Bloc Party, Ponys @ Metro

England's Bloc Party, the buzz band to beat in '05, hits the Metro in the wake of the stateside release of their debut full-length Silent Alarm, which dropped March 22 allowing those of us with high morals and a healthy fear of the RIAA to finally hear what those internet downloaders have been talking about for months (see Pfork wetness here). Local hotness The Ponys open. 9pm, 18+, 3730 N. Clark. Tickets are $13 at Hi-Fi Records adjacent to the Metro or, y'know, more through the usual suspects.
GB staff member KV will be in attendance.

Theater Thursdays: Take Me Out

The League of Chicago Theatres' Theater Thursdays event visits Take Me Out (About Face at Steppenwolf Upstairs). Appropriately for a play about baseball, tonight's pre-show reception features hot dogs and beer; stay after the show for a discussion with director Eric Rosen and the designers and cast. Pre-show event starts at 6:30pm, show at 7:30. Tickets are $20. Call 312-335-1650 and mention "Theater Thursdays."

Chicago Horror Film Festival

Boo! The Chicago Horror Film Festival creeps into the 3 Penny Cinema for the next three days. More horror films than you can shake a stick at (a SCARY stick!), plus a special appearance by Ari Lehman (you know, the original Jason from the Friday the 13th films). Tonight from 6pm to midnight, the line-up is Reaper Madness, Separation Anxiety, Unreal, Body 82, The Raven, In the Dark, Latchkey, 2 Minutes 25 Seconds, Feast of Souls and Side F/X. The festival runs through April 3rd; see the website for a full schedule and to purchase tickets.

Manhunter @ Film Center

As part of its celebration of the films of Michael Mann, the Siskel Film Center presents Mann's 1986 film Manhunter, the first film version of a Thomas Harris novel featuring Hannibal Lecter (played by Brian Cox, not Anthony Hopkins). See the Film Center's site for a complete list of Mann films that are screening as part of the film series. The movie shows tonight at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $9, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Arts for Life Fundraiser @ Open End

Tonight at Open End Gallery, 2000 W. Fulton, there's a benefit for Arts for Life, a nonprofit that "provides adults with developmental disabilities an environment to experience personal growth. In addition to being a working arts studio arts of life is a collective of artists dedicated to promoting self respect, developing personal independence and artistic skills."

There will be a silent auction, raffle prizes, interactive art and performances by The Church Animals, Violence Ammunition and two other bands* whose names we can't tell you. Doors open at 9pm, and there's a $7 minimum donation.

*We can hint, though. We hear one's a group of religious detectives, and the other's a shit machine.

World Kitchen Class: Think Spring - Cocktail Party

World Kitchen is a state-of-the-art culinary teaching facility offers the opportunity to learn and experience the true pleasures of food for people at any level of cooking experience. Classes are hands-on, lectures or demonstrations. Instructors, unless otherwise noted, are World Kitchen staff members Rick Delby, Judith Dunbar Hines and Jennifer Manning. All World Kitchen classes are $30 and require pre-registration. Reservations for all classes can be made by phone, on-line or visit the box office located at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph St. The box office is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6pm.

Tonight's class is titled, "Think Spring - Cocktail Party" and runs from 6-8:30pm and will be Hands-on. Class description: "Nothing is more appealing when spring arrives than a celebratory gathering of friends for a casual cocktail party. Kim Shambrook of Bespoke Cuisine leads class through a menu of all-veggie appetizers, including great tips on serving and garnishing."