Arab women films

Wednesday, July 27, see the life story of Umm Kulthum, the talented and influential Egyptian singer who became a rare female national icon, in the 1996 film Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt, at the Arab Women's Film Festival, organized by the Arab Women's Collective and La Peña. 7:30 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $5 suggested donation. (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org.

Picnic at the new park

Wednesday, July 27, picnic out on Hayes Green, the city's newest park, courtesy of the Neighborhood Parks Council, and meet new Recreation and Park commissioner David Lee. Chow down on hot dogs, veggie dogs, potato salad, chips, and beverages while listening to Goucho Gypsy Jazz and Voodoo Cabaret and the African Outlet Drummers. 5:30-8 p.m., Hayes Green, Hayes and Octavia, SF. Free, RSVP with Tonya Hodapp at (415) 621-3260 or council@sfneighborhoodparks.org.

Publicize trans issues

Wednesday, July 27, find out from Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's Kathy Sanchez how to influence the media to focus on, and properly represent, trans issues, at the Transgender Media Training sponsored by the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, GLAAD, and the Transgender Law Center. 6:30-9:30 p.m., SF LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market, SF. Free. RSVP at (323) 634-2022 or sanchez@glaad.org.

Activist chat

Thursday, July 28, check out the monthly discussion "So How'd You Become an Activist?" at its new city location, with Pratap Chatterjee, host of KPFA's Terra Verde and director of CorpWatch, and Candace Falk, editor and director of the Emma Goldman Papers Archive and author of Love, Anarchy, and Emma Goldman. 7 p.m., New College of California, 777 Valencia, SF. $5, $3 students. (415) 927-1645.

'I Am Cuba' screening

Thursday, July 28, attend a special screening of the landmark 1964 Soviet-Cuban film I Am Cuba, a dazzling feat of cinematography made by a Soviet crew in celebration of the island's proletariat revolution, organized by the Radical Women. 7 p.m., New Valencia Hall, 1908 Mission, SF. $2 (dinner with vegetarian option, $6.50). (415) 864-1278.

Life's answers through economics

Thursday, July 28, discover solutions to perplexing, impenetrable problems in "Freakonomics," a discussion with University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner, who both claim that, because incentives drive modern-day living and conventional wisdom is often wrong, answers to questions tend to be just the reverse of what we'd expect. 11:30 a.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second fl., 595 Market, SF. $15, $8 members. (415) 597-6712.

Volunteer for AIDS project

Through Thursday, July 28, lend a hand to the UCSF AIDS Health Project by volunteering as a facilitator for peer-led HIV-positive, HIV-negative, and mixed-status support groups and workshops. Qualified participants who have a general understanding of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and recovery will attend a late-August weekend training as well as perform 10 to 12 hours of volunteer work for a minimum of six months. Applications available from Julie Frank at (415) 476-3785 or John Tighe at (415) 502-7579. www.cusf-ahp.org.

Avoiding toxic toys

Friday, July 29, and Tuesday, Aug. 2, find out more about safe toys for toddlers from the "Chan Van," which roves the East Bay disseminating information about toxins in toys. Assembly member Wilma Chan, who initiated the program, appears at many of the stops. Fri/29, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Old Oakland Farmers' Market, Ninth St. between Broadway and Clay, Oakl.; Tues/2, 2-4 p.m., Berkeley Farmers' Market, corner of Derby and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berk. For information on other stops, call (510) 286-1670.

Antiwar teach-in

Saturday, July 30, learn how to help build an effective and massive antiwar movement at the International ANSWER Coalition's teach-in on the Middle East crisis and the US war in Iraq. 2-5 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., SF. $3-$10 donation. (415) 821-6545.

Bike circus

Saturday, July 30, for the benefit of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, New Belgium Brewing's Tour de Fat returns to town for its sixth year of righteous cycle fun. This year's festivities include a costumed parade on bikes around the park, an art bike display, live music, and copious amounts of New Belgium beer. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., meet at Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, SF. (970) 231-1777, cwinn@newbelgium.com.

Fashionably enabled

Saturday, July 30, enjoy a fashion show at the Goal Reachers Association second biannual educational fundraiser. The SF Western Addition Drill Team, local youths, and others model the latest fashions to raise money for schools with academically disadvantaged students. The Community College of San Francisco Jazz Trio performs. 1-4:30 p.m., Saint Mary's Conference Center's Saint Francis Hall, 1111 Gough, SF. $10, $3 for children. (415) 921-9307.

Labor bike tour

Saturday, July 30, take a four-hour bicycle ride back in time with local historian Chris Carlsson. The tour, which benefits community and arts space CounterPulse, focuses on San Francisco's labor history and takes you to places where important labor struggles have occurred. Noon, CounterPulse, 1310 Mission, SF. $15-$50 sliding scale. To register or inquire about the event, call (415) 626-2060.

SF arts to come

Saturday, July 30, join a town hall meeting organized by San Francisco's Arts Task Force, a new group appointed by the mayor and Board of Supervisors, and contribute your ideas about the future of arts in San Francisco and how public funds should be used. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, SF. (415) 552-6594, www.sfartscommission.org/programs/arts_task_force.htm.

Picket TICs

Sunday, July 31, join the San Francisco Tenants Union on a citywide picket of all housing where tenants have been evicted in order to make way for a tenants-in-common sale. Noon, SF Tenants Union, 558 Capp, SF. Food and transportation to the picket sites provided. For more information call (415) 282-6543 or go to www.sftu.org.

Political prisoner speaks

Sunday, July 31, hear from a former South American political prisoner, known as Antonio, on how the people's uprisings in the face of US involvement in his native Argentina relate to the war in Iraq, at "US Imperialism and the Counterinsurgency War." 1 p.m., Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. $5 donation accepted. (510) 393-5685, www.humanisthall.net.

Test the vote

Monday, Aug. 1-Friday, Aug. 12, participate in a mock election held by the San Francisco Department of Elections and help test two new voting systems the city is considering using in lieu of its current equipment. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., City Hall, Room 48, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., SF. (415) 554-7780.

Haiti delegation reports back

Tuesday, Aug. 2, attend a special forum held by the International ANSWER Coalition and Haiti Action Committee focusing on a report about supposed UN killings at Cite Soleil, Haiti. The accounts are taken from the testimony of a recently returned Bay Area delegation to the troubled country. 7 p.m., Women's Building, 3543 18th St., SF. $3-$10 donation. (415) 821-6545

Transgender clinic party

Tuesday, Aug. 2, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Tom Waddell Health Center's Transgender Clinic. Lipstick Conspiracy, Andy Toon, Veronica Klaus, Nicki Harris, and Ben Keim entertain the many illustrious guests attending in honor of the clinic's work with more than 600 active clients. 6-10 p.m., Center for Sex and Culture, 398 11th St., SF. Free. Contact Mark Freeman, (415) 307-6290 or mfreeman@101pop.com; Mary Monihan, (415) 355-7588 or mary.monihan@sfdph.org; www.centerforsexandculture.org.

Antinuke forum

Wednesday, Aug. 3, consider the nuclear threat, at the panel discussion "How Many Minutes to Midnight?," featuring Stanford's Lynn Eden and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Science magazine editor in chief Donald Kennedy, former secretary of defense William Perry, and historian Richard Rhodes. Panelists discuss the legacy and future of nuclear weapons and the 60th anniversary of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 5:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second fl., 595 Market, SF. $18, free for members. (415) 597-6712.

Water and globalization

Wednesday, August 3, think about the community-versus-corporation conflict over water rights, at the UN Film Festival screening and discussion of Thirst, with coproducers and directors Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow, who believe that water can spark opposition to globalization. 6-8 p.m., World Affairs Council, second floor conference room, 312 Sutter, SF. $15, $5 for students with ID, free for members. (415) 293-4600, www.itsyourworld.org.

Contribute to Coello's funeral

Ongoing, the San Francisco Bay Guardian is deeply affected by the tragic murder of Manuel Coello, a circulation driver for the paper for more than a decade, a husband, and a father of four. Those interested in contributing to his funeral expenses can send checks to the Coello Family Fund, Bridge Bank, Attn. Bank Services, 55 Almaden Blvd., Suite 1100, San Jose, CA 95113.