By Khalida Sarwari<\/strong><\/p>\n February 20, 2008<\/p>\n “SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND PARADE” – <\/strong><\/p>\n Feb. 23. A celebration of the Year of the Rat. Parade route begins on Market and Second and ends on Kearny, SF. 5:30 p.m. (415) 391-9680.<\/p>\n ALCATRAZ – <\/strong><\/p>\n “Alcatraz Civil War Living History Day,” Feb. 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Event features demonstrations of artillery operations and the general activities of a soldier’s life. (415) 705-5555. www.friendsofcivilwaralcatraz.org.<\/p>\n “Oscar Party at the Balboa,” Feb. 24, 3 p.m. A live broadcast of the awards with MC Reed Kirk Rahlmann. $6.50-$8.75. www.brownpapertickets.com “Balboa Birthday Bash,” Feb. 27, 7 p.m. The 81st celebration of the theatre features film screenings and a magic show. $9-$12.<\/p>\n 3630 Balboa St., SF. (415) 221-8184, http:\/\/www.balboamovies.com\/.<\/p>\n CENTURY SAN FRANCISCO CENTRE 9 – <\/strong><\/p>\n “Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival,” Feb. 23 through Feb. 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Event features exhibitions, crafts, demonstrations, New Year food tastings, lion dancers, martial arts demonstrations and more. Free.<\/p>\n 835 Market St., Ste. 5000, SF. (415) 538-8422. www.sanfranciscochinatown.com\/events\/springfestival.html<\/p>\n COBB’S COMEDY CLUB – <\/strong><\/p>\n Dave Attell, Feb. 22 through Feb. 24. $35.50.<\/p>\n David Spade, Feb. 25 through Feb. 26. $45.50.<\/p>\n Thursday and Sunday, 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 915 Columbus Ave., SF. (415) 928-4320, www.cobbscomedyclub.com.<\/p>\n COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA – <\/strong><\/p>\n Fred Kaufman, Feb. 22, Noon. The journalist, professor, foodie and author discusses America’s complex and often bizarre relationship with food. $15.<\/p>\n 595 Market St., Second Floor, SF. (415) 597-6705, www.commonwealthclub.org.<\/p>\n FESTIVAL PAVILION – <\/strong><\/p>\n “San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting,” Feb. 27, 2-5 p.m. A food and wine event featuring award-winning wines and food from artisan food vendors. $70.<\/p>\n Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan St., SF. (888) 695-0888 www.winejudging.com.<\/p>\n GRACE CATHEDRAL – <\/strong><\/p>\n Willie Brown, Feb. 24, 9:30 a.m. The former mayor speaks with Alan Jones about his new book “Basic Brown.” Free.<\/p>\n Free unless otherwise noted. 1100 California St., SF. (415) 749-6355, www.gracecathedral.org.<\/p>\n HERBST THEATRE – <\/strong><\/p>\n “Empire on Horseback: Genghis Khan and The Mongols,” Feb. 22 through Feb. 23, Friday, 8-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Humanities West presents an interdisciplinary program exploring history to celebrate the mind and the arts. $20-$90. www.humanitieswest.org.<\/p>\n San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., SF. (415) 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com.<\/p>\n THE INDEPENDENT <\/strong>–<\/p>\n The Walkmen, The Broken West, Nyles Lannon, A Modern Machine, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. $18.<\/p>\n Shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted otherwise. 628 Divisadero St., San Francisco. (415) 771-1421, www.theindependentsf.com.<\/p>\n MOSCONE CONVENTION CENTER –<\/strong><\/p>\n “22nd Annual Wondercon,” Feb. 22 through Feb. 24, Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Northern California’s largest comic book and pop culture convention offering guests and nonstop action. $5-$12. www.comic-con.org.<\/p>\n 747 Howard St., SF. (415) 974-4000, www.moscone.com.<\/p>\n NOB HILL MASONIC CENTER – <\/strong><\/p>\n “Video Games Live 2008,” Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Event features a presentation of gaming segments on multiple video screens, featuring guest appearances by classic gaming characters and famous conductors. $38.50-$65. (415) 421-8497, www.livenation.com.<\/p>\n 1111 California St., SF. (415) 776-4702, (415) 292-9191, www.masonicauditorium.com.<\/p>\n PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO – SPECIAL EVENTS – <\/strong><\/p>\n “Internet For Older Adults,” through May 23, Fridays, 1:10-4 p.m. A weekly survey of the Internet in an unhurried environment. Learn how to surf the Web, use e-mail, conduct research on the Internet and create Web pages. No class Feb. 15, March 28 and April 4. Free. (415) 561-7765.<\/p>\n “Animal Adventures,” through March 1, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn all about the critters that call the Presidio home. Explore the Urban Ecology Lab and Art Lab to design origami mobiles and marble mazes. For grades 2nd and 3rd. Preregistration is required. $145. (415) 561-7765.<\/p>\n “The Seeds of the World’s Most Endangered Plant,” Feb. 23, 10-11 a.m. View rare Presidio Manzanita seeds and find out about recent attempts to make these seeds viable. Reservations are required. Event takes place at the Presidio Native Plant Nursery. (415) 572-6982.<\/p>\n Free. Presidio Boulevard and West Pacific Avenue, Presidio, SF. Visitor Center: (415) 561-4323, www.presidio.gov or www.nps.gov\/prsf.<\/p>\n SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY –<\/strong><\/p>\n “The 2007-2008 Season,” through June 28.<\/p>\n “Blomstedt conducts Mozart,” through Feb. 23, Feb. 20, 22 and 23, 8 p.m. Pianist Jonathan Biss performs Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 22,” “Divertimento in D major” and “Symphony No. 38, Prague.” $25-$125.<\/p>\n “SFS Chamber Music,” Feb. 24, 2 p.m. The symphony performs works by Beethoven, Sarn Oliver, Britten and Brahms. $31.<\/p>\n “MTT Conducts Shostakovich’s Ninth,” Feb. 28 through March 1, Feb. 28, 2 p.m.; Feb. 29 and March 1, 8 p.m. The program also includes Sibelius’ “Symphony No. 9 and two works by Michael Tilson Thomas, “Notturno” and “Agnegram.” $25-$125.<\/p>\n Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org.<\/p>\n SLIM’S – <\/strong><\/p>\n Adrian Belew, Saul Zonana, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. $25.<\/p>\n 333 11th St., San Francisco. (415) 255-0333, www.slims-sf.com.<\/p>\n YOSHI’S – <\/strong><\/p>\n Pat Metheny Trio, through Feb. 23. Featuring Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez. $50-$60.<\/p>\n Monday-Saturday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00c2\u00a9 2008 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Khalida Sarwari February 20, 2008 “SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND PARADE” – Feb. 23. A celebration of the Year of the Rat. 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\nBALBOA THEATER – <\/strong><\/p>\n