One surefire way to get outta your rut – get away from the same old neighborhood haunts and explore happenings in other hoods. This weekend there's action all over town. These are my picks for awesome sounding shows, games, and parties in SF.

Surf's Art (Fri.) Thomas Campbell is a big name in the surf community. His films are homages to the art of catching waves, and his talent doesn't stop there. He's a sculptor, painter, and album art star whose work is closely tied to Mollusk's aesthetic. It makes perfect sense, then, that the Outer Sunset surf shop is hosting an art opening for Campbell this Friday. 

Zen Video (Fri.) The San Francisco Zen Center continues to explore the ways Zen intersects with the arts with a video installation by and conversation with video art star Bill Viola during Bill Viola's Transformation From Within at the First Universalist Unitarian Church. 

Doc's Clock (all weekend) Whether you want to glean some local insight or belt out '80s pop gems, the SF Documentary Fest has a bunch of interesting sounding flicks. Stop by the Roxie on Friday for The Institute, a doc about the Jejune Institute, or singalong with your favorite new wave tunes Saturday night. 

Mirror Images (Fri.) Paul Clipson is an amazing local experimental filmmaker whose screenings have often made this Rutbuster list. On Friday you can watch his gorgeous visual narratives in conjunction with Jefre-Cantu Ledesma, a talented musician (Tarentel, Alps, Moholy-Nagy) who is sure to add moving instrumental elements to whatever comes up on screen. They join another audio visual pair at ATA Friday for Bright Mirror. 

Game the System (Sat.) There's some sorta city-wide game going down on Saturday that involves hidden alleyways and mysterious strangers and ends in a big ol' party. If you want to get in on Journey to the End of the Night, you've gotta sign up early and arrive bloodthirsty. 

Goin' to the Chapel (Sat.) If you've yet to hit The Chapel - the cozy new music venue located in the old New College space on Valencia - I'd suggest seeing a show there. The vaulted ceilings, second floor balcony, and double bar action give the space a unique feel. And while they haven't flooded concert calendars with gigs just yet, they ones they have booked are great. Take, for example, La Sera, the "peppy break-up pop" side project of Vivian Girl Katy Goodman. That show hits The Chapel on Saturday night. 

Steeling Sunday (Sun.) If you love pedal steel guitar, you've gotta see local legend Joe Goldmark do his thing with The Seducers at the Riptide. Their monthly jam session turns every cover into a heavenly slice of cosmic country, and the regulars who crowd the place to listen are nearly as entertaining as the band. 

La Sera photo by Magda Wosinska