SOFA @ Navy Pier

Celebrating its 16th year, SOFA, the wildly popular sculpture objects & functional art fair, returns to Chicago to present work from 68 international galleries and dealers from 10 countries. As always, the fair will be at Navy Pier, Festival Hall: 600 E. Grand. It will continue through Sunday the 8th. Fair hours are as follows: Friday and Saturday: 11am - 8pm; Sunday 12-6pm. Tickets are $15 for single day general admission and $25 for a three-day pass. Discounted student, senior and group tickets are available. Catalogs are $15. For general information, visit SOFA's website, call 773-506-8860, or email info@sofaexpo.com.

Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer @ Bailey Auditorium

Celebrate beer today at the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer today at the Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington (Chicago Journeyman Plumbers' Local Union 130). I suppose they won't be selling soda.

Muppet History @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents Muppet History 201, a follow-up to their last program of Jim Henson rarities. The program features 90 minutes of appearances by the Muppets on TV shows from the 1950's to the 1980's. Craig Shermin, vice president and trustee of The Henson Legacy, will be in attendance. The program starts at 8pm; see the Film Center Website for full details. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Howard Zinn @ UCHICAGO

The People's Historian, Howard Zinn, will be interviewed by Dave Zirin at the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall (1131 E 57th St.) at 7PM, as the keynote speaker for the Campaign to End the Death Penalty's Annual Conference. The theme of the talk is "The Power of the People", and Zinn will be available to sign books afterward. Admission is $10 for non-conference attendees. For more information check the website.

Daria Martin and Anne Collod in Conversation @ MCA

This fall the MCA presents two works developed in dialogue with legendary choreographer Anna Halprin -- choreographer and dancer Anne Collod re-interprets Halprin's dance performance parades & changes and filmmaker Daria Martin exhibits Minotaur, a film installation. In this conversation, Collod and Martin share their creative process, inspirations and shared interests: in Halprin's work; in questions of figure and abstraction; and in the strategies of reinterpreting and restaging artworks. The discussion begins at 2pm at the MCA Theater: 220 E. Chicago. Admission is $10, $8 for MCA members, and $6 for students. For tickets, call the MCA Box Office at (312) 397-4010 or get them through the MCA website.

Half Acre Chilli Cookoff @ The Arts of Life Studio

Half Acre Brewery's Charitable Chilli cookoff is tonight. It benefits The Arts of Life, a non-profit community that uses art to assist developmentally disabled adults discover personal growth, and is being co-presented by Nice Cream and Chicagoist. There will be additional prizes for the People's Choice award-winner. The first 50 people to show up get a door prize, and a raffle gives you the chance to win even more swag. Get your pre-sale tickets now for only $5; pre-sales end on Friday. And if you think you've got what it takes, enter your chili for $20. The cookoff begins at 5pm at The Arts of Life Studio: 2010 W. Carroll, $5 advance, $10 at the door, $20 per chili entry.

The Incredible Journey That is Consciousness @ Golden Age

A new publication by Chicago's Alex Fuller and Gabe Usadel will be launched tonight at Golden Age from 7-11pm.

1744 W. 18th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
Thurs-Sun 12-6pm

Eccentric Soul Revue @ Lincoln Hall

Revisit '60s and '70s soul and funk with the Eccentric Soul Revue at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave.) on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. Hosted by the Numero group, the show stars The Notations, Renaldo Domino, Linda Balentine, Sharon Clark, and more. Tickets are $30.

Mrs. Gruber's Ding Dong School

Easily the best Robot vs. Dinosaur show to date, Mrs. Gruber's Ding Dong School takes the audience through a twisted, rollicking day at an academy run by a doddering but feisty schoolmarm with an age-addled brain and a passion for expanding young minds. Spot on casting, warped sensibilities and imaginative puppetry give it a Wonder Showzen feel, without a hint of a knock-off. Tickets are $15, and the show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through Nov. 21 at Gorilla Tango, 1919 N. Milwaukee (right under the Western Blue Line stop). For tickets, call 773-598-4549 or visit www.gorillatango.com.

Chicago Fire Semifinal Match @ Toyota Park

Painting the town Fire red!

The Chicago Fire play the second game of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New England Revolution tonight at 7:30 p.m. And Chicago is fired up for the match. In honor of the team's playoff accomplishments, Willis Tower is illuminating its twin antennae red all night. And other teams are getting involved as well. Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa will serve as the honorary flag raiser at the game and will start the traditional Chicago Fire chant prior to kickoff.

Tickets are still available for the game, so get in the spirit! Visit the website, or call 888-MLS-FIRE.

DIFFA Table Hop & Taste @ Merchandise Mart

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) is hosting a Table Hop & Taste event at Merchandise Mart (222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza) today at 11am to raise funds for the fight against AIDS. This food and wine tasting will feature food from restaurants like Bistrot Zinc, Market, Old Town Social and RL and wines from Castello di GABBIANO. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

The DIFFA is a not-for-profit fundraising and grant making foundation that distributes funds to Chicago area HIV/AIDS service agencies. More information about DIFFA and about ticket and event details can be found on their website.

Pumpkins and Squashes @ Kendall College

The "Pumpkins and Squashes: Evolution in an American Family's Folk Food" will teach you all you need to know about the beloved little nutty, starchy guys we love to eat. Lecture sponsored by Chicago Foodways Roundtable. Lecture begins at 10am at Kendall College, 900 North Branch. Free parking. Admission is $2 free to Kendall students and faculty with ID. RSVP via email or call (847) 432-8255.