Things to do this weekend: Aug 8-10

This week's featured shot from the TOC Flickr photo group comes to us from swanksalot. I'm posting it, in part, because it reminds me of my favorite t-shirt from this year's Lollapalooza: It had a picture of Che on it, right above the words "I don't know who this is."

If you're not headed to Market Days this weekend, here are some things to do:

FRIDAY

ART & DESIGN - Cocktails & Clay
Learn hand-building and coils, or just play with your clay at the HPAC’s monthly event, featuring DJs, dancing, exhibition tours and drink specials. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S Cornell Ave at 51st St (773-324-5520, hydeparkart.org). Bus: 6, 15, 28. Metra: Elec Main to 51st/53rd St. 8pm–midnight. $15 suggested donation includes art supplies.

BOOKS- boring boring boring boring boring boring boring poster show
When author Zach Plague wrote his new novel, boring boring boring boring boring boring boring, he designed it as a series of posters to be cut and bound into the book. Tonight, he shows off limited-edition, screen-printed versions of the posters, ahead of the book’s release. Plague’s book is out on Featherproof Books, co-owned by TOC Books editor, Jonathan Messinger. Country Club Chicago, 1100 N Damen Ave at Thomas St (773-960-1811). El: Blue to Damen. Bus: 50 Damen. 7pm, free

DANCE - Chicago Dance Crash: Faust
Crash’s artistic director Kyle Vincent Terry takes on Goethe’s interpretation of the classic German legend of one philosophizing Mr. Faust, who went on a very exciting adventure with Mr. Mephistopheles (a.k.a. the devil). In Terry’s version, Mephistopheles is a seductive vixen named Mephisto. The choreography contrasts ballet and hip-hop styles. Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont Ave between Racine and Lakewood Aves (773-327-5252). El: Red, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Belmont. Bus: 9 Ashland (24hrs), 77 Belmont (24hrs). 8pm, $20.

FILM - Fight Club
If we tell you we think Brad Pitt has a hot body in Fight Club, will you hold it against us? Yeah, that pickup line never works. Whatever. Fight Club is a perfect midnight movie. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (773-871-6604). El: Brown to Southport. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. Fri 8, Sat 9 at midnight. Regular and midnight $9.25, first daily show $8.75. Also Saturday.

FILM - Metropolis
There’s something really cool about seeing the way past generations imagined the future. There’s something even cooler about Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, which imagines a dystopic future in which the world is starkly divided into the working drones and the spoiled elite. Hmm, sounds like Lang got a lot of stuff right. Portage Theater, 4050 N Milwaukee Ave at Irving Park Rd (773-736-4050). Bus: 54 Cicero, 80 Irving Park. Fri 8 at 8pm. $10, students and seniors $9.

GAY & LESBIAN - Queer Queens of Comedy
Three funny lesbians in one fantastic venue. Are you in or are you out? Get it? Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N Broadway between Briar Pl and Belmont Ave (773-472-3492). El: Red, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Belmont. Bus: 36 Broadway, 77 Belmont (24hrs). 8pm; $25, in advance $20.

MUSEUMS & CULTURE - Ginza Holiday Festival
Serious Buddhists and dharma bums alike gather annually for this festival of traditional Japanese entertainment and spiritual introspection. While you’re there taking in traditional drumming, art, dance and martial-arts demonstrations, be sure to get a taste of various Japanese delicacies such as chicken teriyaki, sushi and especially kintoki, a sweet bean–topped Japanese snow cone handmade by temple members. Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W Menomonee St between Sedgwick St and Hudson Ave (312-943-7801). El: Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Sedgwick. Bus: 11, 72, 73. 5:30–9pm; $4, students and seniors $3, kids under 12 free.

SPAS, FITNESS & HEALTH - World Hoop Day
Haven’t given the old hula hoop a spin since grade school? Today’s the perfect day to take it for another twirl. Head to Wicker Park, where professional hoop dancers will be giving free demos and instructions on how to incorporate the hula hoop into your fitness routine. DJs will be spinning, and the hoops will be provided. Wicker Park, Damen Ave between North Ave and Schiller St. El: Blue to Damen. Bus: 50, 56, 72. Fri 8 5–8pm.

SPORTS & REC - 8 Count Productions: Chicago’s Pride
The fight card for tonight has caught the attention of ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights. And we can understand why the Worldwide Leader in Sports would want to carry this one live: Undefeated contender Tavoris Cloud and former world champion Julio Gonzalez will mix it up in a light-heavyweight IBF title eliminator clash. The undercard includes middleweight prospect Andy Lee, heavyweight Carl “Iron Fist” Davis and former world-title challenger Oscar “El Artista” Leon, among others. Aragon, 1106 W Lawrence Ave at Winthrop Ave (312-226-5800, 8countproductions.com). El: Red to Lawrence. Bus: 36 Broadway, 81 Lawrence (24hrs). Fri 8 at 7pm. Aragon $30–$100.
 
SATURDAY

ART & DESIGN - “Ryan Fenchel and David Moré”
The apartment gallery Vega Estates pairs Fenchel’s pyramid-themed Master Ashler with Moré’s This Means Something!, which investigates the connections between the Close Encounters of the Third Kind soundtrack and a Barbra Streisand 8-track. Vega Estates, 723 W 16th St between Halsted St and Union Ave (773-852-9665, vegaestatespresents.com). Bus: 8 Halsted. 7–10pm. Admission free.

DANCE -  All Around Us—The Dances of Sybil Shearer on Film
Sybil Shearer, one of the country’s most enigmatic solo dance artists throughout the 1940s and ’50s, lived and worked in a North Shore home and studio. Her collaborator, Helen Balfour Morrison, was behind the camera when these short films were made. They will be looped continuously during gallery hours. The exhibit may also be viewed by appointment through Aug 23. Julius Caesar, 3144 W Carroll Ave, 2G, between Kedzie and Albany Aves (312-823-9355, juliuscaesarchicago.com). El: Green to Kedzie. Bus: 52 Kedzie/California. Metra: Union Pacific to Kedzie. Noon–4pm. FREE!

GAY & LESBIAN - Northalsted Market Days
Forty bands, 400 vendors  and more food, booze and sexy queers than you've seen all year. Read our picks for the best of the fest in our Market Days feature. Halsted St between Belmont Ave and Addison St (773-868-3010). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 8, 22 (24hrs), 36, 152. 11am–10pm, $7.

MUSEUMS & CULTURE - West Fest
This street fest never fails to serve a solid roster of bands. This year’s lineup includes local talents the Redwalls (Sat 9) and the Meat Puppets (Sun 10). Among the other acts are Derrick Carter and Klever on the Lava DJ Stage, plus Mannequin Men, Catfish Haven, Bound Stems and a “surprise guest” from Lollapalooza. Besides all the indie sounds, there’s also a Kid Fest for wee ones and a Pet Fest for furry beasts. See Clubs, Previews, and Music, Previews. Chicago Ave between Wood St and Damen Ave (312-850-9390, info@westtownchamber.org). Bus: 50 Damen, 66 Chicago (24hrs). Noon–10pm, $5.

SPAS, FITNESS & HEALTH - Burt’s Bees Bee-utify Your World tour
Anyone who’s ever tried Burt’s Bees lip balm knows what it’s like to become an instafan. Test the company’s other products for your hair and body when the Burt’s mobile “hive” rolls through the Gold Coast Art Fair. More than 100 products will be featured (with tons of freebies to take home). And as if that’s not enough incentive, trained pros will also be giving free hand massages using Burt’s Bees hand and body cremes. You’ll go from instafan to superfan in no time. Gold Coast Art Fair, LaSalle St between Superior and Erie Sts (847-926-4300, amdurproductions.com/gold-coast.html). Sat 9 10am–6pm.

SPORTS & REC - Arlington Million
Sure, this year you could stay back home and catch the Million on ESPN. But then you’d be missing out on the parade of hats and horses. It’s the 26th running, and more than 32,000 are expected to be on hand. While the Beverly D. and Secretariat Stakes preliminaries bring out some of the world’s fastest horses, all eyes will be on the Million, which posts at 4:44pm. Doors open at 10am, with the first race going off at 11:45am. Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights (847-385-7500). Metra: Union Pacific NW to Arlington Park. Sat 9 at 10am. $10, advance $8, grandstand $20–$60, clubhouse $20–$80, Million Room $50–$80.

SUNDAY

ART & DESIGN - Artists Talk: “Transfusion”
Husband-and-wife artists Debra Yepa-Pappan and Chris Pappan discuss their work and respective tribal backgrounds in conjunction with “Transfusion,” the Mitchell’s ongoing exhibition of contemporary Native American art. Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St, Evanston (847-475-1030, mitchellmuseum.org). El: Purple to Central. Bus: 201 Central/Sherman (24hrs). 1pm. Free with museum admission.

DANCE - SummerDance: Jive 
Sunday is ballroom day at SummerDance. Expert instructors from Kasper Dance Studio will give you jive (a variation of the jitterbug), and plenty of it. At 5pm, the Dick Sarlo Orchestra chimes in. Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S Michigan Ave at Harrison St (312-744-6630). El: Red to Harrison. Bus: 1, 3, X3, 4 (24hrs), X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, 28, 126, 145, 146, 147. 4pm. FREE!

SPORTS & REC - Chicago Distance Classic Grant Park, 300 S Columbus Dr at Jackson Dr (877-474-0449, chicagodistanceclassic.com). El: Red, Blue to Jackson; Orange, Brown, Green, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to Adams. Bus: 1, 3, 4 (24hrs), 6, 7, 14, 26, 28, 126, 145. Sun 10 at 6:25am. $55–$60. John “the Penguin” Bingham started running marathons at the ripe age of 43, and he’s penned a couple of books to help spread the idea that anybody can run long distances, so long as it’s at a comfortable pace. This race, part of Bingham’s “Classic” series, makes room for everyone from the speedy elite runners to the “waddlers” who walk part of the way. The picturesque course travels along the lakefront from Grant Park to Hyde Park and back.

SPORTS & REC - FREE 14th Punjabi Sports Festival Palatine Park District grounds, 250 E Wood St, Palatine (847-359-5PCS, pcschicago.org). Metra: Union Pacific NW to Palatine. Sun 10 9am–6pm. The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago puts on its annual fest, which showcases some familiar sports (soccer and volleyball) alongside some soon-to-be favorites (kabaddi) with complimentary traditional eats and activities (tug-of-war and water-balloon fights) for the whole family. Registration ($50 for a team, $5 per individual) can be done on-site or visit the website for more info. If hoops is your game, check out the tourney Sat 9.