Ryan Kost’s off-the-radar picks
Swagger Like Us: The actual end of winter comes when El Rio starts hosting its weekend daytime parties. There’s nothing quite like sipping a drink and dancing while feeling the sun on your skin. And Swagger Like Us is always a surefire way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For its season opener, Swagger is highlighting local rapper MicahTron. 2 to 8 p.m. Sun., March 4. El Rio, S.F. www.elriosf.com
Diasporic Alchemy: The newest exhibition at SOMArts — a group show by artists “whose identities as immigrants, activists, LGBTQ, and people of color inform their experience of diaspora” — opens with a number of performances and interactive installations. If you can’t make the opening, the show will be on display through April 5. 6 to 9 p.m. Thurs., March 8. SOMArts Cultural Center, S.F. www.somarts.org/diasporicalchemy
Colorful and Unconventional: The GLBT history museum is hosting an illustrated talk about some of the LGBTQ students and teachers who have played a major part at the San Francisco Art Institute during its nearly 150-year history. Some of the subjects to be highlighted include Catherine Opie, Win Ng and Annie Leibovitz. 7 to 9 p.m. Thurs., March 8. GLBT History Museum, S.F. www.glbthistory.org
The Flavr Blue: The foundation for most of the music by the Flavr Blue is clearly hip-hop. But this electronic trio — who are not nearly as widely known as they ought to be given their considerable talent — doesn’t settle there completely. Instead, they use that genre as a jumping-off point, while exploring a number of musical influences and interests. 9 p.m. Fri., March 9. Rickshaw Stop, S.F. www.rickshawstop.com
Makers Market Craft
Fair: Makers Market, a brand that focuses on retro American craftsmanship, is celebrating its new location at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek with an outdoor craft fair. They’re promising booths by more than 20 local artists (selling everything from clothing and home goods to artwork and succulents) as well as live music, food and drinks. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., March 10. makersmarket.us/events