Author Showcase @ Centuries and Sleuths

It's budding author night in Forest Park tonight: Victor David Giron (Sophomoric Philosphy), Ben Tanzer (Most Likely You Go Your Way And I Go Mine), Mark Brand (Red Ivy Afternoon) and Jason Behrends, managing editor of Orange Alert Press will be at Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W. Madison, Forest Park, (708) 771-7243, 7pm.

Railroaded! @ Portage Theater

The Northwest Chicago Film Society presents the 1947 film Railroaded! at the Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., tonight at 7:30pm. Admission is $5.

Soup and Bread @ The Hideout

Get your slurp on at this weekly fundraiser for area food-related charities tonight at the Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia, from 5:30-7:30pm. A volunteer team of chefs and bakers donate the soup and bread; you donate the money.

Dandelion Momma by Greg Romero @ New Leaf Theatre

This is part of the Treehouse Readings Series at New Leaf Theatre. The revamped series, which kicked off last fall, is dedicated to providing an incubator for new play development, specifically for plays that have received an initial reading and are in the more advanced stages of polishing before their premieres. Tonight they will be reading Dandelion Momma by Greg Romero. Synopsis: A 100-year old woman reflects on her life through broken pieces of memory. An eight-year old girl takes care of wayward dandelions and sees the lights inside of people. A farm girl and a writer search for life while planting seeds in the hardened ground of the Great Depression. The ground becomes harder, the girl becomes tired, the air becomes heavier and something new must be born. This reading will take place at New Leaf Theatre's home at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. The staged readings will be followed by a talk-back. Admission is free to all readings. For more information, visit newleaftheatre.org.

Goose Island Beer Dinner @ Harmony Grill

Join Goose Island brewmaster and dean of Chicago brewers Greg Hall for a meal built around fancy, special Goose Island beers from the Reserve (e.g. Matilda and Pere Jacques, Pepe Nero), and Extreme Ale (e.g. Nightstalker) families. Harmony Grill's Chef Rafael Lopez has designed a four-course menu around the beer selections, with a watercress and pear gelee salad, roasted Asian-style bbq duck, seared goat (!) served with a stuffed triple-creme cheese (!!!), and a banana split with Matilda-orange ice cream for dessert.

Seating is limited to only 55 guests. Tickets are $48 per person, dinner starts at 7:30pm. For more information and reservations, visit Schubas online (scroll down to find the event) or call 773.525.2508 x17. Harmony Grill and Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Avenue.