events


wednesday 25

Around town

'Make Art Happen or DIY Trying' Spanganga Gallery, 3376 19th St; www.lilycat.com. 8pm, $5. Learn more about publishing at this independent artist workshop featuring speakers Kevin Smokler, Daphne Gottlieb, Charlie Anders, V. Vale, Keith Knight, and moderator Michael Vavricek.

thursday 26

Around town

'Balboa Theatre's 78th Birthday Party' 3630 Balboa; 221-8184. 7pm, $10. See 8 Days a Week.

Benefits

'Musical Benefit for District Attorney Kamala Harris' Sno-Drift, 1830 Third St; 928-1800. 6-9pm, $50-750 sliding scale. Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins and singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton perform to help Harris pay off her campaign debt.

'YMCA Campaign Talent Show' Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA, 220 Golden Gate; 447-2522. 7pm, $3-10 sliding scale. Help support the YMCA and be entertained by emerging talent at this fundraiser; special events include air-band performances, a silent auction, and bidding on a dinner with YMCA staff and members.

friday 27

Around town

Walter Cronkite Ritz Carlton Hotel Ballroom, 600 Stockton; 597-6705. Noon, $20-65. Commonwealth Club of California presents this event featuring former CBS news correspondent Walter Cronkite in conversation with news anchor Pete Wilson.

Fasching Schroeder's Cafe, 240 Front; 421-4778. 6-9pm, $5. This German Mardi Gras celebration features music by Big Lou's Polka Casserole, Bavarian folk dancing, and more.

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

A Night of Art, Music, and Video Club Six, 60 Sixth St; www.justoneent.com. 9pm, $5-10. Just One Entertainment and Judah Skateboard Co. present a screening of the "Bon appetit" skate video from Cliché Skateboard Co.; DJs Quest, B-Cause, Satva, and 4am; live painting and gallery of works by Eat Cho Veggies Collective; and more.

Benefits

'Asian American Theater Company's 30th Anniversary Black Tee' Herbst Theatre and Green Room, 401 Van Ness; 543-5738. 5:30pm, $25-50. The Asian American Theater Company presents its informal 30th-anniversary celebration featuring performances by David Henry Hwang, Philip Kan Gotanda, and others; food; music; and more.

'Laugh Your Abs Off!' Hyena Comedy Institute, 2390 Mission, #304; 440-4309. 8pm, $5-7. Stand-up comedians perform to benefit the Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA.

saturday 28

Around town

'Feria Urbana' Canvas Gallery, 1200 Ninth Ave; www.feriaurbanasf.com. Noon-5pm, free. Come support local artists and designers at this bimonthly urban fair featuring clothing, jewelry, home accessories, artwork, and more.

Literacy fair Western Addition Public Library, 1550 Scott; 431-8252, ext 315. 11am-12:30pm, free. Westside Community Mental Health Inc. and First 5 of San Francisco present this literacy fair for families with children six years old and under.

'13th Annual Sparks Fly!' Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission; 643-9124. 7:30pm, $10-25. Former political prisoner and award-winning writer Susan Rosenberg speaks, along with guests Yuri Kochiyama and Lynne Stewart, at this event dedicated to women political prisoners and battered women who are in prison for fighting back against their abusers.

Benefits

'Future "Mirai" Auction 2004' Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Ave and Lincoln; 759-2801. 5-11pm, $20-25. This auction raises funds for the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program at Clarendon Alternative Elementary School.

'Women's Voices Rise Up' Women's Building, 3543 18th St; 642-9099. 7:30pm, $10-20 sliding scale. This music, spoken word, dance, and film event includes performances by Uchechi Kalu, Shailja Patel, Sparlha Swa, Samsara, Sisterz of the Underground, and others; proceeds benefit grassroots women's projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine.

Bay Area

'The Big Picture' 21 Grand, 449B 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 444-7263. 8pm, $7-20 sliding scale. This fundraiser for 21 Grand features an aerial dance performance by Ashley Foster, contemporary dance by Ellie Carl, and music by Matt Davignon, Lucio Menegon, Robert Silberman, She-Mob, and others.

'A Little Night Music' Universalist Christian Church, 2401 LeConte, Berk; (510) 704-7729. 8pm, $10-25. This dinner and classical music concert benefits New Spirit Community Church and New Spirit Music Program; performers include Karl Mettinger and Robin Cowart.

'World Heart Beat' 2525 Eighth St, Berk; (510) 649-6051. 8pm, $13-20 sliding scale. This concert and dance party features musicians Stephen Kent and Jeff Stott, tribal belly dance group the Indigo, DJs World One Love and Clay, and others; proceeds benefit Berkeley's Interfaith Pagan Pride Parade and Celebration.

sunday 29

Benefits

'The Academy Gala' Castro Theatre, 429 Castro; (510) 267-9699, www.academygala.com. 4pm, $65-125. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northern California presents its annual Oscar-night fundraiser where event-goers can watch the Oscars on a big screen, people-watch, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, enter a raffle, participate in a silent auction, and much more.

'Up the Oscars!' Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th St; 863-1087. 5pm (doors 4pm), $18. See 8 Days a Week.

Bay Area

'Black Tie, Blue Jeans, Red Carpet' Rafael Film Center, 118 Fourth St, San Rafael; (415) 383-5256. 4pm, $100-150. At this official Bay Area Academy Awards event, watch the Oscars on one of three big screens, view a selection of the Academy's nominated shorts, sip cocktails and nosh on hors d'oeuvres and a gourmet dinner, and much more; proceeds benefit the California Film Institute and its outreach and educational programs.

monday 1

Benefits

'An Evening with Suzanne Farrell' San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum, Veteran's Building, fourth fl, 401 Van Ness; 255-4800. 7pm, $50. Ballerina Suzanne Farrell speaks with moderator Brad Rosenstein and curator Sheryl Flatow about her career and work by George Balanchine; proceeds benefit SFPALM's dance archives.

tuesday 2

Around town

'16th Annual Lambda Literary Awards: Bay Area Finalists Reading and Reception' Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, San Francisco Main Library, lower level, 100 Larkin; 557-4277. 5:30-7:30pm. The annual Lambda Literary Awards honors writers of the best of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender literature; tonight finalists read from their works.

Benefits

'Viva Variety' Buriel Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton; 863-0741, ext 2. 8pm, $10-15. This popular variety show features host Steve Murray, comedians Tom Smith and Julia Jackson, singer-songwriters Kate Klaire and Trauma Flintstone, cabaret performers the Kitchenettes, comic vocalist Anita Cocktail, physical circus performer Mystic Marlow, and others.