Lampo presents: Swedish multimedia artist Leif Elggren @ 60Dum

Tonight at 9pm Lampo is presenting the latest work from Leif Elggren titled "If Other People Exist Then They Are Totally Sealed Secrets (The Voice as an Irregular Sound Generator). The event is being described as consisting of "voice and video, motors and vibrating tin can crowns." After Leif's solo performance he'll perform as a duet with Chicagoan Kevin Drumm. Lampo is a Chicago non-profit that presents experimental music and intermedia events.

The show will take place at 9pm at 60Dum located at 2116 W. Chicago Ave. Email info@lampo.org for more info.

Maple Tree Tapping @ North Park Village Nature Center

Maple syrup doesn't have to come from Vermont. The whole tree-tapping, syrup-making process takes place right here in the city, at the North Park Village Nature Center, located at 5801 N. Pulaski Road. From 1 pm to 2:30 pm this Saturday and Sunday (as well as March 10th and 11th), you can learn how it's all done and sample the sweet final product. Registration is required ahead of time. Call (312) 744-5472. For more information, visit the park's events page.

Vintage Beer Fest @ Delilah's

For just $20, taste over 80 different beers from 50 breweries at this event, held annually at Delilah's, the funky bar at 2771 N. Lincoln. The festival lasts from noon to 6 pm and features brews from Goose Island, Piece Brewery, and Three Floyds. Call 773-472-2771 for more information.

Cremaster 3 @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center finishes a screening of the infamous Cremaster Cycle tonight with a screening of the most recent film in the series, Cremaster 3. It's got something to do with the building of the Chrysler Building and dentistry, I think. Tonight's screening is at 7:15 PM, and the film will be screened again on Monday, February 26 at 6:30 PM. 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.

Red Rover Series

An experiment in reading, the Red Rover Series enacts its 11th experiment, "Forth Sound Back," featuring writers and artists presenting their long-distance collaborations with each other. Participants include Christopher Alexander, Rheim Alkadhi, Tara Betts, Jonn Salovaara, Duane Vorhees and more. Local poet and musician Dan Godston serves as guest curator for the event. Suggested donation is $3. 7pm at SpareRoom, 2114 W. Grand. Call 773-645-1853 for more information.

"War is Bad": Sock Puppet Euripides @ Martyrs

"War Is Bad: Sock Puppet Euripides" condenses three classic Greek plays about war to 20 minutes each to get to the essential point that war is bad.

The show will be at Martyr's (3855 N. Lincoln) at 6:30. Tickets are $12. For more information call 773-404-9494 or visit the website.

Profits will be donated to humanitarian relief in Iraq.

Fangoria Weekend of Horror

Horror film magazine Fangoria holds its annual Weekend of Horror this weekend at the Wyndham Chicago O'Hare, 6810 N. Mannheim Rd. in Rosemont. Meet dozens of the actors from famous frightfests, check out panels discussing movies past and future, watch preview screenings of upcoming releases, listen to horror-influenced bands Dead by Day and Fashion Bomb, and much more. Tickets and more information here.

Liquid Soul @ House of Blues

Second night for the Grammy-nominated Chicago-based "electronic jazz" ensemble Liquid Soul at the House of Blues. 312.923.2000 for tix, or order them from the HOB online. Liquid Soul, February 24, 9:30pm at the House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St. $15, 21+

Micromentalism Art Show

Second show of local artist Patrick W. Welch's new Micromentalism art movement (small and challenging art at small and unchallenging prices) takes place at Butcher Shop / Dogmatic Gallery, Saturday February 24, 2007, 6 to 10 p.m., 1319 W. Lake St., 3rd Fl., Chicago 60607

16th Annual Coming Out Against Cancer Ball

The Lesbian Community Cancer Project's annual dinner/dance/fundraiser is THE winter social event for all the fine ladies. This year's theme is "Flappers and Fedoras," and the ornate South Shore Cultural Center will feature five "speakeasies," two juke joints, a silent auction, dinner, awards, and a bunch of chocolate. All proceeds benefit LCCP's programs. Tickets are $75 in advance, $100 at the door.

Comedy Sampler Tour

Do you like trolley rides, food, and improv/sketch comedy? Sign up for the The League of Chicago Theaters Comedy Sampler Tour! Today's tour starts downtown at the Chicago Tourism Center (72 E. Randolph) at 2:30 pm, followed by a trolley ride to Annoyance Productions' new home (4840 N. Broadway), a performance at the Cornservatory (4210 N. Lincoln), then dinner at Joey's Brickhouse on Belmont, and a full-length performance by those granddaddies of sketch and improv, Second City, and a trolley ride back downtown. Tickets are $90 per person. Make reservations at 312-554-9800 or any Hot Tix.

Saturday Looks Good to Me @ The Hideout

This Saturday definitely looks good to us with Fred Thomas and company playing a special show/dance party at the Hideout. The Polyvinyl artists have teamed up with Life During Wartime DJs to bring you a evening of feel-good pop and non-stop dancing! Call 773-227-4433 for more info.

Do-It-Yourself Designer Event @ Chicago Tourism Center

From 11 AM to 3 PM today, local designers show their stuff and explain how they do the cool stuff they do. Free, 72 E Randolph. For more information, call 312-744-2400.

Lurrie Bell @ Rosa's Lounge

Rosa's Lounge, celebrating its Anniversary Celebration, which includes "homecoming" performances by many performers associated with the club, is featuring guitarist Lurrie Bell this Saturday. Although I'm not enamored of the view that you have to live the blues to play the blues, if it were true, that certainly would be one explanation of Lurrie Bell's genius. He's survived through addiction and recovery, and weathered a host of personal tragedies that would crush most artists as sensitive as he is. He recently lost his wife Susan to lymphoma, and this is likely to be a bittersweet homecoming, as Rosa's is decorated with dozens of Susan's evocative photos of Lurrie and other blues performers. He's always played blues solos like a Sherpa, leading the audience up one side of a gargantuan solo through varied and winding paths and then, on the other side of the peak, (almost always) brilliantly resolving all the themes he's started. He's part of a large clan of blues performers, so it seems possible it's in his genes. On a good night when he's in a groove, Lurie Bell is a savant guitarist and a stunningly haunting baritone vocalist, and his performances at Rosa's have frequently been jaw-dropping. 3420 W. Armitage, 773-342-0452