The fire department cordoned off Valencia between 22nd and 23rd to put out a fire. Bikes could still go through. Gawkers were in luck: they could have some of the best coffee in SF right across the street at Ritual Roasters while watching the SFFD get at it. ...

Mission hipster haven, Ritual Roasters, is hosting a stellar art event organized by curator/painter/illustrator extraordinaire, Sacha Eckes. The show runs through December 2nd and features artists Timothy Buckwalter, Bill Dunlap, Sacha Eckes, Nancy Mizuno Elliott, Christopher Jernberg, Alexis Mackenzie, Paul Madonna (whom we interviewed in May), Mike Monteiro, Fred Rinne, Brion Nudah Rosch & Ifton Schlinger and Micke Tong. Each artist has created about three pieces of art, which have been framed in white,......

Free bike light giveaway today only. ...

The Asian Art Museum's monthly throwdown, Matcha, kicks off around 6pm with DJs, tours, workshops and cocktails. The Live Action Cartoonists, a performance troupe that combines comics and theatre, will perform highlights from Science (Fiction) an experimental production that re-interprets Tezuka Osamu’s Astro Boy. 200 Larkin St., SF. Dance away your Independence Day hangover at the Rickshaw Stop! Fleeting Joys(shimmery, Cocteau Twins-esque tunes out of SacTown) Christopher Willits (think Postal Service, but better) and......

Ever misplaced a grocery or to-do list? Your lost note could appear in Lost and Found in the Mission, a play based on true stories salvaged from scraps of papers found around the Mission District. The production, by Boathouse & Co., includes songs, dancing, beat-boxing and mass hallucinations. Tickets are available on a sliding scale ($15-$25), here, show starts at 8pm. Mama Calizo's Voice Factory in the Jon Sims Center for Performing Arts, 1519......

>Theatrical Releases April 13th, 2007 Of the major releases, we think the most interesting is Mike White’s directorial debut: Year of the Dog. White continues with his tradition of dealing with sexual/social awkwardness (a la Chuck and Buck), humor about the bizarreness of development (Freaks and Geeks, School of Rock) and the conflict of “where we come from” (Orange County and Nacho Libre). It’s well put together and worth the time. This film proves itself to be one in a long career: White will certainly direct again. ...

Theatrical Releases March 30th, 2007 We’ve got some decent choices this week: if you’re in the mood for comedy, it’s all about Blades of Glory, if we have kids Meet the Robinsons (3-D at the Metreon) is better than you’d expect, but if you want something saucy it is all about Joseph Gordon-Levitt and that movie he’s in…The Lookout. I heard someone postulate it was like Brick 2: Outta College but I think that was......

One of our favorite independent bookstores, Modern Times, (888 Valencia St. at 20th) presents author, Nick Mamatas reading from his hilarious new novel Under My Roof, the story of telepathic tween Herbert Weinberg, whose father Daniel decides to strike a blow for freedom by building a nuclear device, planting it in the lawn jockey in his front yard, and declaring independence from the United States. Plus special guest, local firecracker and Audre Lorde Award-winning performance......

We regularly try to come up with a clever title that sums up our event picks for the day, and today's Tonight events seem to comprise a number of the big trends fueled by internet-land. Food activism - New College (766 Valencia St. near 19th) hosts "Eating Locally, Thinking Globally," organized by Christopher Cook of the Grotto. Join food experts, activists, and San Francisco city supervisors for this evening of education -- and action......