MONDO @ Darkroom

A MONDO show defies description. It's art. But many different kinds – visual art, theatre, performance, music – all together at once. In no particular order. So if you've seen one show, you still have no idea what to expect next time. This particular incarnation of MONDO will be an Operatic/Carnivalesque fashion show, with vintage opera and circus costumes. Plus performances by People Will Blink, Glass and rotating vinyl by deejays Onefiftyone, C-Mass and John Eldhart.

Then they have the nerve to promise more surprises. Can your heart take it? Go see this Sunday, August 14th, at 9pm at the Darkroom, 2210 West Chicago Ave. $5 cover. More info at Chicago Mondo site.

WLUW Montrose Saloon Music Festival

WLUW holds its third annual Montrose Saloon Music Festival today from noon to 7pm at the Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose. This family-friendly event will feature accoustic performances by Dorothy & Kent McDaniels, Erika, James Conway, Kelly Kessler, Billly Goat Boys, Kentucky Hilltoppers, REO Chuckwagon, Elly & John Wright, Cody Dietkoff, Bucky Halker, Mark Sheehy, the Rubes and Corn Meal. Tickets are just $7, BYO lawnchair (if you want). More info on WLUW's front page.

Windy City Rollers' Birthday Bash Bout

The Windy City Rollers roller derby league celebrates its first anniversary with a couple rounds of mayhem tonight at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. It also happens to be the 70th anniversary of the birth of roller derby right here in Chicago, and several Roller Derby Hall of Fame skaters will be making appearances. Doors open at 5pm, matches start at 6pm. Tickets are $10. More info here.

Ginza Holiday Festival

The Midwest Buddhist Temple is proud to sponsor the 50th Annual Ginza Holiday celebration in Chicago from 11:30 am-9:30pm (starting at 5:30pm on Friday) on August 12-14, 2005 at 435 W. Menomonee St. Chicago. This is a three day festival featuring Japanese culture, stage shows, crafts, food and merchandise. There will be a raffle, entertainment, and lots of different musical demonstrations. For more information, contact the Midwest Buddhist Temple 312-943-7801.

Old Town School Garage Sale

The Old Town School of Folk Music presents their annual garage sale, a giant clearinghouse of old and new music equipment from their music store, the Different Strummer. The school goes through a lot of equipment over the year, and the garage sale is a good place to get a deal on new, slightly used, or heavily used guitars, banjos, drums, or any other instrument the store might rent out to the students. Today is the last day of the sale, so everything must go, usually at a steep discount. Hours today are from 10:00 to 3:00. See the Old Town School site for full details. Old Town School of Folk Music: 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue. (773) 751-3398.