Next Wednesday night, the Bazaar Cafe will host another free “how-to” night, this time teaching attendees how to build their own telescope.

Local amateur astronomer Douglas Smith will explain basic optics, discuss the different types of telescopes and their components, and demonstrate the process of making those components.

Smith recently completed FirstLight — a 16.5″ primary mirror Dobsonian truss-tube telescope which he’ll show off at this year’s Maker Faire. If you just did a “Whaaat?” with that sentence like I did, here’s what a Dobsonian scope is all about:

A Dobsonian telescope is an alt-azimuth mounted newtonian telescope design popularized by the amateur astronomer John Dobson starting in the 1960s. Dobson’s telescopes featured a simplified mechanical design that was easy to manufacture from readily available components to create a large, portable, low-cost telescope. [Wikipedia]

The free class on September 8th begins at 7pm at the Bazaar Cafe at 5927 California near 22nd Avenue. After class, you can also try out Smith’s FirstLight and other telescopes for a little stargazing. Fog permitting of course.

Sarah B.

Calling all do-it-yourself publishers! This Saturday and Sunday from 11am until 6pm, the annual Zine Fest conference will be held at the County Fair Building in the park at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard.

San Francisco Zine Fest is a free, annual two-day show for independent and underground publishers. The festival is full of small press, zines, comics and other do-it-yourselfers who are passionate about their subjects. While the focus is on zines, all walks of DIY life are represented — comics, arts and crafts, literary presses, and more.

According to the Zine Fest website, there will be more than 100 small press and DIY exhibitors, special guests, hands-on workshops, and informative panels. So no matter what you’re into, you’re sure to find a zine creator at the show that feels your passion.

This year’s conference includes two new features – a dedicated Reading Room, with dozens of small-press titles from Zine Fest exhibitors and other creators, and the first ever on-site art show, Punk Tabloid, a retrospective of three seminal Bay Area publications: Search & Destroy, Damage and Another Room Magazine. These massive newsprint broadsheets – chronicles of the vibrant punk scene of the late 70s and early 80s – showcase the roots of the modern smallpress culture that the Zine Fest annually celebrates.

Sarah B.

Next Tuesday night, the SFPUC will host an open house meeting about the Westside Recycled Water Project.

More info about the project from their website:

The proposed Westside Recycled Water Project is part of the SFPUC’s Water System Improvement Program. Highly-treated recycled water would be delivered to a variety of customers through a system of pipelines, pump stations, storage tanks and reservoirs. The system would bring recycled water from the recycled water treatment facility in Golden Gate Park to Lincoln Park and Golf Course to be used for irrigation; additionally recycled water would be used for various non-potable uses in Golden Gate Park, including those at the California Academy of Sciences. The estimated construction cost of the proposed project is $109 million, with construction planned for completion in 2015.

Part of the project includes construction of a new recycled water treatment plant in the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park. The new facility would produce and deliver up to 2 million gallons of water per day.

New distribution pipelines will also need to be laid for the system, mostly under city streets and in limited sections of Golden Gate Park.

Officials at Tuesday night’s meeting will share the proposed designs of the project buildings and grounds and answer questions residents have about the project. The meeting will run from 6:30pm until 8pm at the Golden Gate Senior Park Center, 6101 Fulton at 36th Avenue.

For more information on the Westside Recycled Water Project, visit the SFPUC FAQ page or contact Suzanne Gautier, SFPUC Communications and Public Outreach at 554-3204 or at sgautier@sfwater.org.

Sarah B.

Abbie Dwelle (left), Wendy Hawkins and Olivia Griffin of Paul’s Hat Works. Photo: Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

I received a lovely, handmade invitation in the mail this week announcing the one year anniversary of “the marriage of Paul’s Hat Works to Abbie Dwelle, Wendy Hawkins, Olivia Griffin, and Kirsten Hove.”

Those are the uniquely talented ladies that took over the 90 year old hat business in September of last year. It’s been a eventful first year for them that included a lot of coffee, a holiday gala complete with Dimestore Dandy, a grant from the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and even a mysterious caper when their dapper street sign was beheaded.

But the ladies and Paul’s Hat Works are still going strong. Stop by the shop at 6128 Geary this Sunday from 11am until 9pm to wish them a happy anniversary. While you’re there you can try on their new line of summer straw hats, and explore their fantastic shop which is like stepping back in time.

And don’t forget say hi to the Conure bird that hangs out in the shop – apparently he likes to be included in all the comings and goings.

Congratulations to Abbie, Wendy, Olivia and Kirsten!

Sarah B.

Stop by the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park on Sunday for a day of Seussian proportions. The one and only Cat in the Hat will be in attendance to celebrate his new TV show, “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!”, premiering on KQED on September 6th.

From 9:30am to 5pm enjoy storybook readings from local celebrities like Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik, Greg Sherwood from KQED, Academy scientists, and special guests from NASA and Beach Blanket Babylon.

There will also be special specimens and demonstrations from Academy staff, a scavenger hunt (with cat-tastic prizes of course!), sneak previews of the new television show, plus a chance to win a full set of Cat in the Hat Learning Library Books.

To participate, you’ll need to purchase an entry ticket to the Academy of Sciences. KQED/KTEH members can receive $5 off up to four general admission tickets when you show your KQED or KTEH member card.

I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am!

Sarah B.

This Friday night, a fundraiser will be held at Ireland’s 32 (3920 Geary between 3rd and 4th Avenues) for a team that is planning to tuk-tuk across India to help raise money for juvenile diabetes research. Yes, you read that right – they’re traveling via tuk-tuk.

The fundraiser is for the team Raiders of the Lost Tuk, made up of a Bostonian and two San Franciscans. They, along with 60 other teams from around the world, will make a 2,000 mile trek across India in what amounts to a motorized rickshaw in the Autumn 2010 Rickshaw Run. They’re participating to raise money for and bring awareness to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

An auto-rickshaw is affectionately referred to as a “tuk-tuk” in Indian neighborhoods, a common form of transportation usually meant for only short distances in and around cities in India. The Rickshaw Run has no set rules. With no check-in points or truck with spare parts following the participants, our team is entirely on its own to plan the route, figure out where to sleep, and improvise when things don’t go as planned. Not to mention, we are using the least suitable vehicle for transport. The tuk-tuk looks like a golf cart but with only three wheels. It is also not meant for long distances.

The threesome has a vested interest in the race and their cause – one of the team members has been living with Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed at the age of 10. Racers will start their adventure on September 12th during monsoon season in the snowy Himalayan town of Gangtok, Sikkim, in northern India near Nepal. They’ll (hopefully) arrive roughly two weeks later at the finish line in the desert of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, aptly nicknamed “The Golden City.”

This Friday night beginning at 8:30pm, team Raiders of the Lost Tuk will hold a charity concert and launch party at Ireland’s 32 on Geary. The event is 21+ and there will be live music. $5 cover with 100% of all proceeds benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (event flyer).

Good luck to the Raiders of the Lost Tuk – may the force be with you!

Sarah B.

Yesterday’s Sunday Streets, dubbed “Penguin to Penguin” because of its start at the Academy of Sciences and its end at the Zoo, brought out two great things in abundance – San Franciscans and sunshine.

Thousands came out to enjoy a car free Golden Gate Park and Great Highway, riding their bikes, rollerskating, skateboarding or just walking. At Lincoln and Great Highway there were dozens of vendors set up ranging from Clif Bar to Sports Basement to dog rescue organizations. There was plenty of live music, games for kids and cultural activities. Even a MUNI bus was parked for kids to explore and run around in.

Waiting at the end of the route at Sloat and Great Highway was another special surprise – a penguin mascot – who as you’ll see in the video, definitely had the moves.

Did you come out for Sunday Streets?

Sarah B.

Just got the Police Blotter from last week and in it, Captain Richard Correia shared some stats and information about coverage of last weekend’s Outside Lands Music festival:

The cost of policing the event was borne by the promoter and our staffing levels were, when combined with more than two hundred private security personnel, sufficient to assure a safe event.

Department of Parking and Traffic, along with two tow trucks, were detailed to the Richmond District to handle calls of blocked driveways. This system worked well and it appears that we did not have any significant delays in responding driveway calls, which had been a problem in years past.

So all in all, pretty low rate of complaints for the festival. The department will give a more thorough report on Outside Lands at their next Police Community Forum meeting on September 21 (1pm, location TBD).

Did you experience any issues during Outside Lands? Let us know in the comments.

Sarah B.