Slowdown

Wizard World Comic Con

Wizard World Chicago runs Aug. 20-23 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd. in Rosemont. Meet such celebrities as Jeremy Renner, Norman Reedus, Summer Glau, Nathan Fillion, Kristy Swanson, Burt Reynolds, Bruce Campbell, the Undertaker, Michael Rooker, Caroll Spinney (voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch), Arthur Darvill and Barry Bostwick; check out the artists' alley, buy stuff and take photos (respectfully) of cosplayers. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door; up to two children 10 or under are free with each paying adult. Tickets for VIP experiences, autographs, photo opps, etc. are extra. The convention runs noon to 7pm today.

Open Books Sidewalk Sale

Open Books, 651 W. Lake St., is holding a sidewalk sale Aug. 20-23, from noon to 6pm each day. Children's books are $2, paperbacks are $3 and hardcovers are $4.

Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival

Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival, held at MoviCo, 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont, right around the corner from Wizard World Comic Con, runs Aug. 20-23. Tonight's screenings are June at 5:45pm, Fright Night at 7:30pm, The Pack at 9:30pm, and Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 at midnight. Festival passes cost $66.06, or see individual films for $12.

John Conroy @ Uri-Eichen Gallery

Uri-Eichen Gallery, 2101 S. Halsted St., presents an evening with John Conroy, playwright, journalist and law professor. The discussion is in connection with 40 Acres and a Mule: A Series of Visual Art Shows and Discussions About Reparations for Slavery, an exhibition of activist art. The reception is from 6 to 10pm; Conroy talks at 7pm. Free.

The Innocent Eye? (What We Talk About When We Talk About Snapshots) @ Comfort Station

In conjunction with Comfort Station's Vernacular Photo Festival, Nicholas Osborn gives a talk titled The Innocent Eye? (What We Talk About When We Talk About Snapshots) at the Logan Square Comfort Station, 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave., at 7pm. Osborn has been collecting snapshots for almost twenty years. He is the co-author of Who We Were: A Snapshot History of America and the founder of the late, much-lamented vernacular photography website Square America. Free.

These Are Not My Problems @ Co-Prosperity Sphere

The 8th Day Center for Justice and the Young Adult Council present These Are Not My Problems: A Social Justice Visualization and Journey tonight from 7pm to midnight at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St. The show features artwork in response to the violence and racism in Chicago's communities. Admission is $25, and includes one drink ticket.

It Came From The Neo-Futurarium: Cocktail

After a long hiatus The Neo-Futurists are reviving their long-running series of stage readings of bad film scripts for two nights only! It Came From The Neo-Futurarium presents a reading of the script for the Tom Cruise boozy epic Cocktail, tonight and tomorrow night at the Neo-Futurarium (5153 N. Ashland, at Foster). Full details at the Facebook event page, and advance tickets available through Eventbrite.

Kate Harding @ Women & Children First

Kate Harding reads from her new book, Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture — and What We Can Do about It, tonight at 7:30pm at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St. RSVP on Facebook. Free.

Mansical @ Under the Gun Theater

MANsical, a long form musical improv comedy, will begin tonight at 7:30 pm. Based off audience suggestion, seven male improvisers will delight their viewers in a free form MANtage. MANsical has performed all over Chicago, the US, and Canada and will be at Under the Gun, located at 956 W Newport on the 2nd floor, every Friday night in August at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20.

Great White @ Reggies

Hair metal rockers Great White headline Reggies, 2105 S. State St., tonight, with Diamond Rexx, Dead in 5, Loveblast and Shokker opening. Doors open at 8pm, and tickets are $30 -- or shell out $55 for VIP tickets that include a meet'n'greet with the sharks. 17+

Rasputina @ Double Door

Cello rockers Rasputina play the Double Door, 1551 N. Damen Ave., tonight, with Eliza Rickman opening. Doors are at 8pm. Tickets are $17 in advance, $20 at the door. 18+

The Great Chicago Fire 4 @ Subterranean

The fourth annual Great Chicago Fire showcase is at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., tonight, featuring Mic One & DJ Risky Bizness, Matlock, Mass Hysteria, Earatik Statik, Rapper Chicks, Longshot, Cojack, Sarcastik, Encyclopedia Brown, Doomsday and The Ideologists. Doors open at 8pm, show's at 9pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, $20 at the door. 17+

Archie Powell & the Exports / Mutts @ Emporium

Tonight at Emporium, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., Midwest Action celebrates the release of their first 7-inch record, Side X Side: Vol. 1, a split with Archie Powell & the Exports and Mutts. The Exports and Mutts will both perform, with Freaks for Geeks opening. Doors are at 8pm. Details on Facebook. No cover, 21+

Yawn @ Empty Bottle

Local psychedelians Yawn celebrate the release of their new EP, Day Trip, with a show tonight at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. Yoko and The Oh No's and Courtesy open. Tickets are $5. Doors are at 9pm. 21+

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