FRIDAY, NOV. 17
Holiday Windows: The San Francisco SPCA and Macy’s kick off the 31st annual event, a showcase of adoptable animals staffed by dedicated volunteers, running through Jan. 1. [5 p.m. Macy’s, Stockton and O’Farrell streets, S.F.]
Caissie Levy: The performer originating the role of Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen” on Broadway makes her cabaret debut, singing tunes from her previous shows including “Rent,” “Wicked” and “Hair.“ [8 p.m., Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason St., S.F.]
The Christmas Ballet: Smuin, the contemporary ballet troupe, begins a series of regional performances of its holiday show, which includes “saucy” premieres by choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert and Smuin dancers Rex Wheeler and Erica Felsch. [8 p.m., Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek]
Lavender Country: Post:Ballet performs artistic director Robert Dekkers and choreographer Vanessa Thiessen’s new work for six dancers, set to and inspired by a 1973 recording considered country music’s first openly gay album. [8 p.m., Z Space, 450 Florida St., S.F.]
Whole Sol Festival: The Del Sol Quartet, known for its dedication to varied music, celebrates its 25th anniversary several with world premieres by Erberk Eryilmaz, Theresa Wong and Gyan Riley. [8 p.m. Atrium Theater, Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Line of Descent: The 68th film presented by Warren Miller Entertainment “travels the globe by land, air and sea, exploring the ties that bind ski culture.” [7:30 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F.]
Love Without Borders Art Show: Pieces created by children and adults in refugee camps and housing communities in northern and central Greece are on view and for sale in the exhibit, sponsored by a refugee aid nonprofit. [5 to 8 p.m., International Museum of America, 1025 Market St., S.F.]
Dark Kabaret: Opening a two-weekend run, the show hosted by Paul Nathan is described as “the sweet nexus of magic, comedy, music and erotic entertainment.” [8 p.m., Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson St., S.F.]
For the Love of Art: The group show featuring mosaics, sculptures, jewelry, knitted critters, crochet, cast paper, glass tableware and lighting designs, all sourced from reused materials, opens with a reception. [5 to 7 p.m., Reclaimed Room, Building REsources 701 Amador St., S.F.]
Transfigurations: The avant-garde stage poem and political performance by is presented and performed by cellist and dissident interdisciplinary artist Cellista, with dance by Lilith Ransom and Lauren Baines. [8 p.m., Little Boxes Theater, 1661 Tennessee St., S.F.]
Red Steppes: The Oakland indie folk project plays a triple release show with free-form songwriter Madeline Tasquin and vocal-centric Oakland dreampop group Little Arcs. [9 p.m., Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley]
Phantoms: The Los Angeles-based electronic duo (Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola) with the hit “Just a Feeling” is on its first headlining tour. 9 p.m., $15-$18. Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F., www.axs.com
SATURDAY, NOV. 18
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair: The annual participatory holiday party, which recreates Victorian London with theater, authentic dancing and sumptuous feasting and shopping, opens a five-weekend run (through Dec. 17). [10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City]
S.F. International Auto Show: The 60th annual exhaustive showcase — with dozens of the world’s major manufacturers displaying hundreds of 2018 model cars, SUVs, trucks and vans — opens; it continues daily through Nov. 26. [10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard St., S.F.]
Anna Gatmon: The Sonoma County based educator and innovator, a former fashion model with a multicultural background, speaks about her book “Living a Spiritual Life in a Material World: Four Keys to Fulfillment and Balance. [4 p.m., free. Book Passage, 1 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Dance Brigade: The political-minded troupe headed by Krissy Keefer presents “¡Adelante!” a show of new work by Keefer and guest choreographers Sara Shelton Mann, Ramon Ramos Alayo, Enrico Labayen, Yayoi Kambara and Daiane Lopes da Silva. [8 p.m., Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St., S.F.]
Board Game Day: Participants and helpers are invited to join a day of unplugged programs in English and Spanish, promoting “non-electronic games, collaboration between generations, literacy and volunteering.” [2 to 5 p.m., Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City]
El Rincon Flamenco Show: Carmen Ledesma from Spain is the featured guest dancer. [7 and 8:30 p.m., Carola Zertuche Centro de Arte Flamenco, 670 S. Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Kitaro: The Japanese New Age multi-instrumentalist appears in “Kojiki and The Universe,” which merges music from the album “Kojiki” with space-age photographs provided by NASA as well as Butoh and taiko artists and a violin soloist. [8 p.m., Grace Cathedral 1100 California St., S.F.]
McEvoy Foundation for the Arts: “Six Sensational Ocean Views: Notes on la mere la mer” is a free program of talks and performances in connection with the gallery’s inaugural exhibition of works from the collections art patrons Nion McEvoy and his mother, Nan Tucker McEvoy. [1 to 6:30 p.m., Minnesota Street Project, 1150 25th St., S.F.]
Game of Throws: The “Cornhole Tournament and Day-Drinking Field Day” in the field next to the food truck park offers cornhole, beer pong, giant Connect 4, foosball, tug of war, bocce and a corn on the cob eating contest. [1 to 5 p.m., Spark Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North, S.F.]
Patrick Andersen: The author launches “Second Born,” his historical novel that reimagines of the life of Jesus during the “lost years” as he grew up with his siblings in a wealthy family. [2 to 4 p.m.,Trinity†St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1620 Gough St., S.F.]
Phantoms: The Los Angeles-based electronic duo (Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola) with the hit “Just a Feeling” is on its first headlining tour. 9 p.m., Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F.]
Caissie LevyCalendarDark KabaretDel Sol QuartetGreat Dickens Christmas FairHoliday WindowsLavender CountryLine of DescentSmuin Christmas Ballet
