We here at SFist are always on the lookout for ways to stuff out faces with treats, especially if it's guilt-free and for a good cause. Enter the 6th annual Sugar Rush, a dessert and wine fundraiser for the community nonprofit Spark, which engages at-risk middle school students through hands-on apprenticeships. This year's event will take place November 7th at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, and a bevy of sweets and drinks will be on offer to go along with your philanthropic support.

Bites from Chez Panisse, Delfina, Farallon, George's, Let's Be Frank, Oola, Scala's Bistro, and more are in the works, as well as beer, wine and bubbly from local producers. We have it on good authority that Oola's chef Ola Fendert will prepare his famous ribs and rib sliders, while Farallon's pastry chef Terri Wu tells SFist that she plans to serve an almond raspberry cake with Valrhona Opalys ganache, fig raspberry pate au fruit, and Cognac Dudognon bittersweet chocolate truffle.

Also included in the proceedings are a silent auction, raffle and photobooth. Perhaps best of all, cocktail attire is requested, so you'll finally get a chance to bust out that snazzy bowtie you're not so sure you can pull off (you can!).

6th Annual Sugar Rush Bay Area
Sir Francis Drake Hotel
Thursday, November 7, 2013
7:30pm - 11:00 pm
General Admission: $75

The fine folks at the San Francisco Social will host a bar-based benefit tonight that will a) help at-risk youth and b) help you purge your closet of unwanted attire. Right now, Larkin Street Youth Center has an alarming shortage of men's clothes. Which is both bizarre and sickening since there are so many new people in the city with SO MUCH.

Here's how you can/will help: Bring your (or your boyfriend's) unwanted shoes, shirts, sweaters, pants, and jeans to Lightning Tavern between 5:30-7:30pm. What do you get in return? You get to hang out with other benevolent folks, drink booze, and might end up not going to Hell. All of that for a pair of used jeans in good condition.

As Oprah says, "Donate it if you haven't worn it in a year." Hear that? Oprah said it. So, you know, get on it. Please. Thanks.

Details.

Lightning Tavern: 1875 Union (at Laguna), S.F.; 415-704-1875

When blazes erupt in the Mission or that Castro, ones that displace residents, the community jumps at the chance to support the fire victims with fundraisers at local hipster bars. And we love that about you, San Francisco. But not much needed caterwauling has been heard over the family who lost a 10-year-old daughter during a fire earlier this month on Treasure Island. Until now. We reached out to Supervisor Jane Kim who told us that, indeed, there are some great fundraising efforts underway.

First, Catholics Charities have a site set up for donations. If you would like to dive into your purse to help the family as well as the 22 other people displaced by the fire, please click here. Do it.

Also, this Fundly page was created to help out the displaced residents. As of this morning, they have only a little over $2,100. It really should be higher, you guys. Go here to donate, please.

And finally, a concert at El Rio is in the pipeline to help out the family and residents. The "Treasure Island Fire Survivor Benefit" happens on Sunday, March 10th featuring Apogee Sound System, the Rabbles, and Anaconda (AKA Glendon Hyde). Ticket (which, of course, go to Treasure Island fire victims), are sliding scale from $7-$25.

Until then, go here and here and give. At the very least, spread the word via your favorite social media outlet. It's the least you can do. But please do more if you can. Thanks.

Thirllist gets gay tonight for a good cause when editors Grant Marek and Joe Starkey guest mix at Blackbird for healthy prostates. And to get you drunk, naturally. But mainly for prostates. Your prostate. Your sparklingly healthy, cancer-free prostate. Not that healthy prostates have anything to do with being gay, but... tonight's benefit is at a gay (some say "mixed") bar. Anyway.

Anal proclivities aside, SFist talked to Starkey for more details about what's he's making tonight. He explained, "We will be serving The Adult Juice Box and The Unfortunate Body Type (it's got pear in it!)"

Why should we drink what you're pouring, Joe? He advises, "I spent two years out of college bartending at a Georgetown spot catering to privileged youths and European tourists (neither of whom tipped or had real-looking IDs). My specialty was a vanilla basil mojito, but I won't be making those because a) I'm not allowed and b) How could you not want a drink called the Adult Juice Box?"

Indeed. That is a mighty fine name for a cocktail. And a fine bar, too.

The fun and booze go down from 7-9pm tonight at Blackbird (2124 Market Street). Details.

Save the salty for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow you shall unleash your inner child and all the sugar craving that goes along with adolescence at the annual Sugar Rush. What is Sugar Rush? It's an annual benefit for Spark, a program that offers life-altering apprenticeships to youth in underserved and poor communities. But this is where you come in: an estimated 400 leaders and young professionals will gather at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (at the Empire/Walnut, no less!) to feast on sweets (and some savory for good measure) from noted chefs at Arizmendi, Boulevard, Chez Panisse, Delfina, Humphry Slocombe, Mama's Bakery, Millennium, Recchiuti Confections, and Scala's Bistro.

Wines will be provided by August West Wine, Barber Cellars, Sandler Wine Company,
Pedroncelli Vineyards and Periscope Cellars. Ninkasi will provide the beer.

This sweet night for you mean and an even--wait for it--sweeter future for the students in apprenticeships made possible by Spark. So please help out. Some of you can more than afford it. Come on. Indulge.

What: Sugar Rush
When: Thursday, November 15
Time: 7 p.m./7:30 p.m.
Tickets: General Admission: $75 ($85 at the door); VIP Admission: $125 ($135 at the door)
Where: Sir Francis Drake (450 Powell), SF, 415-392-7755
Psst: Cocktail attire, yo.

BENEFIT: The Days and NIghts Festival kicks off its season with a stellar show co-presented by Folk Yeah, featuring Philip Glass and Joanna Newsom with Tim Fain performing collaborative and solo pieces. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Henry Miller Memorial Library down in Big Sur, which is in need of facility upgrades in order to meet federally-mandated health and safety requirements. (8 p.m., The Warfield, 982 Market Street)

PANEL: The Mechanics' Institute Library presents 21st-Century Publishing: Reports from the Front Lines, a discussion among a panel of experts bringing news from the wild frontiers of publishing, including literary agent April Eberhardt and five indie publishers on their latest books and adventures. (5:30 to 8 p.m., The Mechanics' Institute Library, 57 Post Street, 4th Floor)

IMPROV: Learn about the power of yes at The Art of Improvisation, a free on-going class that introduces students to Leela's (an improv theatre company and training center) signature style of improvisation: "joyful play, expressing your authentic self, truthful scenework, ensemble building, group mind, character development, detailed space object work, multiple forms, and 'Yes, and!'” (7 to 9 p.m., Intersection for the Arts, 925 Mission Street)

What were you doing at 14? Or 16? Probably not helping organize the second annual It Gets Indie benefit concert at Great American Music Hall. That's just what Noah Hornik, 14, and his brother, Julian, 16, are doing in anticipation of this year's Gay Pride weekend bacchanalia. Seriously, they're that young and helping better the queer community. We certainly didn't do that at that age. Scarfing down boxes of Pizza Rolls while throwing temper tantrums over not getting the clear Swatch watch was more our style.

Anyway, SFist spoke with Noah recently about the show and why he and his brother decided to showcase talent for gay kids. "With the recent wave of suicides among LGBT teens, it felt wrong for me to just stand around and watch as other teenagers took their lives because of the way that they were born," he explained. "It occurred to me that I needed to do something, so I looked to my passion, indie rock, for inspiration. By combining a cause that I cared deeply about with the music that I love, I came up with the It Gets Indie benefit concert and it all fell into place from there."

The June 23rd show will featuring Princeton from Los Angeles, and Berkeley favorite Local Hero. Tickets are $25 and you should buy yours right this very second. The show will easily sell out before Gay Pride weekend, so get to it. You'll be helping out a great cause.

Buy tickets here.

Previously: Get Yourself Some Tickets For Pride Weekend Festivities While You Can

ART/BENEFIT: Buy some cutting edge art at a live and silent auction of work from over 150 established and emerging artists at The Silver Era, Southern Exposure's annual fundraiser and art auction, which draws inspiration from the history-making parties thrown at Andy Warhol's Factory throughout the sixties and early seventies. (7:30 p.m., Southern Exposure, 3030 20th Street)

MUSIC: Head to the Knockout for an afternoon/early-evening show featuring Shellshag, a former SF-based stripped-down veteran punk two-piece who are now based in Brooklyn, along with Street Eater, Neon Piss, and Apogee Sound Club. (3 to 7 p.m., The Knock Out, 3223 Mission Street)

PARTY: Be whatever you want tonight at Poser Party, a costume party in which you embody your costume: "Have fun clowning around with historical figures, cartoon characters, famous actors, fairytale characters, and more!" Also featuring vendors, magicians, and fortune tellers, and prizes. (7 to 10 p.m., 50 Mason Social House, 50 Mason Street)

From now until March 18th, St. Regis' Michelin-starred food joint Ame honors the one-year anniversary of the tsunami and earthquake in Miyagi, Japan, with a special prix fixe dinner option.
Dishes inspired by the region, such as their Miyagi Oysters in Ponzu Sauce with Momiji Oroshi and Grilled Scallop on Hitomebore Risotto with Abalone) are part of a five-course menu
"that celebrates the culinary sprit of Miyagi, while paying homage to the devastations suffered by its people."

While the exceptional dining experience will blow a $100 hole in your pocket (add $65 for wine pairings!), part of the proceeds go to Chefs United for Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. It's worth it. Trust us.

Menu is as follows:

Miyagi Oysters in Ponzu Sauce with Momiji Oroshi
Two sakes specially made for Ame from Miyagi "Hiro’s home brew" (Kurikomayama “Kuranohana”, Junmai Ginjo; Kurikomayama “Hitomebore”, Junmai Ginjo)
~~~~

Soup of Nameko Mushroom with Sanriku Wakame
(Gonzalez Byass, Amontillado Sherry, Jerez)

~~~~

Grilled Scallop on Hitomebore Risotto with Abalone
(Ballot Millot Meursault, Burgundy 2007)

~~~~

Oxtail Stew and Grilled Beef Tongue with Sendai Miso Glaze
(Radio Coteau Syrah, Cherry Camp, Sonoma Coast 2008)

~~~~

Maccha Panna Cotta with Strawberries
(Becker Riesling, Lassez Faire, Pfalz, Germany 2006 )
~~~~

For more information or to make reservations, please call 415-284-4040 or visit amerestaurant.com. (Reservations are not required but strongly encouraged.)

Ame: 689 Mission Street (at 3rd Street), SF

We've got a small rain-on-your-wedding-day quandary for you: Are you conflicted about humane and ethical farming standards yet love the taste of soon-to-be-banned foie gras? We sure are. Which is why we love the benefit coming up at Michelin-starred Alexander's Steakhouse. See, Alexander's Steakhouse will host a $250 (!) six-course foie gras and wine paired dinner on Friday, March 30 starting at 6:30 p.m. that's fighting to keep foie gras alive, so to speak.

Is it worth the price tag? Yes, if you can swing it and have flexible morals when it comes to what you shove in your mouth. Joining Alexander's executive chef will be none other than David Barzigan from Fifth Floor, Dominique Crenn of Atelier Crenn, Ken Frank of La Toque, Joseph Elenterio of Chez TJ, and Alexander's Pastry Chef Dan Huynh. Also, all of the evening's profits will go to CHEFS, the Coalition for Humane and Ethical Farming Standards, a pro-foie gras advocacy group that wants the fattened livers to be produced humanely. Which, well, isn't technically possible (unless it's some sort of monstrous soy-based concoction or whatnot), but... there you have it.

Reservations can be made via OpenTable.com or by calling 415-495-1111.

Alexander's Steakhouse in San Francisco: 448 Brannan (at Third)

Christopher Evans, as known as DJ Toph One, sits in the Intensive Care Unit at San Francisco General Hospital with a broken pelvis. The well-known DJ fell victim to a hit-run while riding his bike after midnight Sunday at the corner of Ocean and Geneva near City College. The driver took off. And now a noteworthy DJ, one who's been on the scene for years and pleasing your drunk ass on the dance floor, needs your help. It's time to give back.

A couple of benefits are underway to support Toph One. First, a benefit at Public Works will take place on January 20 at Public Works, boasting sets by J Boogie, Chris Orr, B Cause and other aural talent. Another fundraiser pops up at Som Bar on January 22, featuring a lineup that includes DJs Sake One, Stef, Doc Fu, Rascue.

As SF Examiner points out, "Both events will be accepting donations and a percentage of bar sales will go toward Evans' recovery."

Oh, and if you know anything about Sunday's accident, or the creep(s) involved, please contact the SF Police Department's posthaste via their anonymous tip line at (415-575-4444 or by text message to TIP411.

FILM: The delightful documentary, Bill Cunningham, New York, makes a brief stint at the S.F. Film Society, which explores the life of elusive 80-year-old New York Times Style photographer and unlikely man-about-town. (6:30 p.m., SF Film Society Cinema, 1746 Post Street)

KARAOKE: Wet your whistle and kick off 2012 with some good ol' Beatles Karaoke, hosted by Joshua Raoul Brody of Tango Number 9 on the piano. We suggest "Hey, Jude" or "And I Love Her" as perhaps being the least difficult to sing (and listen to). (8 p.m., Cafe Royale, 800 Post Street)

CABARET: Picklewater Clown Cabaret presents a Prescott Circus Fundraiser, featuring award winning Pi the Physical Comedy Troupe, along with a bevy of local and international professional circus artists, comedians, and Clown Conservatory Alumni. (7 and 9 p.m., Stage Werx Theatre -- new location, 446 Valencia Street)

Doing anything on Sunday? No? Yes? Well, even if you are, you should fix your janky calendar and instead head over to Rebel (a gay bar) and have former SF Weekly scribe Hiya Swanhuyser and reigning queen of drag queenery Heklina pour you a drink or five. The two local notables will guest bartend in support of Occupy SF. Help end "corporate personhood, attack corruption, and support community organizing" while quelling the pain of everyday life via custom cocktail the Pepper Spray, a cocktail featuring subtle notes of "hot, sassy, and in-your-face."

There will also be a real bartender on hand to make sure you actually get your fancypants drinks, and DJ Pinky Ring will man the decks to groove you into blackout paradise.

If you haven't checked out Rebel yet, you should. Seriously. Go. It's a great place. But go Sunday. You will get the chance to ask Hiya and Heklina anything. Almost anything. Whatever, just go to it, you guys.

We'll be there. And so will you. We hope.

What: Hiya and Heklina Occupy SF
Where: Rebel, 1760 Market (at Octavia)
When: Sunday, December 11
Time: 6-9 p.m.

FILM: This week's free Cinema Drafthouse film is Horrible Bosses, which is centered around the questionable plot point involving three people who decide to kill their bosses instead of just quitting their jobs because the economy is tough these days. (7:30 p.m., The Independent, 628 Divisadero Street)

STORYTELLING: Have a story to tell about holiday excess? Then head over to the monthly Porchlight Open Door, to tell your 5-minute anecdote for a chance to win $50. "Sex, drugs, food, love, pain, -- even OCD handwashers entirely welcome!" (7 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk Street)

LITERARY: Chronicle Books presents acclaimed Swiss author Peter Stamm for a discussion about several of his novels, which have been praised for their "spare prose and their complex explorations of difficult relationships in modern Europe." (6 p.m., Chronicle Books, 680 Second Street)