Snow Days Chicago

For those of you looking to come out of hibernation this winter season, Snow Days Chicago is the perfect way to do it. Snow Days is a three day winter festival on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park and will feature a national snow sculpting competition, dog sled demonstrations, an activities igloo and you will get to see several one of a kind sculptures made entirely out of snow. Snow Days Chicago is free and will taking place in Grant Park, January 29 thru January 31, 2010. Check out the website for more information.

Understanding Cyberattack as an Instrument of U.S. Policy

Given the nation's and much of the western world's dependence on information technology networks, the threat of cyberattacks from both hostile regimes and non-nation-states on U.S. interests has been well publicized. But less talked about, says the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, is the potential use by the U.S. of cyberattacks, both defensively and offensively. Join the council in welcoming University of Chicago Professor of American & Foreign Law Kenneth W. Dam; CEO of Hong Kong-based AEA Holdings Admiral William A. Owens; and Herbert S. Lin, chief scientist at the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, National Research Council of the National Academies. Cash bar opens at 5:30pm, presentation and discussion at 6; 81 E. Van Buren. Go here for prices and additional information.

The General Washingtons @ The Greenhouse Theater

The General Washingtons, "Chicago's first and only all white, all male comedy group," will be performing Thursdays @ 10:30pm through January 28 at the Greenhouse Theater (2257 N Lincoln Avenue). Tonight they'll be joined by local improv group Golden Tee. $6 at the door. $5 with one of their postcards. (Hint: They bear the image of one of our Founding Fathers. I'll let you guess which one.)

Angel Otero @ Cultural Center

Chicago art-darling Angel Otero leads a gallery talk through the exhibition of his work Touch with Your Eyes. This exhibition of 12-15 new works is Otero's largest solo show to date and promises to be stunning. Otero's talk begins at 12:15pm at the Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E. Washington.

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 this Thursday January 28th and visit the bevy of beauties including Red Hot Annie, Paris Green, Donna Touch, the Flaming Dames, and more! The show is free and starts at 10:00 pm sharp. Visit Vaudezilla's website for more details and a complete list of performers.

Comic Book 201 @ Third Coast Comics

The Chicago Nerd Social Club and Third Coast Comics team up tonight (7pm) for Comic Book 201, the sequel to (you guessed it) Comics 101. Find out more about publishers, continuity, and other topics of comic book import. Third Coast Comics, 6234 N. Broadway. Sign up here.

The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 @ Chicago State University

Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Dr., welcomes Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles to the Cordell Reed Student Union for a discussion and screening of his Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306. The film short covers Kyles, who was a colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the time he spent in Memphis with the civil rights leader during the moments that led up to his assassination. The lecture/screening is today from 12:30pm to 2pm. This event is free and is open to the public.

World Kitchen Learning Series: Scent of Cinnamon

Your cooking will get spicy from the Scent of Cinnamon 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, 66 East Randolph. Pre-registration required; admission is $30.

Atomic Sketch Event @ evilOlive

Promising "new directions, a new DJ rotation and longer featured artist exhibitions", the bcd collaborative has big plans for their Atomic Sketch Event in 2010. Combining art and drink, ASE presents a panel of emerging and established Chicagoland talent as they creating art live throughout the night. Media ranges from pencil and ink drawings to paintings and collage, with most pieces selling for less than $50. January's panel consists of featured artist Jason Brammer and CHema Skandal, Penny Boedigheimer, Timothy Buebel, Blütt, Joey Potts, Revise CMW and Czr Prz. As always, drop-in artists are welcome to create and sell work, but space fills up quickly so show up early. Tonight's free event at evilOlive (1551 W. Division) features music from DJ Marc Ruvolo and drink specials from 6 to 10p.