THE2NDHAND Release Party & Reading

THE2NDHAND celebrates the release of its 15th issue, "LE2EMEMAIN," tonight at the Skylark, 2149 S. Halsted. Editors Todd Dills and Jeb Gleason-Allured are joined by Joe Meno and Jonathan Messinger in some brief readings and prolonged debauchery. Free, 7:30pm, 21 and over. More info at the2ndhand.com.

Rhino Theater Fest: POWER brecht-down 2004

A new Bertolt Brecht revue, adapted by Stefan Brün. Part of the Rhinoceros Theater Festival. "Jenny Magnus and Beau O'Reilly break down power for you in a new revue devoted to this, unfortunately, so timely poet and playwright. POWER brecht-down 2004 includes texts and songs never before translated into English as well as The Beggar or the Dead Dog, Money Medley and an excerpt from Brecht's Training Manual for War. Part of Curious’s Rhino ’04 look back at the masters who influenced us." 7pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

Train to be a Pollwatcher

The League of Women Voters of Chicago and the snappy website i am the government will be offering free training for people interested in being a pollwatcher on November 2nd. Training takes place tonight (as well as most nights througout October) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the League of Women Voters offices at 332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1050, Chicago. For more information, or to read True Pollwatcher Stories check here.

Movieside Halloween Spooktacular @ Darkroom

Get your Halloween on early this year tonight from 8 p.m.–2 a.m. @ the Movieside Halloween Spooktacular at The Darkroom located at 2210 W. Chicago Ave. The evening includes a costume contest, prizes, music by Mucus, Love Dictators, The Mayor Of Rock N' Roll, Naughty Nurses, and DJ Jump Cut. Also planned are a mini haunted house and "the juggling demons of death." Teri Danai Vrakas will read Edgar Allen Poe, there will be ghost stories by Shag as well as Scary/Funny Movies by Usama Alshaibi, Chris Brown, Matt Marsden, Noe Kidder, Rusty Nails and many more. Admission is Free. Call 773.907.8513 for more info.

The Lit Show on WNUR

Author John Keene reads on the Lit Show (89.3 FM/wnur.org), Sunday, October 24, from 3-3:30pm.

John Keene is the author of the novel ANNOTATIONS, and, with artist Christopher Stackhouse, of the art-text chapbook, SEISMOSIS. His work has appeared in such periodicals as AFRICAN AMERICAN REVIEW, BRIDGE, FENCE, HAMBONE, INDIANA REVIEW, KENYON REVIEW, NEW AMERICAN WRITING, and PLOUGHSHARES. Among his recent honors is a 2003 Fellowship in Poetry from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. He teaches creative writing and contemporary literature in the English Department at Northwestern.

The Lit Show is a weekly radio show on WNUR 89.3 FM that features writers reading their own creative work, whether poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, or translation. The Lit Show airs from 3-3:30 pm Sundays on Northwestern University's WNUR 89.3 FM, with a live webcast at www.wnur.org, and hosts a new author reading every week.

Myopic Books Reading

Myopic Books (1564 N. Milwaukee Avenue) presents a poetry reading featuring Murat Nemet-Nejat and Peter O'Leary this Sunday, October 24th at 7 pm. This event is part of the Myopic Poetry Series, which takes place every Sunday at 7 pm. Check out the website for more information on this weeks featured authors, and what to look forward to at future events.

Haunting History in Evanston

This Halloween, Evanston’s Charles Gates Dawes House will once again take on a spectacularly spooky atmosphere as magician and Halloween expert David Parr returns to lead visitors on eerie interactive tours of the historic mansion. From Oct. 22 through 31, at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, Parr will lead small groups on dramatic tours of the mansion during which each room offers an encounter with the uncanny and supernatural. Objects move on their own accord, cryptic messages are written by invisible hands, and shadowy forms lurk in hallways. Equal parts history and mystery, Parr’s spooky tours offer visitors a side of the historic home that few ever encounter. The Dawes House, built in 1896, is an essential part of the show. The three-story historic mansion, once the home of U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes, is distinguished by its dark oak woodwork and majestic stained glass. Chosen because of its massive, foreboding appearance to be the home of mob boss John Rooney (portrayed by Paul Newman) in the feature film Road to Perdition, the house’s vast spaces, dim lighting, and shadowy corridors make it the perfect setting for Parr’s type of eerie Halloween event. The Charles Gates Dawes House is located at 225 Greenwood St., Evanston. Performances are at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, with additional performances at 9 p.m. Oct. 28–31 and at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. Spectators attending performances at 8 p.m. or later should park only on Greenwood Street. Tickets are $20 per person. For reservations or more information, call 847-475-3410, email evanstonhs@northwestern.edu or visit Parr's website.

The Lure and Lore of Spices

The Spice House is one of my favorite shops. The staff is always friendly and super-knowledgeable, always ready to answer questions. This Saturday and Sunday 10-11:30am, owners Patty and Tom Erd will be at the Chalet Nursery Education Center, 3132 Lake Ave. in Wilmette, presenting "The Lure and Lore of Spices," featuring the fascinating history of spices, interesting trivia and spice tastings. The first 50 people at each session get a goodie bag. Call the Chalet at 847/256-0561 for more info.

Printer's Row Loft Walk

More than a dozen South Loop private residences will be open for public viewing for one day only on Sunday, October 24, from noon to 5 p.m. during the 7th Annual South Loop Neighbors Loft Walk. This annual event showcases urban living in Printers' Row and the South Loop to local audiences and throughout Chicagoland. As many as 1,000 people have attended in recent years! Cost: $15 in advance (online or at select locations), $20 day of at the starting point Dearborn Station, 47 W. Polk St. Volunteer for half the walk (12–2:30 p.m. or 2:30–5 p.m.) and tour the walk for FREE the other half. Proceeds support South Loop Neighbors, a member-based neighborhood association, helping underwrite education, engagement and advocacy on local quality-of-life issues.