.This Week’s Day-by-Day Picks

WED 7

If you feel like you never really got the whole story on the Chiapas thing, it’s a good time to educate yourself — because tonight the 1996 film The Sixth Sun: Mayan Uprising in Chiapas is playing at Oakland’s Humanist Hall. Filmmaker Saul Landau is a senior fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, and a professor at Cal Poly Pomona. His film draws together both original and borrowed documentary footage of the 1994 New Year’s Day uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and its aftermath. In addition to rare footage from the first weeks of the uprising, you’ll see interviews with Subcomandante Marcos and angry ranchers alike. In Spanish, with English subtitles. 7:30 p.m., free. 390 27th St. Info: HumanistHall.net — Nora Sohnen

THU 8

Local girl Daphne Gottlieb is now a Final Girl. That’s the title of her third volume of poetry, the recipient of raving reviews from such high places as Publisher’s Weekly and the Village Voice, the latter of which named it one of its favorite books of 2003, calling it “a heart-wrenching reckoning with carnality.” Having titled the anthology as such — in sly reference to the last lady standing in legions of horror flicks — Gottlieb is a perfect fit for Noir Night, an evening of readings at the Barnes & Noble in Jack London Square. She will be joined by two other writers concerned with the darker side of things: former squatter Peter Plate, reading from his new novel of SF Market Street transients, Fogtown, and Shawn Shiflett, whose thriller Hidden Place is set in 1976 Mexico, detailing the involvement of a young couple from Chicago in the culture clash between local Indians and American hippie expats. 7:30 p.m. 510-272-0120. — Stefanie Kalem

FRI 9

Stop sitting around in the dark feeling sorry for yourself because you don’t have anything to do tonight. Walk around in the dark instead with Jerry Ott, owner of the Darkroom in Martinez. His Introduction to Night Photography class, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., will teach you tricks on how to click good pix at night — without a flash. Bring your camera, color or black-and-white film of any speed, and a handheld light meter if you have one. A tripod and cable release are absolutely necessary to keep the camera steady during long exposures. After a class discussion, there will be a local field outing so you can try out your newfound knowledge. $65, 820 Alhambra Ave. To register, visit DarkRoomz.com or call 925-374-3275. — Nora Sohnen

SAT 10

Think twice the next time you relieve yourself outdoors. No, not because someone might see you. Rather, because your waste can be used in composting, urine-graywater systems, and urine fertilizing, safely and sans odor, according to Carol Steinfeld’s book, Liquid Gold: The Lore and Logic of Using Urine to Grow Plants. Find out more at Liquid Gold: How to Use Urine to Grow Plants (Safely!), a whimsical but informative talk, mini-workshop, and book release event happening at Green Fairy Farm, 1120 Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Steinfeld and Nik Bertulis will lead the workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon (or later). Your $15 donation goes toward City Slicker Farm’s urban farming demo programs. Register at [email protected]; space is limited. — Stefanie Kalem

SUN 11

Renowned folk music band Téka will rouse the crowd at Ashkenaz tonight with traditional and original Hungarian and Transylvanian peasant music. In addition to voice, strings, and percussion, you’ll have a chance to enjoy the dulcet strains of bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy, and cimbalom. Afterward, Szilard Szabo and Orsolya Strack will teach you folk dancing. A mainstay on the Eastern European concert circuit, Téka has been playing together since 1976 and has recorded more than a dozen albums. Oh, the name? In Hungarian, it means a cupboard in which peasants put their valuables. So why not put your valuables (let’s say $12) into Ashkenaz’ cupboard? 7:30 p.m. 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. More info: Ashkenaz.com or 510-525-5054. — Nora Sohnen

MON 12

“Nemoyton” isn’t the easiest name to wrap your mouth around. Perhaps that’s why Bill Nemoyton prefers the name “The Horn Man,” especially when he’s aiming his instruments at the five-and-up crowd. The master of brass and such will be using his experience as musician and teacher to the Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, this evening at 7 p.m. He’ll demonstrate musical gear from five continents, including an Australian didgeridoo and a Swiss Alps horn. Free. 925-646-6773. — Stefanie Kalem

TUE 13

Picture this: A famous funny guy with a real-life foul mouth has kept his gorgeous daughter out of the public eye for years. The young boss who signs the comedian’s checks, however, falls in love with said daughter while posing as a poor student in a remote locale. The boss’ associates, mistaking the daughter for the funny fellow’s mistress, kidnap her and deliver her to the boss’ boudoir, where he ravishes her. The plot sickens, the daughter ends up dead by her father’s order, and then — no, it’s not the Sopranos, nor ABC soap opera. But while no soap is sold between the acts of Verdi’s Rigoletto, you can see where the daytime television genre got its handle from, can’t ya? Festival Opera’s production of Rigoletto opens at the Dean Lesher Center on Saturday 10 July at 8 p.m., plays today and Friday 16 July at 8, and closes Sunday 18 at 2 p.m. $31-$61. Info: FestivalOpera.com or 925-943-SHOW. — Stefanie Kalem

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