One Ring Zero doc @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents As Smart As They Are: The Author Project, a documentation of the project that the band One Ring Zero embarked upon to collaborate on songs with a series of award-winning writers (Jonathan Ames, Paul Aster, Myla Goldberg, Jonathan Lethem, and others). The film screens tonight at 8:45 PM, and again on Saturday, October 28 at 4:45 PM. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members. Film Center. 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Matt Madden reading @ Evanston Public Library

The Third Coast Festival presents a reading with cartoonist Matt Madden, who will be showing slides from his book 99 Ways to Tell A Story, inspired by Raymond Queneau's Exercises in Style, which Madden will also be reading this evening. The event starts tonight at 6:30 PM; the event is free and open to the public. Evanston Public Library: 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston. (847) 448-8600.

La Pena: Flamenco Night @ Old Town School

Part of the Old Town School's free fall Latin folk music and dance showcase, an evening of flamenco music and dance begins at 8:30 PM. 4544 N Lincoln. For more information, call 773-728-6000 or visit the website.

Step Up Women's Network Event

Step Up Women's Network, a nonprofit membership organization, is hosting its first professional development event in Chicago. A panel discussion on achieving work-life balance takes place at the Wheeler Mansion (2020 S. Calumet Ave, 312.945.2020), in the South Loop, from 6-8 pm. Keynote speakers include Sue Katz, co-founder of Amazing Cosmetics, as featured in "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Sex and City"; and Beth Aldrich, Founder and CEO of In Her Shoes, LCC. Tickets are free for members; $20 for non-members. Tickets are limited. Regiser online or call 312.794.7830.

Panel Discussion: The Immigrant's Journey & the Tangle of Identity

As part of the One Book, One Chicago program, DePaul University is holding a panel discussion on "The Immigrant's Journey and the Tangle of Identity." In the discussion, DePaul faculty will examine Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies from literary and historical perspectives, focusing on the challenges of assimilatioin and acculturation, the shifting definitions of happiness and success, and how longing and loss shape these newly American lives. Free and open to the public at 6pm, 2320 N. Sheffield Ave in the Student Center, Room 120. Call 773-325-7840 for more information.

Chicago Calling 24hr Arts Fest

From midnight on Wednesday through midnight on Thursday, Chicago-based artists will showcase performances and projects that involve collaborations with artists living in other locations in the U.S. and worldwide in "Chicago Calling." The collaborations between Chicago-based artists and those living elsewhere could be prepared, improvised, or a combination of both. "For instance, a Chicago-based poet will be collaborating with a musician from Niger, a Chicago-based performance ensemble will be collaborating with a Malaysian musician, and so on. Some of the performances will involve live feeds between Chicago and elsewhere."

Venues include Elastic, Bloom Yoga Studio, Peter Jones Gallery, Café Mestizo, WNUR, The Hyde Park Art Center, Muse Café, The Empty Bottle, Quimby's, Mess Hall and The Hamlin Park Fieldhouse. Check the Chicago Calling website for a full list of artists and schedule, and check with individual venues for ticket price.

In July @ Cultural Center

See a movie on the first floor of the Cultural Center, while eating a catered, sister-city (Hamburg) -influenced meal from Fox & Obel. 5:30 PM, 78 E Washington, $15. Reservations are required: call 312-742 TIXS (8497). For more information, visit the website.

Walking Poem Performance Downtown

Starting at noon today at the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza poet and artist Jennifer Karmin will begin a public recitation of submitted poems, short stories, essays and letters about various places in Chicago, using the pieces as her map for the afternoon. Once read out loud, each piece will be given away to passing pedestrians. "A gesture similar to Pablo Picasso's, who gave his sculpture as a 'gift to the people of Chicago' and refused a fee for this work. " The Walking Poem is being sponsored by "Chicago Calling: a 24-Hour Arts Festival," a series of collaborative art events taking place throughout Chicago on October 25th. October 25th was chosen as the date of "Chicago Calling" because it is Pablo Picasso's birthday. The complete schedule of events is available online. The Walking Poem performance begins at noon at the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza at 50 W. Washington Street and is free.

Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens @ Hideout

Tonight's the record release fun for Delmark artists Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens. They'll play at the Hideout tonight as a part of Ken Vandermark's Immediate Sound series. The Fast Citizens include Keefe Jackson on tenor sax and bass clarinet, Josh Berman on cornet, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Anton Hatwich on bass, and Frank Rosaly on drums. The evening starts with DJ sets by Mitch Cocanig. It's just $6 for two sets! Bargain jazz! Music starts at 9:30pm. More info in Transmission.