John Sandford @ Borders State Street

Mystery writer John Sandford will be at Borders on State Street to talk about his book Phantom Prey. Free. 12:30pm. 150 N. State St. Call 312-606-0750 for more information.

Tatsu Aoki's Miyumi Project @ Steppenwolf

Tonight, Tatsu Aoki brings his Miyumi Project to Steppenwolf for their yearly Traffic Jam series. Aoki is a leader of the Asian American jazz scene, a national scene that includes Asian Improv Records and the local non-profit Asian Improv Arts Midwest, which Aoki is the Executive Director of. Miyumi Project incorporates the driving rhythms of taiko drums with the harmonic and improvisatory structures of jazz. His live concerts are always joyous occasions, as anyone who saw this band in Millennium Park last year can attest, and tonight will be no exception. Steppenwolf Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted Street 7:30 PM, $40. Tickets available online or at 312-335-1650

F Magazine Reading @ Women & Children First

Local authors Betty Shiflett, Patricia Ann McNair and Mahmoud Saeed will be at Women & Children First as F Magazine celebrates the release of issue F7: "Story, The Rescue of What Would Otherwise Be Lost." Free. 7:00pm. 5233 N. Clark St. Call 773-769-9299 for more information.

Lipstick Traces At Av-aerie

Griel Marcus wrote the book Lipstick Traces in 1989, and the work has since been adapted into a play that's making its Midwest debut at the AV-aerie. The play dissects punk movements throughout the ages and their influence on twentieth century countercultures. Produced by Pavement Group (a local theater collective), the play is a unique look at our culture. Shows run Friday-Sundays until June 1 and starting time is at 7:30.

Singer @ Empty Bottle

Avant-rock supergroup Singer headline at the Bottle tonight, playing a hometown show to wind down their recent national tour supporting the release of their debut album Unhistories on Drag City. Local wtf musical pranksters Detholz! will be on hand to crank things up. Cloudland Canyon are first on the bill. Show starts at 10 PM, admission is $12. 1035 N. Western Ave.

Rock'n'Roll High School @ Music Box

Sound Opinions and the Music Box Theatre present a screening of the classic rock'n'roll movie Rock'n'Roll High School! Featuring a special appearance by cast member Mary Woronov (also in town for tomorrow's Sci-Fi Spectacular), who will discuss the making of the film and anything else you care to ask her. The show starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 ($9 for students and Chicago Public Radio members) and can be purchased through the Chicago Public Radio Website. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Loose Lips Sink Ships (CD Release) @ The House Cafe

The House Cafe
263 E. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115

Instrumental rock from this local band as they released their first full-length album. Visit their myspace page to hear what they sound like.

The show begins at 8:00pm and tickets can be purchased at the door for $6.

George Motz @ Barbara's Bookstore Oak Park

George Motz will be at Barbara's Bookstore in Oak Park to talk about his book Hamburger America. Free. 7:30pm. 1100 Lake St., Oak Park. Call 312-413-2665 for more information.

Tim W. Brown and Paul McComas @ The Book Cellar

Authors Tim W. Brown and Paul McComas will be at The Book Cellar to talk about their books Walking Man and Planet of the Dates. Free. 7:30pm. 4736-8 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

Faces for Radio @ Let Them Eat Chocolate

Faces for Radio, a Chicago-based all-female pop a cappella group, perform at Let Them Eat Chocolate, 5306 N. Damen Ave., tonight at 7:30pm. The performance is free, but donations will be accepted in the name of two group members who will be participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 31-June 1.

Children's Humanities Festival @ Vittum Theater

Singer Mirah teams up with Seattle-based band Spectratone International to present an evening-length show/spectacle/song cycle with original stop motion animation inspired by the fantastical insect drawings of French entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre, with a little bit of Kafka's Metamorphosis thrown in for good measure. Part of the 2008 Children's Humanities Festival. 7:30 PM, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble at Augusta Blv, $5. More info: www.chfestival.org.

Marquez Dance Project & Nicole Gifford Dance @ Hamlin Park Fieldhouse

Marquez Dance Project and Nicole Gifford Dance jointly present the dance concert Changing Flight. The two choreographers "narrate various occasions of change" through dance.
May 8 & 9, 7:30 p.m. Hamlin Park Fieldhouse, 3035 N. Hoyne. Get tickets at the door for $15. Call 312-952-3615 for more information.

Tour: Smart Home, Green + Wired

Friday, May 9, 9:30 am- 12:00 pm

During its 75th anniversary year, MSI will build a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable home in its own backyard to showcase the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living part fo their lives - and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. A 2500 s.f. home and garden will be built on the east side of the historic museum. We will be the first group to tour the Smart Home which opens on the evening of May 8. Enter MSI's Great Hall and look for a welcome table from which you will be directed to the house which is outside the museum. We will be divided into small groups to visit the house: each tour lasts approximately 20 minutes. There is an orientation center to view before and after your tour, as well as a Green Garden created by University of Illinois. After the tours, we'll meet with Smart Home designer Michelle Kaufmann, AIA (Michelle Kaufmann Designs) at approximately 11:00 a.m.
The cost for this event is $18.50, payable to AIA Chicago. If you are an MSI member, the cost is $9.00. Please call the 312-376-2725 to register for the $9.00 rate. Limited to 50 participants.

This event is sponsored by Environment and Housing KCs

Register here http://www.aiachicago.org/events.asp.

Location: Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St. and S. Shore Dr.
Member price: $18.50 Non-member price: $18.50