by Contessa Abono
Illustration of a total solar eclipse
The public is invited to view the total lunar eclipse from the Plaza of Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley, Centennial Drive below Grizzly Peak in Berkeley on February 20, 6-9 p.m.
Telescopes will be set up and amateur astronomers will be on hand to answers questions and assist other viewers. The Moon will be totally eclipsed at 7:01 p.m. and totality will end at 7:51 p.m.
There is no charge to participate in this event. For more information call 510-642-5132 or log onto www.lawrencehallofscience.org.
Top Secret: Mission Toy
Ever thought about designing and building a toy? Come be a toy detective and explore the insides and outsides of toys at the new exhibition developed by the Canadian Children’s Museum. The exhibition lets kids don white coats and do cutting edge research at the Toy Central International Laboratory.
Bay Area Discovery Museum is located at Fort Baker 557 McReynolds Road in Sausalito, California. The exhibition runs from Feb. 9 to May 4.
New Ingleside library branch to break ground Feb. 15
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 for the new 1298 Ocean Ave. single-story 6,000-square foot library. The project has an estimated budget of $6.9 million, including site acquisition. The library was designed by the architecture team of Fougeron Architecture and includes free WiFi access to the Internet and provides a variety of seating choices. There is a children’s and teen area and a program room with a growing collection of books, DVDs, and books on tape. For more information call 415-557-4277 or visit www.sfpl.org.
Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times
The prolific and flamboyant Willie Brown, former San Francisco mayor and California Assembly speaker, will reflect on his life in politics and how he became known as “the last political showman of the 20th century.”
Willie Brown
Brown left an indelible mark in an assortment of political issues, ranging from civil rights to international trade. While mayor, he overhauled Muni and redeveloped the Embarcadero, among other accomplishments. And he was sought for advice from such prominent figures as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
Brown served in the California State Assembly from 1964 to 1995, becoming the state’s first African-American speaker in 1980. He held the position for an unprecedented fifteen years, and was eventually termed out of office. In 1995, Brown left the State Assembly to run for Mayor of San Francisco against incumbent Frank Jordan. He was elected in a landslide and served from 1996 until 2004.
Since leaving office, Brown co-hosted a morning radio show with comedian Will Durst and produced a weekly podcast. Brown, whose dramatic style helped fuel an acting career, first appeared on the big screen as a politician in “The Godfather Part III ” in 1990. Brown has also played himself in “George of the Jungle,” “The Parent Trap,” “The Wedding Planner,” “The Princess Diaries,” and “Hulk,” amongst others.
Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m., 595 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 597-6700.
