Celebrating Diversity @ Chicago Public Library

The Chicago Public Library kicks of African American History Month with a special celebration featuring dance, music and theatrical performances. The event will start at 1pm at the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted Ave., and will also honor Emily R. Guss, the retired director of the Woodson Library, with the 2007 Trailblazer Award. More on the CPL's special programs for African American History Month can be found at chicagopubliclibrary.org.

Cremaster 4 & 5 @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center continues a screening of the infamous Cremaster Cycle tonight with screenings of the last two films in the series, Cremaster 4 and Cremaster 5. Tap dancing, opera, and motorcycle racing. Tonight's screening is at 6:45 PM, and the program will be reshown in the next few days; see the Film Center Website for a complete schedule of the screenings. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Sacred Art First Anniversary Events

Sacred Art, the Roscoe Village boutique that showcases affordable art made by Chicago artists, is celebrating its first year in business with a remodeled space and a slew of nifty events. Stop by the shop today from 3-5 pm for free clairvoyant readings and a raffle.

Q & ART @ The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute kicks off its February Free Days by posting curators, conservators, and educators throughout the gallery to give talks and answer questions. Lectures, concerts and the such will run all day. Details on the AIC's event page. Free to the public; 10am-5pm at the Art Institute; 111 S Michigan Ave.

HOT MESS Closing Party

HOT MESS, an exhibition of paintings by Caleb Lyons and Peter Hoffman, closes tonight with a "ceremony" including live improvised music by local saxophonist Celia Whiren and Jacob Christopher on laptop. These musical artists will be collaborating in response to the painting exhibition HOT MESS by Caleb Lyons and Peter Hoffman. Doors open at 8pm, BYOB, with a $5 suggested donation (all proceeds go to the musicians.) The Green Lantern,1511 N Milwaukee Ave., second floor.

Camera Obscura, The Essex Green @ Logan Square Auditorium

Brutal cold got you down? Let a night of '60s sunshine pop at Logan Square Auditorium thaw your ears. Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell's dainty pop vocals smoothly mesh with strings and shimmery guitars that harken Belle and Sebastian's best moments. Brooklynites The Essex Green add another layer of girl-fronted pop brightness as opener. Doors are at 8:30 PM. For more information call 773.252.6179.

Uptown Writer's Space Reading

The Uptown Writer's Space explores "the realms of desire and poor impulse control" in their reading, "The Heart Wants What it Wants." Readers include Nathan Drew, Bill Fritz, Cara Jepsen, Vicki Quade, Rebeccas Sohna and Marianna Swallow. A $5 suggested donation gets you in and include chocolate and wine. 7:30pm at 4802 N. Broadway, #200. Call 773-275-1000 for more information.

Genealogy and Local History Orientation @ Newberry Library

This informal orientation covers library resources available to research family and neighborhood history. 9:30 AM. Free. 60 W Walton Street. For more information, call 312-255-3700 or visit the website.

Scott Amendola Band feat. Nels Cline @ Empty Bottle

The Empty Bottle Jazz Series is pleased to present a special live engagement with San Francisco-based percussionist Scott Amendola. For the better part of fifteen years, Amendola's work composing and writing with some of jazz music's most innovative talents has garnered him worldwide acclaim. For this show, Amendola will be fronting The Scott Amendola band, a group the Seattle Weekly has applauded for its "fierce, gnarled energy." This outing will feature Amendola on drums and effects, Jeff Parker and Wilco's Nels Cline on guitars and Jenny Scheinman on violin. $10 ($8 advance), at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, at 7pm.

Amigurumi Demo @ Chicago Tourism Center

Beth Doherty demonstrates this Japanese crochet method, which is used to make stuffed toys. Browse through her work and try your hand at a few stitches. Complimentary materials are provided. 11 AM to 4 PM. Free. 72 E Randolph. For more information, call 312-744-2400 or visit the website.

University of Chicago Folk Festival

The University of Chicago presents the U of C Folk Festival, a three-day event featuring folk music workshops and performances during the day, and concerts in the evening. Among the list of performers scheduled for the evening concerts: the Pine Leaf Boys; Veretski Pass; Vesta Johnson; and the Elkins String Ticklers. The daytime workshops will be at Ida Noyes Hall (1212 E. 59th Street), and the concerts will be at Mandel Hall (1135 E. 57th Street). See the Folk Festival Website for a complete listing of all events.

Culture, Community, and Black Chicago, 1940-1955

Join historian Adam Green at the Newberry Library to hear his argument that "black Chicagoans in the 1940s and 50s were at the center of a national movement to develop a unified consciousness and culture, fostering ideas of racial identity that remain influential today." 11am at 60 W. Walton. Call 312-255-3700 for more information.

Jungman School Grassroots Event @ Museum of Mexican Art

Future activists and current 7th & 8th Graders at Jungman School in Pilsen will be culminating a quarter's worth of research & discussion on social issues that effect their community (Immigration, HIV Awareness, Gentrification, School Violence, Graffiti Art, War in Iraq, and Global Warming) with a Grassroots Gathering at The National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 West 19th St.) from 12:00 - 4:00 pm.

Students will also be performing in drum circles, break dancing, and reading poetry.

For further information, you can contact Jungman School at 773 534 7375.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome.