Newberry Library Book Fair & Bughouse Debate

This weekend marks the Newberry Library's 23rd Annual Book Fair, featuring more than 100,000 donated books sorted into 60 categories. Many of the books are priced under $2, so come with a backpack, suitcase or extra pair of arms if you're a bona fide bibliophile. Also, come early because it's slim pickin's by the end of the day. This book fair is free and open to the public at 60 W. Walton, 10am-6pm. Additionally, there will be a Bughouse Square Debate in Washington Square Park from 12-4pm. There will be music, poetry and all kinds of first-amendment exercising. Cheap books and open mic. Can't go wrong. Call 312-255-3510 for more information.

Movies in the Park

The Chicago Park District presents Movies in the Park, a summer-long screening of classic and contemporary films in Chicago parks. Tonight's screenings: Barnyard (PG) at Haas Park (2402 N. Washtenaw Ave.); and Open Season (PG) at Touhy Park (7348 N. Paulina St.). The screenings start tonight at dusk, and are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule of movies check out the Chicago Park District Website.

Mulholland Dr. @ Gene Siskel Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a month-long festival of the films of David Lynch. Today's film is 2001's Oscar-nominated Mulholland Dr. The film shows today at 7:45 PM, and will also be screened on Wednesday; see the Film Center's Website for a complete schedule. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

BlogHer Convention

BlogHer, an online community for women, is holding Day Two of their three-day convention at Navy Pier today. Appearances by Elizabeth Edwards, Amy Sedaris and Esther Dyson are scheduled among the bevy of workshops and lectures about different perspectives on the blogging craft. Click here for registration information.

Surveying Informal Adult Education in Chicago

Come check out this city wide discussion "How We Learn: Building an Educated City." Organizers say "Adults Need Quality, Interesting, Creative, Critical Educational Opportunities Outside of the Job and the Academy!" and have invited such informal adult education projects together as Mess Hall, Platypus reading group, Free Geek, Chicagoland/Calument Underground Railroad Efforts, Bronzeville Historical Society, Chicago Women's Health Clinic, The Odyssey Project, and more. "These organizations and projects operate outside of traditional paradigms such as ESL/GED and professional skill development. By showcasing innovative cultural education for adults, we will gain a better sense what possibilities are currently available to adults seeking stimulation outside of traditional educational settings and better understand what this means for all of our efforts and our city."

The event is cosponsored by AREA Chicago, the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, publishers of the Journal of Ordinary Thought and the Stockyard Institute. This is one of the first events of over 20 that will happen in the next 2 months about education and the city. The FREE event lasts from 1:00-3:00 PM @ The Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Free Food will be served. All Inquiries can be directed to:773-684-2742 or editors@jot.org

Kapla Building Blocks @ Tourism Center

This free event includes demonstrations by master Kapla builders and opportunities to apply your own building-block genius. 72 E Randolph, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Part of the Art of Play series of events. For more information, call 312-744-2400 or visit the website.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School

What happens when cabaret meets art school? Drawin', drinkin' and dames, that's what. Pack up your charcoals (or crayons, if you're not a recovering art school kid) and head over to Five Star Bar and Grill this Saturday at 3 PM for Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. This month's theme is "Beach Blanket Burlesque" and features the modeling stylings of the sexy Mimi First. Silly drawing contests abound. 3-6 PM at Five Star Bar and Grill, 1424 W. Chicago Ave., $10 suggested donation at the door, $15 to reserve a table in advance. For reservations and more info visit Dr. Sketchy's Chicago.

DIY Neighborhood: Logan Square

Neighbors Project presents the first ever multi-level open house in Chicago featuring interactive exhibits on the many ways to bring your building - condo, house, apartment - up to Neighbor Code. Learn what it takes to turn your rental building into a comfortable community, be a neighborly landlord, really enjoy condo living, start a co-op -- and much more. Extra: Enter the contest to have your photo of a neighborly building featured at the event photo gallery at neighborsproject.org. Food, music, free valet stroller and bike parking, and on-site supervised kid care. Saturday, July 28, 2007, 1-4 pm, 2952 W. Lyndale Avenue.

Motorcycle Ride for Downs Syndrome

Got a motorcycle? Use it for good! Ups for Downs is holding a benefit for Downs Syndrome research today. Starting from the Broken Oar, 614 Rawson Bridge Rd. in northwest suburban Port Barrington, at 10am, the ride goes for about a hundred miles before returning at 3pm. The ride includes two stops, and costs $25 per rider, $10 per passenger. Find out more here.

Opening: Alexander Calder @ MCA

MCA revisits its annual Calder exhibition with this show of mobiles, stabiles, and works on paper. Through 13 April. 220 E Chicago. For more information, visit the website.

The Taste of Lincoln Avenue

Located on Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton and Wrightwood, the event includes food and craft vendors, five entertainment stages, a Kids' Carnival Area and more. The two day festival benefits the Wrightwood Neighbors Association with proceeds from the gates going to local charities, schools, parks, and neighborhood improvements. 2400 N. Lincoln, $7 to $10 donation. 12 N to dusk. For more information visit the website.

Wicker Park Fest

Wicker Park is hosting what may be the best neighborhood festival in town today and Sunday, from 11:30 am—10pm. The usual vendors and various foods-on-a-stick will be there, but the real action is the concert roster, featuring the likes of Prefuse 73, Man Man, The Thermals, Pit er Pat, and High on Fire.
It all takes place on Damen Avenue, between Schiller and North Avenue, and costs a measly $5 per day.

Opening: The Gates of Paradise @ AIC

In 1425, Lorenzo Ghiberti started work on bronze doors for the Baptistry in Florence. It took him 27 years to finish his masterpiece, which illustrates Old Testament stories in bronze relief panels. The painstaking restoration of these doors has taken about 25 years, and its completion is being marked by a traveling exhibition of parts of the great work. Unless you plan to visit the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence, where the intact masterpiece will be displayed permanently, visiting AIC in the next few months may be your only chance to see what Michaelangelo called "truly worthy to be the Gates of Paradise." Through 14 October. 111 S Michigan. For more information, call 312-443-3600 or visit the website.

Paper Source Summer Warehouse Sale

A semi-annual event, the Paper Source Warehouse Sales are a sight to behold. Tons of office supplies, bookbinding tools, cards, envelopes and (of course) paper are available at up to 70% off. A bit of advice: show up early, bring your own bag, and make sure you have cash. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 328 South Jefferson. Cash Only. Map and email.

Flamenco @ Millennium Park

The Grant Park Orchestra celebrates Venetian Night with Flamenco music. In the Pritzker Pavilion, 6:30 PM. For more information, visit the website.