Wednesday Happenings

Bubbly

-- Our friends at The Second Glass wine magazine have been dropping knowledge all December to help you make the right wine decisions for your holiday party. Tonight, they finally get to the bottom of bubbly. Sample 4-6 sparkling wines, eat some snacks, and figure out which cork to pop this New Year's Eve. Downtown Wine and Spirits, 225 Elm St., Somerville, 7 p.m. $15.

Dancing Hipsters + Wheels

-- Soul Touch is Cambridge's regular soul dance party. Tonight, the Soul Touch crew celebrate the release of Embrocation, a magazine about cycling. Featuring anime about cycling. Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 9 p.m. Free.

Not Disco

-- Mel Cheren, the co-founder of preeminent disco label West End and financier behind disco shrine the Paradise Garage, is widely credited for inventing the instrumental b-side on 12-inch singles. (In fact, the instrumental b-side has a longer history. Think Jamaica.) In his later years, Cheren gave up his share of the nightlife kingdom to become an AIDS activist. His remarkable life is the subject of The Godfather of Disco, which Truth Serum screens tonight. DJs Kris Kono and Bob Diesel will spin disco tunes. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 9:30 p.m. $10.

Comedy

-- We're not sure what "alternative comedy" is, but there is plenty of it tonight. The Greater Boston Alternative Comedy Festival will showcase local comedians Shane Mauss, the Walsh Brothers, Robby Roadsteamer, Chris Coxen, Anderson Comedy, Mehran, and Bethany Van Delft. Shane Webb MCs and the Campaign for Realtime provides music. Paradise Rock Club, 967 Comm. Ave., 7 p.m. $15.