Things To Do In Sonoma

The Fourth of July has come and gone, but there’s plenty left to celebrate—the power of pony friendship, for instance. This week, get close to some bronies, support local hip-hop artists, watch artists as they draw, judge air-guitar performances, and drop by Petaluma for an outdoor festival. Of course, you can also check Groupon for more things to do in San Francisco. A Brony Tale Pacific Heights | Tuesday, July 8, 7 p.m. A Brony Tale follows Ashleigh Ball, who voices Rainbow Dash and Applejack on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, on her visit to the world’s largest My Little Pony fan convention: BronyCon. Attend the documentary’s premiere screening to see how the world’s preconceptions about bronies—men who are devotees of the cartoon—get thoroughly challenged. (Clay Theatre, 2261 Fillmore St.; $12.50; buy tickets here) 2Racks Rap Contest SoMa | Wednesday, July 9 The 2Racks Rap Contest is just one way that Bay Area rapper and producer Sellassie is trying to “Stop Hatin’ in the Bay.” The live song competition awards its winner a $2,000 prize, but more importantly, it brings independent hip-hop artists together for a chance to support one another’s work. The lineup includes Democritus, Dush Tray, Way 2 Saucy, and more. (1015 Folsom, 1015 Folsom St.; $20; buy tickets here) Monster Drawing Rally Mission | Friday, July 11 At the 11th annual Monster Drawing Rally, audiences can watch more than 120 artists sketch new pieces from start to finish. The artists draw in shifts while DJs provide background music, and each work is put up for sale immediately upon completion, priced at $60. All of those proceeds then go toward art programs at Southern Exposure. (The Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa St.; free) US Air Guitar Championships Semifinals NoPa | Saturday, July 12, 8:30 p.m. Playing professional air guitar involves more rules than you might think. No air-drumming is allowed, for example, and guitarists are evaluated on three criteria: technical merit, stage presence, and “airness,” or the degree to which you embody the art’s unique spirit. Learn the rest of the rules and see who will proceed to the finals at the competition this weekend. (The Independent, 628 Divisadero St.; $20; buy tickets here) Petaluma’s Art & Garden Festival Historic Downtown Petaluma | Sunday, July 13, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. More than 100 vendors of artisanal goods will make the drive up to Petaluma more than worth it on Sunday. In addition to the arts and crafts on sale, the festival will have drinks from local wineries, a kid zone with a climbing wall, and live music from bands such as Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs!. Guests with green thumbs can even consult expert gardeners for growing tips. (4th Street and Kentucky Street, Petaluma; free) Monster Drawing Rally photo by Catherine McElhone, courtesy of Southern Exposure; Petaluma’s Art & Garden Festival photo courtesy of Petaluma Downtown Association & Visitors Center

This week: street-food stalls invade the Mission, street-soccer teams compete in tournaments, a movie consists entirely of cell phone calls, a pop-up market gathers goods for the swapping, and Bill Bellamy grabs the mic. As always, check Groupon for more great things to do in San Francisco. San Francisco Street Food Festival Mission | Saturday, August 16 Saturday is your last chance to visit one of San Francisco’s most iconic food festivals, as its continued growth will force it to leave Folsom Street behind after this year. Try made-to-order plates from more than 80 vendors, and help La Cocina promote its culinary entrepreneurs. (Folsom St. from 20th St. to 26th St.; free admission, dishes are all $10 or less; buy prepaid food passports here, or save on a Friday-night meal package and festival drink tokens with a Groupon) Street Soccer USA National Cup Civic Center | Saturday, August 16, to Sunday, August 17 Intense games of 4v4 street soccer take over the Civic Center Plaza to decide the city’s champion, all while raising money to aid the homeless and at-risk youth. Grab some snacks from the onsite vendors and watch a few matches—each one is only about 20 minutes long. (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.; free) "I Play With The Phrase Each Other" Mission | Tuesday, August 19 Nicknamed “the cell phone movie” by its own producers, I Play With The Phrase Each Other is a film entirely comprised of phone calls. Show up at the Roxie Theater an hour before the 7 p.m. screening to drink some wine with writer and director Jay Alvarez. (3117 16th St.; $12; buy tickets here) Score! Pop Up Mega Swap SoMa | Thursday, August 21 Score! pop-up events encourage guests to bring their old clothes, housewares, books, and whatever else they’re tired of to a communal swap. Everything is free after you pay admission, and other attractions will be close at hand, from food trucks to a screenprinting station. (SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St.; $7–$10; buy tickets here) Bill Bellamy Russian Hill | Thursday, August 21, through Sunday, August 24 Standup comic, movie star, former MTV VJ, and inventor of the term “booty call,” Bill Bellamy has a formidable résumé. See him in his element this weekend at Cobb’s Comedy Club, so long as you’re cool with a two-drink minimum and hilarious stories. (915 Columbus Ave.; $22.50–$25; buy tickets here, or save with a Groupon) Image credits: street-food photo by Anita Chu; street-soccer photo by Ye Ming, courtesy of Street Soccer USA; I Play With The Phrase Each Other still courtesy of Jay Alvarez; Bill Bellamy photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

With a major craft fair every couple of weeks or so, San Francisco’s creative types appear to constitute a majority of the population, selling designer handmade bits and baubles that bring joy to bedroom walls and living room shelves everywhere. Some people are born with the innate ability to open an Etsy store, while others must learn. Fortunately, there are several exceptional spots to get your craft on throughout the city. The Museum of Craft and Design actually does partner with Etsy, the online home for DIY craft-sellers worldwide. Whether it’s needle felting, embossing, fashioning wire-wrapped mini mobiles or building robots with the kids on the weekends, the Dogpatch-neighborhood institution can have participants go from clueless bumbler to running a booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in no time. Anyone who’s taken a class at Workshop knows that this Western Addition DIY powerhouse is the real deal. If it’s the hands-on team sharing their knowledge of cheese-making or leading a master class in the art of letterpress, the guidance at Workshop is judgment-free, the music is loud and there’s always cold beer in the fridge. For a casual atmosphere that promotes community, creativity and fun, Workshop’s simple classes offer expert advice that can be applied at home immediately. As the community space that’s more or less the philanthropic wing of the burgeoning Bi-Rite food empire, 18 Reasons hosts its fair share of wine tastings and cookbook signings. Here, members and non-members alike can learn the ins-and-outs of making chocolate, gingerbread houses and even pasta. Those with an eagerness to get their hands dirty can even sign up for a twelve-session urban gardening school. Finally, online magazine-slash-startup incubator The Bold Italic throws a lot of themed parties across the city, but its crafty calendar emphasis extends to workshops on the cerebral world of 3-D printing. There’s no end to the cutting-edge technological possibilities being offered by The Bold Italic, which stands in stark contrast to some of the more crafty, old-school classes available across town. No matter where your interests lie, there’s sure to be a seminar or breakout session in San Francisco that helps explain it all.