Friday, September 30

In case you’ve missed Bethel U of C’s chalkings all over campus, there’s live jazz and yummy, smooth chocolate fondue free for the taking on Bartlett Quad this evening. Donations are requested, with all proceeds going to Hurricane Katrina victims. (4:30 to 6:30 p.m., free, Bartlett Quad)

Thai rice farmers Phakphum, Arat, and Kanyah speak about promoting sustainable agriculture, the effects of genetically modified crops on their livelihoods, and free-trade agreements. Their talk comprises just one part of “Grains of Change: A Fair Trade Thai Farmer Tour” which also includes a rice tasting, a discussion with the farmers, and a traditional string tying ceremony (usually performed when friends go their separate ways). (7:30 p.m., free, Bartlett Lounge)

The Beat Kitchen in Roscoe Village features a line-up of Sunday Morning, Chameleon, Killjoy Confetti, and Starina and the Vel Johnsons tonight for those 21 and over. (10 p.m., $7, Beat Kitchen, 2100 West Belmont Avenue)

Fancy Latin dancing and free food? Stop by Latino Night, organized by OLAS. (7 p.m. to midnight, free, Hutch Commons)

Saturday, October 1

Meet at the SSA for the Woodlawn Walking Tour through the South Side, ending at the Community Gardens at 65th and Woodlawn. Then enjoy a barbeque and gardening. RSVP to Heather at htompkin@uchicago.edu if you’d like to come. (10:30 a.m., free, 969 East 60th Street)

BYOB—bring your own bike, that is—to Bartlett Quad at 11:30 a.m. for even more South Side exploration: the Historic South Side Bike Ride, a three-hour ride with stops at the DuSable Museum, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Chinatown, among other sites. Dean John Boyer, Professor Terry Clark, and Vice President Hank Webber provide commentary. (noon to 3 p.m., free, Bartlett Quad)

Still need to furnish that apartment? Turn to the Merchandise Mart Design Center’s Sample Sale, where you can find high-end home furnishings, be they sofas, dining tables, or accessories, at prices an interior designer would pay. It’s not cheap, but you get a pretty steep discount. Past participants include Anacara, Holly Hunt, and Oriental Carpet Gallery. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $5, Merchandise Mart, eighth floor)

In 17th-century China, Emperor Kangxi opened Beijing to Jesuit missionaries, whose influence extended to the musical realm. (For instance, Kangxi’s successor, Qianlong, kept a small orchestra of Baroque music-playing, European costume-wearing eunuchs!) “Crouching Dragon, Hidden Viol: Music for a Chinese Banquet,” featuring the Newberry Consort’s Drew Minter, David Schrader, and Mary Springfels, as well as Chinese traditional musicians Betti Xiang and Wei Yang, aims to reconstruct a chamber music concert from that time. Sure, the U of C isn’t exactly the Forbidden City—nor will there be any eunuchs present at the concert—but perhaps you will still feel transported to another time and place. Stop by at 7 p.m. for a pre-concert lecture. (8 p.m., Fulton Recital Hall)

Jason Mraz plays Congress Theatre with Raul Midon and Missy Higgins. (2135 North Milwaukee Avenue, $30, 6 p.m.)

Sunday, October 2

Tell me—am I right to think that there could be nothing better than sitting on the grass on a brisk fall day, dining on bread, cheese, and fresh fruit as music plays in the background? The truth is, I don’t much like sitting on the grass, but otherwise, I think it sounds lovely. If you agree, then come to Chapel Fest, taking place on Rockefeller’s east lawn. You can also head up to the carillonneur to see the bells. (noon to 2 p.m., free, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel)

It’s coming to Doc later this quarter, but you may still want to check out Crash at the First Presbyterian Church tonight for its “dinner and a movie” program. Free food is provided. (6 p.m., free, 64th and South Kimbark Avenue)

Monday, October 3

Interested in Slavic languages and literatures? Then swing by UNC Chapel Hill professor Beth Holmgren’s lecture, “The Blue Angel and Blackface: Redeeming Entertainment in Alexandrov’s Circus.” A reception follows. (3 p.m., free, Pick 016)

If statistics is more up your alley, check out a stats seminar instead. David Scott, from the Department of Statistics at Rice University, delivers a talk on “Remarks on Mixtures and Kernels for Density-Based Clustering.” (4 to 5 p.m., free, Eckhart 133)

Like music? Comedy? Striptease acts? If you’re at least 18, head over to Abbey Pub for Fluffgirl Burlesque. The six-person cast promises to put on a “stimulating” show—mentally as well as visually, apparently—about 90 minutes long, ranging from the traditional to the avant-garde. (9 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 3420 West Grace Street)

Tuesday, October 4

Political science professor Pamela Cook delivers a lecture, “In Search of Herstyle: Womanist Consciousness and African American Women’s Political Participation.” (4:30 to 6 p.m., free, Center for Gender Studies Seminar Room)

Wednesday, October 5

Violinist Graeme Jennings, the second violin of the Arditti String Quartet, performs a solo recital with works by Berio, Sciarrino, Donatoni, and Scelsi, among others. (8 to 10 p.m., free, the Renaissance Society on the fourth floor of Cobb)

A host of local artists, including Kelly Hogan, Zapruder Point, and Nora O’Connor, plays songs from the food songbook in tonight’s performance at the Cultural Center, part of both Thomas Dunning’s “Hoot Night” series and a larger event series, “Stirring Things Up in Chicago.” (7 to 9 p.m., free, 77 East Randolph Street)

If you heart NPR (or just enjoy hearing about other people’s issues), check out “People with Problems: Stories from the Paris Review” at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The event is directed by Judy O’Malley and hosted by Philip Gourevitch, The Paris Review’s new editor, who holds a Q&A after the performance. Chicago-area actors read from The Paris Review Book of People with Problems (Picador) and The Paris Review’s summer 2005 issue. (7:30 p.m., Chicago Public Radio and MCA members $15, students $16, 220 East Chicago Avenue)

Thursday, October 6

What happens when Chicago chefs and fashion designers get together? Witness a product of this union at tonight’s Flavor for Fashion, taking place at the Cultural Center, where there will be fashion you can eat and runway performances playing on the food-and-fashion theme. (7 p.m., free, 78 East Washington Street)

In a play off Iron Chef, the Guild Complex is offering an Iron Poet competition. The 21+ event at the Around the Coyote Gallery has teams of local poets facing off in “head-to-head creative combat.” Also features a buffet dinner from local restaurants. (7 to 10 p.m., $30 in advance, $35 at the door; 1935 1/2 West North Avenue)

Renowned poet Susan Wheeler reads from her work tonight at the first Poem Presents event of the fall, with a reception following. (5:30 to 7 p.m., free, Classics 10)

“In Praise of Taoism,” a lecture by Professor Emeritus Kristofer Schipper with a reception afterward in Swift’s Common Room, takes place today as part of the “New Perspectives on Daoist Religion” symposium, running through tomorrow evening. (4 to -5:30 p.m., Swift Lecture Hall on third floor)

Sleater-Kinney plays the Metro, with the Ponys opening. (9 p.m., $16.50, 3730 North Clark Street)

When it comes to word association, Fermilab and origami don’t exactly go together in my mind. But they join forces tonight at artist lectures and receptions by Chris Palmer and Lane Allen, whose origami exhibits, along with Robert Lang’s, will be displayed at the Fermilab until November 4.