Eye of Cruelty @ Film Center

Fans of the surreal and horrific will want to check out the Chicago premiere of Eye of Cruelty tonight at 8:00 PM at the Siskel Film Center. Filmed in Chicago, the surreal storyline includes nuns, underground cartoonists, alleyways, and a very odd party. Director Christopher Hyatt and members of the cast and crew will be at the screening for audience discussion. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Bergman film festival @ Music Box

Ingmar Bergman is one of those film directors that everybody talks about as one of the great ones, but you never do seem to have enough time to rent his movies. Well, now you don't have an excuse. The Music Box is showing a list of 10 Bergman movies in the next 9 days. Today and tomorrow, you'll get to see Bergman's 1984 Oscar winner Fanny and Alexander, and in the days to come you'll be able to see: The Seventh Seal; The Virgin Spring; Autumn Sonata; The Magician; Cries and Whispers; The Magic Flute; Persona; Smiles of A Summer Night; and Wild Strawberries. Whew. Check the Music Box Website for showtimes. Music Box Theater: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Crimes and Misdemeanors @ Film Center

The Siskel Film Center winds up its fall series on American film comedy with a screening of Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors tonight at 6:00 PM, and on Tuesday the 14th at 6:00 PM. If you like your movies with a scholarly lecture, you might want to wait for Tuesday's screening, as it will be accompanied by a lecture from Gerald R. Butters of Aurora University. Tickets are $9, or $4 for Film Center members and SAIC students. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

GB Get-Together

Hey! Come meet us at Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark. for a drink or two and some conversation.
We'll be in the upstairs bar starting at 9pm. We'll have a few t-shirts on hand, in case you want to pick one up. If you haven't been to one of these before, don't be afraid! Check the Proprietors page for some headshots for easy identification. )Sorry kids, it's 21 and over -- it's a bar after all.)

Human Rights Day Peace Vigil

Initiating an ongoing Friday vigil for peace, a group of health care workers invite Chicago area people to join them on Friday, December 10, (Human Rights Day), for a gathering that calls for an end to war and urges that US resources be directed toward meeting human needs at home and abroad, rather than causing ongoing war and impoverishment. The vigil starts at 3:30 p.m. at 845 South Damen, at the UIC College of Nursing entrance. For more information contact Gerri Gorman, R.N./Ph.D. at 312.413.9013 or email ggorman@uic.edu.

Jingle Brawl Roller Derby Fundraiser

Get out and support Chicago's all-female roller derby league. Join local musical acts including Tight Phantoms, Lord Mike's Dirty Calypsonians, and Scott Lucas (Local H) -- presumably doing his cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." It's all happening -- booze, raffles, and derby dolls -- at the Logan Square Auditorium this Friday, December 10.

Discrete Poetry Series @ 3030

The Discrete Series @ 3030 presents Devin Johnston and Chris Pusateri tonight
at 8 p.m. at 3030 W. Cortland. There is a $5 suggested donation BYOB. Devin Johnston is the author of two books of poetry, Aversions (Omnidawn, 2004) and Telepathy (Paper Bark Press, 2001), as well as a number of chapbooks.With Michael O'Leary, he directs Flood Editions, an independent and nonprofit press for poetry and short fiction. He lives in St Louis, Missouri. Chris Pusateri's recent work was or will be published in Chicago Review, Fence, Jacket, LVNG, Rain Taxi, Tinfish, and others. He currently lives in Seattle, where he is on the editorial board of Reverse Books. In February 2005, he will curate "Sacred Speed: A Retrospective," which focuses on the work of San Francisco-based filmmaker Nathaniel Dorsky. 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 presents 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. The series is coordinated by Jesse Seldess, editor ofAntennae, and Kerri Sonnenberg, editor of Conundrum.

Naked Poetry Anti-Slam

Just in time for winter, a "Naked Poetry Anti-Slam" takes place tonight at 3829 N. Broadway (2 blocks South of Irving Park Road). The performance gets started at 8 p.m. followed by 11 p.m. dance party. This is what the organizers had to say: "The Naked Poetry Anti-Slam exerts a non-sexual, non-competitive maxim, encouraging authors to read as long as they'd like while audience patience is garnered by the furthered honesty of the naked body. The Naked Poetry Anti-Slam showcases these beings, driven to the heights of vernacular from the simplest delights of the body as a blank canvas. Participate with Chicago's most fascinating performers, effecting our collective unconscious in rhapsody, in a redefined anatomy of being." There is a $10 donation requested. Poets and Musical Performers include: Ozkr Dragonflies DuSoliel, Barrie Cole, Aurora Danai, Ellie Maybe, Just Joking Jerry, Christine Phillips, Bob La Bla, Phaelan Levelle, Shawnecee Nation, I Like Action!, DJ Kenny Dread. For more information please contact Teri Vrakas by emailing teri@muralivegot.com or call (773) 292-0292. No cameras / No gropers / No drunken pukers, please!

Winter Festival of Art

Head on down to the Chicago Arts District this weekend at South Halsted and 18th Street for their gala Winter Festival of Art. More than 50 artists will have their galleries and studios open all weekend long. The monthly Second Friday gallery openings will kick-off the festival tomorrow starting at 6pm. Then the event continues Saturday from 12-7pm and Sunday from 12-5pm. Visit the website for more information.