Varietease @ Lakeshore Theater

The Varietease Cabaret takes over the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, tonight at 10:30pm. Produced and hosted by the hottest legs and dirtiest mind in town, Backdoor Aly, the show will also feature all-star special guests like Miss Tamale, Mae the Bellydancer, The Honey Buns, Dizzy Lizzy Delicious, Lyra Belecqua, Pearl Pistol, Red Hot Annie, Dolls of Doom and more. Tickets are $15. 21+

Dead Snow @ Music Box

The Music Box Theatre presents Norwegian film Dead Snow. All you need to know: Nazi zombies. Nuff said. Dead Snow runs through July 23rd; see the Music Box Website for showtimes. Music Box: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Pitchfork Music Festival @ Union Park

The mammoth three day indie rock music festival returns to Union Park this weekend. Friday night kicks off with the Write the Night series, where ticket holders choose the songs for Built to Spill, The Jesus Lizard, Yo La Tengo, and Tortoise. Festival headliners The Flaming Lips will also be doing a set chosen by ticket holders on Sunday night.

Tickets are currently only available for Friday night, but try your luck at Craigslist to find 3-day passes and tickets for Saturday and Sunday. Friday night tickets are $35.

Union Park is located at 1501 West Randolph at the corner of Ashland and Lake. Doors open Friday night at 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday at noon. There is no re-entry at the festival.

Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Suburban Networking Event @ Skokie Theatre

The first Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce networking event focusing on Chicagoland suburbs, "Mix & Mingle," will be held Friday, July 17 at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., from 6:30 - 9:30 pm, connecting more than 10 surrounding LGBT-friendly chambers. The Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce--which serves more than 300 Members--teams up with The Skokie Theatre Music Foundation, providing an exclusive opportunity to build connections and network with LGBT and allied businesses. A showcase of cabaret shows will be provided by Three Cat Media, while appetizers, chocolates and champagne will be served. Tickets are on sale now, ($20 for members, $30 for non-members) and can be purchased at GLChamber.org. A post-network meet-up will also follow at Skokie's Village Inn, 8050 Lincoln Ave.

Achy Obejas @ Harold Washington Library

Achy Obejas comes to the Harold Washington Library to present the keynote address for DePaul's Summer Writing Conference. The address is titled "Writing and Responsibility." Obejas is the author of Memory Mambo and, most recently, Ruins. Free at 12pm in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S. State St. For conference information, call 312-362-8916.

Labfest! Shabbona Park

Science Chicago brings their Labfest! to Shabbona Park (6935 W. Addison St.) today from 11am-3pm. Held rain or shine, this event features several hands-on science-related activities and crafts for the entire family. Free.

DePaul's First Annual Summer Writing Conference

DePaul University is putting on their first summer writing conference in partnership with the Chicago Public Library. The conference will include poetry, fiction, and non-fiction readings, panels, and classes. But this event is not just for students, but rather all aspiring writers in the Chicago area and from neighboring cities. Writing professors from DePaul and various other universities will share insights, provide job advice, and inform writers about how to get published. Interested? Sign up for the three-day conference online for $250, or $150 for students. Starting today and running until July 19, the conference will take place at the Chicago Public Library downtown and DePaul's Loop Campus. Information about where panels and classes are being held can be found on the website. Or contact Chris Green at (312) 362-8916 or cgreen1@depaul.edu.

Nitrate and Kinogeists @ Portage Theatre

Century Guild brings legendary multi-media artist Dave McKean to the Portage Park Theatre for "Nitrate and Kinogeists", an exhibit of both both Century Guild's inventory of silent film posters and McKean's latest paintings from his haunting current body of work, Nitrate, inspired by the silent era of cinema. The two-day event features screenings of silent films that have inspired McKean, live performers, and other special surprises to be revealed. Tonight begins with an artist's reception at 6pm and concludes with a showing of F.W. Murnau's 1926 Gothic masterpiece, Faust at 9pm. On Saturday, there will be a special screening at 9pm of Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman's feature film MirrorMask , with McKean himself introducing.

Admission is $18 day/$30 for the weekend, 6pm- midnight. 4050 N Milwaukee Ave.

Decks and the City @ St. Ignatius' Prep Campus

Indulge your inner James Bond and stop by "Decks and the City", an evening of fashion, art, dancing, and (charitable) gambling, to benefit the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless tonight from 5:30 to 10:30pm. The event takes place on the campus of St Ignatius' Prep at 1076 W. Roosevelt Road and will include music by DJ Intel & Maker of the Comeups, fashion shows from local designers, a silent auction, and raffle prizes. Tickets start at $35 and can be bought online or by calling (312) 435-4548.

likemind Chicago @ Argo Tea

Today's the next meeting of likemind, a gathering of creative people. The meeting will be held at Argo Tea (140 S. Dearborn) this morning from 8am to 10am. No RSVP is required, though you might want to join the likemind Chicago Facebook group.

Jazz City: 3rd Annual Latin Jazz Festival @ Humboldt Park

As the sun sets over the quiet lagoon and lush trees of Humboldt Park tonight, you'll hear the Brazilian sounds of Paulhino Garcia, the driving grooves of La Inspiracion, and Victor Garcia and Darwin Noguera's Chicago Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble. The free, outdoor show runs from 7:30pm until 9:30pm.