Posted by George Kaskanlian Jr in San Francisco on November 20th, 2007 at 7:30 pm

San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation
http://www.sfntf.org/
This laudable neighborhood association isn’t the kind that measures the height of your lawn. Rather, they actually foster community togetherness through film. The SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation capitalizes on a classic practice of yore by projecting movies onto whatever big thing they can find — sides of buildings, freeway sound barriers, and sometimes even actual screens! Bring a blankie and popcorn.

9.8th Fighting Kite Brigade
http://laughingsquid.com/98th-fighting-kite-brigade/
How to Fight a Kite, Step One: Get a crappy kite. Step Two: Soup your kite up with sharp or shiny things, the better to wreak havoc among the lesser, punier kites. Step Three: Bring your kite to Bernal Hill. Six packs and sharing encouraged, small children, not so much. Pal around with your kite fighting brethren and hey, maybe even fight a kite or two. First kite to tangle their victim to the ground wins. Look for kite fighting announcements on Craigslist or the Squid List.

Bernal Hill Mom’s Day Soap Box Derby
http://www.archive.org/details/ssfSPBXALL
Mother’s Day is the traditional kicking off the Illegal Soap Box Derby racing season, where soccer moms with SUV strollers and grimy tattooed bikers alike gather in throngs on Bernal Hill to watch yet another heartwarming invitation to injury in the spirit of vehicular sportsmanship. The season closer traditionally takes place on Halloween. In between these times, keep your ears pricked up in cafes along Valencia and Mission, because that’s generally the only way you can find out when and where another soap box derby is going to be. Bring your kneepads and helmets, then toss them carelessly aside and reach for another Tecate, because life is too short not to hurtle down a hill at 60 m.p.h. in a brakeless cracker box.

Power Tool Drag Races
http://www.powertooldragraces.com
The PTDR takes place usually sometime in early summer/late spring, generally in a junkyard, and generally with 500 or so drunk, sunstruck, screaming fans watching as the past champions take on the newbies. All classes from traditional drag racing are present, including super stock, pro-supercharged, and funny car, plus the ever disturbing “Unusual Design.” The 2007 event happened at the Maker Faire this past May, but check the site occasionally to see what else might be happening.

Any Saturday @ Ocean Beach
http://www.yelp.com/biz/H8naPxTB9BUQJTRcQuoXtA
What with the spiffy new fire rings constructed by local artists, feel free to get your inner poi swinging, incense burning, goddess worshipping hippie on for any weekend night at Ocean Beach. Make friends with the dreadlocked crews playing with fire, or bring your own freaky people and have yourself a scene. No glass or alcohol on the beach (the cops, they check), but tie dye, hair wax, and using free-love pickup lines encouraged.

Dark Room Theater
http://www.darkroomsf.com/
The Dark Room is neighborhoodtastic amateur theater house that makes up in passion what they lack in budget. They host Bad Movie Night (usually on Sunday) and present live plays based on excellent movies of yore. Maggie, the cute little French bulldog, is always there to moisten your hands with her tongue (despite recent declining health). The funky ambiance is heightened by the informal but well directed productions. The theater is small and the ticket takers are smartasses, so arrive early. Concessions occasionally available, or BYOB.