San Francisco Bay Guardian

Discussion: Latinos and the criminal justice system - Join SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Sheriff Ross Mikarimi, Criminal Justice Network for youth program manager Roselyn Berry, and Haywood Burns of the Institute for Juvenile Justice, Fairness, and Equality for a frank discussion on how the Latino community is affected by the system. The discussion will cover immigrant offenders, the city's Sanctuary City policy, restorative justice, and juvenile crime.
7-8pm, free. Eric Quezada Center, 518 Valencia, SF. www.sflatinodemclub.com

Dogcatcher - If Dogcatcher was a brand of alcohol, it'd be Jameson - it's that smooth. By crafting tight rhythms and jazzy guitar riffs, the San Jose-based trio provides an almost flawless fusion of jazz and rock. And its simple and soft vocals create an intimate experience on stage. Dogcatcher's songs are well-constructed and the delivery creates a calmer version of traditional jazz.
9pm, $8. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. www.bottomofthehill.com

The Ape Woman: A Rock Opera - Step right up and view Dark Porch Theatre's presentation of The Ape Woman, May van Oskan's rock opera exploring the life of one Julia Pastrana, an indigenous Mexican who achieved fame (infamy?) on the 19th century circus sideshow circuit. Sometimes also dubbed "the Bear Woman," the diminutive Pastrana suffered from hypertrichosis - resulting in thick, dark hair all over her face and body, a trait that made her a valuable prize for unscrupulous promoters.
8pm, $15-$30. Exit Studio, 156 Eddy, SF. www.theapewoman.com

Third Thursday in Yerba Buena - Soak in art and music while wandering the blocks around Yerba Buena Gardens and experiencing total immersion with special installations, performances, and events promoting rich cultural businesses. Participating venues include the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Thirsty Bear Restaurant, Novela Bar, and more.
10pm, free. Yerba Buena Neighborhood, between Market and Folsom and Second St. to Fifth St., SF. www.yerbabuena.org

Free Fall - Presented as a part of Frameline 37, a young German police Cadet, Marc (Hanno Koffler), finds himself disturbingly drawn to a fellow cadet, Kay (Max Riemelt), during a weekend of training exercises - a regimen that proves to be not quite enough of an outlet to diffuse the erotic tension between them. Back home, though, are Marc's very pregnant girlfriend, Bettina (Katharina Sch üttler), and a circle of friends and family who expect him to continue along his current track of shacking up, forming a family, and demonstrating his loyalty to the macho brotherhood of his colleagues on the force. When Kay transfers into the department, his presence exerts a pressure on Marc that threatens to derail him.
6:30pm, $15. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro, SF. www.framline.org/festival

Pansy - Why does nightlife hold us in its timeless spell? And, perhaps more topical, will the nostalgia for the necessary craziness and joy of the '90s nightlife ever let us go? Evan Johnson, one of the most intriguing drag performers goes deeper in solo stage Pansy, conceived with Ben Randle. His character, Michael, discovers a time capsule full of VHS tapes, cassettes, and flyers documenting '90s gay club kid Peter Pansy, and finds shivery parallels with his own life emerging. "I want to address the 'shadows' of AIDS and queer history pride... That time period, 1993-95, became the vehicle for me to address the vital nostalgia and escape of the San Francisco queer fantasy," he says.
8pm, $10-$15. New Conservatory Theatre, 25 Van Ness, SF. www.nctcsf.org

Female Drummer Showcase - Finding a good drummer is always one of the hardest parts of forming a band. And yet, for some reason, there haven't been too many world-famous lady drummers. Tom Tom Magazine set out to fix such gender inequalities by raising awareness about female percussionists and inspiring girls to pick up the sticks. Now it's time for the drummers to give back, at this fundraiser for Tom Tom, also presented by Mission Creek Oakland and East Bay Express. The female drummer showcase includes local Oakland bands such as two-piece garage-punk act Dark Beach, vintage pop band Upside Drown, party band Bam!Bam!, and Silver Shadows.
9pm, $7. Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl. www.rickshawstop.com

San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival - First of all, can we just enjoy this awesome WTF moment? A music festival. Powered by bicycle pedaling. Even in its seventh year, SF's annual Bicycle Music Festival is still a wonder to locals. It offers the chance to listen to great music by folk band Laurie Lewis and the Righthands, Bill McKibben, Justin Ancheta Band, Manicato, and more, in a beautiful setting for free. In fact, it's three beautiful settings, because the event is packed up and deployed throughout Golden Gate Park. The event is known to draw some crazies, the cool kind who perform synchronized dances or twirl around on cycles while playing the trumpet - so be warned.
Noon-5pm, free. Golden Gate Park, Pioneer Log Cabin to Stow Lake Drive at JFK Drive, SF. www.bicyclemusicfestival.com

Ramsey Lewis and Dee Dee Bridgewater - The soulful jazz sounds of Ramsey Lewis joins forces with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater for this must see performance at the Stern Grove Festival, SF's beloved free concert series in the Sunset's leafy green valley. Opening the show is Quodron, an up-and-coming electric soul cadre.
2pm, free. Stern Grove, 19th Ave. and Sloat, SF. www.sterngrove.com

City Lights at 60 - Bookstore, publishing house, Beat writers hub, San Francisco institution. City Lights, founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin in 1953 (and now co-owned by Ferlinghetti and Nancy Peters), has meant a great many things to several generations of San Franciscans and tourists that flock to its North Beach forefront. It's published important tomes, hosted readings and acoustic concerts, political conversations and book release celebrations. In celebrating six decades of life, the bookstore will host "City Lights at 60" lectures and readings through the rest of the year.
2-5pm, free. City Lights, 261 Columbus, SF. www.citylights.com

The Bling Ring - When it was revealed that high schoolers were behind a series of robberies targeting the lavish homes of Hollywood's famous-for-being-famous types - most notably Paris Hilton - the fallout became fodder for gossip websites like TMZ.com, plus a memorable Vanity Fair article. The latter (recently expanded into a book by author Nancy Jo Sales) is the basis for Sofia Coppola's new film, a fictionalized take on the crimes. Bored by upper-middle-class lives that leave them with lots of free time and habitually absent parents, a posse of SoCal teens (newcomers Katie Change and Israel Broussard, and Hatty PotterThe Bling Ring, Coppola has delivered her least-vapid film since 1999's The Virgin Suicides; it's both candy-colored and canny, a cautionary tale that lingers just long enough on its scenes of youthful excess to let you know it's in on the joke.
7:35, $10.50. Century at Tanforan, 1188 El Camino Real, San Bruno. www.cinemark.com

Crazy Mondays - Don't miss Beauty Bar's only all hip-hop night starring the Kidz, a DJ collective that spin new and retro hip-hop who consistently work in the best talent SF has to offer.
10pm, free. Beauty Bar, 2299 Mission, SF. www.thebeautybar.com

S&S Pop-Up - If you dig barbecue, you'll want to check out S&S Pop-Up from chefs Sarah Burchard and Spencer O'Meara, because these two know their way around some meats. They'll be doing a Latin American night, with happy hour small bites (at 6pm) and dinner kicks in a 7pm with build-your-own barbacoa (goat) tacos, ceviche, fejoada, fried plantains, and three kinds of dessert.
6pm, $42, not including drinks and gratuity. Mission Rock Resort, 817 Terry, SF. www.ss-shack.ticketleap.com

The Epicenter: Karen Joy Fowler and Dorothy Allison - During this week-long literary spectacle for book lovers, World Fantast award-winner Karen Joy Fowler promotes her new book, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, and speaks with revered author Dorothy Allison.
7-8:30pm, free. The Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter, SF. www.litquake.org