"Afterglow" by Mars-1

There's something about Friday's date being 1/11/11 that makes me think something extra special's gonna go down this weekend. Or, at the very least, that we'll be able to kick the office flu contaminating The Bold Italic staff once and for all. (What can I say, I dream big). For those looking to break routine with some rad shit, there's plenty going on this weekend, whether your taste is in space-themed movies, soothing ear experiences, underground shows, or free tacos. Without further ado, this week's rutbusters....

Golden Hour (Fri.)
A pop-up within a shop is a great way to incorporate lots of local artists into a local retail space. On Friday night, the art-minded Belljar expands its offering to include a “Gold Rush Marketplace,” showcasing work by SF'ers we love. Included in this temporary event will be work by Alissa Anderson and Lisa Congdon. Swing by from some ye olde-themed arts between 7 and 10 p.m.

A Trip to Mars (Fri.)
It’s a pretty big deal to have an art show by local legend Mars-1. The dude has been blowing minds with his surrealist style for years, and Fecal Face celebrates his latest batch of work in their temporary space (such a bummer that Fecal Face’s permanent gallery was hit in the Lower Haight fire). The opening event for the man otherwise known as Mario Martinez is quite the blowout, with free tacos, a performance by artist/skate icon/musician Tommy Guerrero’s BLKTOP Project, vodka drinks, and more. Check out the show between 6 and 9 p.m. at 248 Clement St. @ 4th Ave.

Bathe in Public (Fri.)
Ok, so this is where my not-so-secret hippie side comes out, but I love a good sound bath. An intense enough one (like the kind you get down near Joshua Tree at the Integratron) can be nearly as psychedelic an experience as a hit of acid. I imagine Friday’s “MedMob” won’t be quite the desert dome experience I went through, but if you’re near Dolores Park between 6 and 7 p.m., it could be worth pricking up your ears for a ghostly-feeling sound bath en masse.

Land Lovers (Fri.)
One of my favorite bands of the last couple years is Real Estate. These Brooklyn-by-way-of-Jersey boys sound like they spend their days making West Coast sand castles — their laid back, beachy pop so perfectly fits into the folksy California paradigm. The band’s latest record, Days, is more ebullient balladry. Envelop your ears in their sunny tunes when the band plays Slim’s Friday night.

Rev Your Engines (Sat.)
I’ll take any excuse to see a show at Engine Works, where the artwork and design alone is worth the trip to 17th and Capp. Saturday night offers extra incentive, though, as it’s the CD release party for Future Twin’s EP. They’re playing with Our Brother the Native and another great local act, the garagey gal who goes by the name The Mallard. Performances go down between 9 and midnight.

Weekend Time Machine (Sun.)
“Ol’ Timey Electro Acoustic Modernism Songs” is a live performance by experimental music mainstay Eric Landmark and dreamy, droney Meridians. Swing by one of my favorite niche record stores, Explorist International, for some afternoon entertainment between 2 and 5 p.m.

Sci-Fi Sunday (Sun.)
So it’s supposed to rain all weekend. What better way to spend an overcast Sunday then indoors at the Castro Theatre, with a bunch of classic sci- fi flicks on the big screen? A double feature of Flash Gordon and Dune goes down twice that day. He who controls the spice controls the universe, dudes.

Country Roads (Sun.)
It’s that time again, the second Sunday of the month, when Amoeba co-owner and pedal steel guitar magician Joe Goldmark brings his Seducers to the Riptide to add a little cosmic dust to country classics. This crackerjack act also puts some honkytonk on other genres, as their covers and tributes break out beyond any one style. The loyal crowd who comes out to the Riptide to support Joe — and pretty much any band that plays out at the bar — is a big part of the fun.