events

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

wednesday 28
Benefits
'It's about Sex' Penthouse Cabaret and Penthouse Grille, 412 Broadway; 391-2800. 8pm, $15. San Francisco's Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality is the appropriate beneficiary of the opening-night festivities of the Penthouse Cabaret and Penthouse Grille, hosted by comedian Johnny Steele and offering a chance to win a date with adult star Sunset Thomas.

thursday 29
Around town
'East Bay Open Studios' reception Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakl; www.proartsgallery.org. 7-9pm, free. Sat-Sun through June 8. See 8 Days a Week.

Benefits
'Simone's 24' benefit El Rio, 3158 Mission; (510) 393-6295. 5-9pm, $5-10 (no one turned away for lack of funds). Spoken word performers, DJs, raffle prizes, and a screening of trailers and film clips highlight this benefit for Simone's 24, a film about a young, queer woman of color scheduled to play at the upcoming San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

friday 30
Around town
'Doggie Diner Heads and Cyclecide Bike Rodeo Homecoming' Odeon Bar, 3223 Mission; 550-6994. 9pm, $5. Three Doggie Diner heads return to the Bay Area with a photo show and performance of Jarico Reese's play written while on the road.

Benefits
'Infusion' George Washington High School, auditorium, 600 32nd Ave; 750-8400, www.888entertainment.com. 7-9pm, $10-15. Pop singer Natalise headlines this concert to benefit local high school arts programs.

'Youth Through Truth' Box Factory, Youth Speaks Center, 2169 Folsom; 647-1508. 7pm, free (donations requested). Bay Area youth present spoken word, music, dance, and more, with the aim of strengthening the local community, as well as helping rebuild communities in Iraq. Proceeds benefit Working Assets.

Bay Area

21 Grand art sale 21 Grand, 449B 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 444-7263. 7pm, free (artwork $5-75). See 8 Days a Week.

saturday 31
Around town

'Art Deco Weekend by the Bay' Concourse Exhibition Center, Eighth St at Brannan; (650) 599-DECO. 10am-6pm, $8. Through Sun/1. Furniture, accessories, art, clothing, and other items dating back to the 1940s through '60s are on sale at this expo.

'Art in the Avenues' Golden Gate Park, Hall of Flowers (near Ninth Ave at Lincoln); 566-9245. 10am-6pm, free. More than 30 local artists from the Sunset Artists Society and the Park Presidio Art Association exhibit and sell their works at affordable prices. Through Sun/1.

Bay Area

'East Bay Open Studios' tour Various locations, www.proartsgallery.org. 11am-6pm, free. Sat-Sun through June 8. See 8 Days a Week, page 47.

'75th Anniversary of the First Transpacific Flight' Western Aerospace Museum, Oakland International Airport, 8260 Boeing, Building 621, North Field, Oakl; (510) 638-7100, www.westernaerospacemuseum.org. Noon-4pm and 6:30-8:30pm, $5-50. See 8 Days a Week.

Benefits

'Black and White Ball' San Francisco Civic Center; 864-6000, www.bwball.com. 9pm-2am, $150-185. The San Francisco Symphony benefits from this gala seven-block party, featuring gourmet food and a huge lineup of entertainment (Dr. John, Morris Day and the Time, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, India.Arie, Les Claypool, Super Diamond, and others).

'Faerie Masque Ball' Women's Building, 3543 18th St; 255-7623. 8pm-midnight, $15-25. Reclaiming Quarterly, a magazine for witchcraft and magical activism, benefits from this fairy-themed fiesta.

Family Connections Community Center benefit Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park (near Ninth Ave and Lincoln); 715-6746. 2:30-5:30pm, $35. The family resource center hosts a square dancing party.

'Lily's Treasures' Zeum, 221 Fourth St; 777-2800. 3pm, $5-7. (Also Sun/1, 5pm, Saint Mary Magdalene Church, 2005 Berryman, Berk; 510-548-3326. $5-15). The Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship benefits from these showcase performances by the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble.

Bay Area

'Rubber Ducky Derby' Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue, Oakl; (510) 869-3770, www.rubberduckyderby.org. 10:30am, $10. Your donation buys you a numbered duck in the derby, during which random ducks are "plucked" and the backer wins a prize (grand prize is a trip to Hawaii). Proceeds benefit the Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland.

sunday 1
Around town

'Art Deco Weekend by the Bay' Concourse Exhibition Center, Eighth St at Brannan; (650) 599-DECO. 11am-5pm, $8. See Sat/31.

'Art in the Avenues' Golden Gate Park, Hall of Flowers (near Ninth Ave at Lincoln); 566-9245. 10am-5pm, free. See Sat/31.

Rainbow flag 25th anniversary celebration San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market; 865-5633, www.harveymilk.org. 1-3pm, $10-15 sliding scale. See 8 Days a Week.

Bay Area

'East Bay Open Studios' tour Various locations, www.proartsgallery.org. 11am-6pm, free. Sat-Sun through June 8. See 8 Days a Week.

Benefits

'Intrigue at the Mansion: The Daddy, the Diva, and the Detective' Archbishop's Mansion, 1000 Fulton; 626-2950, www.incentivestointrigue.com. 6:30-9:30pm, $85. Sundays through June 22. The San Francisco AIDS Emergency Fund benefits from this fantasy murder mystery performance, which includes a three-course dinner.

'Say It thru Song' benefit performance Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 841-2082. 3-6pm, $15 (includes CD). Noe Venable, Babatunde Lea, Etienne De Rocher, Todd Sickafoose, and others perform songs created with the help of local students.

monday 2
Benefits

'Music in the Making: New Music Reading Series' McKenna Theatre, San Francisco State University, Creative Arts Bldg, 1600 Holloway; 437-0123. 6pm, free. The nonprofit Women's Philharmonic presents a conversation with composers and conductors on the process of composing new orchestral works; a performance follows.

tuesday 3
Around town