As SFist Krissy pointed out, the New Pornographers (who, presumably, aren't all that pornographic) are doing a free in-store at Amoeba this evening. Or check out Erik Nakashima's art at his "Baked Goods" show. Also free, also music (live jazz) but we're intrigued by the fact that there are 'refreshments' and it's at Tartine. Two words: Fluffgirl Burlesque. 9pm, Bottom of the Hill, $10. If we were feeling adventurous tonight, we might just try......

We'll admit it, we love "the Cut". Every time Tommy Hilfiger banishes another contestant by sniping "You're out of style", we hope and pray that the banishee will reply "and you're not?" Until that happens, how about making it a fashion fabulous weekend? Friday hit the Space Gallery for the Off Academy Fashion Show, brought to you by Space Gallery and the Academy of Art University Fashion Department's BFA graduating class of 2005. While......

Wow, we almost fell like real film writers when we realize that we've actually seen some of the movies we're recommending this week. First, there's Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus, which opens at the Balboa tonight. SFist Krissy reviewed this "creative non fiction" film which attempt to answer the question "Why does so much music and writing come out of the south?" She dug it and we think you will too. If you come......

"What? This isn't the Beck show?" we heard a guy ahead of us in line cry out in the Great American ticket line last night. Nope, the sold-out show was for quirky folkster Sufjan Stevens, who's touring on the second of his albums dedicated to the American states, Illinois. (Beck was about five blocks down the street, at the Bill Graham.) According to Asthmatic Kitty, the label that's putting out Illinois, they got an angry letter from DC Comics complaining about a picture of Illinois resident Superman on the cover art for Sufjan's album. They managed to work out a deal where they can sell the CDs they have but future albums won't have Clark Kent on them. So naturally, we ran to the merch table as soon as we got in, and, to our delight, they were selling off the CDs with the pictures of the Man of Steel. No, we didn't buy two (one to listen to, one to sell) -- but we thought about it! Making the pre-concert settling-in process complete, we looked up from lovingly caressing our new purchase to see -- not only SFist Krissy, but also -- Jason Schwartzman! Well, it was either Jason Schwartzman or a guy with Jason's distinctive nose and bad posture, wearing an aqua tank top and swimming upstream with his posse to get closer to the stage. uneven metered time, the Fighting Illini, a loud guy in the back, and a song about John Wayne Gacy, after the jump....

If you're not going to HorrorFest, checking out the bands recommended by SFist Krissy like you should be or have tickets for Sleater-Kinney at the Warfield or Fischerspooner at the Fillmore, then here are some ideas: Tonight at the Metreon is the fourth annual "Global Sight and Sound" party, featuring two of SFist's favorite local DJs Dan the Automator and Cheb i Sabbah, among dozens of other awesome acts and artists. It's pricey --......

Friend of SFist Kevin Smokler is celebrating the release of his new anthology, "Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times." By book lovers, for book lovers. Contributing authors Michelle Richmond, Adam Johnson, K.M. Soehnlein and Paul Flores will also be on hand to celebrate. A Clean, Well Lighted Place for Books, Van Ness between Turk and Golden Gate, 7pm. SFist Krissy recommends the Bloc Party show at the Fillmore, but alas, it's sold out (check......

We're always happy to give new and emerging fashion design talent showplace R.A.G. love, because we think they're cool as heck. They join fellow Hayes Valley retailer Manifesto for this Saturday's Octavia Spring Sidewalk Faire, running from 12-5 between 514 and 543 Octavia Street. There will be sale-priced designer backstock and new spring lines, DJs, and a designer-created potluck. Yum! Chillin Productions has a mission very similar to R.A.G.'s, as their goal is to......

New time, same channel. The man everyone either loves or loves to hate, Chris Daly, makes a scene on the Muni. The A's and the Giants kicked off the baseball season in fine style. SFist gets thisclose to Gavin, Al, Sean, Leonardo and Mos Def at the Current TV kickoff party. Who says protests are a waste of time? Seems Arnold got the message at his little fundraising dinner on Tuesday. The supes pass......

Our weekly pics for people who are drunk and unemployed. Last Thursday, SFist Krissy recommended Doug E. Fresh. Doug! E! Fresh! Shall we say it again? We shall. Doug E. Fresh. Check him out at the DNA Lounge, doors open at eight, $25 at the door (we know, expensive, but did we mention Doug E. Fresh?). If you're more into fine art than the fine art of beat-boxing (square), head out to Fort Mason......

Well, pretty much everyone who's anyone in indie rock this weekend (including your regular columnist and SFist's new music editor SFist Krissy) is in Austin for SXSW. The rest of us forlornly left behind can comfort ourselves with the following shows. Tonight, local country-folk rockers The Court and Spark are playing at the Hemlock. Get some dreamy twang with your smokers' lounge! There's an embarrassment of riches on Friday: Metal band the F***ing Champs play 12 Galaxies, Elephone brings their avant-garde electronica to the Bottom of the Hill, Xhibit plays the Fillmore (maybe if you ask nicely, he'll pimp your ride), and for those of you looking for cheap laffs, Mandonna will be bringing the cross-dressing pointy bras and headsets to the Great American (watch out for blood from the Ian Brown show -- FYI: SFPD has decided they won't prosecute but have encouraged GAMH to sue). On Saturday, for those of you who can't spend $24-42 on tickets to blues and soul legend Solomon Burke's Friday SFJAZZ show at the Palace of Fine Arts, he's doing a free show at Amoeba on Saturday. Show starts at 1:30 but in our experience, those free shows fill up pretty fast, so get there around noonish and do some browsing while you wait. (You may remember Solomon Burke also as the man who wrote the single that got Rob and Laura together in Nick Hornby's High Fidelity.) If you make it out alive from the crazed crush at Amoeba, stop by BotH later that evening and catch Nerf Herder, the guys who recorded the Buffy the Vampire Slayer theme song. Listings for the next work week, after the jump. Picture of Solomon Burke by Kathy Willens of the AP....

Oh, it's a sad day for SFist. Not to encourage undue speculation, but it seems like we have all found better things to do than read this week. Is it that our online reserve queue from the SF Public library is currently stalled, ot that we've opted instead to buy our reading material from one of our fine local independent bookstores? We can only hope that next week is a better one for us......

Looking for a unique gift for your favorite music lover? Send a photo of them to local label Birdman Records to "Get Drawn By An Ape". If you're lucky enough to get chosen, The Apes' own Majestic Ape will draw your portrait and post it on the Birdman website. Once your portrait is posted, you have two weeks to purchase the original artwork for an economical $35. If you don't act fast enough, it'll go......

SFist is all about supporting local talent, and what better way to do so than to buy their wares? Tomorrow marks the 2nd Annual Hayes Valley Shopping Weekend, hosted by R.A.G. and azalea boutique and Beauty Lounge. Brought to us by Mystery Girl Productions, youi'll be able to shop azalea's sample sale featuring multiple independent designers, and receive a mani/pedi in their beauty lounge. They'll also be serving hot cocoa and holiday cookies from An......

SFist's weekly dose of listening tips...

Hey, did you notice that banner up there? The one with the humorous witticisms (thank you, we'll be here all week) and pictures of merchandise? That banner is to notify you that our Cafepress store is officially open for business, and there's no better way to pay your hard earned money in order to advertise for us. So what are you waiting for -- buy some SFist brand schwag! Wow, what a crazy week,......

[Ed. Note: Since LAist seems to have dropped their new CD release column, SFist Krissy is here to pick up the slack.] Technically Tuesday is new release day, but I couldn't imagine posting such a frivolous list on Election Day. Now that we're all depressed and despondent, perhaps this list is just what the doctor ordered. If you like to listen to your live concerts in your living room or in your car, rather than......

If that question doesn't make you nostalgic, then VHS OR BETA's music will. "We're definitely not a band who's afraid to admit we have influences," says member Craig Pfunder, influences which include Duran Duran, New Order and Echo and the Bunnymen. Preview four songs from their latest release "Night On Fire" on their website. It's a free preview, and they've put up full versions of the songs to stream, we're not talking paltry 30 second......

SFist worked our butts off to bring you the latest and greatest in our election coverage - okay, we don't have a lot of pull yet, but we're pretty sure at least one of the candidates we interviewed is going to get a paying job thanks to you voters, in spite of the fact that they spoke to us. 1115, who've busied themselves with covering the national election, were also nice enough to chat.......

[Ed. Note: And our pleading pays off yet again, with new SFist Krissy bringing news of the music scene.] True San Francisco hipsters and locals with the finest taste in indie rock will convene for a Tiny Telebration this Friday at Café du Nord and the Swedish American Hall.  What’s a Tiny Telebration, you ask?  It’s a party that San Francisco's unofficial musical mascot John Vanderslice is throwing to celebrate Tiny Telephone's 7th anniversary.  Vanderslice......