Midwest Independent Film Festival First Tuesdays @ Landmark Century Cinema

The first film in the Midwest Independent Film Festival's 2009 First Tuesdays series is The Poker House, directed by Lori Petty and starring Selma Blair and David Alan Grier. The film begins at 7:30pm, with a Guinness-sponsored pre-show cocktail reception at 6pm and a panel immediately preceding the film at 6:30pm at the Landmark Century, 2828 North Clark Street. Post-screening reception hosted by Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey. General admission is $10 and includes entry into all of the evening's festivities. Tickets available online.

Twenty Ways to Stop Corruption in Illinois

Panelists will analyze "the cycle of corruption in Illinois and offer tangible actions for citizens and activists to take in order to gain control of our government." This free event is co-sponsored by The Crossroads Fund. 6pm at Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 77 W. Washington St. RSVP by Friday, January 30 to Lisa Avila at (773) 227-7676 or lisa@crossroadsfund.org.

America's Next Graphic Designer

Kate Gosselin Book Signing @ Borders - Oak Brook

Kate Gosselin of TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8 will be signing copies of her book Multiple Blessings, which chronicles the lives of their sextuplets - Collin, Leah, Joel, Hannah, Aaden, and Alexis - from conception to the age of two. click here for more information. This event is free. 4:00 pm at Borders, 1500 16th Street, Suite D, Oak Brook, IL. (630) 574-0800.

Re-thinking Soup @ Hull House

Soup and discussion about the topics of the day are on the menu at Hull-House Kitchen's Re-thinking Soup series. Today (and every Tuesday) from 12-1:30pm at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum Residents' Dining Hall (800 South Halsted) come in for a hearty meal and a chat. Event is free, but donations are accepted.

The Necks @ Cultural Center

Acclaimed Australian band The Necks performs tonight at 7pm, free, in the Claudia Cassidy Theater. 78 E Washington. For more information, visit the website.