Dog Day Afternoon
Thursday has gone to the dogs. On August 20 between 4 and 8 p.m., head to Acme Chophouse for the “haute dog” event, a fundraiser for Chefs Collaborative. Chow down on dogs from 9 different purveyors (including ones from Marlow & Sons in Brooklyn and Boccalone), along with $3 beers from Magnolia and 21st Amendment, $4 glasses of wine and $5 appetizers. Call 415-644-0240 for more information.

Foreign Cinema’s Anniversary Blow Out
For the final blowout celebration of its tenth anniversary, Foreign Cinema is pulling out all the stops for a party on Thursday, August 20. Of course there will be food and drink, as well as all the champagne you can drink, but you can also look forward to can-can dancers, magicians, musicians, henna artists, contortionists. I mean, really—when is the last time you saw a contortionist? The event begins at 6 pm and tickets are $65, with proceeds going to DrawBridge, a non-profit organization committed to providing creative arts programs for homeless children in the Bay Area.  For more information and to make a reservation, call 415-648-7600.

Ice (Cream) Princess
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! With the weekend weather looking favorable, we wholeheartedly recommend you grab a group of friends and head to the Dogpatch Ice Cream Social arranged by Recchiuti Confections on Saturday, August 22, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.. Your $55 ticket entitles you to free access to the sundae bar, endless bonbons, fizzy lifting ice cream sodas, live music and much more, with all proceeds going to support Spark, an apprenticeship program for middle school youth. The event will take place in the Recchiuti kitchen, 1198 Illinois St..

In A Pickle
Want to get yourself in a pickle? On August 24 Urban Peasant SF will be hosting a pickling workshop with Michelle Fuerst (formerly a Chez Panisse and Zuni Café cook and curator of the Slow Food Nation pickle pavilion). She’ll teach you the ins and outs of quick, fermented and canned pickles of all types. The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hands on Gourmet, 2325 Third St., No. 330. Tickets are $45; to purchase, click here.

Perry’s Celebrates 40 Years
All this month Perry’s will be celebrating their 40th anniversary with parties, promotions and guest bartenders galore. On August 23 they’ll be hosting a block party (on Union Street between Buchanan and Laguna) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.—there will be live music, burgers, sausages and chicken Caesar salads, Bloody Marys and beer—join them for an al fresco party and a celebration of 40 great years. Here’s to 40 more!