Lana's Rain @ Doc Films

Catch a sneak-preview of Lana's Rain Wednesday, February 18th at 9:30 pm at Doc Films.

There will be a question-and-answer with the three producers, Jeff Dillard, Max Kuhar, and producer/distributor David Sikich, after the film.

"Fresh off being honored in November at the 2003 Milan International Film Festival with the Best Actress Award for leading actress Oksana Orlenko, Lana's Rain is a gritty story of survival, betrayal and resiliency set in Chicago in the mid-1990's and directed by Chicago native Michael Ojeda. The movie tells the tale of a Balkan brother and sister who have escaped their war torn country and re-located to Chicago, where their conflicting dreams of their new life in America lead to a life and death struggle for personal freedom, all played out on over 70 locations on Chicago's streets."

Mort Sahl @ Steppenwolf

Mort Sahl, one of the most gifted and intelligent political satirists of the last few decades, will be at Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre tonight through the 22nd of February. Times: Weds-Sat 8:00, Sun 2:00. Steppenwolf: 1650 N. Halsted. (312) 335-1650.

Write Club Chicago - SpeakEasy

Write Club Chicago, a literary collective, is sponsoring a SpeakEasy spoken word event on 18 February at 8pm at the lovely HotHouse, an evening of storytelling, poetry, and music by Chicago's unknown and under-appreciated writers and musicians. This month's theme, "The Afterglow."

Are You Ready to Rawk??

The answer is yes. And the place is Excalibur. Everybody's least favorite downtown dance club is hosting the first night of the Malibu Rum $10,000 Entertainer Challenge. This karaoke contest won't be won because one participant sings better than another, no! This is an entertainer contest. So, go, rock hard, and when you win, don't forget where you heard about it.

City of God: Free Showing

As part of Black History Month, two films shown at the Chicago Cultural Center, with discussion to follow. This week, "City of God" is shown on Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 p.m. at the Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St.

V-Day Chicago

Tonight's special performance of "The Vagina Monologues" -- part of the 2004 V-Day Worldwide Campaign -- will raise money for two local organizations, The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Southwest Women Working Together. At the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, 7 pm. Call 312-922-2322 for tickets.