Critical Mass

Chicago Critical Mass bike rides start from Daley Plaza, Dearborn & Washington at 5:30pm the last Friday of each month, regardless of season or weather. They are free and fun.

Inspired Art Auction

The Inspiration Corporation provides social services, housing, and employment training in Uptown and Woodlawn. One of its biggest sources of funding is the annual Inspired Art Auction. This year’s event, from 6-10 p.m. in the Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, will feature more than 100 pieces of jury-selected artwork donated by leading Chicago-area artists. A silent auction will run throughout the evening as well as a live auction beginning at 8:00 p.m, and live music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 at the door with all proceeds benefiting Inspiration Corporation.

Poetry in Translation @ Delilah's

CIRCUMFERENCE—A Reading of Poetry in Translation Friday, March 26, 7:30pm at Delilah's in Lincoln Park.

Jen Hofer, Pierre Joris, and Matthew Zapruder will read their translations of poems, as well as poems in the original languages. Christine Hume will read her homophonic translation featured in the first issue of CIRCUMFERENCE.

To celebrate CIRCUMFERENCE, a journal of poetry in translation, and in support of its recent efforts to protest the U.S. Treasury Department's declaration that American publishers cannot edit works authored in nations under trade embargoes. Delilah’s is at 2771 North Lincoln at Diversey, 2 blocks west of the Diversey stop on the CTA Brown Line. (773) 472-2771.

Dylan Rice CD release

Chicago singer-songwriter Dylan Rice has a release party for his debut CD, Wandering Eyes, tonight at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln. Doors open at 10pm; $8 cover.

T.C. O’Rourke Photo Exhibit

Documentary photographs by T.C. O'Rourke of the 2003 and 2004 seasons of the Tour Da Chicago Alleycat Series, a city-wide, messenger style bicycle race. Show opens tonight at the Handlebar, 2311 W. North Ave., with a reception at 10pm, and runs through the end of April. For more info, call 773/384-9546 or click here.

Discrete Reading Series at 3030

The Discrete Reading and Performance Series at 3030 presents readings by local literary heros (and a few visitors). Paul Hoover (editor of Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology (l994) among many other works), Maxine Chernoff (co-editor, along with Hoover, of New American Writing), Kaia Sand (editor of Tangent), local writer and Myopic Books reading series organizer Chuck Stebelton, and poet, essayist and sometimes rock star in the band Continuous Peasant Chris Stroffolino! As usual, it goes down at 7 p.m. at 3030 W. Cortland, $5 suggested donation, BYOB.

Another Chicago Magazine and Bridge Magazine Reading

You just can't get a better value than this! On Friday, March 26, Another Chicago Magazine (ACM) and Bridge Magazine will host two (2!) readings and an after-party in conjunction with the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference. The first free reading begins at 4:30 p.m. with Robert Dana, Robin Hemley, Dick Terrill, Amina Cain, Antonia Logue, Bin Ramke, Nin Andrews, and Bob Perlman. The evening's second reading is at 8 p.m. with MC Jessa Crispin aka Bookslut, Shelley Jackson and Joe Wenderoth with Aldo Alvarez, Rachel Zucker and others TBA. The after-party begins immediately after the 2nd reading (around 9 p.m.). DJ Margaret Noble spins into the evening. $10 admission, with two free drink tickets. Everything happens at 119 N. Peoria #3D, Chicago.