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Pencil This In

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on May 13, 2011 5:20PM

2011_04_AlienQueen.jpg
Image via the Scooty & JoJo Show's site
Books

Local nonprofit Open Books is having a fundraiser tonight. Their Make the Case for Literacyevent is bringing in teams to paint, bedazzle, decoupage bookcases. A panel of local literary celebs will judge the finished book cases based on creativity, execution, and fidelity to the theme. And then, Open Books is filling the cases up with books and donating them to partner nonprofit organizations across the city. There’s no space left for teams, but you can come cheer them on! A $35 ticket includes a chance to vote for the People's Choice winner, appetizers, drinks, a raffle ticket, shopping privileges at the Bizarre Bazaar, and a discount coupon to the Open Books store. ( 213 W. Institute Pl.)

Music

The red hot Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble is riding high on the release of a new album. They're having a release party for the new record tonight at Mayne Stage (1328 W. Morse). Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9. Tickets are $15, $25 for reserved seating. But why would you want to sit?

A Reminder that Alien Queen: The Concert starts tonight at 9 p.m. at Metro. Tickets to the 18+ show are available here.

Food and Drink

Green City Market's Junior Board is humping to please this week. They're hosting a new series at Goose Island Clybourn starting Sunday pairing beer from pub brewer Jared Rouben with fruit from a GCM vendor. They're kicking things off in high gear with Peter Klein of Seedling Fruit. Rouben has brewed a Seedling Farm Apple Wood Smokes Helles Beer, working with Klein to tak the trimmings from apple wood trees, stripped them into three parts (bark, core wood, and outside pieces) and smoked it with the same apple wood in order to create the beer. It’s 5.4%, German-style lager and is delicious and refreshing! (1800 N. Clybourn, 5-8 p.m.)

If you have an event for inclusion in "Pencil This In," please contact Tankboy (for A&E-related listings), Anthony (for tastings, dinners and food and drink-related events) or tips[at]chicagoist[dot]com.