El Vez @ Abbey Pub

El Vez, the Mexican Elvis impersonator, swings into town tonight with his "El Vez for Prez" tour at the Abbey Pub. Expect a wild show with lots of Elvis tunes, loads of costume changes, and some surprises. El Vez always puts on a great show, so if you haven't seen him before you might want to check this show out. Doors open at 8:00, the show starts at 9:00, and the opening acts are Lysa Flores and B1g T1me. Tickets are $15 in advance and are available at Ticketweb. Abbey Pub: 3428 W. Grace (at Elston). (773) 478-4408.

Handmade Nation preview

The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum presents a preview of Handmade Nation, the documentary about the rise of the craft movement in the US. A 20-minute preview will be screened and the director, Faythe Levine, will talk about the film. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30, and admission is free. Reservations are recommended. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum: 800 S. Halsted. (312) 413-5353.

IL Greener Pastures Fiber Cooperative Lecture @ Eli's Cheesecake Factory

Eli's Cheesecake Factory (6701 W. Forest Pk Drive) holds a farmer's market onsite on Thursdays, along with guest speakers for a lecture series on local and sustainable farming. Today's guests are from the Illinois Greener Pastures Fiber Cooperative who will speak from 1-2pm.

Bodies of Water @ Schubas

9:00 PM 21+ $8.00 ($10.00 Door)

Bodies Of Water
Port O'Brien
Audrye Sessions

The Bodies of Water are a quartet from Los Angeles, CA. They are made up of two men (David & Kyle) and two women (Jessie & Meredith). They play loud, intricate songs and sing very emphatically, usually all at once. They draw from a number of disparate traditions, combining the metaphysical intensity of gospel, the primitive gusto of punk rock, the earnest idiosyncracy of american folk, the sonic inclusiveness of tropicalia, the planned jamming of prog, and the sincere melodrama of musical theatre.

All Around Us: The Dances of Sybil Shearer on Film @ Julius Caesar

Garfield Park's Julius Caesar is hosting this exhibition in collaboration with the Morrison-Shearer Foundation of Northbrook. Five films show dancer Sybil Shearer in rare and never-before-seen sequences, demonstrating her significance as both a contained and unbounded modern dancer. Regular viewing hours are Saturdays from noon to 4pm, and by appointment. For more information call 312-823-9355 or visit the Julius Caesar web site.

Bicycle Film Festival 2008

The 8th Annual Bicycle Film Festival is in town through Sunday and they've got a heck of a lot planned. Today, the BACK TO BICYCLES CITYWIDE SCAVENGER HUNT! Details here.

"The Bicycle Film Festival celebrates the bicycle. We are into all styles of bikes and biking. If you can name it-Tall Bike Jousting, Track Bikes, BMX, Alleycats, Critical Mass, Bike Polo, Cycling to Recumbents- we've probably either ridden or screened it. What better way to celebrate these lifestyles than through art, film, music and performance? We bring together all aspects of bicycling together to advocate its ability to transport us in many ways. Ultimately the Fest is about having a good time."

The complete program runs from the 6th till the 10th for five days of stellar two wheeled fun, movies, a scavenger hunt and a block party.

Check the details here, order pre-tickets and come on out!

Iron Chef-Style Competition @ Daley Plaza Farmers Market

Three Chicago chefs will have an hour to shop the market and prepare a dish made entirely from fresh ingredients available that day. A panel of judges led by James Oliver Cury, executive editor of Epicurious.com, will taste the dishes and name this year’s “Master of the Market.” The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The chefs:

* Mark Mendez, Carnivale
* Jimmy “Tasty J” Madla, Coobah
* Kaminsky Thomas, Anteprima