Saturday, April 22 is Record Store Day.

“This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records.”

The artists releasing special vinyls include Madonna, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Willie Nelson, David Bowie, and others.

Participating Stores (Not all of the stores will choose to participate in all promotions, or carry all releases. Call store!):

1-2-3-4 Go! Records
1034 Valencia Street
San Francisco, 94110
415-550-7865

Amoeba Music
1855 Haight St.
San Francisco, 94117
415-831-1200

Groove Merchant Records
687 Haight St.
San Francisco, 94117
415-252-5766

Grooves
1797 Market St.
San Francisco, 94117
415- 436 9933

Noise Records
3427 Balboa Street
San Francisco, 94121
415-702-6006

Rasputin Music and DVDs
1672 Haight St.
San Francisco, 94117
415-863-2448

Rasputin Music and DVDs
2401 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-704-1146

Recycled Records
1377 Haight St.
San Francisco, 94117
415-626-4075

Stranded
1055 Valencia Street
San Francisco, 94110
415-647-2272

The Explorist International
3174 24th Street
San Francisco, 94110
415-678-5691

The Music Store
66 West Portal Ave
San Francisco, 94127
415-664-0408

Thrillhouse Records
3422 Mission Street
San Francisco, 94110
415-308-1353

Vinyl Dreams
593 Haight St.
San Francisco, 94117
415-379-0974

Western Relics
1400 Irving St.
San Francisco, 94122
415-759-5567

1-2-3-4 Go! Records
420 40th Street #5
Oakland, 94609
510 985-0325

Econo Jam Records
2519 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, 94612
510-465-2559

Groove Yard
5555 Claremont Ave.
Oakland, 94618
510-655-8400

Park Blvd Records
2014 Park Blvd
Oakland, 94606
510-879-7952

Amoeba Music
2455 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, 94704
510-549-1125

Hercules Records
1734 Alcatraz Ave
Berkeley, 94703
415-999-1139

Bedrock Music & Video
2226 4th Street
San Rafael, 94901
415-258-9745

Red Devil Records
894 Fourth Street
San Rafael, 94915
415-457-8999

The Bay Area Pet Expo at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is Saturday and Sunday, March 11 &12.
Admission to this indoor event is free (Parking $8.00) and non-aggressive, well-behaved pets are welcome — all pets must be on a fixed lead or in a carrier with proof of appropriate vaccinations.
You will be required to sign a pet waiver at the entrance or you may fill your pet waiver form out in advance, waiver here (pdf).

The Expo features pet-friendly exhibitors, pet care tips, grooming, pet behavior & training, along with free nail trims, discounted vaccinations.
Don’t have a pet? Pets are available for adoption.

Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Rd
San Jose, 95111

Admission: Free
Parking is $8

Saturday, March 11 — 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, March 12 — 11:00am to 4:00pm

* Dosa Restaurant ~ Invites the public to enjoy complementary tea and cookies while learning how to heat water using the sun.

Saturday, June 19
10 AM – 4 PM
1700 Fillmore St.
San Francisco

Dosa on facebook

* SF Environment Green Energy Fair on the 28th

Free educational workshops: Learn about – Solar, wind, and energy saving improvements.

Activities for kids – Music – Fun

Saturday, June 28
10 AM – 3 PM
Golden Gate Park – Bandshell (Music Concourse Drive)

Solar Water Heating Tours
Bus tours depart 10:30 and 11:30 from Bandshell.
First come, First-served.
Please check in at the SF Environment table to reserve a bus seat or get a map of tour sites.

The AMC Loews Metreon 16 was selected to run Grease (the) Sing-A-Long on Thursday, July 8th.

Tickets available on Fandango.

Grease Sing-A-Long on facebook
Grease Sing-A-Long on twitter

Danny (John Travolta) [singing] I got chills / They’re multiplyin’ / And I’m losing control / Cause the power you’re supplying / It’s electrifyin’.

Nice to see John so young and electrifyin’!

Stage 1: Mark Caven was the first rider to cross the finish line in Sacramento on Sunday.
Stage 2: Today it was Brett Lancaster’s day on the wet streets of Santa Rosa.
Stage 3: Starts on Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Tuesday. The ride will conclude at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Day: Tue. May 18
Start: San Francisco @ Sloat Blvd
Finish: Santa Cruz
Start Time: 11:15 AM
Miles: 113.3
KM: 152.3
End ETA: 3:22 – 4:03 PM

TV: Versus CH 81 on Comcast @ 2:00 PM

Amgen Tour Site

The Map

Stage 3 Log: Times & Course Directions

On twitter

San Francisco Bike to Work Day – Did you know that bicyclists made up 75 % of the Market Street traffic that morning… Street Films

Escape your troubles next Sunday while taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes at the 11th annual “How Weird Street Faire”.

It starts at Noon on the 9th of May; which just happens to be Mother’s Day. Leave your donation* of $10, or $5 if in costume, at the main entrance ~ Howard and New Montgomery Streets. The main entrance is near MUNI lines, and only 2 blocks from the Montgomery BART station. Thanks to the SF Bicycle Coalition for providing bike parking.

The How Weird Street Faire takes place on Howard Street between 1st Street and New Montgomery, 2nd Street between Mission and Howard, and all partial blocks of Minna St. and Natoma St. off of 2nd Street. This is Ten blocks of vendors – wares, food & drink, and non-profit organizations will be there to educate.

The Ten music stages: Symbiosis, Muti Music, Rebel Bass Collective, Tantra, Groove Garden, Non Stop Bhangra, Temple Nightclub, Opel, Opulent Temple, Strategik, Space Cowboys, Brass Tax, Le Harem, Ultraviolet Carnival, Team Infinity, Red Marines Festival, Aum Festival, Style/Clash…

How Weird Street Faire ~ Bollyweird the cosmic dance
Howard and New Montgomery Streets
San Francisco, Earth
Sunday May 9th
Noon to 8 PM
All Ages Welcome
Costumes Encouraged

*Donation of $10 or $5 if in costume ~ gets a Magic Sticker
Sticker Benefits Include:
$1 off each drink at the faire bars
$2 off How Weird @ Night
Discounts and special offers from many faire vendors…

At 7:40 PM Set a World Record for the Largest Synchronized Bollywood Dance.

Peter Friess (The Tech Museum) and Daniel N. Fenton (Team San Jose) announced that “Genghis Khan” will be the next blockbuster exhibition coming to San Jose.

“Genghis Khan’s brutality is well known, but less visible is the man whose natural leadership formed the first united Mongol nation – no small feat,” said Peter Friess, president of The Tech Museum. “Inasmuch as we carry the dark images of Genghis Khan the warlord, there is also the man who brought us passports, the pony express, printed money, hamburgers* and even pants.”

Much can be discovered about Genghis Khan (1167-1227) the ’emperor of all emperors’ who united nomadic tribes of northeast Asia and founded the Mongol Empire and Mongolia with a visit to The Tech Museum.

More than 200 13th century artifacts from Genghis’ reign will be on display including:

Live Cultural Performers: Mongolian singers, contortionists and musicians.

Live weaponry demonstrations are featured in the exhibition.

Paiza – passports.
Large Siege Weaponry – Large crossbow and tools to conquer walled cities and castles.
Ancient Mongolian Artifacts.
Ger – A traditional nomadic dwelling – Note: One-third of the people in modern Mongolia live in a Ger.
Shaman’s Robe – Ritual dress used to channel spirits. Genghis Khan practiced shamanism and believed in supernatural powers.
Jewelry – Treasures from the ancient Mongolian capital of Karakorum.
Mongolian Noble Woman Mummy – Mummy and coffin treasures including silk and leather robes, jewelry, comb and bowl.
Mongol Weapons – Swords, leather and metal armor, mace-heads, bows and arrows, and an early firearm.
Buddhist Relics – books, statue, and artwork. Note: The Mongolian capital of Karakorum was religiously diverse.
Clothing and Adornments – Silk garments and jewelry from Karakorum and Kublai Khan’s palace.
Musical Instruments – Strings made of horse hair.

Team San Jose extends an invitation. When speaking with Dan Fenton he expressed hope that the people of San Francisco would visit The Tech and enjoy Genghis Khan.

“Genghis Khan The Exhibition” – Opens May 22 (Limited Engagement)

The Tech Museum – 201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113-2008
(408) 294-8324

Special Exhibit Hours:
Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tickets:
Children 3 -17 ~ $15
Adults ~ $25
Special prices for seniors and college students.
Admission includes access to all the regular museum galleries.

*It is amusing that hamburgers, the name coming from the German port of Hamburg, originated in the time of Khan. The fierce Mongol horsemen (the Golden Horde) were so busy conquering the world that having to stop to light fires and eat got in their way. Raw lamb or mutton was formed into flat patties and then placed under their saddles. The horsemen could easily grab some ‘hamburger’ at any time.

Modern day Mongolia (see U.S. Department of State) lies in central Asia between Siberia on the north and China on the south and is slightly larger than Alaska.

Ger/Yurt The burning of soft coal by individual homes or “Ger” (yurt in Russian) adds to the polluted air.

Micky Rourke will star in a film about the Mongol ruler. He says: Genghis Khan Biopic ‘Not Your Stereotypical Blood and Swords‘

Genghis Khan: flickr set.

TeamSanJose on twitter

gather up clothes - etc.

It is time for Homeygrown’s Biannual Clothing Exchange in Oakland. Rather than buying new things you can refresh your wardrobe with free reusable clothes. Show up at Soundwave Studios with $5 and a bag of clean gently used clothing, shoes, and household items that can be exchanged for new-to-you goods. All leftovers will be donated to charity.

Saturday April 24
from 3 to 9 PM
$5 donation + a bag of goods.

All Ages Welcome ~ Free snacks ~ $1 drinks for those who are 21 with ID.

Soundwave Studios
2200 Wood Street
Oakland, CA 94607-1713
(510) 763-2201
Bus: Peralta St. 24th St

twitter ~ swapnotshop

Record Store Day celebrates the over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA and then some.

Check the stores for contests, giveaways, and appearances!

Participating Stores in San Francisco Include:

Amoeba ~ 1855 Haight St. (415) 831-1200 ~ see website for contest & twitter

aQuarius recOrds ~ 1055 Valencia St. (415) 647-2272 ~website

Creative Music ~ 26 Ocean Ave. (415) 334-1011 ~ website & Contest

Force of Habit Records ~ 3565 20th St. (415) 255 PUNK (7865) ~ website

Groove Merchant Records ~687 Haight St. (415) 252-5766 ~ website

Medium Rare Music ~ 2310 Market Street (415) 255-7273 ~ website

Streetlight Records ~2350 Market Street (415) 282-8000 ~ website

What Is It ?

Keep your eye out for Yeasayer in the Haight.

twitter ~ recordstoreday

I found out about this late, but you may still have time to catch some of the sidewalk activities being organized against the proposed sit/lie ordinance. The activities, from lemonade stands to sidewalk sales to a comedy show, are happening throughout the city to protest the proposed ordinance, which would enable police to cite people who are sitting or lying on city sidewalks.

The ordinance was proposed following a series of columns in the Chronicle by C. W. Nevius fomenting against bullying street punks in the Haight who were said to be intimidating shoppers and merchants.