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HOLLOW MAN: Plastinized human bodies are on display at
"The Universe Within: The Human Body Revealed," at the Nob
Hill Masonic Center.

UNLESS YOU HAPPEN to be a surgeon, your interaction with human innards has probably been fairly limited. The medically and morbidly curious – fans of HBO's Autopsy, you know who you are – are in for good times galore when 'The Universe Within: The Human Body Revealed' rolls into town. No fiberglass models or dusty mummies here: this fascinating exhibit, courtesy of the Chinese Society for Anatomical Sciences and the Museum of Life Sciences in Beijing, boasts actual human bodies preserved using plastination, a process that swaps liquid plastic for blood and other bodily fluids. The resulting 200-odd specimens allow for close encounters with eerily lifelike cadavers, organs (kidneys! brains!), and all manner of systems (musculoskeletal, digestive, you name it) – a far more realistic out-of-body (in-of-body?) experience than Fantastic Voyage (or, ahem, Osmosis Jones). The exhibit (kids are welcome, though those under 13 must be accompanied by an adult) furthers its educational aspects with supplemental 3-D animations and videos, resulting in a unique learning experience for all comers: Mütter Museum devotees, wee M.D. wannabes, and anyone looking for a good precursor to cocktail-hour zombies at the nearby Tonga Room. March 31-Sept. 4. Daily, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.), Nob Hill Masonic Center Exhibition Hall, 1111 California, S.F. $10-$17. (415) 292-9191, www.nobhilltickets.com, www.theuniversewithin.org. (Cheryl Eddy)

Fear-list Some people are all about facing their fears. Local artist-scribe Michael B. Loggins has opted for writing them down. His book Fears of Your Life, a numbered accounting in text and sketch, was published in 1995 by Creativity Explored, the renowned S.F. arts center for people with developmental disabilities where Loggins has been writing, drawing, and painting for more than two decades. And selections from Loggins's list of fears have been shown at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, published in Harper's Magazine, and read on NPR's This American Life. This week he and some ardent fans read their favorites at the second installment of "Here Comes Everybody," a series of collaborative literary events running through June at Adobe Books. Event curator Evan Rehill calls the series "a celebration of Adobe and the multitudes of artists who call it their home base." This week's reading also celebrates the birthday of the author, who will be signing copies of his work. 7 p.m., Adobe Books, 3166 16th St., S.F. Free. (415) 864-3936. (Lynn Rapoport)

Hip sisterz In many people's opinion, hip-hop's potential to build social awareness and give a voice to underrepresented communities has been sucked dry, replaced by the glamorous lifestyles of successful artists of the genre. Sisterz of the Underground – a Bay Area collective of musicians and dancers – are putting those original abilities of hip-hop to work by teaching low-income and at-risk kids to MC, DJ, break-dance, and graffiti in order to build confidence in an educational setting. Their fourth-anniversary fundraiser is headlined by Pep Love of Hieroglyphics and supported by the Conscious Daughters, Pam the Funkstress, b-boy Ken Swift, b-girl Asia One, Extra Credit Cru, and many others. The Sisterz' future plans include the introduction of classes on entrepreneurship and production. Proceeds from the event go toward the Sisterz' after-school program, DefEd: An Educational Experience Through Hip Hop. 9 p.m., StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St., S.F. $10. (415) 345-8871. (Keith Axline)

Know the code It's great to live in a city where there's always something to do, but don't you hate it when there are two or more events happening on the same night at the same time and you have to choose between them? We're in luck tonight because fabric8.com, Red Wine, Upper Playground, Future Primitive Sound, and a slew of other San Francisco clothing, music, and culture businesses are getting together to throw 415, one big-ass party at two separate venues celebrating the awesomeness of our city. Guests are invited to traipse back and forth between 111 Minna Gallery and House of Shields (located one and a half blocks apart) to dance it up with DJs Andrew Jervis, Apollo, David Harness, Garth, Toph One, and others, and to appreciate live paintings by Sirron Norris, Ezra Eismont, and collaborative group the Loose Cannons (Brian Barneclo, Greg Galinsky, and Ferris Plock). All this for one low price! Feel the love. 9 p.m.-2 a.m., 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna, S.F. (415) 974-1719; House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, S.F. (415) 495-5436. $10. www.fabric8.com/party. (Sarah Han)

Balazo reborn Few venues have managed to contribute to the underground scene in San Francisco quite like the venerable Balazo Gallery – perhaps best known for its quirky mélange of pop art, garage punk, and cheap beer and mojitos. Now, after six years at its space above Frida Kahlo Pizza on Mission at 24th Street, the gallery is taking it to the next level. Curators have bagged a much bigger space down the street – at what was, until recently, New Mission Cafeteria Chinese restaurant – and, with it, a broader vision: the renamed Balazo18 hopes to include expanded exhibit and live music areas and, eventually, a store, restaurant, and artist studios to boot. And S.F.'s subcultural glitterati are lining up to help launch the new project, with a benefit art auction featuring works by Winston Smith, Spain Rodriguez, Rigo, the S.F. Print Collective, and two dozen others. Local scratch guitar master the Genie performs, along with resident DJs and a fire dance troupe. 7-11 p.m., Balazo18 Art Gallery, 2183 Mission, S.F. $5 suggested donation. (415) 425-6147. (Camille T. Taiara)

Sensitive centaur Is anyone else tempted to move to Canada? No worry about a draft, health care for all, and a seemingly endless line of genre-pushing talent make the hike north seem quite appealing. Native Nova Scotian Buck 65 piques further curiosity about a homeland that could inspire the modern uncanniness of his beats and his off-kilter loser-philosopher lyrics. Buck's high, thin voice has reached puberty on his new album, This Right Here Is Buck 65 (V2), and what once sounded like a 14-year-old reading his letters home from camp now resembles Tom Waits delivering Roald Dahl poems. Buck's eclectic carnival of beats remains impressive, with a leaning toward rock and country that complements his continued vocal alchemy with rhyme and rhythm. Buck and Rondo Brothers open for the awesome MC powers of Handsome Boy Modeling School (Prince Paul and Dan "the Automator" Nakamura). 9 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary, S.F. $20. (415) 346-6000. (Axline)

March on On Aug. 18, 2000, Gov. Gray Davis signed the Cesar Chavez state holiday bill. It was a momentous occasion, as it was the first paid state holiday in the nation commemorating the United Farm Workers founder, a victory for those who hope to continue the labor leader's legacy and to spread his message of activism through nonviolence and community. In memory of Chavez's life, San Francisco celebrates the holiday with an annual Cesar Chavez Parade and Festival. The theme this year is "Spirit of Service," in honor of those working in health care, education, and the labor movement. Highlights of the festival include speakers, informational and food booths, arts and crafts, and musical performances by Caminante, Bayonics, Bandido, and Los Mocosos in tribute to Chavez. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., parade assembles at Justin Herman Plaza, begins on Market Street, and ends at Civic Center Plaza; all other festivities take place at Civic Center Plaza, S.F. Free. (415) 552-2911, cecparade@yahoo.com. (Han)

N.Y. in S.F. Why do we adore the New Yorker as much as we do? The only way I can explain it is by comparing it to Alexander McQueen haute couture: its items are a bit esoteric and self-indulgent, yet those are the very qualities that make us drool. New Yorker cartoons, then, are the accessories that not only complement the journal but also embody its aesthetics. The cartoons' biting wit, sarcasm, and facetiousness, coupled with their sociopolitical angles, have brought them recognition in their own right. More than 60 original signed cartoons will be on tour as part of the New Yorker's 80th-anniversary celebration. What's particularly exciting about this tour is that it features work by Bay Area artists Mark Ulriksen, Eric Drooker, Owen Smith, Winston Smith, and George Riemann. Gallery hours Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sat., 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and by appt., Meyerovich Gallery, 251 Post, fourth fl., S.F. Free. (415) 421-7171, www.meyerovich.com. (Yenie Ra)

Beyond Pumpkins For most of us who grew up on the Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin were an unstoppable team. When they were together, everything seemed to make sense, and when they were apart, we questioned our fanhood. Now the only Pumpkin Corgan ever really trusted to record his own tracks has teamed up with another Billy – Billy Mohler – to start the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. The name might suggest the band is a vanity project, but it seems to be used only to attract audiences, as the drumming on Complex songs is not the focus. Distorted Rhodes, atmospheric guitar, and Mohler's bass effectively build on and tweak audience expectations. Because of Chamberlin's extensive experience and ability to surround himself with quality musicians, many skeptical non-Pumpkins fans have been floored by the Complex's performances. 9 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. $12. (415) 771-1421. (Axline)

Rough beauty There is life after post-punk, judging from the recent Zum split CD by former Get Hustle organist and ex-Glass Candy drummer Mark Evan Burden. Sharing the disc with respected experimentalists Growing, Burden produces an impressionistic 15-minute-plus piece of shattered solo piano, touched by frantic, dark percussive interludes and woodwind-like whistles that mime lonely birdcalls. It's beautiful – and better suited to a chamber space than to a dive bar. Nonetheless, the Portland, Ore., musician can't stop edging toward the heavy: he trails that recording's March 31 release with a performance in his more rockish guise as Silentist, battering drums along to prerecorded piano and flashing strobes. Octis and Gerritt also play this all-ages show. 8 p.m., Balazo Gallery, 2811 Mission, S.F. $5. (415) 550-1108. (Note: this show is at the old Balazo space.) (Kimberly Chun)

Fingerpickin' good When given the opportunity to work at MTV, most people would probably jump faster than an Olympic trampoliner. On speed. But Paul Curreri isn't most people. Far from being hyped-up on speed, and perhaps even farther from being a MTV working stiff (he declined the job), Curreri, a twentysomething Virginian, is a laid-back, folksy bluesman with a knack for nimble-fingered guitar and backwoods poetry. While the Rhode Island School of Design graduate may tip his hat with callused fingers to guitar-plucking greats like Mississippi John Hurt and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, what ultimately hooks you is his unique twang – a sweet and subtle take on the moseying cowboys of yore. He's a modern balladeer who's come into his own; thank your lucky stars he decided to sit in a recording studio and not a five-by-six cubicle. Cas Lucas and Matt Bauer also play. 9 p.m., Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 Fourth St., S.F. $5. (415) 546-6300. (Jacobs)

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