8 Days a Week

Hot Spot

Peace of art: Mary Tuma's installation Homes for the Disembodied is part of "Made in Palestine."

IN THE SPIRIT of opening minds and bringing new perspectives, SomArts Cultural Center is hosting 'Made in Palestine,' a showcase of works by 23 Palestinian contemporary artists living in the Middle East and the United States. The works utilize an array of media and techniques, from the avant-garde (such as chocolate silk-screened onto glass, a steel box filled with rocks, and illuminated plastic hearts) to more traditional acrylic, ink, and photographic creations. Influenced by, among other things, ancient Egypt, surrealism, social realism, and installation art, the contributors are inspired by the creative works of the past and present, as well as their current personal situations. While establishing peace between Israelis and Palestinians may be like an artist's work in progress, open dialogues and exhibitions such as this may be a step toward peaceful coexistence. Exhibition runs April 7-21. Opening reception Thurs/7, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; gallery hours Tues.-Wed., noon-4 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., noon-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m., SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan, S.F. Free. (510) 548-0542. See www.justiceinpalestine.net/MIP/program.html for a list of events held in conjunction with the exhibit. (Elisa Jacobs)

Finding home Deep in the folds of the sweet new short-story anthology Lost on Purpose: Women in the City, a woman on the edge of a breakdown races through a frenzied telling and retelling of a rough urban day of seeking protection and understanding from others without giving up her right to self-determination. That's one of the themes of a book that pulls readers from city to city, offering the idea that sometimes place defines the quality of our existence, and revealing ways that women both starve and thrive on the harshness of urban life. This week the text is featured at two readings and gets an unusual reception in a dark Polk Street bar (one that seems to appear in its pages) with a multimedia sound-text performance by editor and contributor Amy Prior, solo guitar strumming by contributor Sara Jaffe, and selections from the MadCat International Women's Film Festival. Readings tonight, 7 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 282-9246; Thurs/7, 7:30 p.m., Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck, Berk. Free. (510) 486-0698. Multimedia performance Sun/10, 8 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $5. (415) 923-0923. (Rachel Brahinsky)

He, she, who cares? Queer and transgender writers and artists are on the front lines of a war of sexual identity, a liberating fight that benefits even the straightest of the straight. Unlike most battlegrounds, however, this one can be a fun eye-opener. The Cross Gender Caravan has collected some of the best writers of the movement to give readings for your enjoyment in conjunction with the Tranny Roadshow, a performance and visual art troupe focused on transgender issues. Featured writers include Tennessee Jones, author of Deliver Me from Nowhere; Charlie Anders, author of Choir Boy; Carolyn Connelly, from the zine A Brooklyn Diary; and the "Urban Hermit" himself, Andre Hewitt, author of The Flow Chronicles. 7 p.m., City Lights Books, 261 Columbus, S.F. (415) 362-8193, www.trannyroadshow.org. (Also Fri/8, 7-9 p.m., New College of California, 777 Valencia, S.F. 415-336-8469, www.newcollege.edu; Sat/9, 7 p.m., Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., S.F. 415-647-2888; Sun/10, 6:30 p.m., Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakl. 510-636-7637; Mon/11, 7:30 p.m., Cody's Books, 2424 Telegraph, Berk. 510-845-7852.) Call for prices (events range from free to $30.) (Keith Axline)

Music for torching What hell hath Norah Jones wrought? Come away with Shivaree to the seventh rung of torch song, a realm surely reigned over by Valley girl vocalist Ambrosia Parsley. She has the kind of sleepy, kittenish warble that gets under listeners' skins, just like slow dancing, certain R&B classics, Julie London, John Barry, and tempestuous tangos. Equal parts Jones and fellow sultry Southlanders Spain, the SoCal combo, who include guitarist Dyke McVinnie and keyboardist Danny McGough, also have a way with a pop hook, a skill that found a place on the soundtrack to Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Clem Snide co-headlines; Marbles open. 8 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. $15. (415) 885-0750. (Kimberly Chun)

Frequency band As trite as it sounds, for most people the Radar Brothers may just be under the radar. But all clichés aside, this band of brothers really shouldn't be giving the radio detecting and ranging device the slip, because their sound is on target. The Radar Brothers' music plays like a well-done '70s-rock mix tape. While you could describe them as The Best of Pink Floyd meets The Beach Boys' Greatest Hits, the trio also cater to that ongoing California rock aesthetic (Beulah, Thrills, and Grandaddy fans: be prepared to be instantly smitten) that makes you feel like you have sand between your toes. Although these brothers aren't blood relations, band members Jim Putnam, Senon Williams, and Steve Goodfriend (who greet you from sun-drenched Los Angeles) have been playing together for more than 10 years. On their most recent album, The Fallen Leaf Pages (Merge), the Radar Brothers stay true to their roots, once again offering their patented mellow vocals, melodic piano, and gloriously lazy percussion on the altar of finely tuned, melancholy rock. The Rum Diary and the Red Thread warm up the crowd. 10 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $10. (415) 621-4455. (Jacobs)

2cool2B4gotten According to my friend Justine, the Coolies have to be cool because they're from New Zealand. But maybe she's a little biased, since she's from the land of the kiwi. A better reason to like this South Auckland all-girl punk trio is that they're pretty great. They've been turning heads and blowing minds with their keen style and catchy, danceable garage punk that's akin to Mocket's, Bratmobile's, and the Rondelles'. The Coolies are currently in the United States on a coast-to-coast tour that started in March (which included a stop at South by Southwest). Their extended stint in the Bay Area includes a handful of shows (last week they played with K.I.T. and Coachwhips at Artists' Television Access) and the recording of their second full-length album in Oakland. Tussle, Ariel Pink, and Edie Sedgwick also play. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $8. (415) 923-0923 (also Sat/9, 9 p.m., Elbo Room, 647 Valencia, S.F. $8. (415) 552-7788). (Sarah Han)

Sweet freedom It's not like no one knew where she had been all this time, but in the debut installment of Martha Stewart's column, From My Home to Yours, in the first issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine since her release from prison, she writes about her homecoming as if she had just been vacationing for a few months in Tahiti. No mention of prison, confinement, or any such bad things. It's only "good things" for this über-perfectionist, and that's the way she likes it. And the way most of her fans – including me and the participating artists in 'Yoohoo and Donuts' – like it. Varnish Fine Art's group show, dedicated to the queen of craft, features illustrative and comic book works by 10 Alternative Press Expo artists, including Alex Pardee, Jerome Opena, Lucien Shapiro, and Jonathan Wayshak. So mark it in your planner: APE in the afternoon and Varnish at night – you'll be glad you did; it's a good thing. Alternative Press Expo runs through Sun/10. Sat/9, noon-6 p.m.; Sun/10, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Concourse Exhibition Center, 620 Seventh St., S.F. $7-$10. www.comic-con.org. "Yoohoo and Donuts" runs through April 30. Opening tonight, 7-11 p.m. Gallery hours Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat., 1-5 p.m., Varnish Fine Art, 77 Natoma, S.F. (415) 222-6161. (Han)

Dark shadows Cape? Check. Corset? Check. Blood red lips and white cake makeup? Check and check. Well, now that you're all gussied up for a night on the town, slink over (or fly, for those who have the power) to Brainwash's benefit for the Glampire movie. This event for those with a bent for bloodsucking features a screening of four short films made by Glampire cast and crew, with intriguing titles like "The Lighter Side of Necrophilia" and "Bubble Movie"; musical performances by Fade and Eli Wise; and a meet-and-greet with those involved in the making of Glampire. 7:30-10 p.m., Brainwash, 1122 Folsom, S.F. Donations accepted. (415) 487-9290. (Han)

Play Penn While Michael Penn may be thought of as many things – producer, music arranger, film score composer, husband to Aimee (as in Mann), brother to Sean (as in Penn) – it should not be forgotten that he started it all as a singer-songwriter in his own right. While Penn has only released four solo albums throughout his career, his bookish pop rock efforts, while sporadic, don't disappoint. Part Harry Nilsson, part Paul McCartney, and part Paul Westerberg, Penn's solo work is the convergence of carefree pop and serious songwriting. Now, after scoring films like The Anniversary Party and Melvin Goes to Dinner, and working with artists like Liz Phair, Penn's back in full singer-songwriter force and set to release a new album through SpinART on his own label, Mimeograph Records. The album, Mr. Hollywood Jr. – 1947, which is scheduled for release in June, takes its inspiration from post-World War II Los Angeles. While he may be Mr. Hollywood this time around, Penn will no doubt prove himself to be Mr. Exceptional once more. Paul Hoaglin also plays. 9:30 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $15. (415) 861- 5016. (Jacobs)

Page gauge The Oscar hype has finally died down – presumably it'll be at least a few years till we get to hear Hilary Swank thank "my best friend and publicist" again – but make room in your trophy-gazing calendar for another, shall we say, more genuine awards bash: the 24th annual Northern California Book Awards. With prizes voted on by the Northern California Book Reviewers Association, the evening honors outstanding regional authors in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children's lit, and translation – with nominees including authors famous (Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder) and emerging, and a diverse array of subjects (bread making, farmworkers, Antonioni, trolls) represented in their works. San Francisco State University's Poetry Center picks up a special award in honor of its 50th anniversary, and the dean of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, Orville Schell, is honored with the Fred Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement. 5-8 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (510) 525-5476, www.poetryflash.org. (Eddy)