Facets Night School: Thunder Road

Facets Cinematheque presents their Night School series of midnight screenings and lectures. Tonight's film is the Robert Mitchum film Thunder Road from 1958. The film will be preceded by a lecture by Facets employee Susan Doll. Facets Night School screenings are $5 (free for Facets members!), and include an educational packet of notes and articles for each class. The show starts at midnight tonight; advance tickets are available through Ticketweb. Facets: 1517 W. Fullerton. For more information about Facets Night School contact Phil Morehart at (800) 331-6197.

Strange Tales Saturday @ Challengers Comics Postponed

The Strange Tales signing with Michael Kupperman, Becky Cloonan and Jeffrey Brown has been postponed to Saturday, March 6.

Ukulele Cabaret @ Silvie's Lounge

Ukulele Cabaret, an ongoing live music event featuring ukuleles, happens once again tonight at 9pm at Silvie's Lounge (1902 W. Irving Park). Tonight's theme: "Uke Valentino", a Valentine's Day celebration. Please see the Ukulele Cabaret MySpace page for full details and to RSVP, if you want to perform.

Damian Abraham's X420X @ Concertina Gallery

Damian Abraham, perhaps better known as Pink Eyes, frontman of Toronto-based punk band Fucked Up, is an accomplished illustrator whose work constructs a visual language based on highly detailed and grotesque characters. X420X is Abraham's first solo exhibition, and is comprised of two serial projects and a site-specific wall drawing. His show opens tonight at Concertina Gallery (2351 N Milwaukee, Floor 2). The opening reception is from 6-8:30pm. Fucked Up will perform at the Viaduct Theater (3111 N. Western) immediately following the opening.

Cupid Cats of Chicago @ GTT

Animal trainer Samantha Martin brings her troupe of trained felines to Gorilla Tango Theatre for two shows tonight. Cats aren't the only animal Martin has trained in her career; her previous work includes chickens in the award-winning documentary Natural History of the Chicken, which led to an appearance, with chickens, on The Tonight Show. Martin's cats perform a variety of entertaining tricks involving wheels, hoops, and a musical act called The RockCats.

The cats will be performing today at 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave at 4pm and 5:30pm, tickets are $15. For tickets and info call (773) 598-4549 or visit Gorilla Tango Theatre's website. To view a clip of Martin and her charges, visit YouTube.

Paczki Eating Contest @ Bennison's Bakery

If I'm not a contestant, I will be enviously watching eight teams of two gobble down paczki for money and prizes today at Bennison's Bakery, 1000 Davis Street in Evanston at 3pm. Join me. Or join a team; call (847) 328-9434 to register.

Jacques Tati Double Feature @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a month long retrospective of Jacques Tati's films. Today they're presenting a double feature of films featuring M. Hulot: Mon Oncle at 3pm; and the seldom-seen Trafic at 5:15pm. You can see either film separately, or both films at a discounted price. See the Film Center Website for a complete schedule. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Painting Panel Discussion & Gallery Openings

Today, Chicago celebrates painting. Starting with a panel discussion all about painting at 9:30am, (until 12pm at the Hyatt Regency) and continuing on with several gallery openings: JULIUS CÆSAR at 4pm, continuing to Shane Campbell Gallery at 6pm, and ending at the 119 N Peoria Building in the West Loop at Rowley Kennerk Gallery and Western Exhibitions, from 7 to 10pm. Both the panel discussion and the exhibitions feature some of the best and most well-versed painters in Chicago. Visit the individual galleries' websites (linked above) for more information.

Torn Pages @ OhNo!Doom

Come to OhNo!Doom tonight (6pm-10pm) for "Pages Torn From our Most Favorite Imaginary Books", a series of artist/illustrator mashups detailing original children's stories. 1800 N Milwaukee Ave, show runs until March 2. Want a preview? Check out our interview with curator Josh Lucas in A/C.

Clandestino's Valentine's Dinner Series

In 2010, Clandestino will continue to wander the city, serving lavish feasts in some very unique spaces. Join them for their upcoming Valentine's Dinner Series for a menu featuring Gunthorp Farm Duck and Faith's Farm Berkshire Pork. This event is BYOB. Wine recommendations to be announced. To see the menu and to RSVP, see Clandestino's website.

Life as Lincoln @ Gene Siskel Film Center

Life as Lincoln, a fascinating documentary chronicling the lives of three Abraham Lincoln impersonators as they make the rounds of schools and libraries to talk about our nation's sixteenth president (who turns 201 today), playstonight at 8pm at the Siskel Film Center (164 North State Street).

Valentine's Pastry Market @ Logan Square Kitchen

Buy some love today at the Valentine's Pastry Market at Logan Square Kitchen, 10am-3pm at 2333 North Milwaukee. Treats from local bakers such as Sugarkist, Katherine Anne, Floriole, Rare Bird Preserves, and Rich Chocolates and Candies will be sold.

Handmade Market

About 30 of the city's greatest makers of handmade goods will be gathering today at Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Avenue) from noon to 4pm for another Handmade Market Chicago. The sellers will help you you pick out a few gifts for others, or yourself. You can see who is selling at the show here. And one of the best parts of this show is that you get to sip a tall frosty something while you peruse fantastic products. If you don't leave with full shopping bags, you may leave inspired, or at least a little tipsy.

Sweet Saturday @ Garfield Park Conservatory

Sweet Saturdays return to the Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N Central Park Ave) today from 11am to 4pm. Focused on plants that provide the key ingredients to some of our favorite sweet treats, this family friendly event allows visitors of all ages to sample the facts, the flavors and the fun of some of the most tantalizing tropical treats. Today's feature is vanilla tasting, brought to you by Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Specialists of Waukegan, Illinois. There's also live music in Horticulture Hall's Sweet Saturdays' Tropical Café and hands-on activity stations. Suggested donation is $3.