Happy weekend, East Bay. Here’s what you’re doing:
East Bay Mini Maker Faire
What happens when you put a bunch of dueling robots, pedal-powered carnival rides, Lego Jeeps, and vegan taxidermists in a room together? The East Bay Mini Maker Faire, of course. Now in its second year, the DIY craft fair features a slew of artists, crafters, and scientists showing off their handiwork, selling their wares, and offering hands-on workshops throughout the day. Notables: an unmanned aerial vehicle demoed by Wired magazine’s Chris Anderson; crafts by Leafcutter Designs, creator of the world’s smallest postal service; live music by The Conspiracy of Beards; and much, much more. At Park Day School (360 42nd St., Oakland) on Sunday, Oct. 16. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $7.50-$20. 510-653-0317 or EBMakerFaire.com. — Cassie Harwood
Adam Mansbach
If you have kids, or you’ve ever had to watch someone else’s, you might understand the frustration of storytime. Despite popular wisdom that reading makes a child sleepy, author Adam Mansbach knew the opposite to be true, hence his hilarious bedtime-story book, Go the Fuck to Sleep, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller upon its release in June. While beautifully illustrated and written in verse form, the book is not exactly kid-friendly (sample line: “I know you’re not thirsty, that’s bullshit, stop lying, lie the fuck down my darling, and sleep”). The Bay Area author (The End of the Jews, Angry Black White Boy) is currently teaching at Rutgers University but will be back home for a string of readings, including at Diesel (5433 College Ave., Oakland) on Sunday, Oct. 16. 3 p.m., free. 510-653-9965 or DieselBookstore.com — Kathleen Richards
