events

Events listings are compiled by Sarah Han. See 8 Days a Week for information on how to submit items to the listings.

wednesday 20

Around town

'The 17th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (800) 829-9751. Wed-Thurs, Sun, 9am-6:30pm; Fri-Sat, 9am-9pm, $7-18. The show features full-size garden displays, lectures, a koi festival, a bonsai show, an ikebana exhibit, and much more. Through Sun/24.

'Working in Extraordinary Times: Work Culture in the New Millennium' 50 Beale, Second floor; 896-6696. 6pm, $30. Liz Guthridge discusses the topic.

Benefits

'Picture Perfect' San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, 1800 Market; 671-2214. 7:35-10pm, $20. The benefit art sale and auction also features music, a raffle, and door prizes; proceeds benefit San Francisco artist Rob Anderson's project Rattlesnake in a Moving Car.

Authors

Christopher Paul Curtis A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 1pm. The author reads from his latest book for young adults, Bud, Not Buddy.

Jeffrey Deaver A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7:30pm. The author reads from his latest novel, The Stone Monkey.

Brian Ascalon Roley University of San Francisco Lone Mountain Campus, Rm 100, 2800 Turk; 422-6357. 5:45pm. The author reads from American Son.

thursday 21

Around town

'A Literary Cabaret' For location information call (415) 362-8193. 7:30 p.m., $5. City Lights and McSweeney's present this event with Neal Pollack, Beth Lisick, Jon Longhi, Lars Mars, and others.

'The Butterfly Brigade and Anti-Gay Violence' San Francisco Main Library, Latino-Hispanic Room, 100 Larkin; 557-4277. 6-8pm. Cleve Jones and other panelists discuss the Castro's first organized street patrols against homophobic violence.

'Celebrating 10 Years of Youth Leadership' War Memorial Veterans Building, Green Room, 401 Van Ness, Second floor; 836-9160, ext 254. 7pm, $20. Youth Leadership presents its awards ceremony and dessert reception, featuring performances by Culture Shock and City Shock.

'How to Make It as a Travel Writer' Fior d'Italia Restaurant, 601 Union; curiouser80@hotmail.com. 7pm, $8-12. The Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sponsors a panel discussion about the ins and outs of travel writing; Bruce Whipperman moderates.

'The 17th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (800) 829-9751. 9am-6:30pm, $7-18. See Wed/20.

'Show Me the Ideas' Film Arts Foundation, 346 Ninth St, Second floor; 552-8760. 6:30-9pm, $20. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences invites anyone with television programming ideas and those interested in program development to join panelists Pat Patton, Randy Janson, and others at this event.

Bay Area

'Why Write?' Gaia Building, 2116 Allston Way, Berk; (510) 848-4242. 7-9pm, $5. EdgeWork Books presents a salon conversation with its founders and authors about writing and publishing.

Benefits

Endurance Sportswear party Ruby Skye, 420 Mason; 664-9966. 7:30pm, $25. The cocktail party features live DJs, a raffle, and a runway fashion show; proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphona Society.

Bay Area

Noam Chomsky Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley High School, Allston Way and Milvia, Berk; (510) 548-0542. 7:30pm, $20-50. Noam Chomsky speaks on the topic "Middle East Peace in a 9/11 World"; proceeds benefit the Middle East Children's Alliance, the Friends of Free Speech Radio, and the American Arab Anti-Discrimation Committee.

Authors

Wade Davis A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7:30pm. The author discusses Light at the Edge of the World.

Bay Area

Alice Jones, Pattie McCarthy Diesel, a Bookstore, 5433 College, Berk; (510) 653-9965. 7:30pm. The authors read from and discuss their books.

friday 22

Around town

'Gem Faire' Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; www.gemfaire.com. 10am-7pm, $5. More than 40 exhibitors, importers, wholesalers, and manufacturers display their merchandise for show and sale. Through Sun/24.

'Jai Uttal Chanting: The Heart of Devotional Yoga' It's Yoga, 848 Folsom; 543-1970. 7:30pm, $15-20. Jai Uttal leads this call-and-response chanting and storytelling session.

'The Meeting Game Salon - 100 Men in One Night?' First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin; 789-7600. 7-10pm, $25. Meet new friends or "that special someone" at this informal dating event for gay and bisexual men.

'Revolving Doors' Luggage Store Gallery, 1007 Market; 546-6334. 7pm, free. The Luggage Store Gallery and Media Alliance present a night of poetry, prose, and poster art on homelessness by Piri Thomas and students of the Raising Our Voices Training Program.

'The 17th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (800) 829-9751. 9am-9pm, $7-18. See Wed/20.

Youth Advisory Board Launch Party and Artists in Education open house Southern Exposure, 401 Alabama; 863-2141. 5pm, free. Southern Exposure celebrates the launching of its new Youth Advisory Board with a night of music, food, art, and more.

Benefits

'Petchitecture 2002' One Market Plaza, 1 Market; 677-8688. 8-10pm, $45. At the seventh annual Pets Are Wonderful Support fundraiser, pet owners can buy the newest pet accessories, beds, and houses designed by Bay Area architects.

Authors

Matthew Hart Stacey's Bookstore, 581 Market; 421-4687. 12:30pm. The author discusses Diamond: The History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair.

saturday 23

Around town

'Gem Faire' Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; www.gemfaire.com. 10am-7pm, $5. See Fri/22.

San Francisco Art Institute Annual Auction' San Francisco Art Institute, 701 Chestnut; 749-4569. 5-9pm, $75. This art auction features the work of established contemporary artists and Art Institute faculty, alumni, and students, including Lynn Hershman, David Ireland, Los Carpinteros, Judith Shea, Katherine Sherwood, Lorna Simpson, Frank Stella, and Richard Wentworth.

'The 17th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (800) 829-9751. 9am-9pm, $7-18. See Wed/20.

Bay Area

'Interfaith Pagan Pride Parade' Begins on Telegraph at Bancroft, Berk; (510) 843-0333. 11:30am. This procession for people of non-traditional beliefs celebrates diversity and religious tolerance.

Benefits

'Gala Rouge' Rotunda Building, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakl; (510) 548-3422, ext 125. 6pm, $175-250. The California Shakespeare Festival presents an evening of wine tastings, auctions, dancing, a dinner, and a live performance by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums; proceeds benefit Artistic Learning Initiative.

sunday 24

Around town

'Cesar E. Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival' Parade: Begins at Market St and the Embarcadero, 11am; festival: Civic Center Plaza, Larkin at Grove, 1pm; 674-1884. Dolores Huerta, Richard Chavez, Nancy Pelosi, and others celebrate the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez.

'Fifth Annual Elf Hill: Flashback' SomArts, 934 Brannan; www.phases.org. 4-8pm, $15. Phases presents a whimsical event for adults featuring belly dancing, music, an Oscar screening, and more.

'Gem Faire' Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; www.gemfaire.com. 10am-7pm, $5. See Fri/22.

'International Tourist Guide Day' City Hall steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place; 753-8600. 12:15pm, $2. The San Francisco Tour Guide Guild celebrates the 13th annual International Tourist Guide Day with a four-hour bus tour of the city.

'The 17th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (800) 829-9751. 9am-6:30pm, $7-18. See Wed/20.

Bay Area

'Fourth Big Screen Oscar Bash' Parkway Speakeasy Theater, 1834 Park Blvd, Oakl; (510) 814-2400. 5pm, $10. The Parkway hosts a screening party of the Academy Awards on its big screen; other highlights include Oscar trivia, contests, and more.

Benefits

'Academy Gala' Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakl; (510) 267-9699. 3:30pm, $80. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation presents a fundraising black-tie event featuring a screening of the Academy Awards, film-themed food from East Bay restaurants, an open bar, a raffle, and a silent auction.

'22nd Annual Oscar Night Gala' Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 995-9890. 5pm-midnight, $200. The Academy of Friends hosts an Oscar celebration and screening with music, dancing, auctions, dining, and wine tastings; proceeds benefit Bay Area HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Authors

Ben Clarke, Roger Burbach, and others City Lights, 261 Columbus; 362-8193. 4pm. The editors, authors, and activists discuss September 11 and the U.S. War: Beyond the Curtain of Smoke.

Bay Area

Neal Pollack and ReadyMade magazine Diesel, a Bookstore, 5433 College, Oakl; (510) 653-9965. 4pm. Journalist Neal Pollack and editors of ReadyMade discuss their work.

monday 25

Around town

'Angel Island, Immigration and Family Stories' First Unitarian Church, 1 Lawson Rd, Kensington; (510) 834-3706. 7:30pm. Artist Flo Oy Wong discusses her work and tells stories of her family's immigration to the United States from China.

Authors

Peter Matthiessen Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. 8pm, $18. The writer and explorer discusses his work with actor Peter Coyote.

tuesday 26

Around town

Artist talk with Marco Breuer and Adam Klein SF Cameraworks, 1246 Folsom; 863-1001. 7pm, $4-6. Photographer Marco Breuer and author Adam Klein discuss their work.

Authors

'Alternative to the Oscars' Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia; 282-9246. 7:30pm. Editor, publisher, and writer Juliette Torrez and other Kapow! artists and authors discuss their works at this indie-press party.

Ellen Bass San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, Lower level, 100 Larkin; 557-4277. 6:30pm. The author discusses her new book of poetry, Mules of Love.

Bay Area