SketchFest

The second week of SketchFest opens tonight. Start it off in the North Theater with sharp, social commentary and dick jokes from The Other Other Guys, followed by Teenager of the Year, a couple of dudes making a couple of jokes. Thanks Brett Consortium follows in the South Theater, double-billed with Jerks, a new show by Jamie Hoggson and Nick Ehart.

SketchFest, the world's largest sketch comedy festival, covers two long weekends with 100 sketch groups and 125 shows. Tickets are $12.50 for each timeslot and a limited number of festival passes are available. Buy tickets and see the entire schedule here. SketchFest runs through Jan. 17 at the Theater Building, 1225 West Belmont. HOT TIP: Call the box office at (773) 327-5252 for tickets and you'll a) be treated like a real person; b) get a solid recommendation on what shows will suit you best; and c) avoid a fistfull of Ticketmaster fees.

Voxtrot @ Lincoln Hall [TNK Festival]

Indie group Voxtrot, who take hints from 60's pop, come to Lincoln Hall tonight as part of Schubas' Tomorrow Never Knows Winter Music Festival. The quartet hails from indie music haven Austin, TX and is best known for their melodically light-hearted tunes on the Raised By Wolves EP. They also performed at our own Pitchfork Music Festival in '07. Solid Gold and Gemini Club also play. Tickets are $15 (or purchase a 5-day TNK festival pass for $75). 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. 18+

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion @ MCA Theater

In conjunction with the Museum of Contemporary Art's exhibit Italics: Italian Art between Tradition and Revolution 1968-2008, the MCA Theater is screening classic Italian films throughout January.
The Oscar-winning picture Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion follows a high-ranking police officer who plants clues to a murder he commits to judge the competency of his own force. Smart, satirical, and filled with black-humor, this film is one of the best Italian films of the 70s.
Tickets are $8, $6 for MCA members. Screening starts at 6pm.

Vaudezilla's 'Out with the Clothes, in with the Nudes' @ the Blue Bayou

Though (Baby) its cold outside, the broads of Vaudezilla are heating up the Blue Bayou (3734 N Southport Avenue) with their 'Out with the Clothes, in with the Nudes' Bar top Burlesque Revue. Dig yourself out of a snow drift tonight and visit the bevy of beauties including Red Hot Annie, Wham Bam Pam, Siren Jinx, Donna Touch, and more! The show is free and starts at 10pm sharp. Visit Vaudezilla's website for more details and a complete list of performers.

Cocktail Class @ Nacional 27

Shake off the cold with a hot cocktail! In this month's cocktail class Adam Seger, Nacional 27's resident mixologist will show you how to prepare two hot concoctions: Hot Buttered Hum and Hot Agave Mocha. The class runs from 5:30-6:30 PM, and you'll learn how to mix these drinks, sample them, enjoy passed appetizers, and receive recipe cards. $27 per person. Call 312-664-2727 or visit Nacional 27's website for reservations.

Tomorrow Never Knows Festival @ Schubas, Lincoln Hall

The annual winter long-weekend festival known as Tomorrow Never Knows hits two venues this year, both Schubas and Lincoln Hall. Tonight's entertainment includes Surfer Blood, Freelance Whales, Bear In Heaven, and Lasers and Fast and Shit at Schubas and Voxtrot (see Slowdown entry above for details), Solid Gold, Maps & Atlases, Gemini Club at Lincoln Hall. Both start at 9pm and are 18+. Tickets are $15 (or purchase a 5-day TNK festival pass for $75). Schubas is located at 3159 N Southport Ave (at Belmont). Lincoln Hall is located at 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.

Writers on the Record: Ha Jin

This month's Writers on the Record program features Chinese-American author Ha Jin, who will discuss his latest collection of short stories, A Good Fall. The taping takes place in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at Harold Washington Library (400 S. State St.) at 6pm. Free.

Kittypalooza Benefit Concert @ Empty Bottle

Brice Woodall, One & Only, Cobalt & the Hired Guns and Todd Kessler all perform on behalf of kitties in need tonight at the Empty Bottle. Admission to the show is a suggested donation of $10 and benefits Tree House Humane Society. This is Tree House's 5th annual Kittypalooza concert and this year's show is dedicated to Radley, the Empty Bottle's kitty who passed away last year. Show starts at 8:30pm. 1035 N. Western Ave.

World Kitchen Learning Series: Meat and the Farmer

Meet a local meat purveyor from Slagel Family Farms and learn how to cook with their meats at the Meat and the Farmer class, part of the World Kitchen learning series offered by the City of Chicago. Class runs 6-8:30pm at Gallery 37 for the Arts, 55 East Randolph. Pre-registration required; admission is $30.