Picked Up: Episode #4 @ Neo-Futurarium

The Neo-Futurists present Picked Up, a weekly series of "TV pilots" performed on stage. This week's pilot: "No Place Like Home", which is something about permonitions, nightmares and dead friends. "No Place Like Home" 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.

Mahjongg @ Empty Bottle

Hometown percussion-heavy, synth-punk outfit Mahjongg have been keeping a low profile lately, taking a needed hiatus after their recent national tour to support the release of their recent album, Kontpab. But tonight they'll be playing a headlining set at the Bottle tonight. Mute Era and Tirra Lirra open. Doors open at 9 PM, admission is $8. 1035 N. Western Ave.

Kevin Phillips @ Harold Washington Library Center

Former White House strategist Kevin Phillips will be at the Harold Washington Library Center in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium to talk about his new book Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism. Free. 6pm. 400 S. State St. Call 312-747-4300 or visit the website for more information.

Aleksandar Hemon @ Barnes & Noble Evanston

Acclaimed local author Aleksandar Hemon will be at Barnes & Noble in Evanston to talk about his new book The Lazarus Project. Free. 7pm. 1630 Sherman Avenue in Evanston. Call 847-424-0848 for more information.

Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town

Wine Enthusiast will be hosting a top-shelf wine tasting event this evening at the Field Museum, complete with 500 of the world's finest wines and spirits, food from local restaurants, and live music. The VIP Tasting is from 6:00 - 7:30pm and the Grand Tasting from 7:30 - 10:30pm. Tickets are $185. Click here for information.

Chicago Beer Society-1st Thursday at Goose Island

Not sure how your homemade beer measures up? On May 1st from 7-10 p.m., bring your own brew for expert review. Chicago Beer Society's posse of professional and amateur brewers will gather in the cellar to answer all of your beer-related questions.

The Goose Island Brewpub is located at 1800 N Clybourn, Chicago. Closest CTA stops are North/Clybourn (Red Line) and Armitage (Brown Line). Cabs are easily available on Clybourn Avenue.

Midwestern Designers: Landscaping with Nature @ Chicago Cultural Center

Explore the roots of today's current interest in naturalistic and sustainable design through the story of F.L. Olmsted, O.C. Simonds, and Jens Jensen. Barbara Geiger is the principal of B. Geiger Group, which provides design consulting for heritage landscapes and historic gardens. She teaches for Northwestern University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Chicago Botanic Garden, and leads educational landscape tours across the Midwest. Free. 6 p.m. 78 E. Washington Street, in the 5th floor Millennium Park room. For more information, call 312-742-5519.

University of Chicago Cantata Collegium @ Smart Museum

Enjoy an evening of art and music as the Cantata Collegium—a University of Chicago student group—performs excerpts from their adaptation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Coffee Cantata.” This creative, interdisciplinary student production mixes live contemporary music with costumes, props, and dramatic elements inspired by the works of eighteenth-century painter and engraver William Hogarth. Arrive early and view prints by Hogarth from the Smart Museum’s collection or enjoy a cup of coffee from the Smart Museum Café. The full performance of the Cantata Collegium’s “Coffee Cantata” will be held on at the University of Chicago’s Fulton Hall on May 8 at 12 pm. 5550 S. Greenwood Ave. For more info, check the Website.