From a well-liked Bay Space jazz/swing crooner to a celebration of Pi Day and a revered chamber quartet taking part in the stately Kohl Mansion, there’s a lot to see and do within the Bay Space this weekend.
Here’s a partial roundup.
Right here comes Miss Smith
Bay Space singer Lavay Smith came across her revved up jazz/blues/swing sound in a novel style. Rising up in Lengthy Seashore, she was fed a gradual weight loss plan of such standard-bearers as Fat Waller, Bessie Smith, Billie Vacation, and Dinah Washington. She moved as a youth to the Philippines, and honed her appreciable vocal abilities in a Manila rock band.
Again within the U.S., Smith way back established herself as an indispensable a part of the Bay Space blues/jazz/roots scene with a busy schedule of gigs starting from headlining at live performance halls to belting out blues, jazz and swing classics in packed nightclubs — virtually all the time accompanied by her first-rate band, The Purple Scorching Skillet Lickers.
On Friday, she performs a pair of exhibits — 7 and 9 p.m. — at Stanford College’s intimate Studio. She’ll doubtless draw some cuts from her newest album, “Miss Smith to You,” however together with her expertise and savvy, any tune she tackles turns into a basic.
Particulars: Tickets are $40-$60; stay.stanford.edu.
— Randy McMullen, Workers
Exploratorium serves up slice of pi
Instances might change on a dime in our tumultuous world, however one factor all the time stays the identical: pi, the irrational-mathematical fixed, the ol’ circumference/diameter cut up, the massive 3.14159265358979323…. you get the thought.
As immutable as pi is, so is Pi (π) Day, a celebration that San Francisco’s Exploratorium invented again in 1988 that has change into a world sensation. Going down on March 14 yearly, Pi Day within the Bay usually includes math-themed actions and shows, a pi parade with a brass band that begins at 1:59 p.m. (the numbers that comply with 3.14) after which literal pie – free slices of pie for everybody who’s paid museum admission.
In 2025, the Exploratoriuim is promising a “celestial twist” to the festivities, as the vacation happens on the identical day as a complete lunar eclipse – the spookily named “Blood Moon,” which can seem as darkish pink within the sky. What’s being deliberate? Nicely, to date there are demonstrations of how feminine engineers and astronauts use pi of their space-exploration work. Other than pie, there may also be Moon Pies to scarf up. And that’s in all probability sufficient pie for in the future for individuals watching their very own circumferences.
Particulars: Occasion takes place noon-5 p.m. March 14 at Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Inexperienced St,), San Francisco; $40 daytime tickets, exploratorium.edu/pi
— John Metcalfe, Workers
Classical picks: ‘Yes, No’; ‘Swan Lake’
The Bay Space’s music scene has one thing for each curiosity this week, as artists from all over the world arrive with works new and previous. Main with a chamber opera by the always-provocative South African artist William Kentridge, occasions additionally embody Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan main an all-Tchaikovsky program, and chamber works carried out by Germany’s Aris Quartet.
“The Great Yes, The Great No”: William Kentridge returns to Cal Performances along with his newest stage work, a chamber opera set on a 1941 sea voyage from Marseille to Martinique. Merging surreal imagery with historic occasions, choral music, dance, video projections and poetry, the opera explores the political, literary, and inventive actions of the period.
Particulars: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; Zellerbach Corridor, UC Berkeley; $43-$140; calperformances.org.
All Tchaikovsky on the Symphony: Conductor Elim Chan returns to the San Francisco Symphony to conduct the orchestra in music from “Swan Lake,” which the composer himself known as “the best thing I ever composed or shall compose.” Audiences can resolve for themselves after this program, which additionally contains Tchaikovsky’s shifting Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.”
Particulars: 2 p.m. at this time, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Davies Symphony Corridor, San Francisco; $49-$225; sfsymphony.org.
Aris Quartet: Germany’s acclaimed chamber foursome involves a perfect setting, the gorgeous Kohl Mansion, for a program together with works by Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, Lukas Ligeti and Erwin Schulhoff. Ticketholders are inspired to return early for a pre-concert speak by cellist Christopher Costanza of the St. Lawrence String Quartet.
Particulars: 7 p.m. Sunday; Kohl Mansion, Burlingame; $30-$62; musicatkohl.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
Alamo showcases a movie legend
Alamo Drafthouse New Mission is inviting movie-goers to take a deep dive within the fascinating world of David Lynch.
The San Francisco cinema salutes the equally visionary and iconic director — who died in January on the age of 78 — by displaying a number of of his best works in March and April.
“He was a singular artist who peeled back layers of the collective unconscious in American pop culture,” organizers wrote about Lynch on the Alamo web site. “We invite you to experience — on the big screen — Lynch’s unique ability to blend noir, horror, comedy, and existential dread, and the unforgettable cinematic experiences he created.”
Topping our must-see record is “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” the 1992 prequel to Lynch and Mark Frost’s first-tier cult TV hit “Twin Peaks.” The feature-length movie really drew horrible opinions upon its launch, in addition to flopped on the field workplace, however vital and well-liked consensus has modified over time and “Fire Walk With Me” is now rightfully thought-about one of many director’s best works.
“Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” exhibits at 9:10 p.m. March 14 and 6 p.m. March 19.
Different Lynch favorites set to hit the massive display embody “Wild at Heart,” “Lost Highway,” “Mulholland Drive,” “Inland Empire,” “The Elephant Man” and “Dune” (1984) — with the latter nonetheless rating as our favourite movie adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel.
Particulars: For showtimes and ticket data, go to drafthouse.com/sf.
— Jim Harrington, Workers
Have a good time Aztec New 12 months
The Mexica New 12 months, which indicators the beginning of the Aztec calendar, formally arrives March 12. However you’ve gotten three days to have fun the occasion this weekend in San Jose, in what’s billed as the biggest occasion of its sort within the nation. That’s largely because of Calpulli Tonalehqueh, an Aztec dance and cultural preservation group based in San Jose greater than 30 years in the past. The group presents dance instruction and is obtainable for demonstrations and such year-round, however its annual Mexica New 12 months celebration – now in its twenty seventh 12 months – is a three-day affair involving a whole lot of dancers, artisans and extra.
The occasion takes place 5 to 9 p.m. March 14, and 9 a.m. to six p.m. March 15-16 at Emma Prusch Park, 647 S. King Highway, in San Jose. And at 6 a.m. March 15 there’s a particular Dawn Ceremony meant for communal reflection. Admission to all occasions is free. Calpulli Tonalehqueh, which organizes the celebration, will carry out together with troupes from a wide range of areas, representing some 500 to 700 dancers in all. There may also be stay music and drumming, a standard Tianguiz (market) with some 80 Native craftsmen providing jewellery, artwork, garments and cultural gadgets from throughout North America, and all kinds of Native foods and drinks choices.
Particulars: For extra data, go to www.aztecadancers.com.
In search of love and laughs
Anybody who watches actuality TV courting/love/hookup exhibits – whether or not they’re really emotionally invested or, conversely, tuning in with a wholesome serving to of snark – has to just accept the quite simple proven fact that the percentages of two individuals assembly for the primary time on a TV present and falling in love ceaselessly and ever are exceedingly distant, at finest. Regardless of this truth, or maybe due to it, courting/romance actuality exhibits stay well-liked. Which implies they’re ripe for the sort of spoofing they get from “Nobody Loves You,” a musical created by East Bay natives Itamar Moses (a Tony Award-winner for “The Band’s Visit”) and Gaby Alter, and opening this week at American Conservatory Theater.
The truth that the present debuted off-Broadway in 2013 and stays ever-so related at this time tells you that Moses and Alter have latched onto an idea with legs. Who doesn’t both love love or hate the individuals who love love? You both are a fan of the Hallmark Channel, which serves up a each day smorgasbord of G-rated romance films that each one finish precisely the identical method, or pinpoint it because the nadir of human existence. It’s upon this nice divide that “Nobody Loves You” begins. Our protagonist, Jeff, hates romance actuality exhibits with as a lot ardour as his girlfriend adores them. When their relationship breaks aside because of this, Jeff enters a actuality present to win his girlfriend again, and break the present. Should you can’t determine what occurs subsequent, you haven’t been watching sufficient Hallmark Channel.
Particulars: By means of March 30 at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary St.; $25-$130; www.act-sf.org.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
DTH returns: The Dance Theatre of Harlem was based by Arthur Mitchell, partly as a way to create a extra accessible fashion and presence of the artwork of ballet. Fifty-six years later, the corporate remains to be carrying on that mission and delivering some fairly darned exhilarating performances within the course of. Not solely is its annual hometown run a well-liked attraction all through New York Metropolis, however the troupe additionally brings its artistry to venues throughout the nation. The 18-dancer troupe now led by Alex Garland returns to Walnut Creek this weekend, persevering with a longstanding relationship with the Lesher Middle for the Arts, with a program that can embody a wide range of works and types – from classical ballet to up to date, city and postmodern. Reportedly, the corporate on this tour has been performing Garland’s world premiere work “The Cookout,” set to music by Jill Scott, the British Afro-funk band Cymande, and extra. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and a couple of p.m. Saturday. Tickets and extra data can be found at www.lesherartscenter.org.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
A wonderful foursome from Europe: The Pavel Haas Quartet, an ensemble based in 2002 which took the title of the Jewish composer from their nation who died in Auschwitz in 1944, is a multi-award-winning group that’s at the moment the artists-in-residence on the Prague Dvořák Pageant. Known as the best Czech Quartet on the earth, they have been lately featured at Carnegie Corridor taking part in in a pageant of all Czech music. San Francisco Performances has them – violinists Veronika Jarůšková and Marek Zwiebel, violist Šimon Truszka and cellist Peter Jarůšek – booked for a recital Friday night time at 7:30 p.m. within the Herbst Theatre. On their program is one work by a Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 11 in C Main, and one other by a Russian, Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Main. Discover tickets, $65-$85, at sfperformances.org or by calling 415-392-2545.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
Eire in phrase and music
The hearth within the pub fireside is blazing, and the Guinness foam within the tulip-shaped glass is simply starting to subside, when the crystalline strains of the Celtic harp waft via the smoky air and the storyteller begins his story. Audiences might must think about the pub fireplace and the Guinness, however they’ll be handled to the best of the musical and imaginative abilities of Patrick Ball, the preeminent Celtic harp participant and completed spoken phrase artist, when he launches into his act at 7 p.m. Friday night time on the Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton. Name it a musical and theatrical preview of St. Patrick’s day, if you’ll. Tickets, $5-$20, can be found on the door at 1225 Hopyard Highway, and refreshments will probably be served each at intermission and after the efficiency.
— Bay Metropolis Information Basis
