The Mountain Goats @ The OpenEnd Gallery

Don't miss the brilliant Mountain Goats in a rare all-ages performance tonight presented by the Empty Bottle at the OpenEnd Gallery - 2000 W Fulton. Tickets are $12.

Rhino Theater Fest: Hit Me Like a Flower

A new play by Beau O'Reilly for the Rhinoceros Theater Fest. "Hit Me Like a Flower continues O'Reilly's “Big Play” experiment: large casts, lots of story line, expanse. Sarah Wallace has come to an East-Coast waspish town to start her therapy practice and cast a watchful eye over her long-estranged college daughter Terry, known to her friends as “Oddhead.” Sarah’s patients: Arthur Moore, a psychopath with a bear suit and a 2 by 4; William Coughlin, a sometime novelist of minor fame who is recovering from a stroke; and Mrs. Chester, a woman who has been living on the streets but now is ready for a bus ride. Terry’s friends are Saul and Hannah, and they are in their 20’s, skating tough, and worried about the war." 7pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

Rhino Theater Fest: The Authentics

A new play by Paula Gilovich, as part of the Rhinoceros Theater Fest. "At the center of The Authentics is a plane crash from which only awkward, perverse David Wise has been pulled. The crash brings him Sarah Sharp, the reporter who covers his disaster, and a lost father looking for money. With the father comes a charismatic sidekick, and with Sarah comes a successful mother in the business of everyone's business. A wry look at the inherently absurd forces that create what's real, strange, funny, unromantic, fast, and furious is the universe of The Authentics. Sex, gender, death, disappointment, dismemberment, semi-celebrity, Chinese food, editors, and bus stations: this is life authentic." 9pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

"Playing French" Festival Opens

"Playing French: Chicago’s First Festival of Contemporary Plays From France," is the first event of its kind in the U.S. and it hits Chicago starting this weekend. The festival features full productions and staged readings (in English translation, unless otherwise noted) presented by Chicago area theater ensembles and runs from October 1–November 28. Details at the official website. Tickets can be purchased at individual venues and companies.

Pilsen East Artists' Open House

The 34th annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House takes place this weekend. Open house hours are Saturday & Sunday, October 2 and 3, from 12 to 7 p.m. For more information and a map (PDF) check out the Chicago Arts District website, or call Cynthia West at 312-738-8000, ex. 108, or email cwest@chicagoartsdistrict.org or info@chicagoartsdistrict.org.

Environ vs. Balihu @ Smart Bar

Taking a break from the usual Metro Area residency, Environ label head Morgan Geist and Daniel Wang of Balihu hit Smart Bar for a night of quality disco and seriously quirky house music. Starting at 10 PM and running until (!!) 5 AM, expect to shake it to your fair share of both classic cuts and guilty pleasures. $10 gets those of age in for the long haul. Smart Bar, 3730 N Clark St, underneath Metro.

Notebaert Nature Museum Celebration Weekend

The Notebaert Nature Museum is holding a Celebration Weekend Oct. 2–3 this year. Opening permanent exhibits include "Mysteries of the Marsh" which highlights one of the Midwest’s most unique ecosystems through hands-on, interactive activities; "Rooftop Stop" which showcases the Museum’s expanded rooftop gardens and gives visitors an opportunity to design their own green roof at a computer kiosk; and "RiverWorks" (formerly the Water Lab, an interactive water play exhibit with hands-on activities showing the importance of river ecology. The Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. Admission is free Oct. 2–3, 2004 and every Thursday. General admission to the Nature Museum is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 –12, $5 for seniors age 60+ and college students. Chicago residents receive a $1 discount off the price of general admission. For more information, call (773) 755-5100 or visit the museum’s website.  

Book Fair @ Roosevelt University

Puddin'head Press and Roosevelt University's Actos de Inconsciencia are sponsoring a Book Fair at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago on today from 2 to 6 p.m. It will be held in the Congress Lounge on the second floor of Roosevelt University at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway. Admission to the fair is free. (There's a $10.00 fee to be a participating vendor. Each vendor will have a table to sell their books.) For more information visit the Puddin'head website or contact Dave Gecic at PHBooks@compuserve.com.

Bringing Up Baby @ Music Box

The 1938 Howard Hawks comedy Bringing Up Baby was one of the best films that starred Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. The film is being shown as part of an extended Cary Grant tribute happening at the Music Box. Showtimes: Saturday and Sunday at 11:30. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Outsider Art sale

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art presents a two-day sale of folk and outsider art from all across the country. The sale runs today and tomorrow at 847 W. Jackson, 2nd floor. Hours are 11:00 - 7:00 today, 11:00 - 6:00 tomorrow. In addition to the sale, there will be a Sunday morning open house at Intuit (756 N. Milwaukee) tomorrow morning from 9:00 to 11:00. For more details, see the Intuit Website, or call them at (312) 243-9088.

Whitney Young Fall Festival

On October 2, 2004, from noon to 5 p.m., the Friends of Whitney Young Magnet High School will conduct its first annual Whitney Young Fall Festival. There will be food vendors, music, games and other entertainment. The event will be held on the East Campus of the school located at Jackson and Loomis and all are welcome to attend. For more information, call 312-791-0087.

Wild Scallion Urban Adventure Race

The Wild Scallion Urban Adventure Race happens today. A 6-hour combination of a triathlon, stair climb, in-line skating, orienteering, and a few more surprises, the race had 120 teams last year, and looks to be just as big this year. Registration closes September 21, so hurry hurry hurry and sign up for this unique race experience! See the Urban Adventure Website for registration and further information.

Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival

The 3rd Annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival happens today, from noon to 6 p.m. in Roger's Park. Along with food from local restaurants, a studio walk/open house, and a Kidfest, there will be three bands: Taniq, jazz ensemble D.Bayne Septet along with music from local rockability favorite, the Git Gone Boys. For more information about this free event, check out the Roger's Park website.

I Want a President Who @ SpareRoom

As a part of a series of public artworks inviting people to share their thoughts regarding leadership and creating art in the process, the public art collaborative Anti Gravity Surprise has organized events every Saturday in October in Chicago. The first is today from 1 to 4 p.m. at SpareRoom located at 2416 W. North Avenue in Humboldt Park. The afternoon will feature election-inspired artworks, street performances, and an open discussion. At 3 p.m there will be a presentation by Earl Silbar, a union organizer. For more information, email AGS@anti-gravity.info.