Bloomingdale Trail Walking Tour

Join the Congress for the New Urbanism's local chapter, CNU-Illinois, for a walking tour down the Bloomingdale Trail.

CNU-Illinois will be joined by leaders from the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, Chicago Department of Transportation, Active Transportation Alliance, and The Trust for Public Spaces on a walking tour of a portion of the Bloomingdale corridor.

This event is FREE! RSVP to: info@cnuillinois.org

Meet at the Damen Blue Line Stop at 6:30pm.

Marc Maron @ Mayne Stage

For more than 15 years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing raw, honest and thought-provoking comedy for print, stage, radio and television. A legend in the stand-up community, he has appeared on HBO, Conan, Letterman, his two Comedy Central Presents specials and almost every show that allows comics to perform. He will be performing at Mayne Stage (1328 W. Morse Ave.) tonight, Aug. 4 at 8pm, and shows at 8pm and 10:30pm Friday and Saturday, Aug5 and 6. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

It Came From the Neo-Futurarium: The Flaming Urge

The Neo-Futurists continue the 10th year of It Came From The Neo-Futurarium, their annual series of staged readings of movie scripts, with a production of the the 1953 film The Flaming Urge, about a young man who loves to watch burning buildings. The staged reading is directed by Neo-Futurist alumnus David Kodeski. It Came From The Neo-Futurarium runs on Thursday nights through August 18: please see the Neo-Futurists' Website for full details. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (near Foster). (773) 275-5255.

Story Club @ Uncommon Ground on Clark

Come out to Uncommon Ground for this month's installment of Story Club, a storytelling series that has been featured in Time Out Chicago, Gapers Block, Metromix, the DePaul Writing Center website, and is recommended by the Chicago Tribune. At each meeting of Story Club there are five open-mic slots and two featured readers; open mic sign-up is at 8pm, go time at 8:30pm at Uncommon Ground (3800 N. Clark). This month's featured readers are the lovely Alyson Lyon and the abs-tastic Keith Ecker of the series Essay Fiesta. This event is free. For more information visit Uncommon Ground or Story Club.

Fillet of Solo presents Ferocious Love and We've Got A Badge For That@ Heartland Studio Theatre

Fillet of Solo, the solo performance and storytelling festival, presents Ferocious Love by Deb Lewis; stories from a wolf baby who bites to a lover whose kiss leaves lips raw and teeth humming, and We've Got A Badge For That, by Kelli Strickland; featuring near death experiences, puppy love, pyromania, and peach schnapps... one girl's story of the scouts. Performs Thursday, 8/4, 7pm; Friday, 8/5, 8:30pm; and Saturday, 8/6, 7pm at the Heartland Studio Theatre (7016 N. Glenwood Avenue), tickets: $10; festival passes which allow entry into all events are $30. For information call 773.761.4477 or visit Lifeline Theatre.

West African Music Workshop @ Old Town School of Folk Music

How often do you get the chance to learn how to play the guitar, Fulani-style? You can tonight starting at 6pm, at a workshop with Mauritanian folks singer Samba Django.

4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 6pm - 7:20pm, $20. Register here, or call 773-728-6000 for more information.

Christian Boudard Cooking Demo @ Alliance Francaise

Christian Boudard, the pastry chef from Paris' Guy Savoy Restaurant, gives a cooking demo tonight for his famous pastry La Boule Noire (the "magic chocolate ball") from 6-8pm at Alliance Française, 54 W. Chicago Ave. Admission $50 for members, $60 for non-members.

Chicago Farmers Market COUNTRY Chef Challenge

Head to Daley Plaza today to watch the Chicago Farmers Market Country Chef Challenge. A lineup of Celebrity Chefs will have 30 minutes to create a delicious dish using market goods in front of a live audience. Catch the action and see who will be crowned the master of the market. This free event will also feature a canvas bag giveaway along with a chance to win a $100 gift card to each of the participating chefs' restaurants. Don't miss out! 50 W Washington Chicago, IL 60602 between 11am to 1pm.

Downtown at the COOP

Coworking space The COOP hosts a show titled Downtown at its new space at 230 W. Superior, Suite 2F. The reception tonight runs from 5pm to 11pm, and showcases work by Alex Fuller, Rod Hunting, David Sieren, Margot Harrington, Linsey Burritt, Crystal Grover, Mike McQuade, Jesse Hora, Delicious Design League, Andy Luce, Stephanie Bassos, Plural, Bud Rodecker, Eric Ellis, Julia Stotz and Brian Guido. Details on Facebook. Free.