Photo from the SFOTE organization.

You may be close to saving up for the vacation you deserve, but it's time to use some of your dough toward a cause even more worthy than achieving the perfect sun-kissed glow. For $30 you can purchase a ticket to the Laventille Bus benefit concert organized by the SFOTE organization, taking place tonight, August 18th, at 9pm at Santos' Party House in Soho. You'll see performances by Dragons of Zynth, Kaneng Lolang, the Brooklyn Jumbies performance troupe and more. Following the concert, you're welcome to stick around for the late night dance party beginning around 12am.

Go--if not so you can feel good about yourself for staving off skin cancer at least a while longer--because 100% of the door proceeds will be donated to SFOTE's 2008 Educational Initiative, providing free transportation to and from school for children in Laventille, Trinidad. In Laventille, where there's a free public school system, the lack of free public transportation forces kids whose families can't afford the daily round trip to drop out of school. Why not join the effort to educate children and enjoy some live music on a Monday along the way?

Lookin' for more places to booze? Check out Now in New York: New Nightlife.

The requester: A friend

The request: "It's my wife's birthday and I'm gathering friends for a pub crawl. I'm thinking West Village spots within stumbling distance from each other. Super casual. Jeans. Sh*tkickers. Fleece. One or two should have decent food for beer sponge purposes."

The suggestions: If you want to eat first, start at Dublin 6, where the food is quite good, especially the mini lobster clubs, pork empanadas, and beef and Guinness pie. Then walk a half block to the historical White Horse Tavern, where poet Dylan Thomas drank himself to death. Continue three blocks south to Bayard's Ale House, which has a great jukebox, but even better wings. Three blocks further south, hit Barrow's Pub to shoot a game of pool. Head east on Barrow to Barrow St. Ale House for more amusements if that's your fancy--pool, darts, video games. Try to get there early, though, as the crowd can get fratty later on.

Continue one block to a personal fave--the Blind Tiger Ale House, which has a fireplace, cozy atmosphere and a dizzying selection of fine brew. This is another good spot to eat--they serve cheese plates from neighbor Murray's, good chili and sandwiches. Walk a few blocks west to Lederhosen to get your oompah on with German beers and a nice selection of wurst. Then end the night  one block east at either Marie's Crisis (if you're in the mood to belt out showtunes) or Arthur's Tavern (to listen to jazz). Bottom's up!

While the West Village awaits Anita Lo's Bar Q to blossom this spring, I bade farewell to winter at her flagship, Annisa, this past weekend. The 8-year-old eatery's Asian-accented cuisine still impresses. Here are the highlights of the soon-to-expire winter tasting menu:

Slow Cooked Egg with Parsnips in Truffle Broth: The waiter explained that this egg (which tasted freshly laid) is cooked for an hour at 148 degrees, giving the white a custardy texture and the yolk the consistency of "hot fudge."

Tuna With Three Mints: Pineapple mint accompanied a pile of spicy tartare; spearmint and fennel perked up slabs of tataki; and chocolate mint and cocoa nibs transformed the confit into something otherworldly.

Seared Foie Gras with Soup Dumplings and Jicama: Lo's signature dish, a true stand-out on the menu since day one. A rectangle of foie rests atop the plump dumpling, loaded with rich chicken, veal and pork stock; foie gras mousse; jicama and Asian spices. Sublime.

Filet of Cobia with Carrots, Cumin, Blood Orange and Cilantro: The cumin and blood orange combo really marked the fish, changing it from mild to wild.

Braised Shortrib with Cauliflower, Caperberries and Parmesan: A wonderfully rich preparation that made saying goodbye to winter cooking a bittersweet event.