Karaoke competition @ Piece

The Wicker Park pizza parlor Piece is having a karaoke competition tonight at 9:00. The host of the competition: Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen! Winner takes home $100. There's a $10 cover, and proceeds go to benefit the Gus Foundation, which funds pediatric brain tumor research. Piece: 1927 W. North. (773) 772-4422.

Bruce Sterling @ Barbara's Bookstore

Bruce Sterling, author (and blogger) of note, speaks at Barbara's Bookstore in Oak Park tonight at 7:30 PM. He'll be reading from his new novel, The Zenith Angle, and doing other supercool shit that you don't want to miss. Barabara's Bookstore: 1100 Lake Street, Oak Park. (708) 848-9140.

Speak in Color

The YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago presents Speak in Color: A Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism, an evening of poetry and music. Acclaimed poet Sonia Sanchez and several local writers and musicians will provide their views of race in contemporary America. At the HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, 7 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance, $10 at the door, and $8 for students.

Dining Out For Life

Dining Out For Life, the annual culinary event where restaurants nationwide donate a portion of their day's revenues to AIDS charities, happens tonight. If you'd like to help, go to the Chicago section of the site, peruse the list of restaurants, and make reservations. This year's beneficiary is AidsCare, a nonprofit residence and service organization for people living with HIV and AIDS.