April showers (and wind) are giving way to some balmier temperatures later this week, and there are plenty of reasons to step away from your many screens and engage with the greater human world. Here are a dozen of them.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
PRE-PRESIDENTIAL BIOPIC: There's a screening tonight (and another on Thursday) of the film Southside With You, which takes as its conceit a story about a young Barack ("Barry") Obama in 1989 when he was a summer associate in a Chicago law firm, getting to know and fall in love with colleague Michelle Robinson. Richard Tanne's directorial debut, starring Obama lookalike Parker Sawyers, is one of the first fictionalized glimpses the public is getting into the life of our sitting President. Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street, 6:15 p.m. $15
CANADIAN POP-ROCK: Toronto-based pop outfit Sloan is on a 20th anniversary tour, and they're stopping through the Rickshaw tonight for an event called "One Chord to Another." Maybe they'll play "Losing California"? Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, 8 p.m. $20
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
HAPPY HOUR WITH A VIEW: Ongoing at the Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake is this fashionista-friendly, weekly, early-evening fete from party gal Juanita More, who generally doesn't come out to play until well after dark. Lounge tunes come via DJ Sergio Fedasz (Go Bang), and the dancefloor with those wrap-around windows are a perfect spot from which to watch the sun go down. Sir Francis Drake, Floor 21, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Free
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
THINGS IN FILM: One of the live events in this year's SF Int'l Film Festival is a quirky discussion led by The Thing Quarterly, that all centers on "fascination[s] with unsung objects of the cinema," whether they be mysterious props, fantastic costumes, or cool architecture. Presenters include Elizabeth Ito, a director from Adventure Time; Starlee Kine from This American Life; and several local artists, musicians, and filmmakers. Alamo Drafthouse, 2550 Mission Street, 7 p.m., $15
80's DRAG ROCK MUSICAL: Drag queen theater impresario D'Arcy Drollinger brings the latest in her parodic, B-movie inspired stage musicals (remember Shit & Champagne?) to Oasis this week, and it's called... wait for it... Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls. Want a taste? Here's a video for the fictional band Super Vixen's single "Flesh Popsicle." Oasis, 298 11th Street, Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m., $25-$35
MYSTERY ROCK SHOW: It's Popscene's 21st anniversary, and they're keeping the headliner at this show a secret until another batch of tickets go on sale on Wednesday (4/27). Clearly it's somebody who could easily sell out a bigger venue, so keep an eye out here. Update: It's Local Natives, and it's now sold out. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, 8 p.m. $20
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PHILIP ROTH NOVEL TURNED INTO FILM: Great American novelist Philip Roth's 2008 book Indignation has become a feature film that marks the directorial debut of screenwriter, producer, and longtime Ang Lee collaborator James Schamus. Schamus wrote the scripts for The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and this film, about a young Jewish man from New Jersey trapped in 1950's Ohio, is one of the centerpiece screenings of the SF Int'l Film Festival. Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street, 8 p.m. $25
MUSEUM PARTY: This week's "Friday Nights at the deYoung" event features "a trip around the world with Oscar de la Renta, emceed by Chelis Lopez, with live music by John Santos Septet and a lecture by Brad Rosenstein." The theme is "portraits," for what it's worth, and there will of course be cocktails, and a prix-fixe menu being served in the cafe. Also, the observation tower stays open until 8 p.m., perfect for taking a date to see the sunset. deYoung Museum, Golden Gate Park, 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Free (though it's $20 to get into the Oscar de la Renta exhibit)
ELECTRO-INDIE-POP SHOW: The duo of Robbie Slade and Peter Ricq, known as Humans, are coming to do a show in support of their new EP, Water Water. Some of you may know their breakout 2012 track "De Ciel", but their newest stuff is cool too. Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, 8:30 p.m. $15
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOWCASE: The annual SF Decorator Showcase this year takes over the Villa de Martini at 298 Chestnut Street on Telegraph Hill. As it does every year, the event features rooms designed by various Bay Area designers, as well as plenty of well heeled ladies who want to see what the latest trends are in throw pillows. Proceeds go to benefit San Francisco University High School’s financial aid program, and though the opening night fete is sold out, the house is open to the public starting Saturday, through May 30. 298 Chestnut Street, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Tues-Thurs, and Sat), and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays. $35, tickets here.
SUNDAY, MAY 1
NON-FETISH-Y SOMA STREET FAIR: Guess what! It's time for the 17th annual How Weird Street Faire on Howard Street, in a part of town that is quite a bit different than it was 17 years ago. Expect plenty of music, face paint, art, aerialists, food, drink, and weirdness of a Burning Man sort. Electronic music, especially, will be in force at 10 different music stages, and the fun spreads all over Howard and Mission around 1st, 2nd, and New Montgomery. Think "The Dream of the 90's," but more rave-circus-y. Advance "Magic Stickers" are recommended to avoid lines. Noon to 8 p.m. $16.82
ART FAIR IN A MOTEL: The always fun StartUp Art Fair happens this year at the Hotel Del Sol, down by Marina Green, and features small installations of art from a variety of galleries in the various rooms of the motel. The opening night event is Friday if you want to catch that, but the rooms are all open all afternoon Sunday for quieter browsing, and art shopping. Hotel Del Sol, 3100 Webster Street, noon to 7 p.m. $15