events

wednesday 12

Around town

E.L. Doctorow Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. 8pm, $18.50. Novelist Doctorow discusses his work in conversation with Michael Krasny.

Benefits

'Benefit for Haitians under Siege' First Unitarian Universality Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin; 776-4580. 7-9pm, $10. Unitarian Universalists for Peace presents this benefit for the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund featuring folk musician Amy Martin and guest speakers Dorothy Smith Patterson and members of the Haiti Action Committee.

Morehouse College Glee Club Spring Concert Third Baptist Church, 1399 McAllister; 346-4426. 7pm. The Morehouse College Glee Club performs to benefit Third Baptist Church.

'Suds and Stuff Extravaganza' New College of California parking lot, Valencia between 18th and 19th Sts; 437-3400. 10am-5pm, $1-5 per service. Bring your canine companion and/or your bike, motorcycle, or moped to this dog/bike wash event; proceeds benefit the Youth Gender Project.

thursday 13

Around town

'Youth Maritime Career Fair' San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Hyde Street Pier; 447-9822. 10am-2:30pm. Bay Area students and job seekers are invited to visit this career fair featuring job booths, panel discussions, hands-on tours of working vessels, and more.

Benefits

'Flaunt!' Bambuddha Lounge, 601 Eddy; www.onyourfeetproject.org. 7-10pm, $20. On Your Feet Project presents an event featuring fashion, food, a silent auction, and more; proceeds benefit the Bay Area Women's and Children's Center.

'Second Thursday Open Beer Bar' 1751 socialclub, 1751 Fulton; 441-1751. 8-11pm, $10. Drink beer and listen to music provided by DJ Justin Smith at this event benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

friday 14

Around town

Bob Edwards Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, second floor; 597-6705. Noon, $8-15. NPR host and author Edwards speaks in conversations wtih Edward R. Murrow.

'eigoMANGA' San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway; www.eigoMANGA.com. 11am. Get your anime and J-Rock fix at this event featuring live music, an anime career fair, prizes, and more.

'The Greater Body Expo' Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove; www.baytobreakers.com. 11am-7pm. This health and fitness exposition features product samples, sports demonstrations, and more. Through Sat/15.

Benefits

'National Center for Lesbian Rights Fundraiser' Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; 647-2888. 6:30-9pm. The National Center for Lesbian Rights presents this fundraiser to help fund its legal fight for gay marriages in San Francisco; the event features food, DJs, a slide show, and more.

saturday 15

Around town

'Art to Wear' Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Conference Center, Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Laguna; 775-0991, www.mocfa.org. 10am-3:30pm, $5. This wearable art fashion sale features clothing and accessories by Bay Area designers and artisans.

'The Greater Body Expo' Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove; www.baytobreakers.com. 9am-7pm. See Fri/14.

Morbid Curiosity reading Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia; 824-8203. 3-6pm, free. See 8 Days a Week.

'Mr. EDGE Leather 2004 Contest' Edge, 4149 18th St; 863-4027. 8pm-midnight, $8. Contestants compete to be named Mr. EDGE at this leather competition.

' "Old Fashioned" Picnic in the Park with Urban Diversion' Golden Gate Park, John F. Kennedy Dr and Cross-Over Dr; 776-7455, www.urbandiversion.com. Noon-3pm, $15. Experience some good old-fashioned fun at this event featuring gunnysack races, balloon tosses, tug-of-war, three-legged races, and picnic foods.

Pet first aid workshop San Francisco SPCA, 243 Alabama; (530) 342-1380, info@petCPR.com. 9am-1pm, $46. Pet educator Laurie Teague conducts this workshop on pet first aid. Also Sun/16.

'Wired NextFest' Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 276-5059, www.nextfest.net. 9am-6pm. Wired magazine presents this event featuring an ASIMO humanoid robot demonstration, panel discussions on the latest trends in technology, and more. Also Sun/16.

Bay Area

'A La Carte and Art' Castro, between Church and Evelyn Sts, Mountain View; (650) 964-3395. 10am-6pm, free. Check out live music, a juried arts and crafts show, foods from around the world, and much more at this springtime fair. Also Sun/16.

'Particles: Articles of Party Art' Historic Sweets Ballroom, 1933 Broadway, Oakl; (415) 281-9432. 9pm, $12-20 sliding scale. Cloudfactory Design Collective presents this spring fashion event featuring wacky, sexy, and crazy party wear.

'Interfaith Pagan Pride Parade and Celebration' Civic Center Park, MLK Jr Way, between Center and Allston, Berk; www.paganparade.org. 10am-5pm, free. This cultural community event features "Eagle Spirit" intertribal drummers and dancers, Berber Amazigh, Sacramento Grove of the Oak, Ile Orumilla Oshun, Leila Beirely, Hrafnar, the Fellowship of the Spiral Path, and others; this year's theme is the "Divine Feminine."

Benefits

Lilycat.com benefit El Rio, 3158 Mission; 282-3325, www.lilycat.com/makeart.html. 3:30-8pm, $3. This event features music by the Seething Brunswicks; spoken word and comedy by Danny Dechi, Harvey, Attaboy!, Lady Monster, and Tina Butcher; mini workshops by past "Make Art Happen or DIY Trying" speakers; open mic; and more. Proceeds benefit Lilycat.com's independent artist workshops.

'Supernatural' Southern Exposure, 401 Alabama; 863-2141. 7:30-11pm. Southern Exposure presents its annual spring fundraiser and art auction; musical guests Tarantel perform.

sunday 16

Around town

'Albertsons Bay to Breakers' Starts at Howard and Spear; 359-2800, www.baytobreakers.com. 8am, $29.50-40. Run or walk the popular annual 7.46-mile event; proceeds benefit the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, Organs R' Us, and Sports Medicine Institute/The Farm Team.

'Footstock' Polo Fields, Golden Gate Park, John F. Kennedy Dr near 36th Ave; www.baytobreakers.com. 10am-2pm, $5 donation. This Bay to Breakers postrace celebration features an awards ceremony, a food market, and musical performances by Luce and Four Year Bender.

Pet first aid workshop San Francisco SPCA, 243 Alabama; (530) 342-1380, info@petCPR.com. 9am-1pm, $46. See Sat/15.

'Wired NextFest' Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 276-5059, www.nextfest.net. 9am-6pm. See Sat/15.

Bay Area

'A La Carte and Art' Castro, between Church and Evelyn, Mountain View; (650) 964-3395. 10am-6pm, free. See Sat/15.

Benefits

Women's Building mural 10th birthday party 3543 18th St; 431-1180. Noon-5pm, free. See 8 Days a Week.

monday 17

Around town

Jane Jacobs Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. 8pm, $18.50. Writer and urban planning activist Jacobs speaks in conversation with Paul Goldberger.

tuesday 18

Around town

'Bringing Home "Bad News": Increasing Awareness in the US of Conflict, Violence and Disaster Abroad' New College of California, 777 Valencia; www.baido.org. 6:30pm, $5-10. See 8 Days a Week.

'Music Business Chops' StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St; www.musicbusinesschops.com. 12:30-6:30pm, $20-50. This business seminar for musicians and audio professionals features speakers Leslie Ann Jones, Michael Molenda, Nadine Condon, John Lucasey, Robert E. Gordon, Andrew Stern, Jenna Leigh, and Tony Van Veen.