Thursday, January 26th

Attack The Block! Inner City vs. Outer Space

Doors and cash bar open at 6:00PM – free popcorn!
Film begins at 7:00PM

Suggested $5-$10 donation at the door benefits Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California — to date, we’ve helped raise over $25,000 for the kids in our community! Learn more here.

SF in SF will be presenting Attack The Block as our first film for 2012. If you liked Shaun of the Dead, you’ll love this fast, funny film pits an inner city teen gang against an invasion of aliens, turning a London housing estate into a sci-fi playground. It’s garnered an impressive list of awards for an indie SF flick, including Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Film (Midnights) at SXSW 2011. It also received Special Mention at the 2011 Black Film Critics Circle Awards, which noted that “Attack The Block is a genre film that defies a number of conventions, not only by having a primarily black cast but portraying each character with a dignity seldom seen on screen and even more rarely in a science-fiction film.”

No need to RSVP – seating is limited, and first come, first seated. Cash bar will be open for the reception hour before the film

We will occasionally be bringing you double features during 2012, and our first film festival! Stay tuned…

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Our 2012 readings schedule is starting to fill up. You can see what we have planned this far on our Forthcoming Readings page.

Saturday, January 28

Ryan Boudinot & Ayize Jama-Everett

It’s debut novel drink night! One of our few traditions is to serve a special, fabulous cocktail whenever we have a novelist appearing with a debut work — so join us at the bar, with benefits to Variety Children’s Charity!

Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson. Booksigning and schmoozing follows in the lounge, and books will be for sale, courtesy of Borderlands Books

6:00PM – doors and cash bar open
7:00PM – event starts

Suggested $5-$10 donation at the door benefits Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California – to date, we’ve helped raise over $25,000 for the kids in our community! Learn more at www.varietync.org

Ryan Boudinot is appearing with SF in SF for the first time, with his new Slipstream novel, Blueprints of the Afterlife, now out from Grove-Atlantic. Ryan Boudinot is also the author of the novel Misconception, a finalist for the PEN/USA Literary Award; and The Littlest Hitler, a Publishers Weekly Book of the Year. His work has appeared in McSweeney’s, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Monkeybicycle, Real Unreal: Best American Fantasy, Opium, Hobart, Los Angeles Review, Black Book, Don’t You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes, Torpedo, The Lifted Brow, and many other places. Ryan is on the faculty of Goddard College’s MFA program in Port Townsend, Washington. He blogs about film in a column called The Eyeball at The Rumpus. He has also been a Writer in Residence at Seattle’s Richard Hugo House, where he continues to teach and lead writing retreats. A graduate of Evergreen State College, he holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Bennington College, and a BA from The Evergreen State College (the fighting bivalves!!). He now lives in Seattle. Acclaimed author Paul di Filippo reviewed the book for Barnes & Noble.

Ayize Jama-Everett is also appearing with SF in SF for the first time, with his debut novel The Liminal People. We are delighted to welcome this local author to the series. Born in 1974 and raised in Harlem, New York, he has traveled extensively in Northern Africa, New Hampshire, and Northern California, and holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s in Divinity. He teaches religion and psychology at Starr King School for the Ministry when he’s not working as a school therapist at the College Preparatory School. When not educating, studying, or beating himself up for not writing enough, he’s usually enjoying aged rums and practicing his aim. Originally a self-published novel, Small Beer Press picked up the rights and published his debut novel, the science fiction thriller The Liminal People, on January 10, 2012. You can find out more about the book at the author’s website.

“Ayize’s imagination will mess with yours, and the world won’t ever look quite the same again.” – Nalo Hopkinson, author

“You’ll be sucked into a fast-paced story about superpowered people struggling for control of the underground cultures they inhabit … The novel is a damn good read . . . will entertain you while also enticing you to think about matters beyond the
physical realm.” – Annalee Newitz, io9

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Merpy Chrismakwanzukahtivus!! Hog Sandwich! Happy Sunday December 25th!

Come spend it with SF in SF!!

We’ll be showing the films Dumbo, the animated short The Lorax, and Midnight In Paris.

Sunday, December 25
Doors open at 12 noon

$5-$10 suggested donation per person at the door benefits Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California.

All SF in SF events raise money for Variety’s Children’s Compassion Fund and Mobility Programs — over $25,000 to date!

No need to spend the day at home or by yourself — give yourself the gift of time away on the holiday! Time away from family visiting… Aunt Gertie, whose hand-decorated sweatshirts always feature the word “Wuv”… Cousin Norbert who drinks the eggnog from the carton… Sister Mary who sends a different Chia pet each year… the boss who bestows a gift pack of canned tuna (true story!)… NONE of those people are invited!

Just you — and bring your favourite people; it’s a stress-free way to spend the Hallmark Holiday!

SF in SF will provide bagels, lox and cream cheese, hot apple cider, eggnog, coffee, tea, cocoa, and we’ll have popcorn for the movies. You are welcome to bring anything you want for potluck, but please, no peanut or soy ingredients (due to food allergies). Children must be accompanied by a parent into the theatre and/or restrooms while at Variety.

Doors will open at 12 noon; we’ll schmooze and snack, and start up with the films about 1:00ish. Cash bar will be open after The Lorax! All bar proceeds and tips benefit Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California.

If you will be attending with a child under the age of 10, please email me 🙂 We’ll have a little gift for them!

Seating is limited – please do not post or forward this invite to social media sites!

Dumbo — (1941- Rated G – 64 mins.) With the great “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence, the Oscar-nominated song Baby, Mine (guaranteed to make you cry into your beer), and the subtle references to the Disney animators strike that nearly killed the studio, there’s something for everyone in this film. And there’s elephants!

The Lorax — (1972 – Rated G – 25 mins.) This is much better than the film coming out next year. I just know it won’t do justice to the immortal words, “I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees!” One of the most important environmental fillms made in the 1970’s, written by Dr. Seuss as an early call to environmental action. I’m sure many of you remember reading it when young and having the ecology message hammered home – but this animated special is really quite fun!

Midnight in Paris — (2011 – Rated PG-13 – 94 mins.) Well, it seems that Woody Allen has made a funny movie! Whodathunk?! We’ve been waiting since Sleeper for this to happen! A time-traveling frothy romantic fantasy, a romp with the City of Paris as the main attraction, and a little scientifiction thrown in for verisimilitude.

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Sorry for the very last minute-ness of this…but wow, just heard about this great opportunity and there are still some tickets left.

Tikvah Records – a monthlong popup store in the Mission – is hosting

The Immigrant Songs of Animator Ralph Bakshi
Saturday, December 3, 7PM
Along with a screening of American Pop

Reserve tickets here.

In case you didn’t know, Bakshi was responsible for the animated Lord of the Rings, back in the day…

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, December 17th — 6:00-9:00PM

Join SF in SF, Variety Children’s Charity and Books, Inc. Opera Plaza for a special fundraising event for Variety!

20% of ALL sales — instore, mail order, phone order, ebooks — purchased between 6 & 9PM go to Variety. From books, cards, toys, stationery — did I mention books? — to BOOKS, it’s the only place you’ll need to go to do your holiday shopping!

Variety will be on hand with refreshments, wine, coffee, tea — and a free gift to anyone making a purchase!

No need to RSVP — just show up and shop! Tell your friends! Any questions, email Rina at sfinsfevents@gmail.com.

Saturday, November 12th

Kim Stanley Robinson & Cecilia Holland

Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson. Booksigning and schmoozing follows in the lounge, and books will be for sale, courtesy of Borderlands Books

6:00PM – doors and cash bar open
7:00PM – event starts

Suggested $5-$10 donation at the door – benefits Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California – to date, we’ve helped raise over $25,000 for the kids in our community!

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Wednesday, October 19th

SF in SF presents filmmakers Jason and Sunni Brock, and noted author William F. Nolan (Logan’s Run) at a booksigning and meet and greet for their new anthology, Like Water for Quarks. As a special treat for SF in SF, they’ll also be screening a pre-release of their new documentary — The Ackermonster Chronicles — about the legendary SF personality, Forrest Ackerman. This is not yet released in theatres!

Doors and cash bar open at 6PM
Booksigning and meet & greet begins at 7PM
Film starts at 8PM

This event is free and open to the public; a suggested $5 donation at the door is appreciated, and benefits Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Unfortunately our planned urban fantasy panel has fallen though. However, we have scrambled to get you a different event on the same day. We are therefore proud to present:

Friday October 14th

Kafkaesque: Stories inspired by Franz Kafka. This is a book edited by John Kessel & James Patrick Kelly, and published by Tachyon Publications. We will have three authors whose stories appear in the book: Rudy Rucker, Carter Scholz and our own Terry Bisson.

The usual format applies. Doors open at 6:00pm, readings begin at 7:00pm, followed by Q & A moderated by Terry Bisson. Signing and schmoozing in the lounge afterwards. There will be a cash bar with proceeds going to Variety.

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.

Also, Teenquake!!

Before our event you may want to check out Teenquake!! at Books Inc. in Opera Plaza on Monday October 10th. A couple of those books have definite genre interest. Blood Red Road by Moira Young is a post-apocalyptic Western with a teen girl heroine that is being billed as Hunger Games meets Mad Max.

Saturday, September 10th

Nancy Kress & Jack Skillingstead

Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience, moderated by author Terry Bisson. Booksigning and schmoozing follows in the lounge, and books will be for sale, courtesy of Borderlands Books.

6:00PM — doors and cash bar open; 7:00PM — event starts

Nancy Kress is an American science fiction writer. A long-time resident of New York, Kress relocated to Seattle in 2009, and in February 2011 she married fellow author Jack Skillingstead.

Exploring the moral ambiguities of genetic engineering has become Kress’ hallmark; she’s also known for being technically realistic, and setting her works in a fairly near future…as in, it could happen tomorrow! Or next week, at the very latest — her fiction keeps you on the look-out.

Kress is the author of over twenty titles. Her most widely known novel, Beggars in Spain, (1993), was originally published as a novella in Asimov’s, and as a limited paperback by Axolotl Press in 1991. Kress expanded it, adding three new volumes and eventually two sequels, Beggars and Choosers, and Beggars Ride. The novella won the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. Nancy’s most recent books are Steal Across the Sky (Tor, 2009), Nano Comes to Clifford Falls and Other Stories. (2008, Golden Gryphon), and Dogs (2008, Tachyon Publications).

Kress has also won four Nebula Awards, and a second Hugo in 2009, for the novella “The Erdmann Nexus.” In addition, “Flowers of Aulit Prison” garnered a Sturgeon, and the novel Probability Space won the 2003 John W. Campbell Memorial Award. Nancy’s fiction has been translated into nearly two dozen languages (including Klingon!).

In addition to writing, Nancy frequently teaches at various venues: Clarion, writing festivals around the country, the arts center Writers & Books in Rochester, NY, and — most recently — as the Picador Guest Professor at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

Jack Skillingstead is an American science fiction writer, known for the sterling quality of his short fiction. Born and raised in Seattle, Skillingstead stayed on, and in February 2011, married fellow author Nancy Kress.

In 2000 Skillingstead entered a writing competition sponsored by Stephen King. A year later he learned he was one of five winners. In 2003 he began publishing stories in small-press magazines, but his first professional sale was the Sturgeon Award finalist “Dead Worlds” to Asimov’s (2003). He has since published around 30 stories, most in Asimov’s but also appearing in F&SF, Realms of Fantasy, assorted anthologies, On Spec, and Talebones. His first collection, Are You There and Other Stories, was published by Golden Gryphon in 2009, and Fairwood Press published his first novel Harbinger in 2009. EdgeBoston.com reviewed his work in the column on standout fiction for 2009, in January 2010, noting that “Real men read Jack Skillingstead, an emerging talent destined for a blinding-bright career, and that includes his instant-classic compendium Are You There and Other Stories.”

A suggested $5 donation at the door donation is welcome and appreciated, so that we can continue bringing these events to San Francisco, and benefiting Variety’s mobility programs! All bar and tip proceeds go to Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California – to date, we’ve helped raise over $20,000 for the kids in our community! Learn more at www.varietync.org

The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.