Events

California Academy of Sciences' Nightlife events are not-to-be-missed. Always full of interactive entertainment and boozy offerings, Nightlife on February 2nd will deliver some bourbon and whiskey tastings complete with a mechanical bull and the folky-acoustic stylings of Jeanie and Chuck's Country Roundup. The event is educational too – if you've ever wanted to know the secrets of distilling, Nancy Fraley (Director of Research at the American Distilling Institute) will clue you into the science of spirit-making. Cost is $12 per person, and $10 for Academy members. Score tix at the door or online at www.calacademy.org/event_tickets/.

Ever Gold Gallery is home to a bi-annual residency program for local artists to break into the scene, so SF-based artist Josh Short is setting up shop at the gallery to give city dwellers a taste of his innovative sound technology. He calls it "audio graffiti" – his production, coined "Bomb Shelter Radio" is a host of several live sonic events that include experimental noise transmissions, live metal and hardcore bands, and subversive FM radio interventions. He also takes his art to the streets and has set up public installations of radios installed around the Tenderloin. The installation is a lesson in self-defense, too – during daytime hours the gallery will become the “Tenderloin Self-Defense Club”, and Short will demonstrate some martial arts how-to, to neighborhood residents and local artists and musicians. Part art exhibition, part just-in-case preparation for the gritty streets of the TL, Short delivers some nuanced artistry that are useful to boot. The installation runs until the 26th, and night radio interceptions and daily self-defense instruction are offered on Wednesday through Saturdays.