Hideout Block Party

This year's Hideout Block Party features some really stellar local music. Bands include Califone, Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Archer Prewitt, Andrew Bird, Kelly Hogan & the Wooden Leg, Manishevitz, and Swing Set, and that's not all. The proceeds from this 3-day party will benefit C.A.U.S.E.S./P.L.A.Y, Tuesday's Child, and Literacy Works. Check the website for a full schedule and more information. Tickets are just $10.

Rhino Theater Fest: Under Milk Wood

Part of the Rhino Theater Fest: "Thomas's play is back and at the Rhino! The Welsh poet's dreamy, funny world of owls, magic, and whiskey at nightfall on Larregub Hill where blind Captain Cat pulls the bell rope is brought back to life by three generations of voices. Milk Wood is part of the Rhino ’04 look-back to the masters who influenced Curious." 7pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

Pedal for Peace Bike-a-thon

Today is the 17th Annual Pedal for Peace Bike-A-Thon. Join the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance for a bike ride to support peace with justice in Guatemala and El Salvador. The event is sponsored by the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance, Chicago-Cinquera Sister Cities, Chicago-Guatemala Return Project, and the American Friends Service Committee. All gets going at 2 p.m. at Chicago’s Lakefront, from either the "Totem Pole" in Belmont Harbor or at 55th Street. Registration Fees are $10 individual, $15 Family (1 adult + children), $20 Family (2 adults + children), $5 Student/Senior/Low income. For more information, or to register, contact Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance, 4750 N. Sheridan Rd. #429, Chicago, IL 60640 or call 773-293-3680.

Muted Tones Kick-Off @ 3030

Tonight 3030 will host a party and performance to kick off the third volume of local label Tense Forms’ music series Muted Tones. The evening begins at 8pm, costs $6, and 3030 is located at 3030 West Cortland. Toronto’s Aidan Baker, Muted Tones’ newest curator, will be performing. The premise of the Muted Tones series is simple: seven curators, seven months, seventy minutes of music. Each month, from September to March is assigned to a curator, who is asked to fill ten minutes with the sounds of their choosing. They are invited to keep a log of their work online, as they create it. At the end of the month, their ten minute piece of music is made available on the web for streaming or download. Past curators include TW Walsh (Pedro the Lion), Amy Domingues (Telegraph Melts, Mary Timony), Alison Chesley (Poi Dog Pondering) and Anthony Burton (Palliard, 41 Rivers). See Tense Forms for more information.

Women, Womyn, Grrls, and Kings

Estrojam Festival 2004, the annual music and arts festival that features female artists, presents an afternoon of music and discussion at the Chicago Historical Society (Clark Street at North Avenue). The program runs from 1:00 to 5:00, and features various panel discussions (on such topics as the historical impact of women's culture and Chicago's contribution to women's music) and performances by Kristin Lems, Surrender Dorothy and Big Smith. See the Estrojam Website for details.

Alice @ Neo-Futurarium

The Neo-Futurists present Alice, an adaptation of the Lewis Carroll books featuring a walking tour of 6 different Andersonville locations, original artwork & performances by various Neo-Futurists and local theater companies, and 5 rabbits. Admission is $15 ($10 for seniors and students). The show runs Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:00 PM, and continues through October 24. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland. (773) 275-5255. See the Neo-Futurist Website for further details and to purchase tickets.

Cineme International Animation Festival

This weekend is the kickoff for the Cineme International Animation Festival held at the Illinois Institute of Art September 24–26. Cineme kicks off each fall in Chicago, and is dedicated to showcasing the best and brightest in animation and digital media through Film, Television, Music, 3D Design, Web, Gaming, Architecture and Technology. This year Cineme is bigger and better than ever with $25,000 in cash and prizes, plus Halo Tournament, Video Game Developer Summit, exclusive nightly parties, musical guests, celebrities, distributors, award-winning speakers and premieres. Check the website for more information.

Vegan Potluck and Speaker

Tonight Erik Marcus will be speaking at the monthly EarthSave Chicago vegan potluck. Please bring your own table setting to reduce waste. The event will be held at Healing Earth Resources, located at 3111 N. Ashland at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event, but they request any donations if you can give. Erik is author of "Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating," and the new book, "Meat Market." He also runs a vegan website. For more information, please visit EarthSave Chicago.

Naperville Wine Festival

Come to Naper Settlement to enjoy the second annual Naperville Wine Festival presented by Van Kampen Investments September 25th and 26th. The Festival hours are 1–9 pm on Saturday and 1–7 pm on Sunday. Sample wines from around the world as they showcase more that 130 different varieties. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by Chicago’s top chefs and musical entertainment throughout the weekend. For more information or to buy tickets please call (847) 382-1480 or visit the Naperville Wine Festival website. Tickets: $20 Adults, $10 Designated Driver, $5 21-and-under, children under 12 free. The Naperville Wine Festival gets going at the Naper Settlement, located at 523 S. Webster Street, Naperville, IL.

Schadenfreude Radio Starts Up

Beginning tonight at 8:30 p.m. tune in every Sunday as the Chicago sketch comedy troupe Schadenfreude begins their second season on Chicago Public Radio. Listen to your favorite characters as Schadenfreude brings you their unique brand of irreverent social and political satire each and every week. For more information, check them out on Chicago Public Radio's website.

Vandermark and Territory Band-3 @ Cultural Center

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs welcomes the return of the Territory Band-3 to the Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., today at 3 p.m. The concert is presented as part of the New Millennium/New Music series that showcases new and improvised music. The line up features a reed section comprised of Fredrik Ljungkvist, Dave Rempis and Ken Vandermark; brass section of Jeb Bishop (trombone) and Axel Doerner (trumpets); percussion by Paul Lytton and Paal Nilssen-Love; strings by Kent Kessler (bass) and Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello); Jim Baker (piano); and electronics by Lasse Marhaug. The Territory Band was developed by Ken Vandermark to deal with strategies for improvisation and composition for a large ensemble context. For more information on this free concert, call 312-744-6630 or visit the Cultural Center's website.

Brookfield Zoo Run Run

Brookfield Zoo's annual 5K run and 3K walk happens today at the zoo. Interested runners should check out the registration Website, which includes full information on how to register and where to show up on the day of the event. All proceeds from the event go to helping take care of the zoo's animals.