So the Niners didn’t make it into the Super Bowl, but chances are you’re still planning to tune into the game on Sunday. So why not watch it on the biggest screen in the neighborhood?

This Sunday, the Balboa Theater is offering free viewing of Superbowl XLVI – in HD and Dobly Stereo – on their big screen. In addition to their usual tasty popcorn, you can also enjoy beer, wine, hot dogs and more while you watch the game (and the new commercials).

Kickoff is at 3:30pm Pacific. Who will you be cheering for?

Sarah B.

Photo courtesy of the SF Public Library archive

Next Tuesday night, California historian James R. Smith will be at the Conservatory of Flowers to give a special lecture “San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach: The Early Years 1914-1945″.

Smith will share rare photos and stories from his book about the once bustling amusement park that sat across from Ocean Beach on the Great Highway.

You’ll start your evening with a private viewing of the Conservatory’s delightful garden railway exhibition, “Playland at the Conservatory.” While you’re there, try your hand at vintage arcade games and chat with former Playland carny Marvin Gold who will be on hand to answer questions and tell you about the memorabilia. Then sit back and enjoy the ride as Smith explores the phenomenon that was Playland at the Beach.

We’re giving away a pair of passes to the event. To enter, simply send us an email via our contact form by Friday, February 3 at 12noon. We’ll draw a winner randomly from the entries.

The lecture begins at 7pm, doors open at 6pm for viewing the Playland exhibition beforehand. And even if you don’t win the free pair of passes, tickets are only $5 per person.

Sarah B.

Playland, 1962. Courtesy SFPL.

Playland, 1949. Courtesy of SFPL

Next Monday night, the Balboa Theater is hosting a special presentation of “Looking Through A Glass Onion: Deconstructing the Beatles’ White Album”.

Using rare audio and video clips, as well as anecdotes about the creation of the songs, “Looking Through A Glass Onion” explores the groundbreaking production techniques that went into producing this landmark piece of music history. Composer, Producer and Beatles Expert Scott Freiman will discuss the creation of songs like “Revolution”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, and “Blackbird”, plus many other classic songs from the White Album.

The Beatles’ 1968 self-titled album (commonly referred to as the White Album) is the bestselling album of the Beatles’ career. Its thirty songs span almost every style of music – from hard rock to country to chamber music to avant garde. Its recording took place during a remarkable year in Beatles history that included a lengthy trip to India and the arrival of Yoko Ono. In Looking Through A Glass Onion: Deconstructing The Beatles’ White Album, composer/producer Scott Freiman takes Beatles fans young and old into the studio as the Beatles create this masterpiece.

“As a composer and producer, I have always been fascinated by the Beatles innovations in songwriting and recording,” said Freiman. “It is truly exciting to listen to songs we know so well evolve from a home demo to a finished recording. There’s a reason why the Beatles’ music continues to strike a chord with new generations of fans, 40 years after their last recording.”

The 2 hour presentation begins at 7:30pm and tickets are $15. Purchase them online in advance or at the door.

Sarah B.

The Richmond District is bordered on each side by large parks – the Presidio and Golden Gate Park – both of which have their own budding populations of feral cats. Some of them may be visitors to your property on occasion, looking for a little food and affection.

Next Tuesday night, the Richmond District branch library will host a free workshop on “Community Cats”. The program is put on by the Community Cares Department of the San Francisco SPCA.

Come to the workshop to learn more about San Francisco’s community cats, how Trap Neuter Return (TNR) programs can be successful in your neighborhood, and how you can get involved in helping the feral cats in our neighborhood.

The free workshop takes place on Tuesday, January 31 from 6pm until 8pm at the Richmond Library (351 9th Avenue).

Sarah B.

Event Co-Chairs Eva Monroe and Ernie Ng at Thursday’s press event.

This Saturday from 10am until 4pm, the Botanical Garden in Golden Park is hosting their annual, free celebration and show in honor of the Chinese New Year.

This year’s program includes classical stringed instruments and cultural dance performances by Alice Fong Yu School, lion dancers, magician Jaden Huang, and a puppet show from the Chinese Historical Society of America. There will also be a raffle with prizes given away throughout the day.

You can also attend a talk by Chinatown historian Lyle Jan, or taste in the Tea Room thanks to Vital Tea Leaf.

For the kids there’s story time, educational activities, an Asian Art Museum center for the kids, plus learning activities with the 826 Valencia writing center.

Saturday’s schedule:
10am – West Coast Lion dancers
11am – Alice Fong Yu School Performance
11:30am – Rosa Parks School Performance
12pm – West Coast Lion Dancers
12:15pm – Magician Jaden Huang
1:30pm – SFBGS Story Time
2pm – Chinatown history with Lyle Jan

While there, grab a map for a self-guided tour of the Asian Plants in the Botanical Garden, or join a docent tour at 10:30am or 1pm.

Also expect to see some beautiful and exotic flowers. The photo below was taken at the press preview on Thursday.

The celebration takes place on Saturday from 10am until 4pm at the County Fair Building in the Botanical Garden. Admission is free.

Sarah B.

This Saturday, the Westside Art House is putting on a concert to celebrate the Chinese New Year which takes place next Monday, Jan. 23. This is the year of the dragon.

Performing will be the San Francisco-based trio of DaMaDa. They combine Chinese folk song styles from Zhuangzu, Yi Zu, Miaozu, Xinjiang, and other Chinese provinces with American improvisational jazz forms.

The concert begins at 8:30pm this Saturday at the Westside Art House, 540 Balboa. Tickets are $8 per person.

Since they opened last February, the Westside Art House has built a great calendar of free and low-cost classes, workshops and seminars for the community. Check out their website or follow them on Facebook to keep up with their events and classes.

Sarah B.

This Wednesday, the Richmond District branch library will host a free screening of the new documentary “Sutro’s: The Palace at Lands End”, directed by Tom Wyrsch. He was also the director behind the “Remembing Playland” documentary that came out last year.

The film is a nostalgic trip back in time told by historians and the people that experienced Sutro Baths and its museums through interviews, film footage, and hundreds of photographs. The entire film will be shown (84 minutes), followed by a Q&A with Director Tom Wyrsch afterwards.

The event begins at 6:30pm at the Richmond Branch Library, 351 9th Avenue.

If you can’t make it to the free screening, both of Wyrsch’s films are playing at the Balboa Theater as a double feature this Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 21-22). On each day, “Remembering Playland” plays at 11:15am, followed by “Sutro’s: The Palace at Lands End” at 12:30pm.

Sarah B.

Awards season is upon us and the Balboa Theater is once again hosting viewing parties for the main events.

This Sunday, join other movie-lovers to gawk at the Red Carpet fashions and watch the nominees sweat it out at The Golden Globes. The Globes are always fun because they cover TV and movies. Check out the nominees here. Morgan Freeman will be receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

The Balboa’s doors open at 3:00pm for the Red Carpet pre-show, the Golden Globes ceremony itself begins at 5pm. The broadcast will be projected in High Definition on the Balboa’s big-screen, plus Dolby stereo sound so you won’t miss any of the enthralling acceptance speeches!

Reed Kirk Rahlmann will emcee the event and there will be great prizes and surprises. Tickets are $5 per person; buy them in advance online or at the theater before the show.

Sarah B.