This week offers many chances to get out into Oakland, whether you're a political buff or an urban explorer, a taco lover or a humanitarian for Haiti.

Living in the O brought 'em all together in a handy dandy post. Here's our summary.

Tuesday from 5 to 6 pm, the City Council will hold a special budget meeting to go over ways to balance the budget. According to a careful perusal by V Smoothe, the year-end budget deficit projection has ballooned to $15.3 million. The budget meeting will be followed at 6 pm by a regular Council meeting to discuss the awarding of a $30 million parking citation contract and making certain positions except from the hiring freeze, among other topics. The more interesting stuff that will require discussion starts about 7 pm. Meetings take place in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Wednesday at 6 pm, public transportation advocates won't want to miss a meeting by the Planning Commission to discuss AC Transit's Bus Rapid Transit Project. The project, propposed by AC Transit, involves improvements to bus service that would make a bus run like a light rail or street car without having to install rails. The line would extend through San Leandro, Oakland and Berkeley. Read the meeting agenda and the staff report on the proposal to learn more. Go to Hearing Room 1, City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa, to attend.

Thursday the BART Police Department Review Committee meets at 9 am in the Kaiser Center 20th Street Mall, Third Floor, 344 20th St., Oakland.

Bike advocates will want to add Thursday night's meeting of Oakland's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to their agenda. Topics up for discussion include median changes on MacArthur Boulevard; the one-year plan for a program on bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and the 2010 Bikeways Map design review. The agenda is online. The group meets in Hearing Room 4 of City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Then the week starts to get fun.

Friday, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland presents Willie Weir, whose bicycle adventures have taken him to India, South Africa, Bosnia and Laos. All ticket revenue and a portion of book sales will benefit WOBO. This event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Oakland Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., between Telegraph Avenue and Broadway.

Saturday the environment takes center stage at City Council President Jane Brunner's meeting to get folks together to discuss how we can address climate change on an individual level. The discussion will be held from 10 am to noon at Peralta Elementary School, 460 63rd Street. To learn more, call 238-7001.

Come hungry Saturday to Oaklandish's Tour de Taco, hosted by Cyrus Farivar of californiatacotrucks.com and the East Bay Bike Coalition. Meet at 11 am at the Fruitvale BART station. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Saturday afternoon brings a chance both to put on your dancing shoes and learn what local groups are doing to help Haiti at "Do it for Haiti," a benefit and clothing drive. Performances by more than a dozen local groups, speakers and art installations start at 2 pm. Live music and performances will include socially relevant theater, Afro-Haitian music and dance, monumental sculpture and art projects for kids. It all happens at NIMBY, 8410 Amelia St, Admission is $10 (children under 12 free). Donations of summer weight clothing for children and adults will be accepted. For more info, including the full lineup of artists, see the Facebook event listing.

Food and politics meet Saturday evening at a screening about President Obama's first year in office. Everett and Jones, at 126 Broadway, hosts the event, with barbecue before and after the movie. Meet at 5 pm. Learn more here.