Friday, April 15

For architectural arrangements of thrown-away soda cans and other junk (seeking to pose questions about the real value of consumer goods), see “Keep It,” which will show in the Great Hall of Midway Studios today and tomorrow. “Keep It” features the work of Merry-Beth Noble, a graduating MFA student. (Midway Studios)

MECHA will be throwing its Fourth Annual César Chávez Commemoration with keynote speaker Edward James Olmos, an actor and activist. Other speakers include Jesus García, executive director of the Little Village Community Development Corporation, and Juan Mora-Torres, Assistant Professor of Latin-American History at DePaul. After, music by Mariachi Fenix and Baile Folklórico. (6:30 p.m., International House)

An interdisciplinary and comparative conference tackles you. No, really. From Me To You: The Significance of the Second Person draws artists and scholars together to contemplate the “you” in realms artistic to ethical. (10 a.m. to 5 p.m., West Lounge Ida Noyes Hall)

Author Colleen Kinder discusses her book Delaying the Real World: A Twentysomething’s Guide to Seeking Adventure. (12 -to 1 p.m., Ida Noyes Library)

Dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979 are playing two shows at the Empty Bottle. (7 p.m. and 10 p.m., $10, 1035 North Western Avenue, 21+)

Early Music superstar Jordi Savall directs Le Concert des Nations, presenting an array of 17th-century composers. (8 p.m., Mandel Hall)

“Sloth…love…Chunk.” Do the truffle shuffle in celebration of Jenn’s 22nd birthday, and do it at the Music Box. Yes, kids, one of your (and Jenn’s) favorite ’80s movies—The Goonies—is tonight’s midnight movie! (midnight, 3733 North Southport Avenue)

Saturday, April 16

The Outdoor Adventure Club is going hiking in the Indiana Dunes, and you should join them. Go to http://oac.uchicago.edu/docs/OAC/Events for details. (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Hey, it’s Activist Day! Go over to the SSA to find out how to incorporate activism of all kinds into your life and make a difference in the world. (1 p.m. to 5 p.m., SSA Room WI)

OLAS presents its cultural show, “Carnaval: Unmasking Our Culture.” Dinner at 5:30 p.m. in Bartlett, show at 8 p.m. in Mandel. ($8 in advance, $10 at the door)

This sounds interesting. The New Budapest Orpheum Society presents an evening of cabaret with commentary by Philip Bolhman, entitled “The Promise Not to Fall Silent: Cabaret, Exile, and Resistance at the End of Time.” (8 p.m., free, Fulton Recital Hall)

Spartacus Youth Club presents the forum “Harriet Jacobs: A Black Woman’s Fight to Smash Slavery.” (5 p.m., Bartlett Hall Student Lounge)

The Experimental Film Club shows a grab-bag of movies tonight, including Bruce Connor’s Take the 5:10 To Dreamland and Bruce Baillie’s Mass for the Dakota Sioux. (8 p.m., free, Cobb 307)

Take the L to Addison for Andrew Bird’s record release show. His latest release, Andrew Bird and The Mysterious Production of Eggs, might offer an answer to that eternal chicken-and-egg question that’s been pestering us, and it will surely wow you. The Sea and Cake’s Archer Prewitt, along with Clyde Federal—both from Chicago, all right!—open. (8 p.m., $15, 18+, 3730 North Clark Street)

Aptly named San Francisco math rockers Hella are hitting up the Empty Bottle tonight in support of their new double-album Church Gone Wild/Chirpin’ Hard. They’re opening for Out Hud. (9 p.m., $10, 21+, 1035 North Western Avenue)

Sunday, April 17

The 21st annual Chicago Latino Film Festival, which runs from April 8th to 20th, includes a screening of A Costa Dos Murmurios (The Murmuring Coast) at Pipers Alley. Set in late-’60s Mozambique, Margarida Cardoso’s drama focuses on protagonist Evita’s transformation amid the violence surrounding the end of the colonial age. (230 West North Avenue, $10)

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Beat Kitchen hosts 20 Chicago poets as part of the Chicago Poetry Explosion! (8 p.m., $10, 2100 West Belmont Avenue)

Monday, April 18

Celebrate prolific Chicago writer Ray Bradbury at the Harold Washington Library. This event caps off Columbia College’s Story Week, including a conversation with Sam Weller (The Art of Biography), readings, and a live—via telephone/video feed—conversation with Bradbury himself. (6 p.m., free, 400 South State Street)

Tuesday, April 19

Spooky-ass band Fantômas, one of Faith No More’s Mike Patton many artistic endeavors, is playing at the Metro this evening. Hardcore band The Locust is opening for ’em (6:30 p.m., $20, 3730 North Clark Street)

Take advantage of your student ID. Gretchen Helfrich, the host of WBEZ’s Odyssey, interrogates author Neil Gaiman (Sandman, American Gods). (7 p.m., $5 with valid student ID, Court Theater)

The Middle East Music Ensemble performs. (8 p.m., Fulton Recital Hall)

Wednesday, April 20

Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research tells us “What the Experts Got Wrong about the Global Economy” in a talk sponsored by Big Problems. (3 p.m., Franke Institute for the Humanities)

What do books actually mean to our professors? Nathan Tarcov, Christina von Nolcken, and David Wray answer in the Fundamental’s Power of Books Lecture. Future Fundies majors can put their name on a list while there. (4 p.m., Stuart 102)

Students with AIDS are traveling around the country, presenting “Does HIV Look Like Me?” Come out and support their cause. (4 p.m., BSLC)

Occam’s Razor hosts an improv study break with free donuts and milk, which you should try not to spurt out of your nose. (9 p.m., Hutch Commons)

Iron & Wine—a.k.a. Sam Beam—brings his hushed folk songs to the House of Blues. (9 p.m., $15, 329 North Dearborn Avenue)

Thursday, April 21

Woodwind quintet Ensemble Hara, composed of members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, perform Irving Fine’s Partita and Reicha’s Quintet in E-flat Major. (12:15 p.m., Fulton Recital Hall)

UCLA English Professor Calvin Bedient will read his poetry for Poem Present. (5 p.m., Classics 10)

Even more reason to go to the Empty Bottle this week-French electronic duo M83 is playing tonight. (10 p.m., $12, 21+, 1035 North Western Avenue)