Kick Off Chicago Artists Month

Gapers Block hosts the opening night of Chicago Artists Month at the Pilsen East Artists Open House. Join us at 2003 S. Halsted from 6pm to 10pm to view two galleries filled with works by artists from around the city and right there in Pilsen East, enjoy complimentary drinks from local sports drink startup Greater Than, and support the vibrant art scene in Chicago. This doubles as our monthly GB Get-Together; join us after the show for an afterparty at a nearby bar, TBA.

The exhibition will be on view over the weekend, too, from noon to 7pm.

McKeever Donovan: Hold Me @ Monument2

Come out tonight at 6pm to Monument2 (2007 N. Point St.), to experience Hold Me! McKeever Donovan's sculptural works provoke an imbalance with fabricated forms, their suggestive function and dislocates the gesture.

Leaves of Grass @ Links Hall

Links Hall in Lakeview presents this unusual recitation of Walt Whitman's poetry performed in the nude by a diverse cast of more than 20 people. Conceived by Northwestern alumnus Jeremy Bloom, this choral reading event celebrates the bodily themes in Whitman's work. Performances take place at 7:30 and 10 pm; tickets are available online. Further information is available at Leaves of Grass Unbound.

Chicago South Asian Film Festival

The first-ever Chicago South Asian Film Festival opens tonight with a red-carpet gala at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., from 5:30pm to midnight. The film Do Paise Di Dhoop, Char Aane Ki Barish (Two Paise For Sunshine Four Aanas For Rain) will screen at 7:15pm, followed by a Q&A with director Deepti Naval and stars Manisha Koirala and Rajit Kapur, and an open-bar cocktail reception. Tickets are $100, or pay $125 for a full-festival pass.

Oktoberfest @ Whole Foods Market Evanston

Thirsty? Hungry? Thrifty? Check out the free Oktoberfest celebration at Whole Foods Market Evanston North, 1640 Chicago Ave. There'll be a pumpkin beer taste-off; a Munich Oktoberfest beer taste-off; food and beer pairings; product giveaways from beer vendors; and a gift basket raffle. Call (847) 733-1600 to register for the event and reserve a free tasting stein. And since the event's from 4-7pm., you should be able to catch the Purple Line Express both ways. (With all this free beer, you'd be crazy to drive.)

Retribution Gospel Choir @ Hideout

Low side project Retribution Gospel Choir return to Chicago for a show rife with harmonious pop music buried in reverb. The Alan Sparhawk-headed trio's new album is a rock n' roll tour de force. The show starts at 10pm, is 21+ and admission is $10. For more information, visit the Hideout online. 1354 W Wabansia Ave.

Big Bang @Pleasure Chest

The Pleasure Chest, 3435 N. Lincoln Avenue, holds its annual Big Bang (get it?) sale this weekend. In addition to discounts and specials, everything in the store is at least 25% off. Plus tonight and tomorrow night from 6-9 p.m., the store hosts a free happy hour -- yeah, that's right: drink free booze while you shop for sex toys. Whose weekend just got better?

Third Coast Listening Room @ Chicago Urban Art Society

The Third Coast International Audio Festival has been celebrating audio documentary work of all styles since 2000. Their work can be heard weekly on Re:sound on NPR. They also host Listening Room events, a bit like a pre-recorded reading (not because anyone has stage fright, but to take full advantage of the audio possibilities). Tonight's Listening Room features winners from the Book Odds challenge, in which participants were asked to produce a short audio story (up to three minutes) inspired by (and named after) song titles from The Books' newly-released record The Way Out. There will also be "guest doodlers" on hand to see how radio inspires art. Hosted by Third Coast Festival's Julie Shapiro and WBEZ's Alison Cuddy. Free. Chicago Urban Art Society, 2229 S. Halsted. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm.

Kings of Pastry Film @ Siskel Film Center

The documentary Kings of Pastry, which we've talked about over at Drive-Thru, opens today for a week-long run at the Siskel Film Center, 164 North State Street.