Aquacade I @ The Empty Bottle

Chicago music label Drag City and BigSmallPressMall: a collective of publishers including McSweeney's, Fence Books, Verse, and Open City bring you Aquacade I: a night of reading and bands at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 25. Readings will be performed by David Berman (Drag City/Open City), Harmony Korine, Bill Callahan (of the band Smog), Prageeta Sharma (Fence Books), Joe Wenderoth (Verse Press), and Stephen Elliot (McSweeney's). The evening will also feature music from the bands Chesnut Station and White Magic. All takes place at the Empty Bottle, located at 1035 N. Western Ave. Tickets are $15 (21 and over) and it's suggested you buy them ahead of time.

Dolly Parton tribute @ Martyrs'

Dolly Parton look-alike contest tonight at Martyrs', with a first-place prize of $100! As if you needed further enticement to attend. Also on the bill tonight: an underwear auction (?!), and covers of Parton songs by local artists. Proceeds will go to the feminist festival Estrojam. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Martyrs': 3855 N. Lincoln, (773) 404-9494.

Books to Women in Prison

About a year ago, several women who met at the Young Feminist Bookclub sponsored by Women and Children First decided to start a group that would donate books to women in prison. They began the Books to Women in Prison venture and have helped to send many books to incarcerated women in the state of Illinois. To help raise money to send even more books, they're having a fundraiser at the Lincoln Lodge (4008 N. Lincoln) beginning tonight at 8 pm. Your $8 admission donation will send three packs of books to prison libraries. Come see the jugglers, comedians, and musical acts.

Stuart Dybek @ Loyola U.

Author Stuart Dybek, whose story collection The Coast of Chicago has been chosen as the next One Book, One Chicago selection, appears today at the Simpson Center of Loyola University Chicago to read from his book. Dybek is an alumnus of the school. The event begins at 5pm, and the Simpson Center is located at 6333 N. Winthrop. Call 773-508-2246 for more information.