Free Japanese Woodblock Seminar @ Floating World Gallery

If you like Japanese woodblock prints, go to a free seminar at Floating World Gallery: "The Great Wave: An Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints." The seminar will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. The gallery is located at 1925 N. Halsted Street. A brief reception with light refreshments will follow the presentation. For reservations, email classes@floatingworld.com. For more information call 312-587-7800.

You can also view works from the exhibition, "Creating What Has Never Been," an exhibition of Japanese post-war paintings and contemporary ceramics, on display through Nov. 19.

Moon Duo @ Empty Bottle

San Francisco's Moon Duo have been lauded for their releases that merge Krautrock and psychedelica, sounding like a very raw Suicide. The Wooden Shjips side project play Permanent Records' anniversary show. Admission is $5 and the show starts at 10pm For more information, visit the Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave) online.

History, Violence, Disquiet @ MCA Theater

Featuring a reading by local author Aleksandar Hemon, a conversation with members of performance group Superamas, and a conversation with artist Luc Tuymans led by curator and writer Hamza Walker, this afternoon symposium explores how artists confront the often fragmented narratives of violence prevalent in mass-media. A book signing takes place following the program. "History, Violence, Disquiet" takes place at 1pm in the MCA Theater, located at 220 E Chicago. Tickets are $12, $8 for students and are available at the MCA Box Office or by phone at 312-397-4010.

Ravenswood Art Walk

The ninth annual Ravenswood Art Walk runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm in the Ravenswood Corridor. See work by more than 300 artists in a variety of venues, from galleries and artist studios to offices and machine shops. Free.

Chicago South Asian Film Festival

The first-ever Chicago South Asian Film Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at the Columbia College's Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., 8th Floor. Here's today's schedule:

1pm: Victor Ramirez Asesino, Dida Reema Anjana, Water Pressures, The Professionals and Wild Things. Q&A with Ravi Kapoor, Bornila Chatterjee, Ann Feldman and Sandeep Sharma afterward.
3pm: Victor Ramirez Asesino and Raspberry Magic. Q&A with Ravi Kapoor and Keya Shah afterward.
5:15pm: Antaheen (The Endless Wait). Q&A with Aparna Sen afterward.
8pm: Dida Reema Anjana and Ashes. Q&A with Ajay Naidu, Nina Spensley and Reena Shah afterward.

Tickets for each film are $11, or you can buy day passes for $35 or a full-festival pass for $125.

Two-Hour Comedy Hour @ Gallery Cabaret

This week's Two-Hour Comedy Hour, hosted by Mo Welch, features comedians Junior Stopka, Drew Michael, Chris Condren, Emily Lake and Trey Mowder. This free show features a fresh mix of comedians each week. No cover -- though a $5 donation is accepted -- and it runs from 7-9 pm at Gallery Cabaret, 2020 N. Oakley (near Western and Milwaukee, just off the Blue Line stop). Guests are encouraged to arrive early.

Fork, Cork & Style @ Arlington Racetrack

Laugh all you want at the location -- but this event (11am-7pm at Arlington Racetrack, 2200 West Euclid Avenue in Arlington Heights) will feature cooking demos from chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Brian Malarkey and Top Chef alums, as well as wine tastings and eatins. Tickets start at $25.

GLI.TC/H Screening and Performance @ Nightingale

Come out tonight to Nightingale Theater, 1084 N Milwaukee Ave at 7pm to experience a night of the GLI.TC/H Festival! Featuring works and performances by Theo Darst, Jon Satrom, Ben Baker-Smith, Evan Kuhl, Jimmy Joe Roche and many more. For more information, please click here and RSVP here.

Yarncon

Yarncon returns to the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St., today from 10am to 4pm. Shop for yarn, attend workshops, or just soak in the crafty good vibes for just $3 admission.

Local H @ Beat Kitchen

Surprised to see a FREE Local H show at a venue as small as Beat Kitchen? Q101 and Old Style present this Beat Kitchen 20th Anniversary Spotlight Show, but get there early, because it's first come, first served. Doors open at 9pm, show at 10pm. 2100 W. Belmont. 21 & up.

Switchback Books Salon & Fundraiser @ 4745 N. Beacon St.

Help Switchback Books promote women and poetry! Come to their salon and fundraiser at 4745 N Beacon St. #3S at 7pm -- salon starts at 8pm. $10 will get you a Switchback Book, but $20 will get you a book and all-you-can-drink! Enjoy some music, some lit, some food, and oh yeah -- some readings by Arielle Greenberg, Becca Klaver, Dolly Lemke, and Sarah Carson. (And there's talk of an 18-liter bottle of wine!)

The Night Kite Revival @ Chopin Theatre

Robbie Q. Telfer and students from Young Chicago Authors will join forces with Anis Mojgani, Derrick Brown, and Buddy Wakefield to bring you "the ultimate uplift spoken word party experience"! Come to the Chopin Theatre (1543 W Division) at 4pm for the Poetry Revival's latest and greatest tour. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students at the door.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago @ Harris Theater

You can catch HSDC's "Fall Series" at 8 pm. The company presents a series of four distinctive contemporary dance works. The performance takes place at Harris Theater in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets are $25-94 and may be purchased online through HSDC's website, or by calling the Harris Theater box office at 312-334-7777.

Twenty Four Hour Comics Day @ Various Locations

NaNoWriMo. The Three Day Novel Contest. The 48 Hour Film Project. If camaraderie and ridiculously demanding deadlines get your creative fires burning, this week there's one for comic book artists. Today is Twenty Four Hour Comics Day, which challenges participants to produce 24 consecutive comic book pages in 24 hours. Three Chicago stores are participating: Challengers Comics at 1845 N. Western Ave. 2R, The Comic Vault at 1530 W. Montrose and Graham Crackers Comics at 5443 N. Broadway. 11 am-11pm. Event is free; contact individual stores for registration information

Superamas: EMPIRE (Art & Politics) @ MCA Stage

How is reality constructed and manipulated through the stories we share? A reconstruction of the Napoleonic Battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809 grounds this hybrid theater production, which begins with a live filmed battle and travels to a present-day New York premiere party of the film. EMPIRE (Art & Politics) is running in conjunction with the exhibition Luc Tuymans, and as part of the MCA Global Stage series at the MCA Stage ( 220 East Chicago Avenue). The MCA Stage is located at 220 E Chicago Ave. Tickets are $28, $22 for MCA members and $10 for students. Purchase tickets and find times through the MCA Box Office or by phone at (312) 397-4010.