Lil' Roy & the Weird Sisters

The Seldoms, an interdisciplinary theatre group, perform Lil' Roy & the Weird Sisters at Architectural Artifacts, 4325 N. Ravenswood, tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. The play is about "three unique characters who battle anti-heroes named Doily, Bingo and Cotton Candy," according to Chicago Social. Should be interesting. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students). Call 312/328-0303 for more info.

Guinness Oyster Festival

Guinness and oysters: a classic combination. Come down to the New City YMCA, 1515 N. Halsted, between 4pm and 11pm tonight for fresh oysters, lots of Guinness and bands on two stages -- Marcy Playground headlines tonight at 9:45pm. Tickets are $10 at the door ($7 if you thought to buy them in advance). More information at ChicagoEvents.com.

Songs from the Second Floor @ Film Center

The Swedish film Songs from the Second Floor screens at 7:45 PM at the Siskel Film Center. One of the strangest films that you will ever see, this 2000 film by Roy Andersson invites comparisons to Bergman, Buñuel, Terry Gilliam, even the ghastly portraits by local artist Ivan Albright. A plot synopsis wouldn't help you; a film like this is all about the outrageously bizarre scenes, which are self-contained masterpieces of Surrealist imagery. The final scene, with all the people suddenly appearing (you'll know it when you see it), is one of the most fantastic images that I've seen in the last few years at the movies. Most highly recommended for the adventurous movie-goer. The film also screens at the Film Center at 6:00 PM on Monday the 13th. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

La Dolce Vita @ Music Box

The classic 1960 Fellini film La Dolce Vita opens tonight at the Music Box Theatre. Haven't seen it? Go see it. That's all. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Modern Times @ Film Center

The Siskel Film Center presents the classic Chaplin film Modern Times tonight at 6:00 PM, as part of their American Film Comedy series. The film will also be shown on Tuesday the 14th at 6:00 PM. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Around the Coyote Arts Festival

Tonight's the opening night for the 15th annual Around the Coyote Arts Festival in Wicker Park and Bucktown. Check out the website for a full listing of the participating galleries that will be open late to showcase local artists' work, poetry readings, participating restaurants, and other cool activities that run all weekend long.

Golden Age of Gangsters

Meet real mobsters' kids, pretend mobsters and the people who obsess about mobsters at the Golden Age of Gangsters Convention this weekend in Itasca. This event is open to the public and will feature tons of gangster memorabilia, descendents of famous mobsters Capone and Giancana, actors Joe Gannascoli and John Fiore from "The Sopranos," special displays about the St. Valentine's Massacre and The Prohibition years, a guided tour of Chicago gangster history, and several historians and authors who have made gangster history their life's work. Friday-Sunday, Holiday Inn in Itasca. Admission is $15 per day or $40 for the weekend.

9/11 Documentaries at Facets

Starting Friday 9/10, Facets Cinematheque will feature the double feature "Collateral Damage" and "WTC: The First 24 Hours", both documentaries by Étienne Sauret dealing with 9/11. Sauret and two of the firemen who appear in one of the films will be at Facets for both shows on Friday 9/10 and the first three shows on Saturday 9/11 for Q&A. The two firemen are from Engine 6. One of the firemen is the only survivor of a team of five that climbed up the North Tower before getting the order to turn back. Facets is located at 1517 W. Fullerton. For more information, call 773-281-9075 or check out this website (Contrary to what might be printed on that web page, one film is 60 minutes long and one is 30 minutes long, leaving about 30 minutes for Q&A between screenings). Admission: $9 non-members, $5 members.

Art of the Cinnamon Roll Benefit

Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont, hosts "The Art of the Cinnamon Roll," a silent auction and cocktail reception to benefit The Children's Place Association, tonight from 7:30pm to 11pm. The silent auction will feature "cinnamon roll inspired" artwork created by local artists. Tickets are $25 at the door. For more information, contact Julie Hall at Children's Place, 773/826-1230 ext. 27.

DEPART-ment

Stock up on your unique objects and fabulous crafty things at the latest DEPART-ment, kicking off tonight from 7-11 and going on Saturday and Sunday from 11-5. DEPART-ment takes place at Open End Gallery, located at 2000 W Fulton.

Sneaker Pimps

Sneaker Pimps comes to Chicago! Tinta Roja gallery will be hosting the Sneaker Pimps exhibition, which will feature a collection of rare, limited, vintage and artist designed sneakers, as well as sneaker inspired art. The opening night festivities are from 8pm until late. Tinta Roja is located at 2701 W Division.

TOJO Gallery Opening

Around the Coyote brings lots of people to the area who don't come there on a regular basis. It can be fun (and stuffy and crowded) wandering through the live/work studios. So if you want to get away, hit some of the area galleries and revel in more art, and less stuffiness. Tojo Gallery is opening up this weekend and seems like a great new place to pop by for ideas, and maybe a beautiful photo, a sculpture, or a unique fused-glass bowl. They're having a special reception tonight beginning at 8 p.m, so stop by 1418 W. Division.

Cody Hudson @ Bucket Rider gallery

"The Life and Times of Cody Hudson Volume 2 b/w The Parrot on Your Shoulder" opens tonight at Bucket Rider. The reception is from 6-9, and the show will be up through October 16. To see some more of Cody Hudson's work visit his website here.

"I Am Spam" reading @ Quimby's

Larry O. Dean reads spam-inspired poetry from his new book, I Am Spam, at Quimby's, 1854 W. North Ave., tonight at 8pm. Free.

Discrete Reading Series @ 3030

Tonight at 9 pm at 3030 W. Cortland enjoy the fine writing of Diane Williams and Laura Sims as a part of the Discrete Reading Series. Diane Williams's most recent book of fiction is "Romancer Erector", out from Dalkey Archive Press. Some stories of hers are featured in this summer's BOMB magazine. She is the founder and editor of the literary annual NOON. Laura Sims lives in Madison, Wisconsin where she teaches English and Creative Writing. Her poems have appeared in many journals, most recently "3rd Bed," "26," "gam," "Bird Dog," and "Columbia Poetry Review." In the summer of 2004, Sims was the recipient of the Fence / Summer Literary Seminars Prize in poetry, providing her a month's stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. 3030 is a former Pentecostal church located at 3030 W. Cortland Ave., one block south of Armitage between Humboldt Blvd. and Kedzie. Parking is easiest on Armitage. The Discrete Series will present an event of poetry/music/performance/something on the second Friday of each month. For more information about this or upcoming events, email j_seldess@hotmail.com or kerri@conundrumpoetry.com , or call the space at 773-862-3616. There is a $5 suggested donation, BYOB.