Radio Show: From Moving Day to Major Night
Radio Show: From Moving Day to Major Night
Let’s Go! A Farewell Revel
The Berkeley Art Museum moves into its new home in 2016, but the spiritual journey from old to new begins this Sunday with a free day-long party. BAM/PFA sends off their Bancroft Way building in style with music by Kitka, a women’s ensemble specializing in the music of Eastern Europe, as well as performance from artist Dohee Lee and sound art from Chris Kallmyer. There’s also art-making activities for younger visitors and a unique performance of György Ligeti’s Poème symphonique for 100 metronomes, led by pianist/composer Sarah Cahill. Details here.
Coppola Family Affair
The first family of Bay Area filmmaking is the subject and star of this tribute series at San Francisco’s Roxie Theater. There’s an opening night fundraiser and party for $50, or take the cheaper-but-no-less-thrilling route of $10 seats for any of the individual films. From Francis Ford Coppola’s Apolcalypse Now to Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto, and a host of others, each showing features a key player in conversation about the film, with in-person appearances by Richard Beggs, Walter Murch, Eleanor Coppola, Roman Coppola, and Gia Coppola. Details and ticket information here.
Jose-Luis Orozco
Born in Mexico City, José-Luis Orozco is the bilingual Raffi: he’s released over a dozen albums of children’s music in English and Spanish, and traveled the world making children laugh, sing, squeal and shout. For his appearance at the Freight, expect a fun, family-friendly atmosphere that’s entertaining as much as it is educational. And if you need to convince your kids to hop in the car, tell them they’re seeing Rico from Madagascar—Orozco did the voice in the Mexican dub of the film. All in all, the daytime show is a great way to keep the kids busy and stimulated during the holiday break. Details and ticket information here.
Mittens & Mistletoe
Sweet Can Productions is very much a successor to the old Pickle Family tradition of clowning, storytelling and acrobatic feats, but on an intimate scale. This time out, the group presents its annual annual Winter Circus Cabaret, and they’ve got the good fortune of a guest appearance by Diane Wasnak, a Pickle leader who’s still doing great audience-participation bits and riding her bike backward while tossing bowls onto her head. Mittens and Mistletoes is at the Dance Mission Theatre in San Francisco December 19 through December 28, with plenty of matinee performances for kids out of school. Details and ticket information here.
Maceo Parker
Best known as James Brown’s right-hand man and the standout on landmark tracks like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and “Doing it to Death,” Maceo Parker has spent a lifetime conjuring the music he likes to call “2% Jazz, 98% Funky Stuff.” After leading the J.B. horns with Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley, the saxophone legend has dedicated himself to spreading love and unification through music. Of course, that involves a steady dose of gettin’ down, and for Parker’s upcoming four-night stand, starting on New Year’s Eve, the SFJAZZ Center is actually pulling out the floor seats to create an all-night dance party. Details and ticket information here.
