1929: the Year in Film @ Music Box

The Music Box Theatre presents a special program of films from the year 1929, as part of the theater's 75th anniversary celebration. On the program tonight: Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail (at 5:15); Ernst Lubitsch's first talkie The Love Parade (showtime not published); Laurel and Hardy in Big Business (at 7:00); and the Marx Brothers in The Cocoanuts (at 9:30). Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Third Coast Festival ShortDocs 2004

Third Coast Audio Festival's September Listening Room will premiere the 2004 TCF ShortDocs, four new audio works based on the theme, "dark." From the festival site: "From a sound tapestry of a newborn baby in the night to an exploration of post-mortem photography through the lens of one family's experiences, these short documentaries show the power of radio to tell intimate stories of everyday life."

At Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. 7-9pm (doors open at 6:30pm). $5 for general admission, $3 for Chicago Public Radio members and students; call 312/948-4682 for reservations or more information, or email infothirdcoastfestivalorg.

Learn about Teaching Visual Art @ Cultural Center

The fall 2004 Artists at Work Forum, Learning Teaching, will feature a candid discussion with four visual artists who have extensive teaching careers on the various career paths available in Chicago for artists who want to educate as well as create. Speakers include: Cynthia Weiss, a painter and public artist who has worked with Chicago public schools for more than 20 years; Bibiana Suarez, an Associate Professor of Art and Art History at DePaul University, and was Artist in Residence and Visiting Associate Professor, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago; Tracy Van Duinen, who has worked as an Art Director for seven years on national advertising campaigns for Hewlett-Packard, Coca-Cola and Sega Genesis before returning to school for a degree in Art Education; and Barlow, a practicing professional visual artist, arts advocate, arts educator/consultant and the founding artistic director of the Violent Injury Prevention Center at Children's Memorial Hospital (1995-2000) in Chicago, Illinois. The event takes place Thursday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the fifth floor southwest meeting room of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. The event is admission free and open to the public. For more information on this event, call 312-744-6630 or visit the Chicago Cultural Center.

Around the Coyote kickoff bash

The Around The Coyote Fall arts festival gets underway tonight with the annual opening night party at 1935 1/2 W. North Avenue. Check out the Curators' Choice exhibits and performances by National Poetry Slam winner Lisa Buscani and "human beatbox" Yuri Lane, plus music by DJs professor hood, ae, and steve ecks. 8pm-midnight; $20 tickets at the door include food and beer. Check out www.aroundthecoyote.org for the full weekend's festival schedule.

TENbyTEN Release Party

TENbyTEN magazine will be celebrating the release of their Romance issue in style at the Chicago Theater from 8pm-12am. Aluminum Group, Plastic Crimewave Sound, and Princess will be performing. General admission is $20, which includes a copy of the magazine, complimentary drinks and all sorts of fabulous entertainment.

Defiant Theatre opens "A Clockwork Orange"

Defiant Theatre opens its performance of A Clockwork Orange tonight at Gallery 37’s Storefront Theater at 66 E. Randolph. Tickets can be bought at the door, or thru Ticketweb. The show runs thru October 16, 2004. (Glass o' milk not provided.)