring guest singer Holly Near), clarinetist-mandolinist Andy Statman and his trio, and mandolinist-guitarist Gerry Tenney's "Klezmer for Kids" concert with California Klezmer – the opening night performers, Shlomo Bar and Habrera Hativeet, offer a completely different view of what resides under the "Jewish music" tent. A Moroccan-born vocalist, flutist, and darbuka player, Bar pursues historical continuity and cultural diversity by tapping Sephardic, North African, and Middle Eastern influences for his compositions and brings them to life with a six-piece Israeli world music ensemble. The multicultural perspective is also represented in the fest's "Pride and Praise" concert, featuring Bay Area a cappella ensembles Vocolot (directed by Linda Hirschhorn) and Street Sounds (directed by Louise Robinson). Festival runs through March 29; see Music listings or go to www.brjcc.org for schedule. Tonight, Shlomo Bar and Habrera Hativeet, 8 p.m., First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing, Berk. $22-$27. (925) 866-9559. (Derk Richardson)

Nu grass ain't green Eight-piece Charlottesville, Va., acoustic string band Hackensaw Boys attack the upright bass, mandolin, fiddles, and dobro with a fervor some have compared to that of the Ramones. That's a bit too hype to be real, but the boys are true to their old-time predecessors, judging from the sound of their second album, Keep It Simple. Fiddle player Pee Paw, banjo picker Kooky-Eyed Fox, harmonica player Skeeter, accordionist David Goldstein, and company have also accomplished the crossover two-step, opening for Modest Mouse during the Unlimited Sunshine Festival tour last year. And rest assured, they're no Nickle Creek – which can be a good thing if you want to keep the New Age out of nu grass. Alt-Southern rockers Freeloader also play. 9:30 p.m., Last Day Saloon, 406 Clement, S.F. $8-$10. (415) 387-6343. (Chun)

Good company Guitarist-composer Joel Harrison didn't move in shabby musical circles when he lived in the Bay Area, as evidenced by his recordings 3+3=7 (9 Winds) and Range of Motion (Koch Jazz), featuring such players as Nels and Alex Cline, Paul McCandless, and bassoonist Paul Hanson. Since relocating to New York, Harrison has widened his circle of collaborators and broadened an already vast musical palette; his new CD, Free Country (ACT), features vocalists Norah Jones and Raz Kennedy, pianist Uri Caine, and accordionist Tony Cedras in a program of radically revamped old country and Appalachian tunes. During his brief return to San Francisco, the guitarist reunites with old pals Hanson, bassist Todd Sickafoose, pianist Bevan Manson, and drummer Russ Gold, on a bill with Los Angeles's Ornette Coleman-Anthony Braxton-inspired Mears/Tiner/Kikuchi/Johnson Quartet. 8 p.m., Jupiter, 2181 Shattuck, Berk. Free. (510) 843-8277. (Also Sun/23, 7:30 p.m., Musicians Union Hall, Studio Six, 116 Ninth St., S.F. $6-$10. 415-905-4425). (Richardson)

March 23

Sunday

Go Walken Gossip on the Internet says presenters and winners at this year's Oscars will receive gift baskets worth $30,000. $30,000, man! Just for showin' up and reading some cheesy lines off a TelePrompTer! Rightly fueled outrage, catcalls, and, OK, probably a few delighted cheers here and there will reign at local Academy Awards parties. There are several galas planned across the Bay Area; two of the most raucous (and affordable) are the Roxie Cinema's gleefully snide "Up the Oscars" gathering and the Parkway's costume bash hosted by Thrillville's Will "the Thrill" Viharo. Both events are exceedingly popular, so plan accordingly (advance tickets are now available) and arrive early, lest you have to forgo the big-screen experience and watch those inevitable, sunglass-bedecked Jack Nicholson reaction shots on the tiny television in your living room. "Up the Oscars" 4 p.m., Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th St., S.F. $15. (415) 863-1087, www.roxie.com. Parkway party, 4:35 p.m., 1834 Park, Oakl. $10. (510) 814-2400, www.picturepubpizza.com. (Cheryl Eddy)

March 24

Monday

Command performance After serving his Latin jazz apprenticeship with Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Cal Tjader, as well as playing with Pete Escovedo and Pancho Sanchez, Bay Area pianist Mark Levine has parlayed the musical wisdom gleaned in those experiences into the winning hand he displays with his superb quartet, Latin Tinge. On its third CD, Isla (Left Coast Clave), the band – Levine, percussionist Michael Spiro, bassist Peter Barshay, drummer Paul van Wageningen, and guests Harvey Wainapel (reed) and Sheila Smith (voice) – puts jazz compositions (by Cedar Walton, Duke Pearson, Dizzy Gillespie, and others), Caribbean tunes, and even "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Tea for Two" through its distinctive rhythmic percolator. While the new CD's release is the reason for this booking, Levine's intelligent and sparkling piano inventions command attention on any occasion. 8 and 10 p.m., Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakl. $10. (510) 238-9200. (Richardson)

March 25

Tuesday

Pen versus sword As assorted military-related deadlines loom and assorted French-related food products are renamed (you want some "freedom fries" with that shake?), it's time to thank your stars for enlightened events like the multimedia 'Words Not Wars: The Arts of Diplomacy and Dissent.' The event includes poetry readings from City Lights guru Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Adam Cohen, and others; live original music by Nicole Milner, Gael Alcock, and Phoebe Anne Sorgen; a presentation on peace by human rights expert Rita Maran; a slide show of protest photos by Robin Reynolds; and more. Proceeds benefit the Social Justice Committee of the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists. 5:30 p.m., Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists' Hall, 1924 Cedar, Berk. $10-$15 (no one turned away for lack of funds). (510) 632-8530, (510) 841-4824. (Eddy)

March 26

Wednesday

New auteurs What does it mean to be a Jewish teenager in the Bay Area, land of the mixed identity? There's no easy answer when you're young and negotiating what is both a religion and a race, depending on whom you ask. For the past couple of years, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival has been inviting teens to pick up 16mm cameras as part of its New Jewish Filmmaker Project. Last year's efforts culminated in "Not Another Jewish Film," an impressive collaboration that was conceived, shot, and edited entirely by the young participants. See that film and others at the 2003 New Jewish Filmmaker Project kickoff screening, with a lineup of shorts that includes "Adio," by Gregory Viens; "Three Kisses," by Joanna Hibbard; and "Snow Day" and "Purim," by Madeline Schwartzman. Also on the bill is acclaimed local filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt's "King of the Jews," a work that hauntingly employs archival footage to explore Rosenblatt's childhood belief that Jesus was a bloodthirsty bogeyman, and his later astonishment upon discovering that Jesus was actually Jewish. The evening includes previews of works by this year's young filmmakers. (Youth interested in applying should go to www.njfp.org or call 415-621-0556, ext. 307.) 7:30 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, S.F. $6-$7 (free for 15-19). (415) 978-2787. (Laurie Koh)