HEAR IT
Jonathan Lethem discussion
’Hood: Loop
As part of Chicago’s ongoing Humanities Festival, Brooklyn author Jonathan Lethem (“Motherless Brooklyn”) talks to radio host Victoria Lautman about reporting on Gen X for his novels and magazine articles in Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire. See it all go down at the Art Institute, and keep your fingers crossed that Lethem reads a passage from his new novel, “Chronic City,” about the unlikely acquaintanceship of a former child actor and a truth-seeking pop critic in Manhattan. Head to metromix.com for more Humanities Festival events, including a panel discussion featuring Matt Groening, Lynda Barry, Jules Feiffer, and Chris Ware (4:30 p.m. Saturday).
When: Noon Sunday
Cash: $5 at the door
CHEER IT
Purdue with a pig roast
’Hood: Sheffield/DePaul
Already a little burnt out from the, umm, challenging Bears season? Switch gears to college football and hit up the Purdue-themed pig roast at Clybar and Grille. Watch the Purdue vs. Michigan game (11 a.m.) on six flat screens as you eat all of the roasted pork, baked beans, coleslaw and barbecue potato chips you can fit into your football-cheering belly. But be warned, Michigan supporters: The owners of Clybar are big-time Purdue fans (hence the Purdue art and rally flags throughout the bar), and Purdue alum and Smoke Daddy owner Josh Rutherford is preparing your meal, which includes Bud Light drafts.
When: Game starts at 11 a.m.; pig roast buffet runs noon-3 p.m.
Cash: $25 includes all-you-can-eat pig roast buffet
PLAN IT
Turkey Day dinner
’Hoods: Gold Coast, Ukrainian Village
Don’t be fooled by the candy-laden traces of Halloween still lurking around your house. Thanksgiving isn’t far off (less than three weeks!), and now’s the time to commit to either making the big meal or leaving it to the experts. If you’re determined to cook, get yourself into the spirit at the Planning for Holiday Parties class at Wave. Chef Kristine Subido shows you how to cook a multi-course meal of spiced squash soup, ricotta gnocchi, brioche bread pudding with brown-butter caramel and, of course, oven-roasted turkey tenderloin and stuffing. Sound too overwhelming? Place your order this weekend for a turkey to-go from Smoke Daddy, and feed the fam with smoked turkey ($4.95 per pound) and cornbread stuffing ($3.95 per quart).
When: 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday (class); through Nov. 23 (Smoke Daddy pre-orders)
Cash: Wave’s class costs $65 and includes a cocktail, lunch with wine and recipes
ROCK IT
The Sounds
’Hood: Lakeview
Get ready to dance to flashy pop tunes as Swedish New Wave touring vets the Sounds join Foxy Shazam and Semi Precious Weapons Saturday at the Vic. Still on a major rock-star high, the Sounds recently released their new album, “Crossing the Rubicon,” and spent most of 2009 touring with No Doubt, hitting up late-night talk shows and showing off new tunes on “The Hills.” It sounds exhausting just hearing about it all, right? Well if you’re miraculously not tired by the end of their show, take note: The Sounds are headed to Berlin for a post-show DJ set.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Cash: $18
EAT IT
Meatballs for a good cause
’Hood: West Town
Want to shake up your Sunday brunch routine? The cheekily named Balls for Brunch benefit at Five Star Bar aims to increase awareness about testicular cancer with—what else—a meatball-eating contest and $3 Highballs. The $5 cover charge benefits Rockford Memorial Foundation’s radiology and oncology departments and includes a mostaccioli buffet (with meatballs, naturally). Rock out to tunes from DJ D. Brice (noon-2 p.m.) and Sarah & Brian (2-5 p.m.), listen to guest speakers and do not miss the eating contest at 1 p.m. If you want to test your own meatball-chowing chops, get to Five Star by noon to sign up.
When: Noon Sunday
Cash: $5 at the door
Lisa Balde is the Metromix print editor. lbalde@tribune.com
