Steer clear of Fleet Week mayhem, and dodge the celebrity-dotted red carpet at the Mill Valley Film Festival with these down-to-earth events.

Conversation
Ry Cooder
The Grammy-winning, slide guitar maestro will talk about his first foray into fiction with Los Angeles Stories.
When: 8 p.m., Wed. 10/5
Where: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave.

Music
Fresh & Onlys with Tamaryn
Garage rockers Fresh & Onlys team up with local songstress Tamaryn for the coolest locally-grown show in town.
When: 9 p.m., Fri. 10/7
Where: Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell St.

Books
Litquake
This week the huddled, Kindled masses touch down in SF to celebrate the written word. On the lineup—pop icon Chuck Klosterman (check out our interview here), Chelsea Handler, Jeffrey Eugenides, Dan Woodrell, and many more.   
When: Fri. 10/7 – Sat. 10/15
Where: various venues

Dance
AXIS Dance Company
AXIS, the dance troupe featuring a mix of dancers both with and without disabilities, stages their home season performance series. If you're questioning their cred, you might want to know that they recently appeared on So You Think You Can Dance. Yeah, I'd say they're legit. 
When: 8 p.m., Fri. 10/7 – Sat. 10/8 and 2 p.m., Sun. 10/9
Where: Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland

Music
Stevie Nicks
The reigning queen of rock and roll, as Rolling Stone deemed her, hits up the Fillmore for an intimate, two-night gig. 
When: 8 p.m., Sat. 10/8 – Sun. 10/9
Where: The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd. 

Music
Girls
SF's most buzzed about musical export, Girls, kicks out the jams once again—they just released their second disc, Father, Son, Holy Ghost in September, and everyone's already loving it. Saturday's show is sold-out, but you can still snag tickets for Sunday.      
When: 9 p.m., Sat. 10/8 and 8 p.m. Sun. 10/9
Where: Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell St.

Art
Illuminations: Día de los Muertos 2011
Lay the Halloween costume to rest this year and opt for SOMArt's collection of traditional altars and contemporary art installations that embrace life while honoring death. Dozen of Bay Area artists have created 30-plus pieces. Don't miss special performances during the opening reception on Friday, 10/7 from 6 – 10 p.m.
When: Sat. 10/8 – Sat. 11/5
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St.

Film + Lit
Susan Orlean at San Francisco Film Society
The Orchid Thief author celebrates her new book, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend, and will introduce a screening of the 1925 silent Western classic Clash of the Wolves (perhaps Rin Tin Tin's greatest silent film). She'll also stick around to answer questions following the film.
When: 7:30 p.m., Sun. 10/9
Where: SF Film Society | New People Cinema, 1746 Post St.