Facets Night School: The King of Kong

Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., presents its 10th session of Facets Night School screenings paired with lectures & discussions about the films. Tonight's film is the 2007 documentary The King of Kong, about one man's epic quest to get the best score on the old-school Donkey Kong arcade game. Discussion of the film will be led by film critic and Facets Night School regular Dominick Mayer. Facets Night School runs Saturday evenings through April 21; the lectures begin at midnight with a $5 fee. See the Facets website for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets in advance. For all inquiries about Facets Night School, contact Susan Doll at 800-331-6197 or suzi (at) facets (dot) org.

Architecture & Design Film Festival

The Architecture & Design Film Festival runs April 12-16 at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Today's schedule is below. Tickets can be purchased online from the ADFF website or in person at the Music Box Theatre box office.
• 3pm: Architect of Dreams, Passive Passion & The Man Who Built My Childhood
• 3:15pm: John Portman: A Life of Building, Louis LeRoy - Endless Work in Time and Space & Into the Garden of Glass and Steel
• 5pm: ARCHITECT: A Chamber Opera in Six Scenes w/Q&A with composer Jenny Kallick and musician Michiko Theurer
• 5:15pm: Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life & Minka
• 7pm: EAMES: The Architect and the Painter & Elephants on Safari
• 7:15pm: Mendelsohn's Incessant Visions & South Pond
• 9pm: Pool Party & Gather Give Grow
• 9:15pm: Detroit Wild City & The Landfill

Chicago Ukulele Cabaret @ Silvie's Lounge

The Chicago Ukulele Cabaret returns to Silvie's Lounge (1902 W. Irving Park Road) tonight starting at 8pm. Interested performers are invited to bring up to 3 songs adhering to the evening's chosen theme. Tonight's theme: "Uke In The Family," which means songs about moms & dads, sons & daughters, aunts & uncles, and cousins by the dozens. Full details at the Facebook page for the event.

Sister Spit @ CIMM Fest

The San Francisco based queer poetry and performance troupe Sister Spit will be shakin' things up in Chicago tonight. The featured reader of the night is novelist and Columbia College advisory board member Dorothy Allison (Bastard Out of Carolina). Other performers include Michelle Tea, writer/musician/dancer Brontez Purnell of Gravy Train!!!, writer/performer Erin Markey, singer/comic book artist Cassie J. Sneider, and transgendered, nationally ranking slam poet Kit Yan. The show is part of the Chicago International Movie and Music Festival. The show is at the Wicker Park Art Center, 2215 W. North Ave., at 8 p.m., followed by an afterparty at Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago Ave., beginning at 10:30 p.m. Admission to the performance is $12 and the afterparty offers a sliding-scale admission of $5-$10. Tickets can be purchased here.

CHIRP Record Fair @ Chicago Journeyman Plumber's Union

The Chicago Independent Radio Project holds its annual Record Fair and Other Delights starting today at the Chicago Journeyman Plumber's Union, 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Vinyl dealers, record labels, other assorted thems and whatnots, and DJs will entertain you. Event runs 10am-5pm today and Sunday; admission $7/$5 with any ad. CHIRP is also holding a special Pre-Admission entry from 8am-10am today only for $25.

Chicago International Movies & Music Festival

CIMMfest, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, runs April 12-15 with performances and screenings in several locations. See the schedule for full details on today's lineup. Tickets for festival events range from $7 to $25, or get a four-day pass for $60.

Beast Women Opening Night @ Greenhouse Theater

Beast Women, now in its fifth season, is a cabaret-style show that features some of the best female talent in Chicago.

The details:
Saturday Nights at 10:30pm
April 7th - May 12th *
Greenhouse Theater Downstairs Main Stage
2257 N. Lincoln
* Special Performance of Beast Women - Rising Sunday, April 22nd at 7:00pm
For Tickets: Box Office 773-404-7336 or
Online at www.greenhousetheater.org

Gearbox Fantastique II @ Reggie's Rock Club

Looking for an antidote to the typical boring Saturday night? How about shaking up your usual dive bar crawl with an up close and personal glimpse of a human block head? Steampunk Chicago and the Squidling Brothers Circus present Gearbox Fantastique II tonight, Saturday April 14th at 8pm at Reggie's Rock Club (2109 South State Street; 312-949-0121). The 18+ show promises to "shock and amaze" and will include glass walking, aerial flesh suspension, burlesque sword swallowing, and other wicked sideshow attractions. Tickets are $15 in advance at Reggie's Rock Club's website, $20 at the door, and $40 for VIP passes (21+ only; a VIP ticket will get you an exclusive event pin and complimentary two hour open bar from Tipton spirits).

Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo

C2E2, the Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo, runs April 13-15 in the North Building at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr. Browse the show floor, hit panel discussions and get autographs from your favorite comic book artists, authors, and film and TV stars. The expo is open to the public from 10am to 7pm today. Tickets are $25 for a one-day pass, $50 for a weekend pass in advance, $35 and $65 at the door.

Handmade Market

The Handmade Market returns to the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., today from noon to 4pm. Browse the handiwork of more than two dozen local artisans while enjoying the Bottle's ambiance and perhaps a beer. 21+ except for children accompanying an adult.

Zombie Prom @ Empty Bottle

Get your dress and makeup on, its time for the Zombie Prom, benefiting The Arts of Life. Tonight from 6pm to 9pm at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., dance with your undead date to the sounds of the Wild Blue Angels and Get Up with the Get Downs. Get your prom picture taken and compete to be crowned Zombie Prom King and Queen. Tickets are $15 for singles, $25 for couples. 21+

Shoeshine Boy Celebrates its 12th Anniversary with a Music Party

Tonight, Shoeshine Boy Productions celebrates twelve years in the music business with an amazing and diverse music line up at Double Door -- 1572 N Milwaukee. The show will feature the music of former American Idol contestant Jeffrey David, pop rockers, Vintage Blue and Farraday, Indie rocking newcomers, The Assembly, and veteran post rockers, Air This Side of Caution. Doors open at 8:00 and tickets, starting at $10, are available for advanced purchase or at the door.

Chicago Mobile Food Symposium

Join the My Streets! My Eats! campaign and the Institute for Justice for the Chicago Mobile Food Symposium, a community symposium on mobile food in Chicago. The event runs from 8:30am to 1:30pm today in the University of Chicago Law School Auditorium 1111 E. 60th St., and will include a session for food vendors on understanding local legal issues, a panel discussion, and a food truck meetup. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Attendees can register here.

Luscious Layers Cooking Class @ World Kitchen

Your cake-baking and bar-making skills will get a workout today at the Spring Express cooking class, which will be held at the World Kitchen, 66 E Randolph; class begins at 11am. Admission $30; registration required.

Julia and Simca: a Franco-American Culinary Alliance @ Kendall College

The Culinary Historians of Chicago sponsor a morning (10am-noon) lecture on the friendship between an American living in France who would go on to become a culinary powerhouse and her French partner who showed her the way. Julia Child and Simca Beck's legendary relationship will be discussed in detail by historian and author David Strauss. Event takes place at Kendall College, 900 North Branch; admission $3-5. Free parking. Email to RSVP.