Pencil This In: The Gifts That Keep On Giving Edition

By Ana Bolotin in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 3, 2008 5:55PM

Political Shenanigans
It’s pretty much impossible to go anywhere without hearing one of three names on the tips of the public’s tongues: Obama, Palin, and McCain. Mostly it’s tedious conversation, so why not take a break from the serious (-ly frustrating) debates with your neighbors and have a laugh at the expense of the 2008 candidates’ “fragile psyches” instead? Theater Oobleck opens their fifth quadrennial election play, The Trojan Candidate, tonight, hosted by none other than Vice President (or a reasonable facsimile of) Dick Cheney. Can’t make it tonight? Good news: you can catch the show every weekend, with a bonus performance of the show on election eve!
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.; $12 suggested donation (FREE if you’re broke!)

Arts
What happens when you put 10+ artists in a room together and tell them to make their magic happen? Kind of the same thing when you put a million monkeys in a room with a million typewriters: an epic work of creative genius. [Ed. note: Welllll...] Such is the process put to work at Images Gallery, where an entire artists’ collective came together to challenge each other’s worldviews and create some inspired pieces emphasizing environmental sustainability. The exhibition opening is tonight, but the whole thing runs through October 29!
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.; 1823 W. Wilson Ave.

Humanities
Speaking of openings this weekend, The Chicago Humanities Festival begins its more than month-long stint in the city tonight! Themed “Thinking Big,” this year’s festival “considers the sweep and scale of human ambition: the grand scheme, the great ambition, the Bid Idea.” The opening benefit concert is tonight, but the festivities well into next month.
8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan Avenue; check website for ticket prices