The Neo-Futurists present "30 on Thursday"

The Neo-Futurists present "30 on Thursday", a remount of some classic plays from the archives of their 20-year-old show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. These classic plays are being presented as part of a fund-raising drive to help take their recent prime time show Beer to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. The show starts tonight at 9:30pm. Tickets are $15; $20 tickets are available, and include a post-show beer tasting at the Hopleaf (5148 N. Clark). See the Neo-Futurist Website for details. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Clark (at Foster). (773) 275-5255.

Bar AIDS '09

AIDSCare Chicago presents Bar AIDS '09, an evening of fund-raising for AIDSCare. Simply attend a participating bar (a full list is at the Bar AIDS Website), and a portion of the money you spend there will be donated to AIDSCare. At each participating bar there will also be raffle tickets on sale; the prizes include travel packages, dining gift certificates and a certificate for free skydiving lessons!

St. Bernard Project fundraiser @ Matilda

A fundraiser to benefit the St. Bernard Project, which continues to rebuild in the lingering wake of Hurricane Katrina takes place at Matilda tonight. It's been four years since this disaster hit, and much of the devastation has been long forgotten. The non-profit gains 25% of all revenue from the night. For you, it is a great opportunity to support a very worthwhile cause, as well has have a great time and even better deals:

All Abita beer (brewed in Louisiana) is $4. Amber, Purple Haze and Turbodog on draft, Restoration Pale Ale in bottles.
All appetizers are $5 each.
$5 table charge will apply, with 100% given to the St. Bernard Project.
DJ Kream will liven up the mood
Free raffle for all customers: Gift basket w/ Matilda dinner for two certificate and Abita swag + Abita Turbodog neon sign.

Matilda is located at 3101 N Sheffield, Chicago 773-883-4400

Niall Griffiths @ Book Cellar

Niall Griffiths comes to the Book Cellar to discuss his works. Griffiths's books include travel book such as Real Liverpool and Real Aberystwyth and fiction such as Kelly + Victor and Stump. Free at 7pm at 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.

Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz @ Millennium Park

Millennium Park's free jazz series, Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz, features some of Chicago's leading jazz artists present a different style each week. Tonight is a Chicago Piano Showcase with Willie Pickens and Ron Perrillo. Yes, dueling pianos.
Pritzker Pavilion. 6:30pm. Free.

Vaudezilla's Summertime Sizzle Revue @ The Blue Bayou

Thank the girls of Vaudezilla for the sudden Chicago heat wave! They'll continue their Thursday night reign at The Blue Bayou (3734 N Southport Ave, 773-871-3300) with their free Summertime Sizzle Revue tonight August 27th. The burlesque, served bar top, starts at 10 p.m. sharp and features Red Hot Annie, Wham Bam Pam, Donna Touch, and Natasha Minsk. Tonight only, the girls welcome special guest stars Penny Starr, Jr. from Hollywood and Rose Darling from Dallas). For a complete list of performers and more information, visit Vaudezilla's website.

Athens Sister City Shuffle 5K

Chicago is a "sister city" to 27 other towns around the globe, but none lend themselves to a toga-themed road race quite like Athens, Greece. Come out in your best toga (and I'm shocked there's no Nike sponsorship here) to the lakefront for this fun Greek-themed 5K. The Athens Sister-City Shuffle 5K raises money for a sculpture project at O'Hare Airport. Race starts at 7pm with a celebration featuring Greek food, music and dancing afterwards. Registration $30-$45.

Windy Citizen Drink/Tweet-Up

WindyCitizen is holding its first-ever tweet-up/happy hour at Saluki Bar, 1208 N. Wells St., tonight from 7pm to 9pm. Special guests The Clout Meisters will perform their song "Chicago Clout." RSVP on Facebook. 21+

Raver Rewind 2000 ft. Gianna Hardt, Popkan, Dirtybird & Tim Kasper @ Ai Lounge

Get ready to re-live the heydey of electronic music in Chicago with Raver Rewind 2000 on Saturday September 19 at Ai Lounge. Four Chicago-based DJs who've experienced the scene firsthand back in the day will be playing records only from 1992-2000 for an authentic soundrack. Contemporary instruments like laptops, digital DJ gear, Monomes / APC, Lemurs are specifically prohibited as well.What's not prohibited is getting into the "raver spirit" by dressing the part--phat pants, bright colors, ravey t-shirts, and bringing some PLUR and good vibes. For some of us who were there in the scene, it will be a night heavy on nostalgia, and will bring back the joy of hearing classic tracks that we remember fondly. For the newer recruits into the contemporary electronic music scene, it will be educational to hear the tracks, trends and products of available technology that influenced the kind of music being made today.Popkan (Textone, subVariant) and Dirtybird (Zuvuya, Italo Business, Naughty Bad Fun) will focus heavily on old school house; Gianna Hardt (Forte Productions, ForTheMammas), a promoter uniquely familiar with of underground parties idolized and was influenced by DJs like Larry Heard, Farley Jackmaster Funk, and Julian Jumpin Perez. Tim Kasper (House of Godz) will bring his collection of vintage techno to throw down. Liz Revision (subVariant) hosts.Arrive early to nosh on Ai Restaurant's AMAZING Japanese food & killer sushi. Valet is available for $10 all night. 358 W. Ontario, Chicago, 10pm-2am. 21+

Battle of the DJs @ Ohm

Dozens of Chicago's hottest DJs compete in the first round of preliminary battle tonight at Ohm Nightlife (1958 W. North Ave). Hosted by Chicago start-up RemixGalaxy, the Rockstar Energy Drink-sponsored event promises USB drive giveaways and loads of free energy drinks. Showcase starts at 10pm. 21+