WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18
The Kid Thing: The satire by award-winning Chicago playwright Sarah Gubbins is about what happens when two lesbian couples who have been close friends for years get together for a dinner party, and unexpected news of an impending pregnancy rocks their relationships. [8 p.m., New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: San Francisco Opera opens its run of Sir David McVicar’s production of Wagner’s only comedy. [6 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
James Hersey: The singer, songwriter and producer, the son of an American teacher and Austrian journalist, has an easy, jazzy pop sound. [9 p.m., Chapel, 777 Valencia St., S.F.]
Youth Lagoon: Fronted by Idaho-based Trevor Powers, the chamber pop band’s third album “Savage Hills Ballroom” has been described as its “most formidable work yet.” [8 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., S.F.]
Steven Hill: The veteran journalist discusses his new book “Raw Deal: How the ‘Uber Economy’ and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 2251 Chestnust St., S.F.]
Josh Rosenthal: The owner of Tompkins Square records and author of “The Record Store of the Mind” talks about his book (part memoir, part criticism) in an event featuring a performance by guitarist Richard Osborn. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 520 Clement St., S.F.]
Chris Potter: The jazz saxophone great, who has 15 albums as a leader and performed as a sideman on more than 150 CDs, opens a two-night gig. [8 p.m., Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcardero West, Oakland]
Mole To Die For Contest: Guests may sample tasty homemade mole recipes at the 12th annual competition (admission is $7, and $5 more for food to accompany the mole); at 9 p.m., winners will be announced. [7 to 10 p.m., Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., S.F.]
THURSDAY, NOV. 19
Hip-hop yoga: Libby Murfey leads an “epic” session of yoga set to hip-hop beats under black light in an event hosted by MoveWith, a San Francisco-based app. [6:30 p.m., City Nights Nightclub, 715 Harrison St., S.F.]
ILM animation: Mike Jutan, an engineer for animation and creatures with Industrial Light & Magic, talks about the history of ILM in the Bay Area and his own cutting-edge work in visual effects on blockbuster films. [7 p.m., Officers Club, 50 Moraga Blvd., Presidio, S.F.]
Ainsley House holidays: “Christmas Around the World” docent tours of the decorated Tudor style house (which run through Dec. 20) begin; a holiday boutique is also onsite. [Noon to 4 p.m., 30 Grant St., Campbell]
Franc D’Ambrosio: The stage star of “Phantom of the Opera” fame brings his cabaret show “Christmas in New York” to The City for one night only. [8 p.m., Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 22 Mason St., S.F.]
Toadies: The alt-rock vets from Texas are promoting “Heretics,” a stripped down collection of reworked fan favorites and new tracks. [8 p.m., Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F.]
The Chocolate Watchband: (((folkYEAH!))) presents the psychedelic-garage band that formed in San Jose in 1965, broke up by 1970 and reunited in 1999 in San Diego; 1960s sunshine-pop veterans Powder, and San Francisco’s Cellar Doors also are on the bill. [9 p.m., Chapel, 777 Valencia St., S.F.]
Movits!: The Swedish hiphop-swing band, which sings in Swedish, began to make waves in U.S. after appearing on “The Colbert Report.” [9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F.}
French Cinema Now: The S.F. Film Society series opens with “My Golden Days,” a 2015 coming-of-age drama by Arnaud Desplechin and prequel to 1996’s “My Sex Life… or How I Got into an Argument.” [7:30 p.m., Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento St., S.F.]
