Shanghai Kelly’s, a dirty little dive bar on Polk Street, is once again running their annual free NCAA pool with free prizes. Win $100 gift certificate to Firenze by Night “Best Restaurant in North Beach”, Gift Certificates to Kelly’s & The Northstar, Winner’s name gets inscribed on the perpetual trophy as “Kelly’s Most Smartest Hoops Jenius”
Directions for the FREE NCAA Online Pool
It’s rather complicated we …

The NCAA and CBS is offering all 63 games (including those shown on KPIX Channel 5) of the 2010 March Madness NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament games for free and on demand in “HQ” (not quite “HD” but what do you except from free streaming video). Watch all the action from every round live. Plus, you will have access to on-demand highlights, buzzer beaters and detailed …

Participate in the Third International Kriya Yoga Congress on March 18, 2010 at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose , an inspired gathering for spiritual insight and renewal. The Congress theme, Infinite Life, is an invitation to live fully by naturally expressing our innate divine capacities. Free, but donations accepted.
The Congress program will offer an opportunity to learn the philosophical principles and practices of Kriya …

Big names and big brands are bringing their fashion flair to the “Revelation Couture” event as Vessel (a trendy nightclub near Union Square) brings together local and international designers and artist for a one night only event.
The free event hosts 9+ fashion lines for you to peruse – many of whom have been written up in Daily Candy and 7×7  including Litter, Platinum Dirt, Posh …

Bay Area–artist Lisa Curet’s work channels and incorporates qualities found in pattern painting. Layer upon layer of shapes and color are applied, creating a tension between the varied surfaces. The combined results are flooded with resin, sealing and fusing the multiple applications. Inspired by travel and human interaction, she views her works as metaphors for one’s conscious perception of the world outside.
Keira Kotler is interested …

The popular admission-free Rush Hour Concert series provides a preview of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s Home Season repertoire in a convenient downtown location. Perfect for pre- or post-happy hour gatherings! “Mandolin Magic” features Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital in a scintillating program of great classical music. Stick around after the concert and visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum for only $5
Program Highlights:
Beethoven, Andante con Variazioni (arr. …

In a free happy hour concert sponsored by Classical Revolution, German cello quartet Quattrocelli will play an unorthodox classical program of the undiscovered film music of Dimitry Shostakovich, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Erich Korngold, and Hans Eisler, from the beginning of film music up to the latest cult hit, Pulp Fiction.
Quattrocelli: Classic Music From Films

March 18, 2010 – 6pm
Amnesia – 853 Valencia between 19th and …

Enjoy live music and dancing during a complimentary wine tasting with  paired appetizers for $5.
Featuring the musical stylings of Rudy Salvini’s “big band”.

Shaping San Francisco presents discussion and reflection on the history of Bay Area ecological activism. We will explore the evolution of nature and ecological activism, how we thought about it 40 years ago vs. how we think about it now and follow the compelling shift from conservation to environmentalism to environmental/social justice over the last half-century.
With Jerry Mander (International Forum on Globalization), Karen Pickett …

Amoeba Music, the best records & CD store on both sides of the Bay, takes over Oakland’s Uptown nightclub with Dusty Fingers, featuring Amoeba employees and special guests spinning their favorite records all night.
Doors at 9pm, No cover charge.

Come play Capture the Flag on campus at SF State in front of the Cesar Chavez building. The rules are simple and will be explained at the game, just wear some good active clothes. Bring friends and prepare for fun.
Friday, March 19, 2010 – Game starts at 6pm. This is a free event and the community is more than welcome.
Questions/Info: criticalslinky@gmail.com

With deejays spinning tunes to make you move, bartenders handing out icy cold beer, fun indoor camping games and the The Workshop pressing out screen-printed t-shirts for your viewing and wearing pleasure, Alite Designs, an urban outdoor camping gear store, is hosting a Spring 2010 launch party to show off its latest strange and wonderful camping gear.

Event highlights include:
· Free beer
· Tunes by …

Presenting a wide-ranging synthesis of approaches, the book attempts to shed light on the construction of and challenges to the military, economic, and cultural imperial projects of the United States in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Opposing US imperialism and global domination, Francis Shor combines academic and activist perspectives to analyze the crises endemic to empire and to propose a vision for the realization …

The Bay Area’s most howlin’ Twilight “New Moon” Release party will be at the Blockbuster at 501 San Pablo Avenue in Albany. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 19 and goes ‘til midnight when the DVD goes on sale with lots of trivia, prizes and look-a-like contests.

MOVIN’ 97 radio will be there from 8pm til 10pm with a Twilight Trivia game – …

Noted Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital plays music of Bach and Beethoven, plus a wonderful Corelli Concerto Grosso and Oswaldo Golijov’s “Last Round”, a simmering tango-infused work for double string quartet and double bass. The concert is put on by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra.
Program:

Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8
Bach Concerto in A minor (arrangement of the violin concerto)
Beethoven Andante con Variazioni …

“Something You Might Want” is a dark comedy of triangular love, real estate and post-individualism in San Francisco by Jim Strope. The play, a physical, comedic and sensuous experiment in feminine power, plays Fridays (8pm), Saturdays (8pm) and Sundays (3pm)  in March 2010 at Stagewerx Theater in Union Square.
Something You Might Want
A dark comedy of triangular-love, real-estate and post-individualism by Jim Strope
- with Belle Borovik, …

Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, the DJ collective better known as Groove Armada, are touring the U.S. in support of “Black Light”, their sixth studio album with two dates at The Fillmore.
The duo bring a full band to play danceable and downtempo tracks from “Black Light” and their entire catalog with an impressive list of guest singers.
What’s Groove Armada Like Live?: Groove Armada …

San Franpsycho is a surf film-inspired lifestyle brand that sells hip clothing for the fast living, surfing, partying, music, skating, art crowd. To help celebrate the launch of their new website, they’re throwing a party at The  Purple Onion in North Beach with DJs, free drinks and goodie bags.

DJs/Music: DJ Swayzee, DJ Axel Sharper (Sweden), Girls n Boomboxes
Drinks: Complimentary Midnight Fernet Madness Shots, $2 Sierra …

Borders in Union Square hosts an exclusive Midnight Release Party for the New Moon DVD which will be released tonight at midnight.
This event will be like a Harry Potter party, but for vampires – Party begins at 10pm with games, raffles, costume contests, prizes and more leading you up to the midnight countdown when the New Moon DVD goes on sale at 12:01am.
Event also features …

Borders in Sunnyvale hosts an exclusive Midnight Release Party for the Twilight New Moon DVD which will be released tonight (Friday Night) at midnight.
This event will be like a Harry Potter party, but for vampires – Party begins at 10pm with games, raffles, costume contests, prizes and more leading you up to the midnight countdown when the New Moon DVD goes on sale at 12:01am.

Join Atlas Obscura at The Bone Room for a show-and-tell tour with the owner and founder, Ron Cauble. Explore the wonders of Berkeley’s venerable natural history store with the man who knows it best. Hear behind-the scenes stories and get a chance to ask all those questions we know you have.

RSVP here: http://obscuraday-berkeley.eventbrite.com/
Cost: Free

Obscura Day is an international celebration of unusual places taking place …

If you’re struggling getting your taxes done for 2010, the Oakland Library will come to the rescue. Through April 15th, trained volunteers will offer free tax assistance at several of the branch libraries.
Some branches (like the Main Library) offer walk-in appointments, but call the library to confirm schedules and make an appointment. Be to arrive early and  bring copies of your previous year’s tax returns …

As part of the 2010 Atlas Obscura Day, Join Stanford University Hospital chief engineer Leander Robinson on a tour of one of the largest pneumatic tube networks in the world. Snaking through the medical center’s walls are four miles of tubes that shuttle specimens and paperwork around the facility at 18 miles per hour. Robinson will explain how this incredible system works.
Meet at the fountain …

Chocolate lovers, en garde! The largest chocolate show in the West takes place at the 4th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Fort Mason Center. Chocolate aficionados, fanatics, lovers and addicts can taste & experience the finest in artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate from over 80 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans.
We’ve got three pair of tickets to …

Tour aircraft inside and out, meet real life pilots, learn what it takes to become a pilot and enjoy free snacks as the Hayward Flight School is hosting their free Spring Welcome Event at the Hayward Airport.
In addition to airplane tours, the flight school will also give a short presentation about what it takes to become a pilot. And if you’re up for it, you …