Wednesday

Pecha Kucha brings art, community together

Pecha Kucha, Japanese for the sound of conversation, is a mix of show-and-tell, open-mike night and happy hour that has become a forum for ideas on design, architecture and other forms of creativity. Devised in 2003 in Tokyo, Pecha Kucha Night has spread virally to more than 135 cities around the world as an informal forum for creative people to meet, network and show their work in public.

Charleston's Pecha Kucha event will happen 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. The location will be announced on the event's Web site, pechakuchacharleston.wordpress.com.

Pecha Kucka will feature local artists and speakers. Each presenter is allowed 20 images, each shown for just 20 seconds, giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up. This keeps presentations concise, the interest level up, and gives more people the chance to show.

Monday

Sports Columnist celebrates book release

Post and Courier sports columnist Ken Burger's debut novel, "Swallow Savannah," was just released. To celebrate, Burger has agreed to forgo Monday Night Football to read from and sign copies of the book at Monday Night Blues, East Bay Meeting House, 159 East Bay St., from 7-9 p.m.

Accompanying him will be the bluegrass band Vikki Matsis and the Glassharps. A portion of all book sales will go toward Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association.

Monday Night Blues is an open-mike event that happens every Monday at East Bay Meeting House. The event will be hosted by Jim Lundy and Ellie Davis. Admission is free. Call 723-3446.

FRIDAY

Pet Helpers fundraiser, gala

Pet Helpers fourth annual Fur Ball Black Tie Gala will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Marriott Hotel, 170 Lockwood Blvd. The organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Tom Crawford and Victoria Hansen of WCIV-TV news will host the event.

The event will include beverages from the open bar, hors d'oeuvres. The silent auction features vacation getaways, artwork, dinners, jewelry, golf packages and much more. All proceeds from the gala will fund the Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Pet Helpers' new facility houses more than 250 homeless animals on a daily basis, where they are all medically cared for. All of Pet Helpers animals are kept until adopted.

Tickets to the Fur Ball are $150 each and can be purchased at the shelter, by calling 795-1110 or by visiting www.pethelpers.org.

Tuesday

Reggae band at the Pour House

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will perform two sets Tuesday at The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy. The first set will start at 9 p.m. and tickets to the 21- and-up show are $10. This Rochester, N.Y.-based group formed in 2001 and plays an eclectic blend of roots reggae, dub and afrobeat.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad has shared the stage with reggae greats Toots and The Maytals, The Wailers, Lee Scratch Perry, Yellowman, Culture, The Meditations, Don Carlos, Morgan Heritage, Mad Professor and Edi Fitzroy.

Visit www.giantpandadub.com, www.charlestonpourhouse.com or call 571-4343.

Today-Saturday

The Coastal Carolina Fair

The Coastal Carolina Fair runs through Saturday at the Exchange Park on U.S. Highway 78 in Ladson. Parking is free. Admission at the gate is $5 for children and $8 for adults. Admission includes entertainment. Ride tickets and hand stamps are extra. Visit www.coastalcarolinafair.org or call 572-3161.