wednesday 18

Around town

Mariette Pathy Allen A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro; 441-0891. 7pm. The author discusses and signs The Gender Frontier.

'An Evening with Arundhati Roy and Friends' Berkeley Community Theater, 1930 Allston Way, Berk; (415) 392-4400. 7:30pm, $21. Indian novelist and political writer Arundhati Roy is joined by Amy Goodman, David Barsamian, and Boots Riley at this lecture.

GreenCine's film trivia night Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; pr@greencine.com. 8pm. Bring a team of cinephiles for GreenCine's film trivia night.

National Women's Political Caucus karaoke night Mint, 1491 Market; www.nwpc-sf.org. 7-9pm, free. Local politicians, including Fiona Ma and Kamela Harris, appear at this event.

Perry's 35th anniversary bash 1944 Union; 922-9022. 8pm. Perry's celebrates its 35th anniversary with a three-day celebration featuring live music, celebrity bartenders, and food and drink specials. Through Fri/20.

thursday 19

Around town

Jennifer Finney Boylan Books Inc., 2275 Market; 864-6777. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from and signs She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders.

Kathi Kamen Goldmark A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. The author discusses her novel, And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You.

Mexican contemporary art discussion Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco, 532 Folsom; 354-1737. 6:30pm, free. Artists Demián Flores, Einar and Jamex de la Torre, Martacarmela Sotelo, and Olga Margarita Dávila speak about Mexican contemporary art.

Perry's 35th anniversary bash 1944 Union; 922-9022. 8pm. See Wed/18.

Benefits

Fundraiser for Flynn Elementary School Doc's Clock, 2575 Mission; 641-5601, info@glowworms.org. 8pm, $10-15 donation. The Glowworms Education Foundation presents a fundraiser for Leonard Flynn Elementary School featuring music by the Durgass and Octomutt, food from Bissap Baobab, drink specials, and more.

friday 20

Around town

Free sewing and mending by Michael Swaine Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Laguna; 775-0991. 4-7:30pm, free. Bring in things in need of repair; artist Michael Swaine machine- and hand-sews items while you wait as a part of a performance art piece.

Perry's 35th anniversary bash 1944 Union; 922-9022. 8pm. See Wed/18.

Benefits

Benefit for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan 21 Grand, 449B 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 444-7263. 8pm, $7-70 sliding scale. Pamela Z, Shoko Hikage, Jesse Quattro, Moe! Staiano, and Vicky Grossi perform at this benefit for RAWA.

Poetry benefit StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St; 290-2706. 6-9pm, $10. Jack Hirschman, Alejandro Murguie, Kim Addonzio, and others read their work to benefit school board members Mark Sanchez and Eric Mar; Chris Daly, Matt Gonzalez, and Jane Kim also appear.

'State of the Nation' art auction Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia; 626-2787, www.theintersection.org. 7-9pm, $5-15 sliding scale. See 8 Days a Week.

saturday 21

Around town

'Back 2 School Event' Hilltop Mall, Center Court, 2200 Hilltop Mall Rd, Richmond; (510) 223-6900. Noon-6pm, free. This event features performances by Digital Underground and J-Me and a back-to-school fashion show.

Joe Meno, Todd Taylor, Mike Faloon Needles and Pens, 483 14th St; 255-1534, www.needles-pens.com. 7pm, free. The authors read from their books.

Bay Area

Temescal Street Fair Telegraph, between 51st and 48th Sts, Oakl; (510) 654-6346, www.temescalmerchants.com. Noon-6pm, free. This street fair features music by the Crooked Jades, Montuno Groove, and Otis Goodnight; children's activities; food and craft booths; displays by community groups; and more.

Benefits

'Art 415' Terra, 511 Harrison; www.art415.com. 7pm-4am, $15. The San Francisco Late Night Coalition hosts this fundraiser featuring art by more than 60 emerging San Francisco artists; music by Felonious onelovehiphop, Kev Kelley, Kid Beyond, Dhamaal Soundsystem, and others; a fashion showcase; dance performances; film screenings; and more.

sunday 22

Around town

'Lowrider Evolution Tour' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; (714) 769-7474, www.lowridermagazine.com. 11am-5pm, $30. This car show features customized vehicles, concerts, display booths and vendors, a bikini contest, and more.

Dan Piraro Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission; CAR-TOON. 1pm, $2-6. The comic artist reads from his new book, The Three Little Pigs Buy the White House.

'Tachyon Publications' ninth anniversary party Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia; 824-8203. 2-6pm, free. Authors Peter S. Beagle, Terry Bisson, Richard Lupoff, Pat Lupoff, Pat Murphy, and Leslie What read at this event.

Benefits

'For the Kids' Cafe Cocomo, 650 Indiana; 824-8910, www.nextaid.org. Noon, $10-20. Twenty-five northern California-based electronic music artists, including Tracy, Galen, Solar, Queen Agnes B., DJ Seven, Charlotte the Baroness, Jenö, and Mei-Lwun, perform to benefit NextAid's Youth with a Vision Project.

monday 23

Around town

'Ask a Scientist' Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California; 831-5620. 7-9pm, free. As part of this series, Mimi Roy speaks about proteomics in a lecture titled "Beyond the Genome."

'Morbid Curiosity in the Fog' Canvas Gallery, 1200 Ninth Ave; 841-1429. 8:30pm, free. Contributors to Morbid Curiosity read their favorite stories; readers include Gravity Goldberg, Allegra Lundyworf, and Jill Tracy.

Bharati Mukherjee A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. The author reads from The Tree Bride.

tuesday 24

Around town

Lan Samantha Chang A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness; 441-6670. 7pm. The author reads from Inheritance.