November 7:

Music in Schools TodayThe VIP Party celebrates this organization's 25th anniversary of supporting, developing and promoting music education for Bay Area students. The event features live performances by Serena Ryder and Eoin Harrington. Event co-chairs: Hilary Newsom Callan and Eoin Harrington. 7 p.m. Sat., Nov. 7. Hard Rock Cafe, Pier 39, the Embarcadero, San Francisco. Tickets: $10 (general admission). $30 (Roadie package includes red carpet walk, photo opp, VIP Party, 1 free drink). $100 (Rock-star package includes free drinks and apps, reserved seating, red carpet walk, photo opp, VIP Party). Ticket info here.

The Elios Society The Hellenic Charity Ball honors the work of award-winning Greek-Americans: George Chakiris, Michael Chiklis, Nicholas Gage and Marilu Henner. Singer Kalomira receives the Elios Spolight Award and actress Maria Menuounos serves as emcee. The evening features a cocktail reception, seated dinner, awards program and dancing to Dick Bright's SRO as well as music by Mediterranean Soul. 6 p.m. Sat., Nov. 7. Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St., San Francisco. Tickets: $300. $3,000 (table of 10). (415) 561-9214.

November 8:

North Beach Citizens Food writer-author Peggy Knickerbocker is honored at the North Beach Citizens’ Community Recognition Awards Dinner which benefits this resource center for homeless and at-risk citizens of the neighborhood. Author Armistead Maupin serves as emcee. 6 p.m. Sun., Nov. 8. Italian Athletic Club, 1636 Stockton St., San Francisco. Tickets: $150. $500 (individual sponsor ticket). $2,500 and $5,000 (sponsor tables of 10). (415) 772-0918.

November 12:

St. Vincent de Paul Society The Most Rev. George Niederaurer, Archbishop of San Francisco, is the recipient of the Frank Brennan Award for Service to the Poor at the society’s annual Brennan Award Dinner. Honorary chairman: Glenn Murphy. Dinner co-chairwomen: Sharon McCarthy Allen, Joanne Murphy, Maryanne Murray. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 12. Patrons’ Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco. Tickets: $150. $500 (two patrons’ tickets). $1,500, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 (sponsor tables). (415) 977-1270, ext. 3018.

Glide Memorial Church Dr. Maya Angelou and Sen. Dianne Feinstein serve as Honorary co-chairwomen for Holiday Festival 2009: From the ‘Hood to the House which celebrates The Rev. Cecil Williams’ 45th anniversary at the helm of this community treasure. The evening features a cocktail buffet and live performances by  Dr. Angelou, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, SF Opera Adler Fellows, Glide Ensemble and Change Band, and other special guests. Funds raised support Mo’s Kitchen and Glide’s community outreach programs. Event chairwoman: Amy Errett. 6 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 12. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Tickets: $500. $5,000-$25,000 (10 premium seating tickets). $50,000 and $100,000 (two premium Opera House boxes of eight). (415) 674-6072. Performance-only tickets: $75-$250. (415) 864-3330.

November 14:

Music in Schools Today The annual Celebrity Waiter Luncheon features local musicians and media mavens serving up the goods to music-loving patrons during this melodic lunch and live auction that raises funds for music and education programs at Bay Area schools. Honorary co-chairs: Mayor Gavin Newsom, SF Symphony maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, Lisa DeBartolo, Donn Miggs. 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 14. Ana Mandara Restaurant, 831 Beach St., San Francisco. Tickets: $150. $250 (preferred seating); $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 sponsor tables of eight). (415) 392-9010.

November 18:

California Pacific Medical Center FoundationWishes for Wellness 2009 honors the work of Dr. Nadine Burke, Dr. Charles Cobbs and Dr. Lester Jacobson at this awards program and dinner-dance in support of funding critical needs for CPMC’s special medical services, departments and resource programs. Event co-chairs: Sloan Barnett, Sharmin Bock, Carol Bonnnie, Christopher Lenzo and Laura Pfaff. 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 18. Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave., San Francisco. Tickets: $500. $1,000 (individual sponsor ticket). $10,000, $15,000 and $25,000 (sponsor tables of 10). $35,000 (two sponsor tables of 10). (415) 600-2766.

SF Conservatory of FlowersTropics, Treasures & Trains is the theme of this gala exhibition and cocktail buffet in support of the Conservatory’s conservation, education and garden programs. The gala heralds the launch of the Conservatory’s Golden Gate Express Garden Railway, a G-scale model train which traverses a miniature SF cityscape. Honorary chairmen: The Hon. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Harry Denton, Richard Goldman. Event co-chairs: Laine Buckingham, Hazel Kawaja. 6:30 p.m. Wed., Nov. 18. Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Tickets: $130. $250 (one Patron’s ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $500 (two Patrons’ ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $1,000 (four Patrons’ ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $2,000 (six Patrons’ ticket, private cocktail reception and tour, 5:30 p.m. entrance). (415) 831-2093.

December 3:

Children of Shelters The Jingle & Mingle cocktail party and silent auction features one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths created by West Coast designers and artists to benefit this organization that supports children living in four San Francisco homeless shelters (Raphael House, St. Joseph's Village, Hamilton House, Compass Family Center). 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Event co-chairwomen: Serena Fairchild Sheldon, Summer Tompkins Walker, Lana Adair, Natasha Bradley, Heidi Castelein, Kate Sheridan Chung, Erin Lowenberg and Emily Martin. Presidio Officer’s Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, the Presidio, San Francisco. Tickets: $100. (415) 563-6082.

December 5:

Children of Shelters The holiday fun continues at SantaFest, the annual family and children’s holiday party which features hands-on holiday art projects, gingerbread house decorating, photo-opps with Santa, more. 9 a..m.-noon. Dec. 5. Presidio Officer’s Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, the Presidio, San Francisco. Tickets: $75 per child; Adults are free.  (415) 563-6082.