The Craft Racket: Round 2

Hey crafty folks! Want to learn how to run your business better? Got some tips that you'd love to share with like-minded folks? Then come on down to Uncommon Ground (3800 N. Clark St.) tonight from 6 to 9pm where you can meet, greet, share, learn, teach, laugh, and be appreciated for everything you know. The Chicago Craft Mafia will be hosting these events quarterly so come on out and be a part of another aspect of the wonderful Chicago craft movement. And for those so inclined, whiskey drinks are on special for $5.

Palabra Pura @ California Clipper

Palabra Pura, organized by the Guild Complex, focuses on Chicano and Latino artists, presenting local and visiting writers after 30 minutes of open mike readings. Tonight, Ray Gonzalez and Yolanda Nieves are featured. Doors open at 8 PM. Free. 1022 N. California Ave. For more information, call 877-394-5061, or visit the Guild Complex website.

Sound of Silent Film @ Chopin Theater

The folks from Accessible Contemporary Music perform new music to accompany new silent movies. Not so great if you were thinking Buster Keaton, but fabulous if you love modern music and film. 7:30 PM; tickets are $7. BYOB! 1543 W Division. For more information, visit the website.

Local Author Night @ Book Cellar

Each month the Book Cellar offers a bevy of authors from our fine city and this month is no different. Tonight you'll be treated to Amy Guth, of Three Fallen Women, Rick Karlin, of Show Biz Kids, and Elaine Soloway, of The Division Street Princess. Free at 7pm at 4736 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson @ Macy's

Marcus Samuelsson, chef at New York restaurant Aquavit, will be demonstrating recipes from and signing his new cookbook, The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa. This event, which is free and part of Macy's African flower show "Gadina Africana," will take place from noon to 2 pm at the Marketplace, on the lower level of Macy's on State Street. Visit the store's events page for more information.

Ratatat, 120 Days, Despot @ Logan Square Auditorium

Want to get your electronic groove on, on the first night of Spring? I know I do. Come out to the LSA to bob your head accordingly to Ratatat, the Norwegian sensation 120 Days and Queens-native Definitive Jux artist Despot (making his Chicago debut), starting at 8:30pm with the latter. Tickets are $13 advance, $15 door, and hey, it's All Ages. The Logan Square Auditorium is located at 2539 N. Kedzie, Chicago.

Songwriters-in-the-Round @ Black Rock

Reconstruction Room presents "Songwriters-in-the-Round," featuring six local songwriters playing small sets while sharing the stage with two other artists. Performers include Maritza and Belinda Cervantes, Narciso Lobo, Jeff Harms, Sarah Potenza, Maggie Kubley and Aaron Johnson. Free at 8pm, 3614 N. Damen Ave. Email recroom[at]recroomers[dot]com for more information.

Alison Weir @ Newberry Library

Fans of historical fiction may be particularly interested in Weir's new book, a novel about Lady Jane Grey. A book signing follows the talk. Free, 6 PM. 60 W Walton. For more information, call 312-255-3700 or visit the website.

How eBay Engages Employees in the Business

The Chicago branch of the International Association of Business Communicators presents this "informative and entertaining session with Peter Vogt, eBay's internal communication director:". Learn how eBay has evolved its internal communication from a passive process to an active, engaging and highly effective exchange of information and ideas. You'll hear how eBay uses social networking and a "cool factor" to entice employees into the process and creates a communication culture at the world's largest online marketplace. March 21, 2007, 11 am - 1 pm, Maggiano's Little Italy, 516 N. Clark Street, Chicago (use the banquet entrance off of Grand Ave.) $40 for non-members. Register here.

Claudia Emerson @ SAIC Ballroom

This reading by the 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry begins at 6:30 PM. 112 S Michigan. $8 to $10. For more information, call 312-899-1340 or visit the Poetry Center website.

OOIOO @ Empty Bottle

After over a decade in existence and five albums' worth of output, it's fair to say that OOIOO has developed far beyond being a mere Boredoms side-project. Led by drummer Yoshimi P-We, the Japanese all-female emsemble will be making a rare U.S. appearance at the Empty Bottle tonight, drawing heavily on material from their recent releases on Thrill Jockey. Lichens open. 1035 N. Western. Show starts at 9:30 PM, admission is $12.

From Farm to Plate

Chicago Green Drinks is hosting its monthly event for "those interested in sustainability and environmental issues" at Jefferson Tap & Grille. Tonight's discussion: "From Food to Plate: Chicago Food Policy Issues." The discussion will include a panel discussion, community networking, and of course, food and drink. The panelists are Jim Braun
co-Founder of Illinois Farmer-Consumer Coalition, Irv Cernauskas, co-founder of Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, and Warren King, the general manager of Goodness Greeness.

If you're a nine-to-fiver, head over after work. It gets started at 5:30 and goes until 9 p.m., with the panel discussion from 7 to 8 p.m. The cost is $5 (or $2 if you're a student and/or low income), and since it's at a bar, you must be 21 or older to attend. Jefferson Tap is located at 325 N. Jefferson in Chicago.