Suicide Kings: In Spite of Everything @ MCA

You want timely? Check out The Suicide Kings' In Spite of Everything, a performance which utilizes hip hop, poetry, and personal experiences to explore the complicated befores-and-afters of a high school shooting. Performance ensemble Kuumba Lynx will follow, and Yuri Lane will close the night with excerpts from his performance, From Tel Aviv to Ramallah: A Beatbox Journey, an original approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 7:30pm @ MCA. Buy tickets online or call the box office at 312.397.4010.

Chicago Foodways: Prince Castle-Cock Robin @ Kendall College

Today from 10-11am at Kendall College (900 North Branch Street) the Chicago Foodways Roundtable will be talking about suburban hamburger drive-in eateries Prince Castle (later changed to Cock Robin) with Walter “Ted” Fredenhagen, Jr. of the family that started the restaurant chain. Admission $3 per person, free to Kendall students and faculty with ID.

Love, Chicago Launch Party @ Reggie's

Lovechicago.org celebrates the launch of its e-zine at Reggie’s Music Joint, 2109 S. State St., tonight at 9pm. Festivities include live sets by Chicago indie acts The Effigies, M.O.T.O. MagnaFUx and Bone Tosser. Lovechicago.org staff will be giving away stickers, buttons, patches and other goodies. The show is $8 and 17+. Tickets are available through Ticketweb.

Enon @ Empty Bottle

Philadelphia-based Enon is named after an Ohio town and is on a Chicago label, but they are often associated with the New York indie-rock scene. Their current lineup has spent time in bands such as Brainiac, the Lapse, the Van Pelt and probably a dozen others. Their quirky and jangly sound has evolved over the years from the dark Believo! to the poppy High Society. Athens, GA's Dark Meat is a hodgepodge ensemble incorporating tons of listenable Western (and some non-Western) musics. Enon and Dark Meat sandwich Love Story in Blood Red at the Empty Bottle. For more information, visit the Empty Bottle.

Immediate Sound @ Hideout

Immediate Sound, the great Wednesday night series at the Hideout curated by local music guru Mitch Cocanig and musician Ken Vandermark celebrates 2 years of successful presenting with a special weekend presentation at the Hideout. Tonight, local tenor sax guru Fred Anderson appears with the venerable Harrison Bankhead on bass in a rare duo appearance. The second set will feature Index Orkset, a large ensemble made up of some great local players and led by Ken Vandermark, who will be premiering new material for the occassion. For more information check out the Transmission entry on the events. Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM, $12 cover. The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433

DEPART-ment April Craft Fair @ AV-aerie

If you're shopping for mom or just want to treat yourself with some of the best indie crafts to be had in Chicago, head out to DEPART-ment this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the AV-aerie. This art space hosts these quarterly arts collectives where you can leisurely browse thru organized tables of everything from handmade purses, plush, clothes and cards. Check out this month's vendors and grab your coat! The April DEPART-ment runs Friday 7-11pm, Sat. and Sun. 11am-5pm at 2000 W. Fulton (at Damen), #310. Cash only (ATM on site).

Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire @ Toyota Park

The Fire (2-1-1) will try to rebound from the first loss of the season when they take on the Rapids (2-2-0) at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., 7000 S. Harlem Ave. on Saturday, 7:30 p.m. The Fire, however, seem to have the advantage: they're 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games against the Rapids.

Beer School @ Map Room

On Saturday, April 26 at 6 p.m., Greg Browne, brewmaster at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville, IL, will lead the April Beer School (topic: Bock Beers) at the Map Room. Students will study several beers and learn what exactly they're tasting and the roles that all of the ingredients and the brewing processes have in forming that taste. Don't miss a great opportunity to enjoy fine beer, good company and expert tutelage.

Limit, 50 people. Price, $25 per person. Hosted by Greg Browne. Call 773.252.7636 for more information.

Bears Draft Day Party @ Cubby Bear Lincolnshire

Come out and boo, I mean cheer the Bears 2008 No. 1 draft pick at a special party held at the Cubby Bear in Lincolnshire, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., at 10:30 a.m. The Bears are supposedly leaning toward an offensive tackle, but after the last-minute trades that could see them move up or down the draft list, who knows? Contact the Bears for ticket info.

Baltimore Orioles vs. White Sox @ U.S. Cellular Field

The White Sox split with the O's in a two-game series earlier this month in Baltimore. They kick off a three-game series tonight, 6:05 p.m., at U.S. Cellular, 333 W. 35th St. The two teams meet again on Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Lethargy Art Walk

Neighboring artists Derek Erdman and Jim Newberry open up their studios at 2068 N. Leavitt today from 11am to 6pm for "Lethargy Art Walk." Check out art, sip beverages and generally enjoy a lazy day. Free.

Schadenfreude Rent Party @ Silvie's

Join Schadenfreude in celebrating their 10th year anniversary in Chicago with a series of shows at Chicago neighborhood dive bars. The shows are sponsored by PBR. Tonight the show is at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park. Special guest comics include Susan Messing (Annoyance Theater), Hey You Millionaires (sketch), Jet & Holly (The Reckoning) and Lola Balatro (Paul Thomas). The show goes from comedy to rock and roll to country punk with The Jai Alai Savant and 500 Miles to Memphis. 9pm, $10 at the door.

Foals @ Subterranean

Tonight, Subterranean presents a headlining appearance by the U.K. buzz-sparking art-pop band Foals. They're touring the States to support their debut album Antidotes, which was released in the U.S. on the Sub Pop label just this month. Welcome To Cambridge and Yourself And The Air open. Doors open at 9 PM, the show starts at 9:30. 2011 N. Avenue. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the night of. 773-278-6684. Keep your eye on our Transmission page for more details.

Zombie Pub Crawl

Get dressed up in your best zombie costume and hit the bars of Andersonville with Chicago's first-ever Zombie Pub Crawl! The fun starts at 4pm today for pre-registration in the US Bank parking lot; the assembled zombie horde will make its way Simon's at 5pm, then on to Charlie's Ale House and finally Mary's Attic for zombie movies and more. Registration is $10 in advance, $15 day-of. Includes a sweet limited edition t-shirt. (The undead must be 21 and over to participate, obviously.)

Dark Lord Day @ Three Floyds Brewery

Three Floyds brewery will unveil the 2008 batch of Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout on Saturday, April 26. Get there early to get in line and bring plenty of cash.

RAGAD #6 Release Reading

The Book Cellar
4736 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL
7 PM FREE
Featuring readings by Ben Tanzer, Jason Jordan, Amy Guth, and Jill Summers. Editor Nick Ostdick will read and host.

This, folks, is going to be awesome. Tanzer’s story ‘What We Thought We Knew’ is one of the best RAGAD has put forth. All the readers rock, trust me. Jason Jordan, a lovely writer, is making the trip all the way from Pitt, and we have to make it worth his while. Plus, for right now, this will be RAGAD’s last broadside while we shut down and retool and figure out what our next move is. You don’t want to miss this! Plus, you can hang with us afterwards for drinks and conversation…all the writers are quite friendly.

The theme is BOOZING: Stories about alcohol. How can you miss that?

Rebuilding Together - Metro Chicago

Once again, AIA Chicago will be participating in Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit whose mission is to preserve affordable housing by bringing volunteers and communities together to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners, especially the disabled and elderly. This year, the homes are in Markham. Holly Genc, AIA, is leading our team.

If you'd like to participate, contact Holly at hgenc@primerachicago.com.

Learn more about Rebuilding Together at http://www.rebuildingtogether-chi.com/.

This event is sponsored by Young Architects Forum
Learning units: Not Available
Location: bus meeting location to be determined
Member price: 0 Non-member price: 0

Taste of the Neighborhoods @ Chicago Cultural Center

Delve into the great flavors of the city during these mouthwatering tours. Join ethnic food guide Evelyn Thompson on a culinary safari to numerous ethnic restaurants, delis, and bakeries throughout the city to sample delectable dishes. To make reservations, call 312-742-1190 or visit the Website. Tours depart by motorcoach from the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street at Michigan Ave., at 10 a.m. (check-in at 9:30 a.m.) and return either at 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m., except for Summertime Sampler Tours that return at 1 p.m. and are offered on Tuesday and Thursday beginning May 27.

World Kitchen Learning Series: French Brunch Classics

Learn to make the quintessential French brunch foods (quiche, Crepes, Eggs Benedict, etc.) today from 11am-2pm through the World Kitchen learning series sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs. Class to be held at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph Street. Class fee is $30. Click here for more information and to register.

Freedom School Communiversity

All-day education on the prison-industrial complex. Participants will write letters to prisoners at Tamms supermax prison in Tamms, Ill. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 719 S. State St., Suite 3N.