by Juliana Birnbaum Fox
The San Francisco International Poetry Festival, entitled Flor y Canto en el Barrio: A Celebration of Latino Poetry, will take place throughout San Francisco’s Mission District next weekend. The Festival will begin on Thursday, July 24 with a kick-off party at 6:00pm in Balmy Alley (24th St. between Harrison and Folsom) and a Lit Crawl at over six different venues on 24th Street (between Mission and Bryant). Poetry readings and workshops for various ages and interests will continue throughout Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. Translated to mean “Flower and Song in the Neighborhood,” the festival brings young, unpublished poets alongside authors such as two-time winner of the American Book Award, Alejandro Murguía, and San Francisco Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman for poetry readings, workshops, and a special exchange of culture and history. For details visit www.friendssfpl.org.
Filipino-American Jazz Festival
The First Annual San Francisco Filipino-American Jazz Festival will be held at the Yerba Buena Gardens on the weekend of August 9th and 10th at 3 p.m. The festival ‘s day time performances are free.
The evening venue (To Be Announced) will feature music from 5 – 9 p.m with tickets available at the door for $45 and $35. The festival will feature Charmaine Clamor, Melecio Magdaluyo Quartet, Art Khu Quartet , Ben Luis Quintet , Josie Canion Lily Alunan and After Hours, and Little Brown Brother Nerio De Gracia Mambo Jazz Quintet. For information go to www.sfpinoyjazzfest.com.
Commonwealth Club features How We Eat series
There are very few cities whose residents are as foodobsessed as San Francisco with its countless world class eateries, easy access to fresh and local food products, abundance of farmer’s markets, as well as entire marketplaces devoted to food. The Commonwealth Club is proud to present its third program of special lectures with its “How We Eat” series this August, 2008. This year’s programs will address the gamut of serious food trends and health concerns, from the impact of global warming on our world food supply, to the growth of restaurants serving menus of local and organic dishes.
The series, comprised of 30 programs, including talks, panel discussions, cooking demos, hands-on cooking classes, farm tours, food and wine tastings, dining experiences and several field trips, will be open to the public. Most programs will be held at The Club offices located at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor in San Francisco, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.commonwealthclub.org.
Teen Playreaders present “I Hate Hamlet”
Berkeley Public Library’s Teen Services invites you to the Teen Playreaders production of Paul Rudnick’s comedy, “I Hate Hamlet”. There will be two presentations: Saturday, July 19, 8 p.m. at the Willard Middle School Metal Shop Theater, 2425 Stuart St. (at Telegraph) and Sunday, July 20, 6 p.m. in front of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St. (at Shattuck).
“I Hate Hamlet” follows the misadventures of a Los Angeles television actor who, while portraying the title role in the Shakespeare in the Park’s summer production of “Hamlet”, rents the New York City apartment once owned by John Barrymore. There’s a séance, swordplay, romance and the ghostly return of Barrymore himself. The performance is free for all, and recommended for ages nine and up.
