Steve Darnall & Ted Okuda @ The Book Cellar

Steve Darnall, publisher of Nostalgia Digest Magazine, and Ted Okuda, co-author of Chicago TV Horror Movie Hosts: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie discuss Chicago radio and television at The Book Cellar. Free. 7pm. 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-293-2665.

Picked Up: Episode #1 @ Neo-Futurarium

The Neo-Futurists present Picked Up, a weekly series of "TV pilots" performed on stage. This week's pilot: "Unitards", about a very special boy who wants to wrestle. "Unitards" will be performed this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15, $10 for students/seniors, and pay-what-you-can on Thursday nights. Picked Up runs through May 17, and each week is a different pilot; check the Neo-Futurist Website for a complete schedule. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster). (773) 275-5255.

Craig Baldwin @ Film Center

Film-maker Craig Baldwin, who uses appropriated footage in his works to tell stories with other directors' images, will appear at the Gene Siskel Film Center this evening to preview his new work, Mock Up On Mu. The film is described by the Film Center as a biopic about scientist and occultist Jack Parsons, artist Marjorie Cameron, and L. Ron Hubbard. Mock Up On Mu screens tonight at 6:00. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Sipping South American Wines w/ The Winediva @ The Discovery Center

Join The Winediva for a tasting and lively lecture on South American Wines at The Discovery Center.

The wines of Chile and Argentina are as bold and flavorful as the Latin food they compliment. Come taste some traditional grapes from Chile like Chardonnay and Carbernet Sauvignon as well as some new favorites like Malbec and Torrontes. You'll find plenty to love at very affordable prices.

6pm-8pm
Discovery Center
2940 N Lincoln Ave
$64
call: 773-348-8120 to register

The Seldoms @ Ruth Page Center for the Arts

The Seldoms present Monument, a dance piece about individual acts of consumption that lead to the "accidental social sculpture" of the landfill. Each performance will be followed by a discussion led by representatives of groups that address human consumption and waste. For more info, see the GB interview. Th, Fri, Sat, @ 8:00, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. $19 ($13 student/senior). Click here for tickets.

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane @ MCA

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, one of America's major dance companies, presents Chapel/Chapter. This retelling of three stories--two high-visibility news stories and one confession from a company member--touch on humanity, morality, violence, and the "mediatization" of our world. The multi-media dance performance includes live music, video, and the spoken word.
Th., Fri., and Sat. @ 7:30 at the MCA, 220 E. Chicago Ave. $35-$40 ($28-$32 for MCA members). For tickets and more information, including a video preview, visit the MCA's website.

Short Film Brigade @ Hideout

The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, hosts the season premiere of the Short Film Brigade. Catch 10 short films from Poland via Helsinki, London, Toronto, Latvia, California, Chicago, Seattle and New York for just $8. 8:30pm, 21 and over. The same films will also be shown on April 13.

Mock Up on Mu @ Siskel Film Center

Craig Baldwin in person! Legendary for his rapid-fire found-footage collage films, underground filmmaker Craig Baldwin returns to the Midwest with a special sneak preview of his latest feature, Mock Up on Mu. A radically hybridized pulp-serial-spy-science-fiction-western-horror mash-up, Mu recounts the intertwined histories of Jack Parsons (inventor of solid-rocket fuel, founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Aleister Crowley acolyte), Marjorie Cameron (artist, beatnik, occultist) and L. Ron Hubbard (pulp-fiction writer, founder of Scientology). Baldwin promiscuously intercuts his own live-action desert footage with archival stock and other found material to weave a dense tale of mind-control, subterranean intrigue, scientific speculation, and the militarization of space. $9 ($5 for Film Center members), $7 for all students, and $4 for student, faculty, and staff of the School and Art Institute of Chicago. 6 p.m. 162 N. State. For more info, call 312-846-2600 or visit the Website.

Roy Diblik @ Chicago Cultural Center

Diblik presents "'Know' Maintenance: Developing Perennial Plant Communities Based on Time and Cost." He is co-owner of Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wisc., which specializes in growing perennials, native plants and ornamental grasses as well as landscape design and installation. Northwind is also home to a unique garden shop and retail nursery located on a turn-of-the-century farm. Roy grows 400,000 plants of 360 different species each year and has been growing plants for over 25 years. He was the plant purchasing coordinator for the Lurie Garden; growing over 11,000 of the plants at Northwind. He continues to work with the staff in the Lurie Garden. Free. 6 p.m. 78 E. Washington Street, in the 5th floor Millennium Park room. For more information, call 312-742-5519.

World Kitchen Learning Series: Now You're Cooking

Cook and serve like a professional tonight at the first session of the four-part "Now You're Cooking" class, which will be held from 6 to 8:30pm through the World Kitchen learning series sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The other three sessions will be held from 6-8:30pm on April 24, May 8 and May 22. Classes to be held at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph Street. Class fee is $100 for the series. Click here for more information and to register.