Orange Alert Reading Series @ The Whistler

Tonight is the Orange Alert Reading Series. Orange Alert is a blog and book publisher whose mission is "to support the independent arts and to introduce, inform, interact, and instigate ideas." Sunday's reading features John Cotter,
Martin Seay, Kathleen Rooney and Stephen Markley. The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., (773) 227-3530, 6pm.

Hoops for the House

The Ronald McDonald House Charities will be hosting a competitive 3 on 3 basketball event today Last year's event raised over $30,000, and the goal this year is to double that. Proceeds will go towards the construction of the world's largest Ronald McDonald House downtown.

The event will be held at Grant Square in Hinsdale, IL. Tip off is at 8:30am, and is expected to run past 5pm. Bulls legend Bob Love, Benny the Bull and Ronald McDonald will all be in attendance. To register, go to HoopsfortheHouse.com.

Pride Parade

With Grand Marshal (and country-singing lesbian) Chely Wright at the helm, the 41st annual Pride parade kicks off at noon at Belmont and Halsted (although it never runs on time, be prepared). The route winds through Boystown and ends at Diversey Harbor.

Bill Miller @ Nichols Concert Hall

Three-time Grammy-award winner Bill Miller is performing his melodic Native American-infused Americana at the Nichols Concert Hall (1490 Chicago Ave.) in Evanston today at 3 p.m. The event is hosted by the American Indian Center in Chicago, the nation's oldest urban Native American center. Advance tickets are $20 or $25 at the door (students with ID and seniors are just $15); call 847-301-2090 to purchase tickets by phone.

Rock & Roll Cinema: Walk Hard @ Empty Bottle

The Empty Bottle presents the latest in their Rock & Roll Cinema series of film screenings. Tonight's film is Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story from 2007, the music biopic send-up which didn't quite connect with viewers at the box office (though it's worth seeing just to hear the various musical styles that star John C. Reilly handles throughout Cox's recording career). Film starts at 7pm, and admission is free! Empty Bottle: 1035 N. Western Avenue. (773) 276-3600.

Chicago Nerds: D&D 201

The Chicago Nerds Social Club present another episode in their series of D&D instructional events. Today's event, D&D 201: How to Run an Interesting Encounter, invites people that want to work on their Dungeon Master skills to show up and run a short game with other players, under the watchful eyes of experienced DMs. You'll then get their positive feedback and constructive criticism about how to make your game-running better. D&D 201 happens this afternoon/evening from 3pm to 9pm at Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo (5550 N. Broadway). Full details on the event are at the Chicago Nerds Website, and you can reserve your space for this free event at Eventbrite.

Michele Fitzsimmon @ Bar Wine Cafe

Come out this afternoon to Bin Wine Cafe, (1559 North Milwaukee Ave) from 3pm to 5pm for Michele Fitzsimmon's opening reception. He will be debuting his recent prints and collages. The collages previewed on his website here, crash together the western and eastern perspectives of the feminine, one can't help but interpret theology as a mode of introspection.

American Spanish Dance Festival's Flamenco Passion @ North Shore Center for Performing Arts

The culmination of Chicago's Ensemble Español's American Spanish Dance Festival, Flamenco Passion will feature three Flamenco dance world premieres. The performance takes place at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. at 3 pm. Tickets are $26-$46. Free parking is available. For tickets or more information call (847) 673-6300 or visit northshorecenter.org.