Look at you. Sitting inside, with Netflix on repeat, while it’s kinda crappy outside. This is like the fourth time you’ve rewatched Orange Is the New Black. Ask yourself, wouldn’t I rather be doing something quasi-interesting instead of numbing out on boredom? Well, here’s the thing: the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco is currently running a lineup of Arts & Ideas shows, which, we promise, will improve the quality of your brain while not imploring you to hit Continue Playing every half hour. My favorites this season are mostly musicians along with some art and psych pop in the mix – all guaranteed to give you something to talk about on your next Tinder date. Hell, why not just take your Tinder date to one of these talks? Show some class.
DJ Jeff Mills
DJ Jeff Mills is a legend in both the techno and sci-fi communities. Formerly known as the Wizard, Mills has taken to live-mixing the soundtracks of old science-fiction movies, combining the original scores with modern electronic sounds. For his first Bay Area appearance, he’ll be dubbing over Fritz Lang’s 1929 silent science-fiction classic, The Woman in the Moon. The result is a trippy, modern reimagining of the old-school film, all done live, as part of his Cine-Mix show. Afterward he’ll talk about space, time, and the origins of his sound. Catch this. (Friday, Jan. 23)
Marky Ramone
In 1978, Marky Ramone replaced Tommy Ramone on the drums in, well, the Ramones, one of the most iconic and significant punk rock bands of all time. Now the last surviving Ramone of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers is putting out a memoir about the more colorful details surrounding the notorious band, entitled Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone. At the very least, this is worth checking out on the basis that … guys, it’s the last of the f*cking Ramones. Plus, you get a copy of the book, and there’ll be a wine and beer reception with the mad drummer himself. But hey, if you don’t care about music at all, that’s fine too. (Saturday, Jan. 24)
Suzanne Vega
We can’t place exactly where we heard Suzanne Vega’s hit “Tom’s Diner” first, but we’ve heard it so many times that “doo doo doo doo, doo da-doo doo” is stuck in our heads forever. She’s been described as “plaintive but disarmingly powerful” and is worth seeing for a blast from the recent past at this intimate concert. She’ll be here along with guitarist Gerry Leonard, known for his extensive work with David Bowie. (Thursday, Feb. 19)
Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon is like the godmother of alt-fem post-punk, and if you don’t know who she is, you’re behind. She’s the cofounder of Sonic Youth, a pop fashionista, the producer of Hole, Kurt Cobain’s homie and a big promoter of Spike Jonze, and she’s responsible for the rise of Chloë Sevigny. Gordon’s new memoir, Girl in a Band, is an in-depth look at the mind behind her life’s work and art. Are you really going to miss out on someone who’s collaborated with Lydia Lunch, Yoko Ono, and Courtney Love? (Wednesday, March 4)
Killer Heels
Some short guys may feel that heels are designed for two things: to shape the wearer’s legs and butt, and to mess up their chances of being taller than their dates. Yet women (and drag queens) love to hate and hate to love those crazy stilettos. Lisa Small’s exhibit, Killer Heels, covers the history of this iconic fashion artifact. Fresh from the Brooklyn Museum, the exhibit answers any lingering questions you’ve may have about heels while providing insight into what high heels are really all about. (Tuesday, April 14)
Issa Rae/Justin Simien
This talk by Issa Rae and Justin Simien should be an exciting and honest discussion about current outlooks on the powder-keg issue of racial differences. Rae is the woman behind the super-popular web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl; she made Glamour’s “35 Under 35” and Forbes’s “30 Under 30.” With her is Justin Simien, whose satirical film, Dear White People, created a ton of controversy while also winning Breakthrough Talent at this year’s Sundance. Their work stands in opposition to race perceptions in popular media and rings painfully true at times. For a younger perspective on what it means to be black, these are two up-and-comers you won’t want to miss. (Friday, Feb. 20)
Vint Virga
We have no idea if cats want to kill us in our sleep or if they love us unconditionally, and scooping up cat poop has to be on our top-ten list of “hates.” But Dr. Vint Virga has spent his life decoding what animals are trying to tell us, and he’s gotten pretty good at it as a psychologist for animals in captivity. Luckily, he’s willing to impart some handy knowledge about what the hell our pets are feeling based on their actions and what we can do to respond. This is worth it just to avoid showing up at work covered in cat scratches. (Wednesday, Jan. 21)