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Pencil This In

By Lauri Apple in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 5, 2009 7:40PM

It's not the weekend yet, but let's pretend! Tonight's highlights:

2009_02_msb.jpg Burlesque
Girlie-Q Productions hosts the Lonely Heart's Club, featuring Chicago's very best, most edgy and provocative queer performance, dance and burlesque artists. With music by the Pin-Ups (vintage style jazz and blues), dance performances, and a "tres gay" dating game. Meet the gay of your dreams, drink up, and feel less lonely. Hosted by Chicago burlesque's dyke darling, Ms. Bea Haven. $10. 8 p.m. - midnight. Betty's Blue Star Lounge, 1600 W. Grand Ave.

Arts and Visuals
Performance artist Jared Hatch sends us word of Some Sort of Happy, an art show curated by Emanuel Aguilar at A Quiet Storm Film Productions. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. You can watch a performance of his "Greetings from the Future (Live from Hong Kong) piece online. 321 S. Jefferson.

The West Loop Gallery District hosts its First Thursdays from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Y'allz can enjoy an informal environment where you can enjoy meeting gallery owners, artists and have open discussions with those who enjoy art. Some galleries will have special receptions. Organized in conjunction with the Art Dealers Association of Chicago (CADA). First Thursdays occur every month except January and other major holidays.

Also tonight, threewalls offers Art with a Hive Brain, a salon-style conversation with local visual arts collaboratives about practicing as a group, team or partnership, the relinquishment of singular authorship, the idea of open-source creativity and the recent popularity of collaborative practices in contemporary art. Members of Chicago's art community are invited to collectively examine and confer about these topics and more over drinks and snacks. Today's salon features Death by Design, Temporary Services, Material Exchange and more. Moderated by Elizabeth Chodos of threewalls. 7 p.m. 119 N. Peoria, #2D.

Leather Fashion Shows
Hydrate in Boystown hosts Flirting for Disaster, featuring performances by Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club, a leather fashion show by Shel-don Chicago (with eyewear by I.D. Chicago), a raffle, appetizers by Home Bistro and Halsted’s Bar and Grill, an open bar from 6 p.m. - 7:30 pm and drink specials all night by 10 Cane Rum, Absolut, and Budweiser, and gift bags for the first 100 guests. Presented by Northern Trust and the Red Cross Auxiliary Board. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 3458 N. Halsted St.

Photo: Girlie-Q's Ms. B