This is a very cool event going on in the neighborhood tonight. First, author Sara Marcus will read from her book Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution at the Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk on the Penn campus) at 6 p.m. The book explores the Riot Grrl movement, which started in the mid 1990s and has taken root in a number of cities in the form of female empowerment efforts.

In Philadelphia, those efforts include Girls Rock Philly, a rock & empowerment camp where girls ages 9-17 learn instruments, write songs & form their own bands. The founder of that group, Beth Warshaw-Duncan, will join Marcus, Kathleen Hanna (the front woman of the pivotal Riot Grrl band Bikini Kill) and activist/musician Katy Otto for a panel discussion on topics ranging from the panelists’ own participation in the movement to “what women in music can and should be doing today.” Copies of Marcus’ book will also be available at the discussion.

Then it’s time to rock. A  concert will follow the discussion nearby at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) beginning at 8 p.m. The benefit show for Girls Rock Philly will feature Trophy Wife, Whore Paint (Providence), Slutever and Cat Vet. Suggested donation is $5. All proceeds go to Girls Rock Philly.

Here are a few things plucked from a full slate of weekend activities on the left bank. If we missed something that you are dying to tell us about, write editor – at – westphillylocal.com.

Friday, January 21

• Taxing Carbon: The Simple Solution to the Climate Crisis • Tabernacle United Church • 3700 Chestnut St. • 7 p.m.

Charles Komanoff, a widely known for his work as an energy-policy analyst, transport economist and environmental activist in New York City will talk.

Saturday, January 22

• Clark Park Farmer’s Market • Don’t forget that it’s open in the winter too • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

African Cultures Day • Penn Museum • 3260 South Street • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. • Free with museum donation ($10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for kids)

The program highlights include a performance by Penn’s African Rhythms Student Dance Troupe, music by the Women’s Sekere Ensemble, traditional African storytelling by Momma Sandi, neo-African drum and dance from LaSalle, a folkore workshop with Queen Nur, games, crafts, food, etc.

• Sonic Liberation Front meets Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound • The Rotunda • 4014 Walnut St. • 8 p.m. • FREE

Sonic Liberation Front is an afro-futuristic creative music ensemble. Its members are a who’s who of Philly’s finest genre-bending improvisers, composers and folkloric musicians (and sometimes dancers).  Bobby Zankel leads an innovative jazz outfit. The Boston Phoenix wrote that Zankel “deserves any Talent Deserving Wider Recognition Award that the Jazz Press might offer.”

Brace yourselves. Death Bi Chocolate, the annual bake sale fundraiser for BiUnity, is this Saturday afternoon at A-Space (4722 Baltimore Ave.). If any of your New Year’s resolutions involve stopping or cutting down on your chocolate intake, then you need to put them hold for a day. This is worth it.

Death Bi Chocolate features large and small quantities of chocolate for sale in a variety of forms. Friendly folks will also be playing board games during the sale that are open to anyone. The sale runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

BiUnity is a social and support network for bisexual people, their family and friends. The all-volunteer organization has monthly discussion groups and events, including a movie night.

If when we say “ti,” you think “a drink with jam and bread,” then we may have something for you. World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.) is hosting two sing-along screenings of Sound of Music today. Yes, it’s Julie Andrews and cast in a Rocky Horror Picture Show-like interactive film extravaganza complete with costumes and stage performance. Watch the video below to get a feel for this thing. And be warned; this might be the whitest thing you ever do.

There are two show times. The kid-friendly show begins at noon. Tickets are $10 for kids and $12 for adults. An all-you-can-eat, kid-friendly buffet is also available for $7 for kids and $10 for adults.

A second, dinnertime show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17-$22 and dinner is available. You can save a couple of bucks if you pay for tickets in cash at the box office.

Mummers don’t float your boat? There are alternatives on New Year’s Day if you are looking for something to do a little closer to home. Here are a few things to do on 1X4 (1-1-11).

• Philadelphia’s seventh Pecha Kucha night will be held at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave.) Jan. 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Japanese word for “chit-chat,” Pecha Kucha (peh-CHAK-cha) nights involve lightening quick presentations by innovators, thinkers and all around interesting folks. The rules are simple. Wired magazine summed them up well: “Say what you need to say in six minutes and 40 seconds of exquisitely matched words and images and then sit the hell down.” Basically, you get 20 slides, 20 seconds each.

According to organizers, Vol. 7 will feature talks about girls who rock, podcasts about Philly, goats that groom urban spaces, and more! The suggested donation for the night is $5.

• One way to work off the hangover blues is to share your pain. One place to do that on New Year’s Day is Local 44 (44th and Spruce Streets), our friendly neighborhood pub, which is celebrating its second anniversary (yep, they opened Jan. 1, 2009) with a day-long brunch. They will have fare for veggie and meat lovers alike and a lengthy anniversary draft list.

• Perhaps the best way to get your mind and body right is with some good old fashioned acupuncture.  Philadelphia Community Acupuncture (50th and Baltimore, above Dock Street) is open both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They offer affordable acupuncture on a sliding scale.

Don’t feel like venturing too far from home on New Year’s Eve? Here’s a sampling of things going on to send out 2010 in West Philly. This list will be continually updated so if you know of something that should be on the list, send the details to editor – at – westphillylocal.com.

Here’s information on the fireworks at Penn’s Landing. There’s an early show for the kiddos. And if you are planning on venturing out of the hood, here’s info on SEPTA’s schedule.

By the way, we had to chuckle a little at this warning we found on a prominent Philadelphia tourism website about heading to West Philly for New Year’s Eve:

“That having been said, this neighborhood is very dicey, and is on the outer fringes of University City, in fact. And it may be particularly dangerous, on New Year’s Eve – it’s not like being in Old City, or on the Avenue of the Arts.

Accordingly, if you decide to venture that far west of Broad Street on New Year’s Eve, have a heightened sense of awareness to any potential safety issues (especially if you’ve been drinking).”

The place they were talking about is at 39th and Chestnut. Our italic, their bold.

Well, we can agree with one thing: It is definitely not like being in Old City.

Anyway, here’s what we have so far:

• Gojjo • 4540 Baltimore Ave. • No cover

Free champagne toast at midnight and a DJ.

• Forrest Yoga Ceremony • Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave. • Suggested donation: $5 to $20 or books from selected list

Say farewell to the old year and hello to the new with an extended Forrest Yoga Ceremony led by Studio 34′s Morgan Andrews. Through silent and guided meditation, pranayama and asana, this will be an opportunity for you to go deeper into the playful side of your practice. All are welcome to attend, whether you’re new to yoga or ready to work with more advanced poses. Proceeds go toward building up Studio 34′s Yoga|Healing|Arts Library as a resource for students and teachers of yoga. You can contribute through a monetary donation, or by providing books from this list.

• New Year’s Eve with DJ Jazzy Jeff • The Blockley • 38th and Chestnut • Tickets: $85

Includes a 6-hour “top shelf” open bar and a buffet from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• Slainte Pub • 3000 Market St. • No cover

Free midnight champagne toast and drink specials and a DJ from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

• New Year’s Eve with Slo-Mo and Steph Hayes and the Good Problems • World Cafe Live • 3025 Walnut St. • Tickets: $25 in advance  and $28 day of the show

Slo-Mo is the brainchild of Philadelphia steel guitarist Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner. Brenner has spent time on the road and in the studio playing steel guitar with such bands as Marah, Magnolia Electric Company and Badly Drawn Boy, but Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka is something totally different.