Retro gingerbread: The Cygnet Theatre presents Neil Simon’s The Gingerbread Lady, a 1970s tale still relevant today, at 8:00 p.m. The play offers onstage fun in the form of retro fashion and décor, while the main character, aging chanteuse Eva Meara, gets to know her life post-rehab, right after Nixon invades Cambodia and Apollo 13 has reported that they “have a problem.” Tickets are $11-26. Call (877) 597-7258 for more information.

Public poetry: More than a dozen poets gather at the Mission Valley Branch Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, for a poetry celebration open house from 6:30-9:00 p.m. There will be poems with musical accompaniment and poetry for adults and teens. Call (858) 573-5007 for more information.

ArtWalk 2004: The 20th anniversary of the highly acclaimed ArtWalk, San Diego’s largest urban arts event, takes place today and tomorrow from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. in Little Italy along Kettner and India St. This year, more than 400 visual and performing artists from Southern California and Mexico will present their work. There will be food, music, games and art for kids. Call (619) 615-1090 for more information.

Viva Argentina!: The International Visitors Council of San Diego (IVC) presents “¡Viva Argentina! – Passport to a Culinary and Cultural Adventure,” from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Orfila Vineyards, 13455 San Pasqual Rd. in Escondido. The event will be an authentic celebration of Argentine dance, food, music and culture with Ambassador and Mrs. Alejandro Orfila serving as honorary chairpersons. Tickets are $100 per person. Call (619) 291-8105 for tickets and information.

LTJ Bukem: The master of Progessive sound plays at L5 Nightclub, 203 Fifth Ave. There’s drum n’ bass for the body, then there’s drum n’ bass for the mind: LTJ Bukem takes you on a journey with each individual track, and when you’re done, you want to go back… every time. Bukem plays with MC Conrad and special guests DJ Skribble, B-Side, Rilla (Living Legends) and Motiv8 (Black Eye Peas). Tickets are $20. Call (619) 858-2100 for tickets and information.

The food chain: Social satire and absurdist comedy features prominently in The Food Chain at the Cassius Carter Center Stage at the Old Globe Theatre, with an anorexic poet, her close-mouthed husband, a wacky crisis hotline volunteer, a delicious male model and his food-junkie stalker. The play shows at 7:00 p.m. and plays through May 30. Tickets are $22.50-28.50. Call (619) 234-5623 for tickets.

Guacamole heaven: Over 90,000 people are expected to attend Fallbrook’s 18th annual avocado festival this weekend, located along Main Street. The event features local musical groups and performers, kids groups, games, shopping, and of course, the glorious avocado. Food vendors engage in friendly competition with their wide variety of ways to use the green fruit in cuisine. There is also a pit-spitting contest and Little Miss and Mister Avocado contest. Call (760) 728-5845 for details.

Insights seminar: At 7:00 p.m., the Old Globe Theatre hosts an Insight Seminar for The Food Chain, their newest play. The event provides an opportunity to hear from the artists involved in all phases of production. Admission is $5. Each seminar concludes with an informal champagne reception. Call (619) 231-1941 for details.

Grassroots Greek: Euripides’ Heracles, the powerful tale of a hero-savior suddenly struck by madness, will be read by the Grass Roots Greeks at 7:30 p.m. at the 6th @ Penn Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. A forum with the cast will follow. Reservations are strongly advised as these readings sell out fast. Tickets are $5. Call (619) 688-9210 for reservations.

San Diego blues: Local blues musician Chet Cannon plays at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call (619) 224-3577 for more information.

Cheap Eats: “Tue$ Nite Out” is a collection of Hillcrest restaurants, bars and retailers offering what they have – for less – every Tuesday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Participating establishments place a “Tue$ Nite Out” sign in their window to make your quest for all things good and cheap easy to spot. Hamburger Mary’s, Babette Schwartz and Lalo’s are just a few options to check out.

Coffee shop comedy: Popularity for Lestat’s comedy night just keeps growing. Come on down and get your laugh on – it’s free, and they serve food. Lestat’s is located at 3343 Adams Ave. Call (619) 282-0437 if you need to know more.

Interpretive walk: The San Diego Park & Recreation Dept and Balboa Park Rangers offer free one-hour interpretive walks every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., explaining the rich history and botanical treasures of Balboa Park. Meet at the Balboa Park Visitor’s Center located in the Plaza de Panama. Call (619) 239-0512 for more information.

Seal: After stints in various blues and funk bands, Seal’s blend of soul, dance and rock attracts a wide assortment of fans. When he plays at Viejas Casino at 8:00 p.m., he will concentrate mainly on his newest album, Seal IV. Tickets are $55. Call (619) 445-5400 for tickets and information.

LBT lecture series: As part of its eight-week lecture series for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, the Women’s Resource Center at The Center presents the topic “The Invisible Woman – an Examination of the Fat Female Body” by Vique Chavez, M.A., peer advocacy coordinator and Being Alive lecturer, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. All lectures are free. For more information or a complete list of Women’s Resource Center events, call (619) 692-2077 ext. 206.

View with a brew: Cinemaholics unite! Grab a pint at the Whistle Stop Bar, 2236 Fern St., and catch the eighth installment of “Brew & View,” an evening dedicated to an eclectic mix of indie short films. From animation to narrative and music video, the Brew & View team pride themselves on showing movies that are “perfect to drink to,” featuring films from local and international filmmakers. Call (619) 284-6784 for details.

Indie night: Indie By Design, an ongoing showcase of independent-minded musicians, takes place at 8:30 p.m. at Humphrey’s, 2241 Shelter Island Dr. The evening features performances by Danielle Lo Presti and The Masses, The Animators, Bree, Steve Gouveia and special guests. Plenty of free parking! Call (619) 224-3577 for more information.