Synethaesia- Glam Rock Opera, etc.

If you're into glittery glam-rock operatics, student-made films, improvisational dancing and other artsy goings-ons, swing by Hyde Park's Smart Museum of Art, Thursday from 8:30- 10:30 pm for "Synaethesia," a multi-dimensional event put together by a conglomoration of U of C student groups. P1xel (of P1xel and the Chronic Network) has requested that guests wear white to the event, which is free and open to the public.

Bridge Mag AAA Role-Playing Game

Bridge Magazine has organized a public tournament of its Advanced Artists & Alternos Role-Playing Game System, which premiered in the game-theory themed Bridge 7/8.

(From the site:) In this satire of hipster culture, players create artists and alternative-lifestyle characters who battle it out against the commodifying forces of commercial culture against the backdrop of the North Side, a neighborhood that curiously resembles Chicago's Wicker Park. The first-ever gaming module for the AAA system, Escape From Banality: The Battle For the North Side pits players against such menacing creatures as 'Eggerites,' 'Friends Zombies' and the ever-fearsome'Iraglasilisk,' monsters brought on by a mysterious 'Cloud of Banality' that threatens the artistic integrity of their hipster haven. Who will win? Join in the fight and maybe it'll be you!

Admission to the Bridge AAA Role-Playing Tournament is $5, capping of a Bridge subscription drive scheduled for Nov. 17-20th (to volunteer to help with the drive, please contact the Bridge office). Pre-rolled character sheets will be handed out to all participants, who will then be organized into groups of 3-6. A Bridge-trained “game master” will direct game play. Players whose characters survive play will be awarded prizes including a velvet dice bag with dice and a cloak-broach. A caricature artist will also be available on site to, for a small fee, draw caricatures of players as their role-playing characters.

Doors open at 7pm, game runs from 8pm to midnight at the Open End Gallery/Ideotech, 2000 W. Fulton St. More info here.

Beaujolais Nouveau Tastings

Beaujolais Nouveau is a French red wine that is meant to be drunk young. It's released every year on the third Thursday in November, and this year's harvest is supposedly excellent. There are several tasting parties going on tonight, so rather than make separate listings for each, here they are all in one:

• The Chicago chapter of Wine Brats at Maeve, 1325 W. Wrightwood, serving Georges DeBoeuf 2003 Beaujolais Nouveau, 2002 Beaujolais-Villages and a 2002 Cru Beaujolais. 6:30 -8:30pm. $18 online in advance; $25 at the door if available.

• Pops for Champagne, 2934 N. Sheffield, serving Joseph Drouhin 2003 Beaujolais Nouveau from cask. 6-8pm. $25, reservations required.

• The French American Chamber of Commerce - Chicago Chapter at Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, featuring food by chefs Dominique Tougne (Bistro 110), Didier Durand (Cyrano's Bistrot), Dale Levitsky (La Tache), Francoise de Melogue (Pili.Pili), John Bubala (Thyme) and others. Silent auction items include a "discover France" travel package. $45-$55. Reservations recommended; call 312/578-0444 and tell them the entry for the event on their website is broken.

• MonAmiGabi, 260 Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, serving 25 Crus Beaujolais wines. 6-9pm. $25, reservations recommended.

• MonAmiGabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, serving beaujolais & chardonnay, along with hors d'oeuvres & desserts. 9pm-1am. $30, reservations recommended.

• Your local wine shop, which will no doubt be offering some sort of special and likely offering tastes of the new shipment. All for the cost of a bottle of wine.

(Obviously, you must be 21 or over to drink at these events.)