wednesday 22

Around town

'Connection: A Working Party' Oakland Box, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 451-1932. 6-9pm, free. Spokes of a Hub invites artists and art organizations to trade services and resources at this potluck with classical Indian dance performance by Natya.

Benefits

ArtPoint benefit Brooks Brothers, 150 Post; 1-800-274-1815, www.artpoint.org. 7-9pm, $20. Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at this event benefiting the ArtPoint, which promotes the city's fine art museums.

'California Wine and More Classic' Old Federal Reserve Building, 301 Battery; www.californiawineclassic.org. 6-9pm, $45. The Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America invites wine afficionados to sample the best of California vintners; proceeds support the CCFA's research initiatives.

thursday 23

Around town

Job Fair SF LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market; 865-5534, www.sfcenter.org. 11am-4pm, free. The center presents a job fair for those interested in diverse, queer-friendly employment opportunities.

Bay Area

Benefit for Berkeley Liberation Radio Imusicast, 5429 Telegraph; (510) 601-1024, www.imusicast.com. 8pm, $10 sliding scale. Jack Killed Jill, Retching Red, and others perform.

Benefits

'An Evening to Benefit Breast Cancer Action' Catherine Jane, 1234 Ninth Ave; 7-9pm, free. Enjoy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and an informal fashion show at this Sunset District boutique; a percentage of sales benefits Breast Cancer Action.

Foundation for Sustainable Development benefit Canvas Gallery, 1200 Ninth Ave; 283-4873. 6:30pm-midnight, $5-20 sliding scale. Support FSD's scholarship programs by partaking in an evening of salsa dancing and more.

'Fun Raiser' Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell; www.funsizestudio.com. 7pm-midnight, $10 sliding scale. Boogie down to acid jazz, hip- hop, and break beats with members of the local dance community; proceeds benefit the Stop AIDS Foundation.

friday 24

Around town

'Folsom Forplay' Studio Z, 314 11th St; www.theexiles.org. 9pm-2am, $5. The Exiles sponsor this meet and greet for leatherwomen before Folsom Fair weekend; Mistress Midori MCs.

'The Tao of Tea' Chinese Cultural Center, 750 Kearny, third flr; 986-1822, www.c-c-c.org. 2-3:30pm, free. David Lee Hoffman discusses teas and steeping cultures in Asia, and Kathy Wong performs a tea ceremony.

Bay Area

Black Woman's Health and Healing Conference Richmond Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond; www.muhsana.org. 7:30am-11pm, $20-150. The Muhsana Center presents workshops and lectures on health issues concerning African American women. Through Sun/26.

saturday 25

Around town

'Bringing it to the Masses!' Raza Park, Potrero at 24th St; (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org. 11am-4pm, free. Latin hip-hop funk band Bayonics perform at this free concert and health services education event.

'The Life and Work of Gloria Anzaldua' SF Public Library, 100 Larkin; sfpl.lib.ca.us. 3-5pm, free. Join Uzuri Amini, Lenore Chinn, Elana Dykewoman, and others as they remember the influential Latina writer.

Mural Project Leanord R. Flynn Elementary School; Harrison at Cesar Chavez; 285-2287. 10am-6pm, free. Muralist Susan Kelk Cervantes debuts her "polyfresco" mural process with a composition on community.

'Sugetso ArtScapes' Yerba Buena Gardens, East Garden, Fourth St at Mission; 453-1718. 10am-5pm, free. The Bay Area Sogetsu School of Ikebana presents an outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Bay Area

Black Woman's Health and Healing Conference Richmond Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond; www.muhsana.org. 7:30am-11pm, $20-150. See Fri/24.

Benefits

'Rock 'n' Roll Spelling Bee' Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell; (510) 967-4468, wendysmith@hotmail.com. 8pm, $7-20 sliding scale. This spelling bee featuring Bay Area musicians and critics, plus live music, benefits National Novel Writing Month and Music in Schools Today.

'SF Oktoberfest' Broadway Studies, 435 Broadway; www.sfoktoberfest.org. 7:30pm-2am, $20. Drink, carouse, and celebrate Munich-style with German food and dancing at this benefit for the Tenderloin Childcare Center.

sunday 26

Around town

'Celebrating Saroyan' SF Public Library, 100 Larkin; sfpl.lib.ca.us. 2pm, free. American Conservatory Theater honors William Saroyan by performing a scene from one of his unproduced plays; speakers follow.

'Party on Polk Street!' Polk Street btwn Union and Green; www.rhn.org. Noon-4pm, free. Russian Hill Neighbors hosts its annual block party.

World Vegetarian Day Celebration SF County Fair Bldg, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Ave at Lincoln; 273-5481, www.sfvs.org. 10am-6pm, $5 donation. Cooking demonstrations, speakers, music, and free food samples are featured at this celebration of meatless living.

Bay Area

Black Woman's Health and Healing Conference Richmond Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond; www.muhsana.org. 7:30am-11pm, $20-150. See Fri/24.

Fall plant sale UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berk; (510) 643-2755, botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu. 10am-2pm, free. Exotic varietals grown by experts are sold at this event.

monday 27

Around town

'Lit at the Canvas' Canvas Gallery, Ninth Ave at Lincoln; www.thecanvasgallery.com. 7:15pm, free. Jennifer Joseph of Manic D press, Ron Turner of Last Gasp, and V. Vale of ReSearch Publications expound on the local literary scene.

tuesday 28

Benefits

'Great Match: Wine and Tapas' Regency, 1300 Van Ness; (866) 849-8703, www.greatmatch.org. 6-8:30pm, $55. Taste Spanish wines paired with tapas by top chefs; all proceeds benefit Food Runners.

'Viva Variety 43' Burial Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton; 863-0741, ext 2. 8pm, $10-15. Dancer-choreographer Sean Dorsey, Harlem Shake Burlesque, and other caberet greats perform to benefit the AfroSolo Theatre Company.