wednesday 8
Around town

'Art of Modern Rock' Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St; 7-11pm, free. Chronicle Books and Green Apple Books invite rock poster lovers to view dozens of works featured in the new book The Art of Modern Rock; surf band the Mermen perform.

Benefits

APAND benefit StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St; www.studioz.tv. 8pm, $5-15. New College of California presents beatboxer Radioactive, band Moped, burlesque troop Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, percussion ensemble Balé Techlorico, and others at a benefit for Peruvian school APAND.

thursday 9
Around town

'West Coast Live' Empire Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; www.wcl.org. 10am-noon, $5-15. Join actor Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), singer-songwriter Ari Hest, True Fiction Magazine, and others at host Sedge Thomson's live public radio show.

Bay Area

'Get Fitted' Parkway Theatre, 1834 Parkway, Oakl; info@chocolatebabydesigns.com. 9pm, $8. The catwalk sizzles at the launch of Studded, Aisha Pew's new clothing line for butch women and transmen; Harlem Shake burlesque troupe performs.

Benefits

'Creature Comfort' New Langton Arts, 1246 Folsom; 626-5416, www.newlangtonarts.org. 6pm, $50-350. Enjoy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dinner before bidding on works by the city's most dynamic emerging artists; the event benefits New Langton Arts.

Khumba Mela film benefit StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St; 252-7666, www.melafilms.com. 8pm, $10 sliding scale. Catch preview clips of this documentary and dance to the South Asian beats of Dhamaal, Cheb I Sabbah, and DJ Amar.

Bay Area

'AK Press Holiday Blow Out Sale' AK Press, 674A 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 208-1700, www.akpress.org. 3-10pm, free. Get all your literary gifts for the radical folks in your life.

friday 10
Benefits

'ATA Benefit Auction' Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia; www.atasite.org. 7pm (preview art, 2-5pm), free. Craig Baldwin, Miranda July, and Rebecca McBride auction their work; the event benefits ATA on its 20th anniversary.

saturday 11
Around town

'Public House Press Anthology Launch' Edinburgh Castle Pub, 950 Geary; www.publichousepress.com, 9pm, free. Public House Press publishes the work of Edinburgh Castle Pub literary regulars; Mary Roach, Jon Longhi, Bob Calhoun, and others read.

sunday 12
Around town

'Grassroots Celebration for Optimistic Rebels' New Valencia Hall, 1908 Mission; 864-1278, www.socialism.com. 1-5pm, free. Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party host an open house; performers include musician Faith Petric and poets Nellie Wong and Merle Woo.

'Poets for Peace' San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin, www.sfpl.org. 2-4:30pm, free. Poets from several countries gather to read; the event features Niloufar Talebi, J.P. Dancing Bear, Joyce Jenkins, Ilya Kaminsky, and others.

Benefits

'Círculo de Vida' Brava Theater, 2781 24th St; 648-9423, www.williammorin.com. 6pm, $30-60. Singer-guitarist William Morin performs at a benefit for Círculo de Vida Cancer Support and Resource Center.

'How to Start a Magazine' 826 Valencia; www.826valencia.org. 6-9pm, $100. Shana Berger and Andrew Wagner (Dwell), Lisa Jervis (Bitch), Alison Bing (Artweek), and Eli Horowitz (McSweeney's) discuss launching a mag at this panel discussion; the event benefits 826 Valencia.

monday 13
Around town

Guzheng concert Sunset Public Library, 1305 18th Ave; www.guzheng.org. 7pm, free. The Guzheng Music Society performs classical Chinese music.

tuesday 14
Around town

'Rebels and Visionaries: The Impact of Counterculture' Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market; 597-6705. 7:30pm, $12-20. Jello Biafra, Ken Goffman, Larry Harvey, and other notables discuss the current state of the counterculture.

Benefits

'Make a Difference Gala' St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough; 6:30pm, $30-365. The Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, Nigerian Brothers, and others perform; proceeds go to HIV/AIDS treatment for Ugandans.

'Sweet 'Stache' contest Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; www.m4ksf.org. 8pm, $5. See 8 Days a Week.