Happy Monday, Berkeley.
The holiday season is in full swing, and winter break is almost upon us here at UC Berkeley. But there’s one more week of classes until Reading, Review and Recitation Week (aka Dead Week), so make the most of your time before studying swings into full force.
So tonight, grab a drink at the Albatross Pub and stay until 9:30 p.m. for some live jazz. Guitarist George Cotsirilos will be accompanied by bassist Robb Fisher and drummer Ron Marabuto for a night of classic jazz and some original songs. For just a $3 cover charge, you can enjoy three hours of music.
Now, maybe your fridge is still overflowing with Friendsgiving leftovers, or maybe you’re trying to stay light on groceries before heading out for break. Either way, keep the cold weather at bay and cook something warm on Tuesday. Try these customizable empanadas or a veggie bake, and make extras — you can take some for lunch tomorrow, too. And if you need to buy your ingredients, pass by the farmers market first for plenty of local produce.
Wednesday is movie night at the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, so head over and watch Joseph Losey’s film “Mr. Klein.” The 1976 French film discusses morality and complacency during World War II through the story of Mr. Klein, an indifferent art dealer, and his unknown alter ego. The screening starts at 7 p.m., and tickets cost $5 for UC Berkeley students and $13 for the general public.
On Thursday, go to Morrison Library around noon, and check out Lunch Poems, the monthly poetry series on campus. Starting at 12:10 p.m., Margaret Ross, an English professor at Stanford University, will hold a poetry reading. Stick around afterward too, and enjoy a book in the reading room’s laptop-free glory.
And then it’s Friday, which means it’s the last day of classes for the decade! So as you’re walking across campus, celebrate both the old and the new: That’s right, it’s album time. Liam Payne and Camila Cabello are both expected to drop new albums (LP1 and Romance, respectively), so hit play on those two and wonder what the next 10 years of music will bring. But listen back at the last 10 years too, and recall how many great albums we’ve enjoyed (there are at least 200 of them, according to Pitchfork).
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you might want to head to Union Square on Saturday to check out the spectacle that is SantaCon 2019. Each year, thousands of Santas ages 21 and older descend on the city, with plenty of fun to be had. When you get there, don’t forget to follow the rules, and if you can, bring a gift to donate to the toy drive.
Then it’s Sunday, and you’re in luck — it’s Free Day at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Check out everything from “bad photography” in “Don’t! Photography and the Art of Mistakes” to art’s social influence in “SOFT POWER,” as well as many more exhibits. If you’re hungry after a long day of looking at art, hit up Zero Zero just a couple blocks away for exciting pizzas and customizable soft serve.
And while you’re waiting for your meal, check out outgoing arts & entertainment editor Anagha Komaragiri’s review of “The Irishman.” In her words, the film is “a necessary entry into Scorsese’s repertoire of gangster films, as well as a poignant drama that packs an existential, thought-provoking punch.” You can watch it in theatres at Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas or online on Netflix.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, email Ryan and me at [email protected]. We love hearing from you like cats love giving pigs massages.
Until next time.
At a glance
Dec. 2: George Cotsirilos concert, $3, 9:30 p.m., Albatross Pub, Berkeley
Dec. 3: South Berkeley farmers market, 2 p.m., Adeline and 63rd streets, Berkeley
Dec. 4: “Mr. Klein,” $5-13, 7 p.m., BAMPFA, Berkeley
Dec. 5: Lunch Poems, Free, 12:10 p.m., Morrison Library, UC Berkeley, Berkeley
Dec. 6: Album extravaganza
Dec. 7: SantaCon, Free, noon, Union Square, San Francisco
Dec. 8: Free Day at SFMOMA, Free, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco
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