The Encyclopedia Show Presents: The Railroad

The Encyclopedia Show is back rolling down the tracks with their theme, this installment being: the Railroad! Readers will include Second City's Tim Baltz, experimental MC Emanuel Vinson, blogger Susannah Breslin, mysterious writer Abigail Vic, John "Jughead" Pierson of The Neo-Futurists and legendary punk band Screeching Weasel, plus a lecture from Jason Rothstein the author of Carless in Chicago.The train leaves the station at 7:30pm at the Vittum Theater. 1012 N Noble, $8 (or $5 for students). All aboard.

The Hysterical Alphabet

Theater Oobleck performs The Hysterical Alphabet, its multimedia exploration of the alphabet "seized by a convulsive fit" for a final time tonight at 6pm in Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. The performance is free, sponsored by the Art Institute and Jane Addams Hull House Museum.

Jeff Peterson @ Old Town School of Folk Music

The Old Town School of Folk Music presents an evening concert by slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson, considered one of the rising stars of the next generation of Hawaiian slack key guitarists. The concert starts at 8:30pm; admission is a suggested $5 donation. In conjunction with the concert, the school will offer a slack key guitar & ukulele workshop the following evening. Old Town School: 4544 N. Lincoln. (773) 728-6000.

Tune-yards @ Lincoln Hall

Musical mad scientists Tune-yards play an all-ages show tonight at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave). Pat Jordache opens, and the whole thing kicks off at 7 p.m.

Tickets are sold out, but hey, it can't hurt asking around.

Modern Midwestern Table @ North Pond Cafe

North Pond chef Bruce Sherman teams up with Steve Plotnicki of Opinionated About U.S. Restaurants 2011 for a dinner this evening at 6:30pm. Admission $120. You can see the menu, which features dishes from several Midwestern restaurants (Sanford of Milwaukee, June of Peoria, Revolver of Findlay, OH) online--looks delish!

Sip and Swirl Wine for Charity

Michael Diversey's Tavern, 670 W. Diversey Pkwy., will host a charitable wine tasting tonight from 6:30-8:30pm to benefit GiGi's Playhouse. Participants can sample dozens of wines from the everyday wine list and more exclusive high-end wines as well. Michael Diversey's will provide light hors d'oeurves and a raffle for Blackhawk tickets or bottles of wine. $20 donation per person to sip and swirl, 100 percent of the proceeds go to GiGi's Playhouse. To reserve a place for the tasting email jack@mdtavern.com or call 773-327-7040