UP & COMING.

``What's at Stake: The Election of 1996'' will be discussed in a lecture with political science professor Dr. John Queen, noon Thursday in Kreider Hall, Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo St., Glendale. Admission is free and open to the public. Call [phone].

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will read and sign ``Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born,'' her second children's book about how a family is born, 5 p.m. Thursday at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Call [phone].

``8000 Sunset Rocks the Vote'' is a musical benefit held at the site of the famous Schwab's Drugstore, featuring performances by the underground band X; Julie Ritter, formerly of Mary's Danish; San Francisco's Stone Fox; and L.A.'s Ringling Sisters. Also included will be appearances by key political figures and members of the Rock the Vote board of directors, access to various political Web sites, hors d'oeuvres provided by Wolfgang Puck, a private post-party screening of ``The Perfect Candidate - The Oliver North Story,'' and a celebrity donkey and a celebrity elephant ``boxing'' out their left- and right-wing differences, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 8000 Sunset, corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights, Los Angeles. Proceeds benefit Rock the Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to encouraging young people to vote. Call [phone].

``The Gandhian Initiative for Human Rights and Its Relevance Today'' is the topic of a lecture with Dr. N. Radhakrishnan, a Gandhian scholar and activist who has devoted his life to teaching and practicing the holistic vision and principles of Gandhi, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Soka University of America, 26800 W. Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. Admission is free but reservations are advised. Call [phone].

The Motion Picture & Television Fund is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a musical extravaganza featuring host Billy Crystal and performances by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio, Gregory Hines, Bernadette Peters and John Williams with symphony orchestra, plus surprise guests, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. Call [phone].

Pacific Symphony Orchestra will launch the 1996-97 ``Classic Encounters for Singles'' with a cruise around Newport Harbor on a privately chartered yacht featuring live piano music, hors d'oeuvres, a complimentary glass of champagne and information on the orchestra's upcoming season, 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Newport Harbor. Boarding begins at 4:40 p.m. For reservations and directions to the dock, call [phone].