events

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

wednesday 14

Around town

'Getting Ready for Gatsby' Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter; 982-DECO, www.art-deco.org. 7:30pm, $5-10. Laurie Gordon and Sara Klotz de Aguilar discuss how to plan a picnic and share tips on what to wear at the 18th Annual Gatsby Summer Afternoon on Sept 8.

'National Vaulting Championships' Robertson Park Equestrian Center, 3200 Robertson Park, Livermore; www.americanvaulting.org. 8:30am-2pm, free. Men and women from the U.S. vaulting team perform at this event. Through Sat/17.

'Wax Works: Encaustic Wax Techniques' De Young Art Center, 2501 Irving; 682-2485. 6:30-8:30pm, $8. This art workshop is led by Alex Mitchell.

Bay Area

'Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth' Oakland Arena, 6000 Coliseum Way, Oakl; www.ringling.com. 7:30pm, $10.75-50. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus show returns to the Bay Area with David Larible, the Prince of Laughter, clowns, and more. Through Sun/18.

Benefits

'Bitch's Third Not-at-All-Annual Benefit Party and Bake Sale' Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; 864-6671. 7pm, $9-20 sliding scale. See 8 Days a Week, page 64.

Authors

Jere Longman Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, Second floor; 597-6705. 6pm, $9-15. The New York Times reporter discusses his book Among the Heroes.

Bay Area

Tiffanie DeBartolo Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera; (415) 927-0960. 7pm. The author reads from her novel, God-Shaped Hole.

thursday 15

Around town

'Viagra: Miracle or Menace' San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market; 575-0155, www.stopaids.org. 6:30pm. Stop AIDS Project staff and San Francisco Department of Health researchers present a community forum on health risks associated with recreational Viagra use.

Bay Area

'National Vaulting Championships' Robertson Park Equestrian Center, 3200 Robertson Park, Livermore; www.americanvaulting.org. 8:30am-2pm, free. See Wed/14.

'Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth' Oakland Arena, 6000 Coliseum Way, Oakl; www.ringling.com. 7:30pm, $10.75-50. See Wed/14.

Authors

Kensington Ladies Erotica Society event Booksmith, 1644 Haight; 863-8688. 7pm. Authors from the Kensington Ladies Erotica Society discuss their latest book Sex, Death and Other Distractions.

Edie Meidav A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. The author discusses The Far Field.

Bay Area

Wayne Bernhardson Easy Going Travel Shop and Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-3533. 7:30pm. The author presents a slide-show discussion about Guatemala and his book Moon Handbook: Guatemala.

Laurie Notaro Barnes and Noble, 2352 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 644-0861. 7:30pm. The author discusses and signs Idiot Girls' Action - Adventure Club.

friday 16

Around town

'National Vaulting Championships' Robertson Park Equestrian Center, 3200 Robertson Park, Livermore; www.americanvaulting.org. 8:30am-2pm, free. See Wed/14.

'Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, The Greatest Show on Earth' Oakland Arena, 6000 Coliseum Way, Oakl; www.ringling.com. 10:30am and 7:30pm, $10.75-50. See Wed/14.

Authors

Lawrence Donegan Borders Books and Music, 400 Post; 399-1633. 7pm. The author discusses and signs California Dreaming.

Dennis McNally Booksmith, 1644 Haight; 863-8688. 7pm. The author discusses A Long Strange Trip.

Bay Area

Kim Erickson Boadecia Books, 398 Colusa, Kensington; (510) 559-9184. 7:30pm. The author reads from her new book, Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics.

Sharon Salzberg Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College, Oakl; (510) 653-9965. 7:30pm. The author discusses Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience.

saturday 17

Around town

'Bernal Heights Hillwide Garage Sale' Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland, and 120 sites throughout Bernal Heights; 206-2140, ext 131. 9am-4pm. Stop by the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center to pick up a map of sale sites at this huge community garage sale.

'Fiery Feminist Freedomfest' San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St; 864-1278. 6pm, $10 donation. Radical Women presents its third annual Women's Rights Day celebration, featuring performances by Nellie Wong, Merle Woo, JenRo, Michelle Garcia, Faith Petric, and Karen Chin.

'The Golden Gateway to Gems' Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina and Buchanan; 564-4230. 10am-6pm, $1-6. The San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society presents this show and sale of crystals, fossils, minerals, pearls, and more. Also Sun/18.

'Oakland Magic Circle Book Faire and Flea Market' Japan Town YMCA, 1530 Buchanan; 282-6707. 10am, $40. This event for magic enthusiasts features books, props, videos, and more.

'Wetlands Cleanup on San Francisco Waterfront' Meet at Amador near Cargo Way and Third St; (510) 843-2222. 10am-1pm. The Golden Gate Audubon Society invites the public to volunteer to help restore wetlands on the southern waterfront between Piers 92 and 94; bring your own gloves.

Bay Area

'Cajun and More Festival' Berkeley Farmers' Market, Civic Center Park, Center at MLK Jr. Way, Berk; (510) 548-3333. 10am-4:30pm, free. This event features live bands, a crafts fair, Cajun food, dance lessons, and more.

'National Vaulting Championships' Robertson Park Equestrian Center, 3200 Robertson Park, Livermore; www.americanvaulting.org. 8:30am-2pm, free. See Wed/14.

'Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth' Oakland Arena, 6000 Coliseum Way, Oakl; www.ringling.com. 11:30am, 3:30pm, and 7:30pm, $10.75-50. See Wed/14.

'Soulbeat's 24th Annual Hollywood Awards Ball and Dinner' Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Dr, Oakl; (510) 777-1400, www.soulbeattv.com. Red carpet procession 6pm, ceremony 7:30pm, $100. See 8 Days a Week, page 64.

Benefits

'SF Bayview Newspaper' fundraiser SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan; 552-2131, ext 401. 5pm, $5-7. The Hip Hop Film Fest and the Black August Media forum host a benefit for the neighborhood newspaper. Events include film screenings, alternative media panels and open discussions, and live hip hop, jazz, and spoken word performances.

'Who Murdered Donna Sachet ... Again!' San Francisco Russian Center Theater, 2460 Sutter; 777-0333. Reception 6pm; performance 7pm, $25-40. This comedic murder mystery written, produced, and directed by Mark Paladini benefits the Positive Resouce Center of San Francisco.

Authors

'Seventh Anniversary Party for Tachyon Publications' Borderland Books, 866 Valencia; 824-8203. 2-6pm, free. Pat Murphy and Dave Smeds appear to celebrate Tachyon's anniversary.

Bay Area

E. Lynn Harris Marcus Book Store, African American Museum and Library of Oakland, 659 14th St, Oakl; (510) 637-0202. 6:30pm. The author discusses and signs his A Love of My Own.

Ijeoma Thomas Funky Soul Stop, 1811 Jefferson, Oakl; (510) 452-2452. 3-4:309pm. The poet reads from her new book, Out of the Fire.

Haunani-Kay Trask Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University, Berk; (510) 548-2350. 3pm. The author discusses her books.

Laura Vestanen Boadecia Books, 398 Colusa, Kensington; (510) 559-9184. 7:30pm. The author reads from her book, Traveling Tips for the Sophisticated Woman.

sunday 18

Around town

'The Golden Gateway to Gems' Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina and Buchanan; 564-4230. 10am-5pm, $1-6. See Sat/17.

'Vintage Festival' McLaren Park, Visitacion and Mansell; www.phases.org. noon-4pm, free. Phases presents this cat-themed festival featuring entertainment by the Red Tail Morris Dancers, arts and crafts vendors, and more.

Bay Area

'Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth' Oakland Arena, 6000 Coliseum Way, Oakl; www.ringling.com. 1:30 and 5:30pm, $10.75-50. See Wed/14.

Benefits

'City Tea for Country Critters: A Fancy Fundraiser for Farm Sanctuary' The First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St, Oakl; (510) 914-7131. 4-7:30pm, $5-25 sliding scale. This tea-party event features Michael Greger, M.D., speaking about mad cow disease and the ethical benefits of a vegetarian diet; a silent auction; and vegan hors d'oeuvres; proceeds benefit Farm Sanctuary.

'SF Bayview Newspaper' fundraiser SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan; 552-2131, ext 401. 5pm, $5-7. The Hip Hop Film Fest and the Black August Media forum host a benefit for the neighborhood newspaper. Events include film screenings, alternative media panels and open discussions, and live hip hop, jazz, and spoken word performances.

Authors

E. Lynn Harris San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market; 431-0891. 7:30pm. The author reads from his latest novel, A Love of My Own.

Bay Area

'Berkeley Arts Festival Authors' Jam' Wells Fargo Annex, 2081 Center, Berk; (510)665-9496. 6-8pm, free. Meet authors Al Young, Mary Mackey, Renate Stendhal, John Oliver Simon, Owen Hill, Jennifer Stone, Ivan Arguelles, John Curl, Adam David Miller, giovanni singleton, William Lloyd Roller, Claire Korn, Merle Davis, Patrice Wynne, and Maria Terese Valenzuela.

Jan Chozen Bays Shambhala Booksellers, 2482 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 848-8443. 7pm. The author reads from Jizo Boddhisattva.

Dennis McNally Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro, San Rafael; (415) 444-8085. 7pm, $15-44. The author discusses A Long Strange Trip; Pete Sears and Henry Kaiser perform before and after McNally speaks.

monday 19

Authors

Alexander Blakely A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. The author discusses Siberia Bound.

Bay Area

E. Lynn Harris Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera; (415) 927-0960. 7pm. The author reads from his latest novel, A Love of My Own.

tuesday 20

Around town

'A Celebration of Paris' A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. Terrance Gelenter, Founder and director of Paris Through Expatriate Eyes, presents a slide show and lecture on Paris in the 1920s.

Authors

Howard Beckerman Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon; 561-0360. 7:30pm. Association Internationale du Film d'Animation – San Francisco presents a discussion and book signing by the animator.

S.T. Joshi Booksmith, 1644 Haight; 863-8688. 7pm. The H.P. Lovecraft biographer and editor discusses Mysteries of Time and Spirit and Ancient Track: The Complete Poetical Works.

Bay Area