Jonathan Richman @ Empty Bottle

Indie rock/punk/country/etc. legend Jonathan Richman makes one of his occasional visits to Chicago tonight. He's playing at the Empty Bottle with opening guest Vic Chesnutt. Show starts at 10pm, tickets are $15 and are available through Ticketweb. Empty Bottle: 1035 N. Western. (773) 276-3600.

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Live @ Millennium Park

NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" airs live from Millennium Park. This is the third time that "Wait Wait" has broadcasted live from this open-air venue. Tickets are free. Tonight at 6:30pm. 201 E. Randolph St. Call (312) 948-4600 for more information.

Spring Fling Bar Top Burlesque @ Blue Bayou

Stop by the Blue Bayou (3734 N Southport Ave; 773-871-3300) tonight for some good old-fashioned burlesque served bar top. The pasties start twirling at 10 p.m. sharp so get there early for a good seat. Presented by Vaudezilla, the free show includes a rotating schedule of some of Chicago's favorite bawdy babes including Red Hot Annie, Wham Bam Pam, and Donna Touch. Visit Vaudezilla's website for more details and plan on making it a Thursday night tradition. The girls will be performing again June 18th and 25th.

Chicago Model City Exhibition Opens

Continuing the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Burnham's Plan of Chicago, the Chicago Architecture Foundation (224 S. Michigan Ave.) presents a new exhibit called "Chicago Model City" that examines our city as a model for others around the world. The exhibit opens today and runs through November 20. For more information call (312) 922-3432.

Japanese Gourmet Fair @ Mitsuwa Marketplace

Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlignton Heights has a gourmet fair from today till Sunday (6/14), with Japanese sweets and snacks that rarely cross the Pacific--unless you have a Japanese relative who sends out care packages. Although the Chicago store will have a smaller selection than the stores on the coasts, it'll have takoyaki (creamy dough balls with octopus and a special sauce), sweet potato & apple pies from a well-known bakery, specialty fish cakes and traditional Japanese sweets, and more. The gourmet fair goes on during the usual store hours of between 9 am and 8 pm. Mitsuwa is located at 100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights.

Mahbod Seraji @ Book Cellar

Mahbod Seraji comes to the Book Cellar to read from his debut novel Rooftops of Tehran, a coming-of-age story about young love in 1970s Iran. Free at 7pm at 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

The Kriti Festival

DesiLit hosts the Kriti Festival, a biennial celebration of South Asian and diasporic literature and arts. Starting this evening and running through June 14, the fest features readings, workshops, panels, and performances from a variety of South Asian and diaspora novelists, poets, actors, literary agents, and editors. Guests of honor at this year's fest include the award-winning authors Romesh Gunesekera, Amitava Kumar, and Bapsi Sidhwa. The Kriti Fest will be held at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Roosevelt University. To register and to view a complete schedule of participants and events, visit the festival website or email info@desilit.org. You may also call (312) 846-6878.

The Kriti Festival / June 11-14 / UIC and Roosevelt University

Foie Gras Week Begins

Starting today through Tuesday, you'll be able to snag a $10 dish containing the former forbidden fruit of Chicago, aka foie gras, at a range of restaurants (e.g. Cafe Bernard, Cafe Matou, Carlos, Cyrano's Bistrot, David Burke's Primehouse, Hemingway's Bistro, May Street Market, and Union League Club) courtesy of Chicago Chefs for Choice (and their outdated website).