Riot Fest

With shows scheduled all weekend long, Riot Fest 2008 offers a massive all-punk lineup including Chicago's own Lawrence Arms. Friday's shows includes all ages show at House of Blues and well as 21+ events at Double Door and Cobra Lounge. Ticket prices and times vary. Check with the respective venues for details.

"Deceptive Design" Opening

"Deceptive Design: Experiments in Furniture," an exhibit of innovative furniture design, holds an opening reception in the Michigan Ave Galleries of the Chicago Cultural Center 78 E. Washington, from 6pm to 8pm tonight. Meet the designers and explore their creations. Free.

Ben Folds @ Congress Theatre

The venerable Folds, whose music, while adopted by the hip and trendy, belie a songwriting skill that doesn't seem to be done with eye on what's necessarily pop. And, in an unexpected twist, you can buy $35 tickets outside the purview of a certain ticketbroker. An 18 and over show; doors open at 8. Buy and be merry.

Broadzilla! the Burlesque Beast Returns @ Exit

Vaudezilla Productions presents Broadzilla! the Burlesque Beast Returns. Featurning such acts as Red Hot Annie, Ms Bea Haven, Backdoor Aly, Pearl Pistol, The Honey Buns, Chasity Chaos and many more. The shows, 10pm and 1am are 21 and over and free. Exit is located at 1315 W North Ave, 773.395.2700 for more info or email.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago @ Harris Theater

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago presents its Fall Program: Fold by Toru Shimazaki (world premiere), Minus 16 by Ohad Naharin (audience -- and this writer's -- favorite), and Extremely Close by Alejandro Cerrudo. You can't go wrong with this show. This is the one to bring your friend to -- you know, that friend who swears she hates to watch dance and needs to be pleasantly surprised! Check out HSDC's FootNotes or their repertoire for more description of the dances.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive. Thursday 10/9 @ 7:30 p.m., Friday 10/10 @ 8 p.m., Saturday 10/11 @ 8 p.m., and Sunday 10/12 @ 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $86 (the $25 tix are only available on Saturday). HINT: There's no such thing as a bad seat at the Harris. Click here to purchase tickets, or call 312-334-7777.

Baltimore Round Robin Tour (Beach House) @ Epiphany

Epiphany
201 S. Ashland

8:00pm $8

WHAT IS A ROUND ROBIN SHOW LIKE?

The format of the show is as follows:
-All the bands set up at the same time along the perimeter of the room with the audience in the center
-Each band does one song per round, no breaks, back to back to back etc., until the show is completed
-There is no headliner or opener, no front row or back of the room

The 60+ people driving around by only veggie powered vehicles in a community on wheels. Curated by Dan Deacon, the tour includes bands from Floristree, Wham City, Tarantula Hill, The Bank, Comfort Dome and other Baltimore music homes

Eyes Night line-up of bands:
beach house
creepers
ed schrader
jana hunter
lesser gonzalez alvarez
lexie mountain boys
nautical almanac
santa dads
teeth mountain
wzt hearts

Witty Women Writers @ Book Cellar

The Book Cellar welcomes four fabulous female writers to share their stories tonight. Reading from and discussing their work will be Amy Guth, Stacey Ballis, Wendy McClure and Jen Lancaster. Free at 7pm at 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

Haley Bonar @ SPACE

Evanston SPACE
1245 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60202
8PM | $8 in advance, $10 at the door

Haley Bonar
Though she's only 25, singer/songwriter Haley Bonar's third full-length CD, Big Star, has been receiving rave reviews across the country. Her powerful, emotional melodies could draw you in all by themselves, but when coupled with her insightful lyrics and ability to play most of the instruments on her album, you'll see why everyone is quickly falling in love with her music.

Nora O'Connor
Chicago native Nora O'Connor has been an in-demand hired assassin of singing to the hit-making hoi polloi (Andrew Bird, the New Pornographers, Jeff Tweedy, Archer Prewiit, The Aluminum Group, Janet Bean, Chris Mills, Neko Case, and soul legends Otis Clay and Mavis Staples).