wednesday 18

Benefits

'Celebrating the American Choral Tradition' Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk; (510) 841-2800. 8pm, $10-45. The Berkeley Symphony Orchestra presents this choral concert featuring conductor Vance George.

 

thursday 19

Around town

'Procure: Art Market and Wine Tasting' Café Royale, 800 Post; 441-4099, www.caferoyale-sf.com. 8pm-midnight. This monthly art market and wine and cheese tasting event features ports and handmade chocolates, and artworks by Peter Max Lawrence, clothing by Lana Michelle, and bound albums and books by Jennifer Levine.

'3rd Thursdays' 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna; 974-1719, www.111minnagallery.com. 7pm-midnight, free. Juxtapoz magazine presents this new monthly mixer for artists and art lovers, featuring all-night drink specials and music by DJs Jefrodisiac and Toph One.

friday 20

Around town

'France in the Postwar Era: From Liberation to the New Wave' Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. 10am-4:30pm, $20-35. Humanities West presents this lecture and performance program about the culture and politics of postwar France. Also Sat/21.

'Mission Crab Crawl' Visit www.missionmerchants.com or call 920-0125 for locations and times. Restaurants of the Mission Merchants Association participate in this claw-cracking event.

'A Queer Comics Extravaganza' Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia; 282-9246. 7pm. Queer comic artists Alison Bechdel, David Kelly, Leanne Franson, Craig Bostick, Tim Fish, and Craig McKenney share their comics and discuss their works.

'San Francisco Black History Month Celebration' Metreon, Action Theater, 101 Fourth St; www.sfnoir.org. 7:30-9:30pm. SF Noir celebrates Black History Month with this event featuring screenings of short films and a performance by jazz band the Supplicants.

Benefits

'North Beach Reunion' San Francisco State University, McKenna Theatre, 1600 Holloway; 338-1193 or 405-0556; athletics.sfsu.edu. 8pm, $30-60 (postshow reception with performers, $50). Through Sat/21. See 8 Days a Week.

 

saturday 21

Around town

'Alternative Press Expo' Concourse Exhibition Center, 620 Seventh St; www.comic-con.org. Noon-6pm, $7. Celebrate alternative comics, meet artists, and buy comics and paraphernalia at APE's 10th-anniversary expo. Also Sun/22.

'France in the Postwar Era: From Liberation to the New Wave' Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. 10am-4:30pm, $20-35. See Fri/20.

'San Francisco Black History Month Celebration' Palace of Fine Arts Theater, 3301 Lyon; www.sfnoir.org. 8-10:30pm, $25-50. This continuation of SF Noir's Black History Month celebration includes a tribute to Marvin Gaye, theater and spoken word performances, dance troupes, and more.

'Tulipmania' Pier 39; 705-5500, www.pier39.com. 10am, free. Come check out this outdoor display of more than 39,000 tulips and learn more about landscaping and tulip varieties on a guided tour. Through Feb 29.

Bay Area

Michelle Tea AK Press Warehouse, 674 A 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 208-1700, www.akpress.org. 7pm, free. Author and Bay Guardian contributor Michelle Tea discusses her latest book, Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class.

 

Benefits

'Alternative Press Expo Benefit Bash' Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission; CAR-TOON, www.cartoonart.org. 8-11pm, $5-10. Comic book artists, cartoonists, and their fans get together at this event featuring original artwork, refreshments, and a raffle; proceeds benefit the Cartoon Art Museum and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

'North Beach Reunion' San Francisco State University, McKenna Theatre, 1600 Holloway; 338-1193, 405-0556, athletics.sfsu.edu. 8pm, $30-60. See 8 Days a Week.

'Revolutionary Love' Little Baobab Senegalese Restaurant, 3388 19th St; www.prisonactivist.org. 6-9pm, $10-15 donation. This benefit party features performances by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, DJ Sake-1, Luis Monterossa, Baby Jaymes, and Raw Knowledge.

'Wage Peace' Presentation Theater, University of San Francisco, 2350 Turk; www.tikkun.org. 8pm, $15-35. Michael Lerner, members of A Traveling Jewish Theatre, Lisa Rafel and Geoffrey Gordon, Neeli Cherkovski, David Meltzer, and others perform music, tell stories, deliver spoken word, and dance in support of the Geneva Accord.

 

sunday 22

Around town

'Alternative Press Expo' Concourse Exhibition Center, 620 Seventh St; www.comic-con.org. 11am-5pm, $7. See Sat/21.

Amy Tan, Tamin Ansary, Ted Weinstein 826 Valencia, 826 Valencia; 642-5778. 6-9pm, $100. This seminar featuring authors Amy Tan, Tamin Ansary, and Ted Weinstein focuses on memoir writing; Dave Eggers moderates.

Benefits

'The Prom' ODC Theater, 3153 17th St; 8863-9834. 8pm-midnight, $15-100. ODC Theater and Kunst-Stoff present this prom-themed fundraiser featuring live music, DJs, and more.

 

tuesday 24

Around town

Art Spiegelman Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk; (510) 642-9988. 8pm, $18-28. The Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novelist discusses the art form of comics.

Bay Area

Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras Celebration Berkeley Farmers' Market, Derby and MLK Jr; 548-2220, ext 227. 2-6pm, free. The Berkeley Farmers' Market celebrates Fat Tuesday with live music, costume making, and a parade.