Friday / January 20

Kuvia gave you a chance to celebrate winter. Now you can rue it with Beach Night, hosted by Phoenix Phanatix and the Athletic Department. Everybody gets free Hawaiian pizza from Pizza Capri, and the first 500 to arrive get a free lei (get your mind out of the gutter). Those who show up in beach wear also have a shot at cash prizes: $100 goes to the best-dressed individual, $150 to the best-dressed house, and three $100 cash drawings go to houses. So don those Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts with pride and cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they battle Brandeis. (6 p.m. and 8 p.m., free, 5530 South Ellis Avenue)

You can watch midnight screenings of The Jerk and Pootie Tang at the Music Box tonight and tomorrow night—but not back-to-back, in case you were hoping for a double feature. (Midnight, $9.25, 3733 North Southport Avenue)

Yesterday marked the start of the Winter Delights Jazz Fair 2006. Tonight the Chicago Cultural Center houses Chicago Jazz Jams, featuring a symposium on Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow and performances by various artists. For a full schedule of this great-sounding jazz showcase—which runs through Sunday—go to www.jazzinstituteofchicago.org and follow the links. (7 p.m.–midnight, free, 77 East Randolph Street)

Saturday / January 21

Learn more about the global force that is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart, Race and Gender: Local Controversies, Global Processes, an all-day symposium on––you guessed it––Wal-Mart, with a focus on how it affects women and minorities, takes place today in the I-House Assembly Hall. (8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., 1414 East 59th Street)

For martial artists, Bruce Lee fans, or anyone interested in picking up self-defense techniques, Henry Crown Field House is the place to be this weekend. Chief Master Taejoon Lee—ranked second in the world in Korean martial art Hwa Rang Do—is leading a Hwa Rang Do seminar today and tomorrow in the Henry Crown wrestling room. If you want a free sample of his teaching, come half an hour early to the first session. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes. (10:30 a.m.–12 p.m., free, 5550 South University Avenue)

ASU takes over Ida with its annual International Food Festival. Come out to enjoy the plentiful free food and performances by a cappella, dance, and cultural groups. (7 p.m. main courses, 9 p.m. desserts, free, 1212 East 59th Street)

Vulgar Boatmen take the stage at Schubas, along with Riviera and Second Hand Poets. (10 p.m., $10, 3159 North Southport Street)

Sunday / January 22

Scottish oboist Douglas Boyd conducts the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as they play two Schumann pieces and James MacMillan’s Veni, Veni Emmanuel, one of the rare works written for percussion and orchestra. (3 p.m., $11, 5845 South Ellis Avenue)

Last quarter it was the yacht party; this quarter, UChicago Hype is renting out the Bourgeois Pig, a cute coffeehouse in Lincoln Park, and giving you one free coffee to boot. Catch the bus from the Reynolds Club at a quarter to seven if you don’t want to pay for transportation. (6:45 p.m., $5, 738 West Fullerton Avenue)

Monday / January 23

Head over to Pick Lounge for some lights, snacks, and a screening of Ali Kazimi’s film Continuous Journey, presented by South Asia Outreach and the Human Rights Program. (5:30 p.m., free, 5252 South University Avenue)

Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) and James Newsome read from McSweeney’s latest anthology, Surviving Justice: America’s Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated, at Quimby’s Bookstore. (12 p.m., free, 1854 West North Avenue)

Tuesday / January 24

Superheroes aren’t the only ones who can join forces. The Empty Bottle presents the debut of a new “underground supergroup,” composed of guitarist Chris Brokaw, drummer Elliot Dicks, and bassist Doug McCombs. Also performing are Dots & Shields and Che Arthur. (9:30 p.m., $8, 1035 North Western Avenue)

Vong’s Thai Kitchen celebrates National Tea Month with “Make Your Own Tea Tuesdays” and “Thai Afternoon Tea” on Saturdays through January 31. (12 p.m.–11 p.m., prices vary, 6 West Hubbard Street)

Wednesday / January 25

Prolific science writer and visiting professor Dava Sobel discusses Galileo’s Daughter, The Planets, and intelligent design at the Div School’s weekly lunch. (12 p.m., $4 for lunch, 1025 East 58th Street)

Why not come back for a second talk at the Div School—the 2005 John Nuveen Lecture—in the afternoon? National Medal of Science winner Janet Rowley speaks on embryonic stem cell research in Swift’s third floor lecture hall. (4 p.m., free, 1025 East 58th Street)

Martin Parr—the guy whose collection Boring Postcards you’ve probably seen in every museum gift shop—has a new exhibition at the Stephen Daiter Gallery. Fashion Show runs every Wednesday through Friday until March 3. (11 a.m.–6 p.m., free, 311 West Superior Street)

Thursday / January 26

Pop/rock artist Barb Sorensen plays at Daley Plaza gratis this afternoon. Aside from her singing and guitar-playing abilities, the Schaumburg native can yodel with the best of them and has even included German folk songs in her repertoire. (12–1 p.m., free, 50 West Washington Street)

Make your way to Rosenwald 405 for the first Poem Present of 2006. Vincent Katz, he who wears many hats (poet, art critic, editor, translator, and curator, not to mention Class of ’82 U of C alum), is giving a reading and lecture. (5:30 p.m., free, 1101 East 58th Street)