1
THE OPENING
A civilized shave
Men with hair—and good taste—rejoice. Concept barbershops are hot right now across the country, and on March 9, Mr. will open its doors on Sacramento Street, combining the best of bars and barbershops. Its Stanford-grad founders wanted to create “the accessible gentlemen’s club of our generation.” With two shoeshine stands, shampoo stations with plasma-screen TVs, and banquettes facing a giant projection screen, the spot may be stretching its claim about acces­sibility, but for those who prefer their trim with an accom­panying sip of pinot grigio, Mr. is the spot. 560 SACRAMENTO ST., S.F., www.mrthebarbershop.com.

2
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
An old-school shooter
Napa Valley’s di Rosa Preserve devotes its Gatehouse Gallery this month to a resident of that other valley. Sonoma photographer Jock McDonald’s exhibition A Series of Series will present 24 large-scale platinum prints, with three selections each from eight of the artist’s recent series. “The show will feature a cross-section of my psyche,” McDonald says. To that end, he’ll show images taken during his frequent commutes to the city, photos of flamenco dancers he took while on a trip to Cuba, and other experiential works. Readers of this magazine will recognize the “contact cubism” series shot for San Francisco’s Work in Progress section (including the very first one, of Andy Goldsworthy at the de Young). For purists, the images printed on hand-finished paper from 28-inch negatives provide a lush counterpoint to the modern world’s digital printing rush. Mar. 24–May 12, 5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa, 707-226-5991, www.dirosapreserve.org.

3
THE PERFORMANCE
John Adams lightens up
While his Doctor Atomic makes its debut at the Met, Pulitzer Prize–winning composer John Adams returns home with a semistaged version of his latest opera, A Flowering Tree. Another collaboration with brilliant bad-boy stage director Peter Sellars, A Flowering Tree transcends Atomic’s pessimism and presents a tale of love and reconciliation partly inspired by Mozart’s The Magic Flute. But given that the duo’s other subjects have included Richard Nixon and the Achille Lauro hijacking, expect some social commentary along with the tunes. MAR. 1–3, DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL, 201 VAN NESS AVE., S.F., 415-864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org.

4
THE LECTURE
Up close with the stars
Have you ever wondered how aspiring actors go about breaking into the business? Ask away at A.C.T.’s What I Learned in Acting School. Benjamin Bratt, Steven Bailey from Grey’s Anatomy, and Tony award winner Anika Noni Rose, whom you may recognize from Dreamgirls as the dazzling Lorrell Robinson (aka not Jennifer Hudson and not Beyoncé), all trained at A.C.T. and went on to successful careers in the field. Come spend an hour or so mulling over the actor’s apprenticeship with those who’ve already made it. MAR. 3, 415 GEARY ST., S.F., WWW.ACT-SFBAY.ORG.

5
THE DESIGNS
Furniture that rocks
The avant-skate artists from Upper Playground—they of the weirdly majestic walrus logo—are known mostly for hoodies and stickers. Now, their Lower Haight emporium is going upscale with a furniture line de­­signed by some of their biggest names and crafted by woodworker Francisco Robles. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and the stuff of opium dreams: a bar emblazoned with Sam Flores’s spooky dreamscapes; David Choe’s man-shaped chair, which looks like a giant West African fertility statue. No one will ever look at your living room and guess, “Ikea?” WWW.UPPERplayGROUND.COM.

6
THE PRODUCT
Grape guru’s grandson
When your grandfather is Robert Mondavi, how do you go about making your mark in the wine world? With his recently released luxury skin care line, Davi, Carlo Mondavi found a way to pick up where Grandpa left off. He uses the leftovers from Napa Valley bottlings (the pomace of which is teeming with antioxidants) in each of Davi’s products. But this is no grape-laced Nivea. Davi’s aftershave is $35 for an ounce, and two ounces of face cream costs $175. Think Opus One cabernet, not Robert Mondavi fumé blanc. WWW.DAVISKIN.COM.

7
THE GLAMFEST
Fashion week—er, night
High-end fashion may continue reaching out to the masses—à la Target and H&M—but this month you can get a bit closer to the undiluted version. The biannual runway-a-thon known as Fashion Week is coming to San Francisco, or at least the highlight-film version (sans Hilton sisters). As spokesmodel Naomi Campbell explained during her midwinter promotional tour, FashionWeekLive will enable the Bay Area’s Zac Posen–mad shoppers to eyeball threads from the design stars of Manhattan’s Bryant Park before they are put into production or splashed on magazine covers. Those who buy tickets for the March 15 event will be treated like fashion elite, with a champagne and cocktail reception, a personal peek at supermodels like Gemma Ward and Campbell, and a rocking after-party. “This show will have the best models showing the crème de la crème of New York design,” promises the show’s producer-director Kevin Krier. “And the best part is, it’s open to anyone.” Start practicing pursing your lips, dahlings. The devil really does wear Prada. MAR. 15, FORT MASON, Www.fashionweeklive.com.

8
THE EVENT
Hunting for history
The Year of the Pig begins on March 3, but be sure to bring some eagle eyes and an elephant’s memory to help you win the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt. Carefully designed by local private eye Jayson Wechter, the hunt is a crash course in city history. Even the Beginner’s Hunt, meant for first-timers, can pose a challenge, and the Regular Hunt and appropriately titled Master’s Hunt will have you racking your bird brain. But if you give up, head to the firecracker-filled Chinese New Year Parade or duck into Li Po Lounge for a beer. It’ll make you feel better, if not smarter. MAR. 3, WWW.SFTREASUREHUNTS.COM.

9
THE EXHIBIT
An artistic virtuoso
Bruce Nauman is an artist for whom nothing—from body casts to bawling clowns—is out of bounds. Experience his adventuresome versatility in A Rose Has No Teeth, an insightful exhibition of Nauman’s art before he left the Bay Area for Los Angeles in 1969. To wit: Nauman’s black-and-white photos of his (unsuccessful) attempt to levitate show the force of will, and willingness to fail, that led him to create some of the most powerful sculpture, video, and performance art of his generation. THROUGH APR. 15, BERKELEY ART MUSEUM and pacific film archive, 2625 DURANT AVE., BERKELEY, 510-642-1295, WWW.BAMPFA.BERKELEY.EDU.

10
THE DISCOVERY
Band about to blow
Predicting the next big thing in local music is never a cakewalk. But if we had to guess, we’d go with Love Like Fire. The foursome has a sound that won’t quit and a groundswell of critical acclaim. The group has gotten shout-outs from Death Cab for Cutie, made it to the semifinals of Live105’s Not So Silent Night local band contest in December, and was named one of the station’s top 10 local bands for 2006. Says the radio station’s music director Aaron Axelsen, “The first time I heard them, my ears perked up,” he says. “Every time I play them, people call in.” Catch them before they break through; that way we won’t have to say we told you so. MAR. 17, BOTTOM OF THE HILL, 1233 17TH ST., S.F., 415-621-4455, WWW.BOTTOMOFTHEHILL.COM.

11
THE READ
No one-hit wonder
When The Piano Tuner was published five years ago by San Francisco–based writer Daniel Mason, fiction lovers all over the country wondered, “Where did this guy come from?” Well, he’s back with his second novel, A Far Country. Mason’s writing is even more dreamlike in this book, which features a courageous and captivating 14-year-old girl. But this one’s set in an unnamed poverty-stricken country, not romantic Burma in its colonial heyday as The Piano Tuner was. Mason’s debut novel sold 375,000 copies, according to the publisher. Will his new book draw as many rapturous readers?

12
THE FEEL-GOOD
Tuxes with tails
If you’re a fan of all things canine, put on your finest for Critter Lovers at Work’s 12th annual Bark & Whine Ball. You’ll see some of the cutest offerings of our city, alleged to actually contain more dogs than children. While enjoying the cocktail buffet and a dance floor full of two-legged attendees, you’ll be benefiting the San Francisco SPCA’s Cinderella Fund, which provides medical care for many of the city’s homeless dogs and cats. And if you can’t make it, you can always sign up to volunteer for the organization. Isn’t it about time you threw a dog a bone? Mar. 1, 7 p.m., www.barkandwhine.org.