Derailroaded: "Wild Man" Fischer doc @ Film Center

Derailroaded is a 2005 documentary that introduces the viewer to Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, a street musician from LA who got committed to mental institutions twice, yet ended up having a fairly productive career: Frank Zappa recorded him on his Bizarre label, Rhino Records put out a 45 of Fischer back when it was still just a record store, and he cut a duet with Rosemary Clooney (no, really). Derailroaded screens tonight at 5:00 at the Siskel Film Center, and also on Thursday, June 30. Tickets are $9, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Chicago SummerDance

The ninth annual Chicago SummerDance festival of public dancing continues tonight in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park (601 S. Michigan, between Harrison and Balbo). This evening's entertainment: Bob & Penny Urbon and the Bill Porter Orchestra, teaching foxtrot and ballroom dancing. SummerDance features one hour of dance lessons, followed by two hours of live music and dancing. Tonight's show runs from 4:00 to 7:00, and SummerDance runs at the park Wednesday-Sunday nights (weather permitting) through August 28. See the SummerDance site for a complete schedule.

Die Kase Hause Closing Reception

From 1-5 PM today, Foundation Gallery will be holding a closing reception for its current exhibition, Die Kase Hause. Die Kase Hause is an artist collective comrpised of Jeremiah Ketner, David Phillips, Gregory Shirilla, Jeffrey Williams and Aaron Zimmerman. According to a recent release, "It is not philosophy or style that unites [them], but rather a true compulsion to make art. What was once a group of students working closely together in Columbus, Ohio now has become a loose collection of members dispersed nationwide." You can see their work on the gallery's website if you like, but the reception is open to all. Foundation Gallery is located in the River West district at 700 North Carpenter Street, one block southeast from the Chicago/Milwaukee/Ogden intersection. Call 312.860.0740 for more information.

36th Annual Pride Parade

The 36th annual Pride Parade kicks off today at noon, at the corner of Halsted & Belmont. Lots and lots of queer boys and girls. You know you want to go! Full info at ChicagoPrideCalendar.org, or call (773) 348-8243 for details.

Fractal Edge Press book release @ Corosh

Corosh Restaurant (1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago) and Fractal Edge Press will host a book release and signing for the launch of Beatriz Badikian Gartler’s first novel, "Old Gloves: A 20th Century Saga," today from 3:30pm – 6:30pm. Badikian Gartler is one of the most prominent Latina writers and lecturers in Chicago and has earned a national reputation with her book of poems, Mapmaker Revisited, an excerpt of which was part of the “Poetry in Motion” project that brought poetry to mass transit in several major US cities, including Chicago. She and several other friends will be reading excerpts from the novel, the story of an educated Armenian family forced out of Turkey and trying to assimilate into a succession of new nations and cultures on three continents over six decades.

The reading will also be broadcast on the Internet as live, streaming audio by Ink & Ashes.

WiReD NextFest @ Navy Pier

Zap ka-pow! The future shows up this weekend, as WiReD magazine's two-day technology conference NextFest concludes its run at Navy Pier. Come and see all the technology you were promised in the 21st century: robots, flying cars, invisibility coats, unmanned transport, and so much more. There will be pavilions demonstrating all this boss future tech, and there will also be a series of discussions and demonstrations by some special guests to the show. The show is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. See the NextFest site for full details and to purchase tickets. Time is running out on the future; don't miss it!