The Small Screen

SAT 6/19

To tell the truth, we've been wondering about something for a while now. It doesn't exactly break the bank to make a three-minute video anymore, and the endeavor holds a lot of room for self-expression. So in a self-expressin' town like this, where's the deluge of wildly creative music videos? We're not sure where they've been hiding up to now, but tonight, five hours of 'em are at the Langton Music Video Awards. That's a good start.

Apocalipstick, Dynasty Handbag, and Le Tigre are some of the featured bands; short videos of other types of performers -- famous funny chicks Beth Lisick and Tara Jepsen among them -- screen as well. The lights go down at 7 p.m. at New Langton Arts, 1246 Folsom (at Eighth Street), S.F. Admission is $5-10; call 626-5416 or visit www.newlangtonarts.org.
-- Hiya Swanhuyser

Can't Snark Without You

THURS 6/17

Yes, yes, yes, Barry Manilow is a mighty-whitey cheeseball who unleashed the most puerile disco song of all time ("Copacabana") as well as obnoxiously catchy commercial jingles (Band-Aid's "Stuck on Me"). But Velveeta or no Velveeta, he wrote some of the foot-tappingest pop songs ever. Don't believe me? Take a listen to Farma's cover versions of tunes from the man who writes the songs at "Manilow Mania," a combination book-release party for Dylan Schaffer's novel Misdemeanor Man/Barry love-in, starting at 8 p.m. at the Red Devil Lounge, 1695 Polk (at Clay), S.F. Admission is $15; call 921-1695 or visit www.reddevillounge.com.
-- Joyce Slaton

Book Binge
Borderlands' all-night affair

SUN 6/20

You know that night when you're first dating someone and you stay up until daybreak reminiscing about past relationships? Borderlands Books' dusk-to-dawn "Midsummer Night's Read" is sorta like that, minus the sex and the cutesy examination of scars and birthmarks. The quirky sci-fi/fantasy bookseller (which throws a similar party close to Halloween each year) celebrates the summer solstice with a literary bender at which staff members and favored customers read their favorite fairy tales and waggish short stories. Listeners are welcome to come and go throughout the night, and just about anyone who wishes to regale the audience with a saga or two of his own will have a chance to ascend the soapbox. The party starts at dusk (about 8:45 p.m. on this long, light day) at 866 Valencia (at 19th Street), S.F. Admission is free; call 824-8203 or visit www.borderlands-books.com.
-- Joyce Slaton