BeatBox

Local champion sound providers Tomas, Miss Leema, and B-Love bring reggae tunes to the San Francisco masses every Wednesday at Nickie's BBQ in the Lower Haight. Dominoes and Afro-Caribbean food are provided to create a warm, homey atmosphere. You can kick back with a Red Stripe and play some bones or hit the dance floor and get down to the finest in dub, dancehall, and roots reggae. Revered local guest DJs such as Wisdom and Robert Rankin' are usually on deck. Get there early for happy hour with contests and special vinyl giveaways. "Crucial" takes place on Wednesdays at 460 Haight (at Fillmore), S.F. Admission is free before 10 p.m., $5 after; call 621-6508 or go to www.nickies.com.
–Anna Klafter

In so many ways, DJ/promoter/writer/misfit Toph One epitomizes the easygoing yet industrious attitude of San Francisco's long-standing beathead party scene. Though the bearded, fisherman's-hat-wearing denizen's got mad fame in town, he'll always welcome you – especially if you're a newcomer – to any of his myriad Red Wine events with a smile and a raised cocktail. That's why you need to be at Red Wine's 12th Annual Holiday Bash on Friday at 111 Minna to celebrate Toph's birthday – alongside such trivialities as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the winter solstice, natch. Special guest DJs will include Apollo of the Triple Threat Crew and vaunted producer (and recent New York City transplant) Swingsett. Plus, Toph and his Red Wine DJ collective – Charlotte the Baroness, Consuelo, Pause, Doc Fu, and Steady-P – will throw down all the groove-rock, hip hop, electro-bass funk, and other party jams they can get their hands on. Toss in the traditional Red Wine complimentary Midnight Eggnog Toast and guest celebrity bartenders like Nitevibe.com Managing Editor Jessica Perri, Future Primitive Sound promoter Mark Herlihy, and Virgin 69 boutique owner Byron Brown, and you know this one"s going off. Red Wine's 12th Annual Holiday Bash will commence on Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. at 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna (at Second Street), S.F. Admission is $5 with a flier, $10 without; call 332-5800, ext. 211, or go to http://111www.minnagallery.com.
– Ron Nachmann