The San Francisco Documentary Film Fest is all about reality. Take a ride with some carnies through sideshow-land, smuggle cigars from Cuba, see the life of a famous smut peddler and learn what it takes to be Miss Iceland. What's great about documentaries is that you couldn't make this stuff up if you tried -- hence the popularity of Reality TV. But before there was shows like "Who Wants to Eat Bugs?", "Survivor" or "Get Fooled into Marrying a Poor Guy", there was a more respectable art documenting natural stories, not contrived ones! Give it up for the Docfest in all it's originality. Check the website for all the pertinent film info and times. Date: 5/13 - 5/16, Time: (check site), Place: Roxie Theater/Women's Building, Cover: $5, More Info (JP)

What's Next? Ask Wired
Are you the type that has been waiting for a "personal flying machine" to be invented all these years? What about "wearable computing" or "brain fingerprinting"? This is not years or even months in the future only days away at Wired Magazine's Nextfest. The Nextfest is like a mini World Fair for our generation including displays, panel discussions and demonstrations of inventions you've only seen in Sci-Fi films. Check out a lecture from the President of Space Adventures Inc. or interact with some very lifelike robots (that will probably take your job one day). The first day of the festival is Education Day open exclusively for schools, non-profits and press. The next two days is just for you and your wild imagination. See what's next! Date: Fri. 5/14, Sat. 5/15, Sun 5/16, Time: 9am - 6pm, Place: Fort Mason Center, Cover: $15, More Info (JP)

Bay to Breakers
Once again, it's time to celebrate the unique spirit of SF with an event that magically marries San Franciscans love of the bizarre with the warm, fuzzy feeling one gets from being charitable...and giving up the body for it! This year's race benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Sports Medicine Institute/ The Farm Team, and Organs 'R' Us. The 12k race starts at 8am Sunday morning at Howard and Spear. Runners wind their way throughout the city and end up at the Great Highway. But this is SF, and a plain 'ol foot race would be considered boring! Runners are sent on their way by flying tortillas and numerous zany costumes. It's an odd combo of serious, world-class athletes and fun, dressed-up teams. Note to all you procrastinators, it's not too late to sign up! You can still do a late registration by going to the Greater Body Expo on Friday or Saturday at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Performers at Footstock (the GG Park finish line party) this year are Four Year Bender and Luce. Date: Fri 5/14 & Sat 5/15 (Greater Body Expo), Sunday 5/16 (Race and Footstock). Time: Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 8am-2pm Place: varies, Cover: varies, More Info (DD)

ArtSFest Spectra Ball
Flamboyancy and sensory experience reign high this Thursday, so get down to Mezzanine and celebrate Bay Area creativity and culture. This gala affair encourages the patronage of everyone interested in full-color entertainment, not just the stuffy, artwork perusing/commentating crowd. If you're into interactive art installations, crazily elaborate costumes, and a little education about the many genres and cultures Bay Area arts represents, you should dive into this pool of artistic talent and enthusiasm. Live performances abound and include Xeno, Velocity Circus, and DJ SoulSalaam. Your well-spent pennies benefit ArtSFest and serve to preserve a community that decorates SF and beyond, not only with their works of art, but with their Free-thinking mentality as well. Date Thurs. 5/13 Time 8pm-2am, Place Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St., SF, Cover $25 standard, $75 VIP More Info (DKD)

Riot Anniversary With XLR8R Magazine
For 11 years, San Francisco's XLR8R magazine has thrived as an ahead-of-its-time electronic music publication whose essence can be summed up by their motto "accelerating music and culture." It's ability to capture the essence of youth culture and its insightful look into the electronic music world is what sets this magazine apart from the others. Its current issue (#77) features a fresh, new redesign and tons of articles on European and American artists of the moment, so a party celebrating it's release is definitely in order. In fact, XLR8R is combining their festivities with those of another SF nightlife institution-Riot's first anniversary party at The Top. The gathering features the usual Riot Djs, Monty Luke and Galen along with special guest UK Soda Records resident Philip Sherbourne. Date: Thursday, May 13, Time: 9pm-2am, Place: The Top, Cover: $5, More Info (NT)

Viva la Cuba!
The Cuban Educational Project is a semester course offered at SFSU throughout the year that ends in a service-learning tour in Cuba. The course teaches world appreciation, particularly aiding the SFSU students to gain a cultural understanding of the Cuban heritage within the U.S. The students involved in this project would like to help alleviate the economic situation of Cuba (hurt by the current U.S. importation blockade) by raising money at the benefit to donate basic items to the urban and rural people of Cuba during their study there in June. So come out tonight and celebrate cultural diversity with a wonderfully blended night of salsa, soul and afrobeat with Sake One, Alvaro and Rueben. Event: CEP Benefit Party, Date: May 12, 2004, Place: Suite One 8 One, Time: 9pm-2am, Cover: $5-$10 sliding scale, More Info (GR)