Conversations
Downton Abbey and James Beard
Downton Abbey fiends should get a ticket to Wednesday's Commonwealth Club conversation with executive producer Rebecca Eaton. Honored as one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2011, Eaton also boasts 44 primetime Emmy Awards, 15 Peabody Awards, 4 Golden Globes, and 2 Oscar nominations. Now that's power. Then, on Thursday, the Bay Area brought it home at this year's James Beard Awards, and it's time to break out the bubbly. Winners Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, Christopher Kostow, and Michael Mina will be on hand to dish about their awards.
When: 6 p.m., Wed. 8/7 and 6:30 p.m., Thurs. 8/8
Where: Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., 2nd floor

Flicks
Ram's Gate Summer Movie Series
Movies in the park just got better. For $20 ($10 for members), you can cozy up in Ram's Gate blankets with a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, plus an assortment of movie snacks like caramel corn and coconut macaroons, on the winery's pavilion. Cult classics (Ferris Bueller's Day Off on 8/8, The Breakfast Club on 8/15, The Princess Bride on 8/22, and Field of Dreams on 8/29) against a backdrop of sweeping vineyards? It can't get any more romantic than that.  
When: 8 p.m., Thurs. 8/8–Thurs. 8/29
Where: Ram's Gate, 28700 Arnold Dr., Sonoma

Music
Madeleine Peyroux
If you're looking for an alternative to all the indie music mayhem this week, head to the Warfield to see jazz chanteuse Maeleine Peyroux, who has made it from the streets of Paris to the concerts halls of mainstream. Expect interesting renditions of Beatles and Leonard Cohen songs, plus more from her latest album The Blue Room (produced by Larry Klein, who's famous for working with Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, and Herbie Hancock).
When: 8 p.m., Thurs. 8/8
Where: The Warfield, 982 Market St.

Music
Outside Lands Mania
Paul McCartney, The National, Phoenix, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and about 80 other bands will be tearing it up in Golden Gate Park this weekend, but if you didn't score tickets to this year's fest, there's also a whole slew of night shows and after parties around town—The Growlers and Houndmouth at Thursday's Cal Academy Nightlife, Smith Westerns and Brick & Mortar, Zedd and Yeasayer at the Independent, and Milo Greene at Rickshaw Stop. You'll be able to get your music fix after all.
When: Fri. 8/9–Sun. 8/11
Where: Golden Gate Park

Comedy
Mortified
Depressed that you're not going to see Paul McCartney live at Outside Lands? Cheer yourself up with a night of cringeworthy stories told by adults who penned these winners as teenagers. Think real-life diary entries, letters, and poems about sex romps and a girl on the Cotton Judging Team. You'll feel better in no time.  
When: 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8/9–Sat. 8/10
Where: DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., San Francisco and The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, respectively

Dance Party
Last Nite
Jamie Guzzi (aka the guy behind Debaser—one of the biggest DJs in SF) has a new party that's really heating up. According to Jamie, this 2000s indie dance party is like "we ate Pitchfork, stole your iPod, and then rode off on your track bike."  
When: 10 p.m., Fri. 8/9
Where: The Elbo Room, 647 Valencia St.