wednesday 21

Around town

Gay and Lesbian World Travel Expo Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason; www.gaytravelnews.com. 4-8pm, $5. Learn about several international LGBT travel destinations and tour companies.

'Living the Dream: Lesbians Planning for the Golden Years' Women's Building, 3543 18th St; 431-1180 ext 17, www.womensbuilding.org. 6:30-8:30pm, $12 ($88, full series). This 5-part series focuses on the issues lesbians tackle in later life. Tonight Joyce Pierson, elder law coordinator, National Center for Lesbian Rights, discusses protecting one's legal rights.

thursday 22

Around town

Andrea Mitchell Pan Pacific Hotel, 500 Post; 238-6400, www.itsyourworld.org. noon-1:30pm, $35-65. NBC's chief foreign correspondent gives a lecture titled, "Talking Back ... to Presidents, Dictators, and Assorted Scoundrels."

Benefits

'The Beat Goes On' Slim's, 333 11th St; www.tilipinasfoundation.org. 8pm, $25. Musicians Zigaboo Modeliste, John Gros, Forgotten Souls Brass Band, and more perform to benefit the Tikipinas Foundation's hurricane relief efforts.

'Cinematropolis' Medjool Cafe, Restaurant, and Bar, 2522 Mission; 552-3456, www.filmarts.org. 6:30-9:30pm, $100. Film lovers will enjoy this auction, tribute to filmmaker George Cukor, and music by Cuban band Coto Picheira Quartet. The evening benefits the Film Arts Foundation.

'Joining Our Voices' Unitarian Universalist Center, 1187 Franklin; www.globalfundforwomen.org. 6:30-8:30pm, $15. Authors Lucha Corpi, Samina Ali, Clara Hsu, Diane LeBow, Musician David Wong, and others perform to benefit the Global Fund for Women.

'Top This' StudioZ, 314 11th St; www.crowdedfire.org. 8pm-2am, $15-20. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, massages, tarot readings, and other pampering activities to benefit Crowded Fire Theater Company.

friday 23

Around town

Jenni Olson San Francisco Art Institute, Lecture Hall, 800 Chestnut; 749-4507, www.sfai.edu. 5pm, free. LGBT film historian and filmmaker Jenni Olson (The Joy of Life) speaks about her work.

'Sinner's Ball' Raw Hide, 280 Seventh St; www.sincityfetish.net. 9:30pm-2am, $10-15. San Francisco Fetish Week's official main event is this night of kinky performances, music, fashion, and more. Fetish dress code will be enforced.

saturday 24

Around town

'Instant City' Adobe Bookshop, 3166 16th St; 864-3936. 7:30-10:30, free. A launch party for the second issue of Instant City features readings by Charlie Anders, Donal Mosher, Dodie Bellamy, Lisa Ryers, and others. Electro-folk musician Meric Long plays.

Benefits

'ALF Football Walk' Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Ave at Lincoln; 284-1060, www.footballwalk.org. 9am, donations accepted. This 5-mile, football-themed walk benefits the American Liver Foundation.

'Art for Angels' Officer's Club, 50 Moraga; www.artforangels.org. 7;30-11pm, $35-45. This wine tasting and art show features paintings, jewelry, photography, and more. Proceeds benefit Angelman Sydrome research.

Katrina Relief Kayak Trip Pier 38; Townsend at Embarcadero; 357-1010, www.citykayak.com. 4-8pm, $50. Paddle around the bay to benefit the American Red Cross.

'Roadworks' Carolina, btwn 15th St and 16th St; 565-0545. 10am-4pm, free; San Francisco Center for the Book, 300 De Haro; 4:30-7:30pm, $20-25. Artists Carl Dern, Charles Hobson, Rik Olson, and others create linocut prints with a steamroller at this block party. An auction and cocktail party fundraiser follows at the San Francisco Center for the Book.

Bay Area

'San Rafael Fiesta Days' Fifth St, btwn Court and B St, San Rafael; 383-3470, www.teamproevent.com. 10am-5pm, free. Celebrate the North Bay's Pan-American heritage with live Latino folk music, arts and crafts, food, and more. Through Sun/25.

sunday 25

Around town

Folsom Street Fair Folsom, btwn Seventh St and 12th St; www.folsomstreetfair.com. 11am-6pm, donations accepted. Bust out your chaps and head to this annual leather community celebration.

World Vegetarian Day Fair San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Ave at Lincoln; 273-5481, www.sfvs.org. 10am-8pm, free-$5. Enjoy vegetarian foods, cooking demonstrations, and exhibits.

Benefits

'Race for the Cure' Crissy Field, Mason at Marina; www.sfkomen.org. 8:30am, $35. Individuals and teams run to raise funds for the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Bay Area

'How Berkeley Can You Be?' Civic Center Park, Civic and MLK Jr, Way, Berk; (510) 654-6346, www.howberkeleycanyoube.com. noon-5pm, free. Gun and Doll Show, Albino, ¡Lo Cura!, and other bands perform. A Parade (11am-1pm) heads down University and ends up in Civic Center Park for a festival featuring food, beer, art, and more.

'Out and About Exploring Rockridge' C ollege Ave, btwn Alcatraz and Broadway, Oakl; (510) 604-3125, www.rockridgedistrict.com. Noon-5pm, free. Enjoy the best of the Rockridge district's food, stores, and entertainment.

'San Rafael Fiesta Days' Fifth St, btwn Court and B St, San Rafael; 383-3470, www.teamproevent.com. 10am-5pm, free. See Sat/24.

Benefits

'A Walk in the Park' McAfee Coliseum, Oakl; 7000 Coliseum Way; (510) 638-4627, www.oaklandathletics.com. 5:05pm, $30. The Oakland A's take on the Texas Rangers to raise awareness for breast cancer and benefit the American Cancer Society and the Northern California Cancer Center.

'Hurricane Dramathon' Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, 2071 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2972, teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org. 10am-4pm, donations accepted. Berkeley Rep's Teen Council performs plays, staged readings, and more to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

monday 26

Benefits

Punk Rock Video Film Festival Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia; www.protect.org, www.punksprotectkids.org, lookoutliver@hotmail.com. 8pm, free, $10 keg access. See 8 Days a Week.

tuesday 27

Around town

Music Business Workshop Musicians Union Local 6, 116 Ninth St; 7pm, $10. Promoter Nadine Condon, "the Godmother of Rock," shares her tips on navigating the music industry.

'Titan Through the Eyes of Huygens' Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way; randallmuseum.org. 7:30pm, free. The Planetary Society presents astrobiologist Dr. Chris McKay, who speaks about new NASA findings on Saturn's moon Titan.