Chicago Flower & Garden Show @ Navy Pier

This week-long exhibition, designed to help "aspiring gardeners take it up a notch," includes workshops on container gardening, a marketplace selling garden and green-related products, "garden gourmet" showcasing the culinary talents of both local and national chefs, and a horticulture competition. Hours are 10am-8pm at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., in Festival Halls A and B. Admission is $12. Visit the official website for more information or call Navy Pier at 312-595-5282.

Rashid Khalidi @ UCHICAGO

Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies and Director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia University, will be speaking at the University of Chicago's International House (1414 E. 59th Street) at 6PM tonight. The talk, entitled "Sowing Crisis: The Cold War and American Hegemony in the Middle East", is part of the UofC's Center for International Studies' "World Beyond the Headlines" series.

The event is FREE.

Purimpalooza

KFAR Jewish Arts Center and Sidney N. Shure Kehilla host Purimpalooza at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., tonight starting at 7pm. The evening will feature improv comedy by Thursday's with Ryan and klezmer-inspired world music by Balkano, plus wine, soda, Purimtinis and Hamentaschen. $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Astronaut Daniel Tani @ UIC

NASA astronaut and Chicago-area native Daniel Tani shuttles into town today to give a talk about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, his 120-day stay in orbit, and his work on the International Space Station. The event is sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago's Asian American Resource and Cultural Center and takes place at UIC's Student Center East (750 S. Halsted) Room 302 at 4pm. For more information, contact AARCC at 312-413-9569. Free.

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.