Film Noir: Thieves' Highway @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a month-long showing of film noir films from the 20th Century Fox archives. Tonight's film is Thieves' Highway from 1949, with Richard Conte and Valentina Cortese. Thieves' Highway screens this evening at 5:30 PM and will also be shown on Thursday the 19th at 6:00 PM. See the Film Center Website for a complete listing of the films. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Testicle Festival

That's right. The Sportsman’s Club in downstate Mount Sterling throws its annual Testicle Festival today. From 3pm till midnight, get all the pig, cow, sheep, turkey and buffalo testicles you can eat, along with lots of games, live music and more. If you're daring, take your spot in the testicle eating contest. $10, 21 and over. Call 217-773-9096 for more details.

Mad Rollin' Dolls vs. Windy City Rollers @ The Stadium

The elbow-throwers from Madison take on our own wheel warriors in a Cheesehead vs. Flatlander match at The Stadium, 1909 S. Laramie at 7 p.m. See the WCR website for ticket info.

Little City Used Book Sale @ Old Orchard

The Little City Foundation Used Book Sale, which is celebrating its 50th year, takes place at the Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie from June 6-15. The book sale is expected to have more than 200,000 used books, plus author events and other activities. All proceeds from the sale benefit Little City Foundation, which provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Free. 10am to 9pm. 34 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr. in Skokie. Visit the website for more information.

These New Puritans @ Subterranean

Hailed as one of the U.K. music scene's "New Eccentrics," the upstart quartet These New Puritans caused a bit of a stir in their home country with their recently released debut album Beat Pyramid earlier this year. Grafting eclectic pop melodies onto Wire-esque arty experimentation, they're aiming to bring something a little more challenging into the British charts. They're now touring the U.S. and are playing a headlining set at Subterranean this evening. Chicago's transglobal dub-rockers The Eternals support, with Project Ultra playing first on the bill. 2011 W. North Ave. Doors open at 9 PM, tickets are $12 in advance and $14 the day of. Ages 17 and up.

Film Noir: Night And The City @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a month-long showing of film noir films from the 20th Century Fox archives. Tonight's film is Night And The City from 1950, shot by Jules Dassin while he was blacklisted and containing one of Richard Widmark's most famous performances as a small-time crook trying to take over London's wrestling market. Night And The City screens this afternoon at 3:00 PM, and will hopefully feature an appearance by Schawn Belston, Vice President of Film Preservation and Asset Management at 20th Century Fox. The film will also be shown on Wednesday the 18th at 8:00 PM. See the Film Center Website for a complete listing of the films. Tickets: $9, $7 for students, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Kid Kameleon + DJ Ripley @ SubT (Downstairs)

Tonight, Subt's downstairs DJ series "No Mas Tequila" welcomes out-of-town guests from Oakland, Kid Kameleon and DJ Ripley. Between the two of them, you can expect that a lot of style and genre will be covered, with plenty of explorations into the fringier realms of rhythmic spectrum. They'll be spinning headlining sets atop "No Mas Tequila" residents DJ C, Chrissy Murderbot, and DJ Zebo. 2011 W. North Ave, in the downstairs bar. 10 PM - 3 AM. Free before 11 PM, $5 after. Keep an eye on our Transmission page for further deets.

LumbArt @ Splat Flats

The Splat Flats artist studios holds its annual LumbArt show in and around the Miller Lumber Yard, 1815-25 W Division St., today from 3pm to 10pm. Check out art, poetry, music and film throughout the afternoon and evening; full lineup here. Free, but donation requested. (Enter on Honore.)

Be a Locavore

Be a Locavore, Put More Local on Your Table

Presented by
Robert Gardner
Saturday, June 14, 2008
10 AM
Kendall College
900 North Branch Street, Chicago
(West of Halsted Street, North of Chicago Avenue)
Free Parking
Cost: $2 per person, free to Kendall students and faculty with ID.

Just when you thought you reached the holy grail of upscale, healthy, hip eating; a whole new movement snuck up. The New Oxford American Dictionary declared locavore as the 2007 word of the year.

The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. “The word ‘locavore’ shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment,” said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. “It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.”

Robert Gardner, one of the founding members of LTHForum.com loves to eat. He’s discovered that the way to eating bliss is by eating local. For over three years he and his family have tried to get (nearly) all their food from the Upper Midwest, a food zone Gardner calls the Big Ten Conference. Beyond pleasing the palate, Gardner and his family have discovered the many other benefits from eating local.

With the farmer’s markets finally open, a lot of Chicago gourmets are heading outdoors to buy fresh asparagus, strawberries and other early season crops. Gardner wants you to keep on shopping through the end of the season and then continue to eat local. Gardner will discuss how you can add more local to your plate even in the darkest months.

Rob and his family’s eat local adventure has been written up in the Chicago Sun Times, Medill News Service and the Oak Park Wednesday Journal. Gardner recently published an essay on eating local in the Chicago Tribune’s Sunday Perspective section, and blogs almost daily at vitalinformation.blogspot.com. He is also a contributor to the Eatlocalchallenge blog.

This program is hosted by the Chicago Foodways Roundtable. To reserve, please call (847) 432-8255, then leave your name, telephone number and how many people in your party or e-mail: chicago.foodways.roundtable@gmail.com . If you decide at the last minute to attend, then please just show up!

Annuals @ Empty Bottle

Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave

10:00pm, $10 advance, $12 (buy)

This show is part of the Annuals Zoo tour. Each stop on the tour three fans will win, one receiving tickets to a different Zoo.

Visit Canvasback to enter to win!

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE winner will receive:
-One pair of tickets to Annuals’ Empty Bottle show
-A pair of tickets to Shedd Aquarium

TWO (2) RUNNERS UP will receive:
-a copy of Wet Zoo

Old Town Art Fair

Boasting that it's the oldest and most prestigious outdoor event of its kind, the Old Town Art Fair begins its 59th showing today. More than 200 artists have been selected to present work in almost every medium one could think of. In addition to the art the neighborhood itself is on display with a garden walk and historic tour that give you the opportunity to see portions of Old Town not normally open to the public. Live music, a food court, and a children's corner help make it an all-day destination.

From 10 am to 6 pm a few blocks north of North Avenue (detailed PDF map here). The $7 suggested donation benefits Old Town schools, youth groups, and preservation initiatives. The fair website has more information, including a live music schedule and a preview of the artists scheduled to attend.

The Local's CD Release Party

The Locals have been doing their thing for a while now. After a six-year break from the studio, the band is back with their fourth LP, Big Picture.  While their style migrates from progressive to pop, this CD finds them exploring a heavy guitar, alternative sound.The show starts at 9 p.m.at the Elbo Room.

Fred Camper Exhibition Opening @ Caro d'Offay Gallery

Includes examples from Camper's Accretions, Details, and Permutations series. These collections of juxtaposed photographs encourage viewers to refute our society's consumerist, object-worshiping culture, allowing us to cast aside subjective preferences, to interact with multiple interconnections and discover new ways to perceive. 6-10 p.m. 2204 W. North Ave. For more info, visit the Website.

World Kitchen Learning Series: Top Chef Challenge

If you have what it takes to survive in a Top Chef-esqe series of Quickfire challenges and on-the-spot cooking, sign up for the "Top Chef Challenge" class 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.