March 11 - March 14, 2010

It's time to 'Spring Ahead' don't forget to turn your clocks ahead on Saturday night. There's plenty of things going on, catch a movie, become an activist or party in your kilt. We lose an hour of party time this weekend make sure you take advantage of the extra sun and get out there and soak it up.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11

Congregation Or Chadash and Emanuel Congregation will host a presentation by Aguda of The National Association of GLBT in Israel, at Emanuel Congregation building, 5959 N. Sheridan Rd at 7:30PM. Members will share their insights about the 2009 shootings that took place in their offices in Israel and took the lives of two people.

Grab some beer, sit in the balcony and catch a screening of the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures starring Kate Winslet Brew & View at the Vic tonight at 6:30. Tix are only $5 at the door - cheap date night!

Ladies, get your skates on and head to the Center on Halsted for 'Speed Dating for Women' starting at 7:15 you'll have an opportunity to meet other women in brief dates. Fill out your "Like to get together for coffee" cards and matches will be made at the end of the event.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

Join other LGBT Activist at Columbia College this weekend for the Unite+Fight:Strategizing for LGBTQ Civil Rights and Equality Midwest Conference. Mobilize with others to discuss and debate many of the issues currently facing the LGBT community. The event features Lt. Dan Choi, prominent activist against Don't Ask Don't Tell; Staceyann Chin, Jamaican-born lesbian performance artist and poet; and Adam Bouska (pictured), photographer and creator of the "NO H8" campaign. Check the site for full details - it's time to become engaged!

The Chicago Zine Fest,is an outlet showcasing small-press and independent publishers. It kicks off tonight with a reading at Quimby's Bookstore, a DIY Art Show and Film Festival and continues tomorrow at Columbia College, check the site for full details.

Queer performance poet Staceyann Chin will be at Women & Children First in Andersonville at 7:30PM to celebrate the paperback release of her memoir The Other Side of Paradise.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

Spring is in the air! Don't forget to turn your clocks AHEAD and while you're at it, grab your kilt and head to cell Block as they get ready to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a pre-St Patricks Day Kilt Contest, looks like the fun starts at 10PM

Although it may sound terribly gross, bed bugs are on the rise. You only ever heard of bed bugs being a problem in hotels, but unfortunately they're moving into our homes. Head north to Edgewater and check out a seminar from the Safer Pest Control Project to learn how you can keep theose creatures at bay - an no I'm not talking about the trick from last night.

FACEBOOK FIND : Head to Club Crave where Jerome presents "The Best Little Whorehouse in Blue Island" with special guests, Violet Fog, Traylo Parks, Lavorgous and many more. $10 mixed drink pitchers/domestic buckets. The fun starts at 8PM and you'd better get there early because the invite says 'the Chicken Ranch is gonna fill up quick.'

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

It's Pi Day, 3.14, get it? So who better to celebrate the day with than the Chicago Nerds during Pi(e) Day festivites. They're meeting at Firkin & Pheasant - 670 W Diversey from 5-8PM. Scheduled events include a Pi Off to see who can recite Pi to the furthest decimal, a Constant Pie bakeoff, trivia and more. Tix are $5 in advance, $10 at the door or get in free by entering the bakeoff and bringing your best Pi pie.

Head to the Max Palevsky Cinema at the University of Chicago today for two great films that were recently nominated for an Academy Award, the first is the amazing stop-motion animation The Fabulous Mr. Fox at 1PM and if youstick around you can catchCoco Before Chanel starring Audrey Tautou at 3:15PM. Tix for both are $5 at the door. Check out the site for even more amazing films.

Stop by Ann Sathers, 909 W Belmont, to catch a screening of "Out & Proud" the LGBTdocumentary created by WTTW that tells the history of Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Take some time out to learn about your community.