Friend of SFist judy b. is moderating a discussion about San Francisco's criminalization of poverty at the Little Roxie tonight, which is co-sponsored by the People of Color Coalition of the SF Green Party, POOR Magazine, and the SF People's Organization. Sup. Ross Mirkadreamy is scheduled to speak, as is PD Jeff A-Hotty-dachi. 6:30 p.m. and $5-15, but since it's about poverty, no one will be turned away for lack of funds). (Note: the......

At the ever-swanky Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness at McAllister), Dave Eggers converses with the subject of his latest book, What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, which depicts the recent history of civil war in Sudan, and is based on the true story of Valentino Achak Deng, a survivor of a 1000-mile exodus and one of Sudan's "Lost Boys." In 2003, Eggers and Deng traveled by cargo plane to southern Sudan......

We’ve been on tour of sorts this week, but since it’s for our day job we regret to inform you that there’s nothing very rock about it. We are happy to say that we’re meeting some fellow –ists along the way though. Last night we met and chatted with Kyle and Nicole from DCist. We commiserated with Kyle about the burden of keeping up too many blogs (check out his excellent music blog Information Leafblower)......

We're giving thanks today for all the great venues in San Francisco, which attract bands of all shapes, sizes and levels of fame to our fair city. Our show pick of the week is tomorrow night in Hotel Utah's tiny two-floor room with Phosphorescent and Castanets. Phosphorescent's Aw Come Aw Wry is a strong contender for our year end Top 10, and fans of Okkervil River and Neutral Milk Hotel should listen up. Sufjan Stevens'......

Win it before you can buy it! We've got a copy of The Long Winters' excellent new Ultimatum EP that comes out October 11th. You can download the title track here and be sure to catch them opening for The Fiery Furnaces at Cafe Du Nord on Saturday. (Contest ends Weds. 10/5.) Tonight at the Rickshaw Stop Casiotone for the Painfully Alone celebrates a CD-single release, and at 12 Galaxies there's a Quintron and......

Our concert picks for the week of 9/8-9/14. If you don't get yourself out of the house this week to see some live music, SFist is going to have to stage an intervention. SFist will get you started by giving away a copy of Tralala's self-titled CD, in honor of their show Saturday at the Hemlock. We like to think of Tralala as Tilly and the Wall's hip cousin from Brooklyn (sans the tap dancer),......

We're on the scene at the Current TV kickoff party being MC'ed by Mos Def -- Michael Franti is currently representing EssEff. This is the new project from INdTV, "Dedicated to short form TV." The logo features a cursor, to signify "awaiting input." We're not kidding. Still, they certainly have a crowd of "connectors" assembled. And kids are smoking pot with Al Gore in the house. Who does that guy think he is with......