Mexican Poetry at Hothouse

Sin puertas visibles: an evening of Mexican and Mexican-American poetry with Mexican poet Ana Belén López and editor/translator Jen Hofer reading from Sin Puertas Visibiles: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by Mexican Women, and Mexican-American poet and spoken word performer Aidé Rodríguez on Wednesday March 31, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 in Advance, $7 at the door, $5 students, members (21 and over) at HotHouse 31 E. Balbo.

The New Americans on PBS

Chicago documentarians Kartemquin Films ("Hoop Dreams" and more) have created The New Americans, a multi-part series for PBS tracking four years in the lives of a diverse group of recent immigrants. Tonight at 9 on WTTW.

Guantanamo Bay Conference

The University of Chicago Human Rights Program presents a panel discussion on the humanitarian issues raised by the detention of illegal combatants in Guantanamo Bay. Two of the panelists, Christophe Girod of the ICRC, and Dr. Daryl Matthews, a former consultant to the US Army, have visited the detention centers. Alison Parker, of Human Rights Watch, will discuss the impact these detentions have had on the human rights community in the U.S.

The event is free to the public, and a small reception will follow the event.

March 31, 2004, 6-8:00 pm at International House, 1414 East 59th Street in Hyde Park.

The News Show: Chicago

Hot on the heels of their successful show, SEX!, the Neo-Futurists of The News Show bring you a special report on our fair city. Tonight at 8 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Call 773-275-5255 for tickets.

Prime Shorts Best of 2003

Back by popular demand, Prime Shorts presents an encore showing of its Best of 2003 short film selections tonight at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Culled from six short film shows and 47 films from seven countries, this event features sixteen films from around the world and right here in the city.

Films include: • James Brett's wobbly and comical EARTHQUAKE! (LA/London)
• Emily Hubley's animated surrender to the NYC subway PIGEON WITHIN, music by Yo La Tengo (New Jersey)
• Necrorealism founder Yevgeniy Yufit's unhinged WOODCUTTER (Russia)
• Chicagoan Jim Finn's absurdist ode to the gerbil in WUSTENSPRINGMAUS (Chicago)
• David Greenspan's Cannes Palme d'Or-winning BEAN CAKE (LA)
• Local hero Arthur Jones' topsy-turvy DIARY OF BAD DAYS (Chicago)
• Animator Lena Merhej’s hopeful look into the past DRAWING THE WAR (Lebanon)
• The hypnotic road and sky of Bill Brown's ROSWELL (Texas)
• Yuri A's elaborate assessment of the fine art of farts with U (Switzerland)
• The trio of eight-year-olds and their day camp opus DOLLS (LA)
• Suzie Templeton's claymation tale of obsessive cabbage love STANLEY (England)
• Paul Gutrecht's multi-festival favorite THE VEST (LA)
• Brian Bress' animated lubricant for the imagination INSTAMATIC (Chicago)
• The big-screen premiere of a bizarre and hallucinatory children’s educational film from 1977 (Chicago)
• First-timers Matt Gossage & Pat Van Slee's image and sound construct of a rock-n-roll anthem THE HIDEOUS SECRETS OF HOCK STREEDLEFORK (Chicago)
• Wes Kim's scientific expose of Chungian Motion PROFILES IN SCIENCE (Seattle)

Prime Shorts is an ongoing, bi-monthly short film show regularly featured among the great variety of events at the Hideout. Over a year old and going strong, this show packs the Hideout's back room every time with regular folks who enjoy a few drinks, fresh popcorn and a handpicked selection of short films.

Show starts at 8:30pm with one intermission. Tickets are $9 ($5 for Film Center members) or $3 for students, faculty, and staff of the School of the Art Institute and the Art Institute. More information here.

Signsedso/Dolorous Canter @ The Big Horse

After the whizz-bang show at Transmission Gallery (a sordid tale of highs and lows and all kinds of shows), Dolorous Canter returns to the Big Horse (personally not my favourite venue) to see if they can demolish the place. Touring bands Signsedso and Blue Sky Mile (Pacific Northwest indie rock) headline. DC goes on at 10pm. Shake it like a Polaroid Picture. ? : Signsedso, Blue Sky Mile, Dolorous Canter, One Last Walk @ : The Big Horse, 1558 N. Milwaukee, Chicago $ : $6, 21+, 9PM

Bonga Kuenda free concert

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents an admission-free concert with Bonga Kuenda tonight at 7 p.m. under the grand Tiffany dome in Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. His voice will be backed by Alberto Cardoso de Andrade Feijo (guitar), Carlos Manuel Abrantes Jose (bass), Andre Paulo da Silva Francisco (keyboards) and Manuel de Graca Francisco (drums). This concert is part of the Chicago Cultural Center Presents series that showcases touring jazz and world music ensembles.

Bonga has been praised by L'Affiche for "a percussive voice that inflames phrases and shatters words as it recounts the squalid distress of his beloved Angola" and by Vibrations for "beauty, harmony and a slightly cracked voice are, as always, the main qualities of his music, a music we decidedly never tire of."

For more information on this free concert, call 312/744-6630 or visit the Cultural Center's website.