-- Writers With Drinks not only boasts an awesome substance-abuse party, but overlaps it with readings from some of your favorite local and national (that is to say, usually New York City- or LA-based) scribes and novelists. Who knew writers like to drink? But brace yourselves for tonight's edition: an "honest" look at the (dying? dead? necessary?) state of print publishing. Such inky icons as Ben Fong-Torres (from Rolling Stone), Lynn Peril (publisher of......

SFist Rita is out of town for work, so we are donning our tiara and gown for this weeks Swells analysis. Tra-la-la! Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 57. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize/know: 23. This high number is because of the SF Library event with lots of writers, including Amy Tan, Vendela Vida, Dave Eggers, Stephen Elliot, Ben Fong-Torres, Michael Lewis, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry,......

Official friend of SFist Irene McGee-- ex dj at Free FM (KIFR 106.9) and, yes, "Real World" alum and recipient of "the Slap Heard 'Round the World"-- is having a benefit tonight at the Red Devil lounge to raise money for her after she lost pretty much everything (including one of her cats) in a fire. To help her raise money, she has some fairly heavy weights to help her out-- Exene Cervenka formerly of X and Ben Fong-Torres and Kitten on the Keys will be your emcee for the night. Show starts at 8 and tickets are $15. ...

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 56. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 4 (including Ben Fong-Torres and Mark Fainaru-Wada). Minority count: 11 (19.6%, mostly jazz musicians). Hats, capes, tiaras: 6 (4 fezzes, as requested by the SF Jazz party), 0, 0. Getty v. Traina: 3-0. SFist staffer count!: 1! Whoooo SFist Mary! Stanlee Gatti count: 2 -- one in the text and one in the pictured (Gatti pictured......

With the Yoga Journal conference going on at the same time as SF Sketchfest, SFist didn't know which way to turn. So, we spent the weekend in child's pose. Then, still feeling childish, we took our big sister to the Sketchfest tribute to Paul Reubens Monday night at the Palace of Fine Arts....

SF Sketchfest presents Paul Reubens in Conversation with Ben Fong-Torres at the Palace of Fine Arts (3301 Lyon St. at Bay) followed by questions from the audience. You can ask Reubens his opinion about Mormons. There's also a post-show reception with Paul Reubens at Amante, with food and beverages provided. (8pm) More Sketchfest tonight at the Eureka Theater (215 Jackson Street at Battery) with Killing My Lobster, the SF sketch comedy group and film production......

As you might have noticed, we've been enjoying ourselves at Sketchfest. You've also might have noticed that we've partnered up with them. Which is why we're pretty excited about today's, last minute, giveaway. Because we're going to give away five (that's five!) pairs of tickets for tonight's SF Sketchfest to Paul Reubens. You know, Pee Wee Herman. ...

As part of its upcoming literary arts festival, Litquake is throwing a big and-- dare we say it-- bad Between the Bridges opening night to-do this Friday October 6 at 8 p.m. The rockin' fun will be at the Regency Center Grand Ballroom, 1290 Sutter Street (Van Ness at Sutter). And we've got two tickets to give away! ...

We are SO all over the upcoming Litquake Opening Night at the Regency Center, Friday, October 6. Written word and music kept us sane in our dork formative years, and continue to sustain us. While we used to hope those dork years were behind us, we have learned to embrace it. We can't think of a better way to celebrate and acknowledge these two cherished forces than Between the Bridges, a homage to literature with a fabbo lineup of Bay Area musicians. It's a known fact that almost all writers listen to music, now it's our turn to find out what writers musicians READ and in some cases, incorporate into their work as inspiration. ...

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 51. (Tony Blair and Ben Fong-Torres both pictured, and thus counted, twice). Number of people in pictures whose names we recognize: 10. (Tony Blair, both Shultzes, Gavin the Newsom, Stanlee Gatti, Joanne Hayes-White, Heather Fong, Milton Friedman, Ben Fong-Torres, Sydney Kohara.) After some deliberation, we did not count Ray Dolby (founder of Dolby Labs) or anyone from Jefferson Airplane. Number of people from Jefferson......

Maybe it's just us but for some reason we read more in the summer than in the winter. It goes against expectations, sure, but something about the summer is just lazier than the winter. And as our ghostly white skin betrays, we hate sun, so it isn't all beach reading. Local bookstores are being helpful by providing a good slate of upcoming author events and we've picked a few faves below. Who are you......