Mayfest

Mayfest overtakes Lincoln Square this weekend. Festivities kick off Thursday, June 3 and continue through Sunday, June 6.

Believer Mag music show

While not necessarily a literary event, McSwweeney's-produced Believer Magazine is holding a show tonight at the Empty Bottle featuring indie darlings The Mountain Goats and local favourite Archer Prewitt. $14 gets you in and a copy of the latest Believer -- a great deal. And you just never know, Dave Eggers, being from Chicago himself, might just be "visiting" and milling in the crowd. More info here.

David Sedaris @ Unabridged

David Sedaris, the author of loads and loads of hilarious stories (and regular contributor to This American Life) will be reading tonight at Unabridged Bookstore at 7:00 PM. He will be reading from and signing copies of his latest book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Arrive VERY early, as David tends to draw a very large crowd. Unabridged Bookstore: 3251 N. Broadway. (773) 883-9119.

Death penalty doc @ Film Center

Deadline, a documentary about the events in the fall of 2002, when then Illinois governor George Ryan ordered clemency hearings for 171 Death Row prisoners, premieres tonight at the Siskel Film Center, and will run at the Film Center through Thursday, June 10th. There will be special guests at several of the screenings, but the opening tonight is the big deal: the filmmakers will be in attendance, as will Lawrence Marshall from the Center on Wrongful Convictions, and ... George Ryan himself. Showtimes tonight are 6:15 and 8:15; check the Film Center's Website for a complete schedule. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. Clark. (312) 846-2600.

DEPART-ment

DEPART-ment, craft fair extravaganza, happens this weekend at Open End (2000 W Fulton).

Miller & Lucinda Williams

A special collaborative performance by nationally renowned poet Miller Williams and his daughter, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Lucinda Williams takes place tonight in the Art Institute of Chicago's Rubloff Auditorium. This will be the sixth collaborative concert for Miller Williams and Lucinda Williams -- the poet and the songwriter will alternately recite and perform. The event is a benefit for The Poetry Center of Chicago. Doors open at 5:30pm, performance starts at 7pm. Tickets are $35, available through TicketWeb.

Dear Mary benefit show @ Hideout

Chicago queer artists Christopher Becerra, Ellen Rosner, Dylan Rice and Scott Free play an acoustic showcase to benefit Dear Mary and DontAmend.com. DJ hb rayker provides late-night beats. 10pm tonight at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. $5 suggested donation at the door.

First Fridays @ MCA

First Fridays @ the Museum of Contemporary Art from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

An opening-night reception for this month's featured 12X12: New Artists/New Work artist CarianaCarianne and live blues by Katherine Davis. Tickets include museum admission, Wolfgang Puck appetizers and a cash bar.