Willie Brown appears twice on the list this week, once directly and once with a cameo in The Princess Diaries. Not a Brown fan? Not to worry. We've also got Carnaval, Digable Planets, and some spinsters who really, really want to meet you.
TUESDAY, MAY 23
WORDS FROM WILLIE: Former two-term San Francisco mayor and chair of "Willie Brown Inc." Willie Brown will give his annual lecture on national and regional political trends at the Commonwealth Club tonight. The main reason to attend this lecture from a current columnist and retired politician will be to see if his fabulous girlfriend Sonya Somethingcomplicated is wearing something from her new fashion line. Commonwealth Club, 555 Post Street, 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program, $25 - $55
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
ALAMO SQUARE GRAND RE-OPENING: She's back! A jewel in the botanical crown of San Francisco has been polished to the tune of $5.3 million taxpayer dollars. Swing by the official re-opening celebration of the park exclusively known for appearing in the opening credits of Full House. Fun activities to follow after political speeches. Alamo Square Park, Hayes and Steiner, 11 a.m., free
JOIN THE SPINSTERS: Join (or consider joining) the Spinsters of San Francisco over beer and cocktails. You'll get to know this moving and shaking group of female-identified philanthropists aged 21 to 35 at their "4th Prospective New Member Large Happy Hour." Southern Pacific Brewery, 620 Treat Avenue, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., free (but you have to buy whatever food or drinks you want.)
THURSDAY, MAY 25
BUFFY MUSICAL SING-A-LONG: San Francisco's "very own nerd collective" FANBOY is celebrating the 20th anniversary of cult-fave Buffy: The Vampire Slayer with a musical sing-a-long at The Lone Star Saloon. Expect a night full of singing, trivia, drag and music as emceed by Jimmy Swear with guests Suppositori Spelling, Luna, Dam Dyke, and DJ Downey. The Lone Star Saloon, 1354 Harrison Street, 7 - 11:30 p.m., $5.
RAD RETRO 90s HIP-HOP: Digable Planets is headlining 1015 Folsom! The Grammy-winners are back together to remind you of everything that was cool and comforting in 1993. (Play this on repeat for a big ole blast from the past.) 1015 Folsom, 1015 Folsom, 8:30 p.m., 21+, $35 - $50.
FRIDAY, MAY 26
PRINCESS DIARIES: Film Night in the Park gets all the glory. Did you know that there's a free outdoor film screening every first Friday of the (warm) month at Pier 39? There is. This month's selection is The Princess Diaries because this is a tourist place and those people like Anne Hathaway. Bring blankets and "Alcatraz Psycho Ward" quarter-zips. Pier 39, East Lawn, 8:30 p.m., free.
CRITICAL MASS: It's the last Friday of the month so either get excited or run and hide because it's Critical Mass, a big angry bike-ride through San Francisco. "Everyone is invited! No one is in charge! Bring your bike!" (Wear a helmet! - SFist) Justin Herman Plaza, 5:30 p.m., free.
SATURDAY, MAY 27
SAUSAGEFEST BLOCK PARTY: Dig into sausage-inspired dishes from local restaurants and food vendors, enjoy music, and gulp craft offerings from your favorite brewers at Jack London Square's SausageFest. (Bet you were hoping for another kind of sausage fest!) $30 VIP tickets include a take-home pint glass, two beers, and a SausageFest t-shirt. $10 tickets include that pint glass and one beer. Alternately, you can just wander around for free and purchase whatever sausage strikes your fancy. Jack London Square, 12 noon - 6 p.m. free - $30.
SELENA IN SF: The Alamo Drafthouse comes correct by screening Selena all weekend long. If you'll remember, this widely-adored singer was murdered by the president of her fan club. Naturally J-Lo played her in the movie version of this international tragedy. Alamo Drafthouse SF, 2550 Mission Street, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., Monday at 4 p.m., $10.
SUNDAY, MAY 28
CARNAVAL PARADE: Hooray for the 39th Annual Carnaval San Francisco Grand Parade! Bask in the sun while marveling at a brilliant procession of dancers, drumers, musicians and floats depicting the cultures of the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The parade begins at 24th and Bryant and ends around 17th and Mission. (You can watch it on TV, lazybones!) Stick around for the festival on Harrison between 24th and 16th Streets, which will take place all day on Saturday and Sunday. Mission District, parade starts at 9:30 a.m., free.
MOUNTAIN PLAY: It's a tale as old as time - almost. "Beauty and the Beast" takes over Mount Tamalpias for the 104th annual Mountain Play. (Fun fact and full disclosure: I worked here over a decade ago!) Pack a boozy picnic and grab one of the free school bus rides up from a Marin parking lot to the top of a mountain for a Broadway musical over-looking the San Francisco Bay. Mountain Play, Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, 2 p.m., General Admission adult tickets start at $40, kids and seniors are $25 - $35.
SHIP SHOW: The 2-day Ship Show Music Festival takes place on the (haunted) USS Hornet docked in gorgeous Alameda, California. On Sunday, catch all nine member of the Wu-Tang Clan, DMX, Wyclef Jean, Kelis, and more (but both days have amazing artists.) USS Hornet, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Alameda, two-day passes start at $159, one-day passes start at $89, VIP Cabanas (!) go as high as $5,000.
