From a foamy art exhibit to a performance of Mozart’s final symphony, there are some adventures to be had in the Bay Area this weekend.

Here is a partial rundown.

When foamy bubbles = art

Remember foam parties, that cultural phenomenon that got inexplicably popular in the 1990s that had people dancing around in a room of foamy bubbles? Well, foam parties are back, and this time they’re High Art.

On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until Feb. 8, the Minnesota Street Project in San Francisco will hold performances of Michail Michailov’s “Self-Brainwashing.” The first time this piece was staged was at the Bulgarian Pavilion in the 2022 Venice Biennale — Michailov is an artist born in Bulgaria — and the concept in 2025 is basically the same: Fill a space until it’s brimming with foam, stick people in there are see what hilarity ensues. Well, of course it’s deeper than that. “’Self-Brainwashing’ emerges at a crucial moment in our cultural dialogue about reality and perception,” write the show’s organizers. “In an era where multiple realities–augmented, virtual, and artificial–increasingly intersect with and sometimes overshadow our physical world, Michailov’s work purposefully employs obscurity as a powerful artistic tool.”

There are two ways to enjoy this performance: as observers, or as participants who swim in the foam while wearing white protective suits. Most of the participant tickets seem sold out, however, so plan on being an observer – not a bad thing, as you’ll be able to see what’s happening, and not blindly flailing (in a fun way) in foam.

Details: Doors open 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, with performances at 6:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. Saturdays with performances at 3:30 p.m.; 1201 Minnesota St., San Francisco; minnesotastreetproject.org.

— John Metcalfe, Staff

Classical picks: Cal Symphoby; David Lang

There’s music for every taste on the classical music calendar this week: Mozart’s on the program at the California Symphony, David Lang returns to Stanford with a new work, and the Danish String Quartet makes a special appearance at Cal Performances.

“Mozart Serenity”: At the California Symphony, music director Donato Cabrera and the orchestra start the new year with three beguiling works, beginning with Mozart’s final symphony, the Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.” Guitarist Meng Su joins the orchestra in Rodrigo’s breathtaking “Concierto de Aranjuez,” and Carlos Simon’s “Breathe” completes the program.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday; Lesher Center, Walnut Creek; $25-$95; californiasymphony.org.

Lang at Stanford:  David Lang returns to Stanford Live with his latest work, titled “before and after nature.” It’s the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer’s meditation on the natural world, both before human existence and after humans are gone. The work’s been called “an immersive spectacle of sound and vision.”

Details: Presented by Stanford Live; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Bing Concert Hall, Stanford; tickets start at $32; live.stanford.edu.

Danish delights: The Danish String Quartet excels in the full spectrum of chamber music, from Baroque arrangements to contemporary works. In this return to Cal Performances, they’ll play music by Haydn, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Caroline Shaw.

Details: 3 p.m. Sunday; Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley; $92-$110; calperformances.org.

— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent

Maniscalco brings laughs to Bay Area

Sebastian Maniscalco has a lot going on.

He’s a presence on the big screen, having appeared in such acclaimed films as “Green Book” and “The Irishman” as well as done voice acting in such animated (or partially animated) movies as “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “IF” — with the latter being one of the best films of 2024.

Maniscalco also stars in the TV comedy series “Bookie,” which recently kicked off its second season on Max.

And, of course, he’s best known for his stand-up comedy, which he has showcased on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “The Jay Leno Show,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Conan” and so many other programs.

Yet, the best way to experience Maniscalco’s nostalgic, observational brand of humor is to check him out in concert. And Bay Area stand-up comedy fans will indeed have that opportunity when the jokester brings his It Ain’t Right Tour to SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday.

Details: 7 p.m.; tickets start at $55; ticketmaster.com.

— Jim Harrington, Staff

Wilder’s ‘Ace’ is a good bet

It’s not too late to catch some of the fine offerings at Noir City Film Festival, which, like shadow and fog, has rolled in to Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater.

One such attraction is Billy Wilder’s “Ace in the Hole.” The seven-time Oscar winner has a jaw dropping resume, including “Some Like It Hot,” “The Apartment,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Witness for the Prosecution” and “Double Indemnity,” to name a few. “Ace in the Hole,” his 1951 plunge into the soul of emptiness, differs from those better-known releases in that it takes an exceedingly dim view of not only the human condition, but the media as well. Kirk Douglas stars as a slimy, stop-at-nothing reporter who futzes about with a big story he’s covering to gain more notoriety for himself. Jan Sterling co-stars in the riveting 1951 classic. The bill opens with a 35mm print of director Joseph Losey’s edgy-for-its-time “The Prowler,” a 1951 scorcher about a man’s plot to murder the husband of a woman who’s the object of his desire. It was written by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

Details: The Prowler” screens 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; “Ace in the Hole” screens 4 and 9 p.m. Sunday; part of the proceeds go to the nonprofit Noir Film Foundation; www.noircity.com

— Randy Myers, Bay City News Foundation