Miles Harvey @ Women & Children First

Northwestern professor Miles Harvey comes to Women & Children First to discuss his latest book Painter in a Savage Land, an account of artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues and his work depicting Native American life at the time of the first European settlement. Free at 7:30pm, 5233 N. Clark St. Call 773-769-9299 for more information.

BoyGirlBoyGirl: A Dreadful Day @ Live Bait

BoyGirlBoyGirl, the local solo theater performance ensemble that's made up of alumni of various local theatre companies (such as the Neo-Futurists and Theatre Oobleck), present A Dreadful Day, an evening of dreadful tales inspired by a 19th century children's book of cautionary tales. A Dreadful Day will be performed tonight and tomorrow night only. The show will be at Live Bait Theatre (3914 N. Clark), show time is 7:30 PM, and tickets are $15 ($10 for students/seniors). For reservations and info call (773) 871-1212.

Tribune Good Eating Awards Nominees Due

So you think you can cook (cook, cook, cook, cook...)? Don't let reality tv stars get all the attention this summer -- nominate yourself, or your favorite local chef, restuarant, baker, butcher, candle-stick maker, wine geek, dinner party hostess, cooking class instructor, etc. for a Chicago Tribune Good Eating Award. The nominees honor folks in the food and beverage industry who've "made a difference" -- from the bartender who made you swoon at Violet Hour to the elotes guy out in front of your local Walgreens, sign 'em up!

Entries are due TODAY, July 18, and should be emailed to ctc-goodeating@tribune.com. More details are available here.

Pitchfork Music Festival @ Union Park

July 18-20, get ready to get down and boogie at Union Park for Pitchfork Media's Music Festival '08. Headliners for the Friday evening performances include 3 sets by some amazing artists. Co-presented by All Tomorrow's Parties, you'll hear Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold us Back, Sebadoh performing Bubble and Scrape and Mission of Burma performing Vs. Tickets are going fast online. Be sure to stop by and get yourself some sweet swag at the Gapers Block: Transmission table at the CHIRP Record Fair tent!

Ed Harcourt @ Schubas

Schubas
3159 N. Southport
10:30 PM 21+ $12.00 ($14.00 Door)

Do *you* know who Ed Harcourt is?

The boy in the beaten-up velvet jacket picks up his cup. "He's 28, newly and happily married, the son-in-law of an ocarina maker and the great-nephew of Elizabeth David ...he's an agnostic brought up Protestant with a Buddha necklace... a nervous ball of energy, a little black sheep." The boy takes a sip. "And he's a solo artist, a collaborator, a session musician, a part-time blues player and thrash metal band member ... a collector of weird instruments, and a musical whore." Ed Harcourt puts down his coffee and laughs.

Ed Harcourt is a bit raffish and gloriously hungover, but also the best company you could imagine over a fried breakfast in Soho on a warm Saturday morning. He's also hard-working, creative and sickeningly prolific. *The Beautiful Lie*, his fifth album in six years, in between outside projects with bands like Wild Boar and the Dead Thank Yous, is the latest in his line of inventive, adventurous records. And it's the best thing he's ever done.

Ann O'Farrell @ Book Cellar

Author Ann O'Farrell comes to the Book Cellar tonight to read from and discuss her new book Michael, the sequel to her first novel Norah's Children. Free at 7pm at 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

Beth Reitmeyer Opening Reception and Summer Show @ Zg Gallery

Reitmeyer's artwork strives to be physical manifestation of the cherished yet unseen parts of our relationships: hopes, dreams, wishes, and love. It highlights the seasons and rituals of life such as gift giving, holidays, and time spent making memories in specific rooms of one’s home. Installations and paintings. Through Aug. 30. Also displaying new works by Zg artists. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 300 W. Superior St. For more info, visit the Website.