Dolorous Canter @ The Mutiny

Dolorous Canter, an emotional hardcore band, or rather, an emocore band will be playing a FREE show today with Unlucky Atlas at The Mutiny, Chicago's beloved bar and home to apparently one of the worst toilets in the city.

Dolorous Canter has in it's ensemble, Nazarin Hamid, who is also co-founder of Gapers Block so feel free to say hi if you come out. He's the bass player and singer (screamer!).

9pm, 21+ FREE - The Mutiny, 2428 N. Western Ave (at Fullerton-ish).

How to Be a Smart Media Consumer

Part of Outspoken: Chicago's Free Speech Tradition, the Newberry Library and the Chicago Historical Society present How to Be a Smart Media Consumer, featuring journalists and critics reporting on the current media scene. Discussions will include media ownership, media sensationalization, and the impact of broadband technology. The 6pm talk takes place at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., and is free, no reservations necessary. Call 312-255-3691 for more information.

Jeffrey Eugenides & Gary Shteyngart @ Abbey Pub

Nextbook presents "a conversation (and a possibly a serenade or two) on literature, wanderlust, and roiling epics" between Pulitzer-winning author Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex, The Virgin Suicides) and National Jewish Book Award winner Gary Shteyngart (The Russian Debutante's Handbook). 7:30pm at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace. Admission is free, but reservations are highly recommended; tickets can be reserved through the website (you must register first). For more info, visit www.nextbook.org or call Abigail Pickus at 312/747-4074.

Vice Grip: Bad Habits Exploited

Local photographer Brian Ulrich (Adbusters, NotIfButWhen, Subsystence, Revol) has work featured in a new group show at Columbia College's Hokin Annex, entitled Vice Grip: Bad Habits Explored. Opening tonight, the show deals with "ungoverned appetites and unnatural curiosity through artworks in a wide-range of media." The gallery is a generally low-key environment on the Columbia College campus, focusing primarily on informal discussion and casual observation. There is no cost, but the hours are limited. Click here for more details.

Learn to Knit, Cheap!

Really want to learn to knit, but you don't have the cashola to plunk down on some serious seminars? Head out to Close Knit in Evanston tonight for a 1-night workshop: How to Knit or Crochet, from 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. The class costs just $25 which is pretty darn good. Judith Horwitz will lead the session. For more information, or to sign up, call Close Knit at (847) 328-6760. The store is located in downtown Evanston, at 622 Grove Street.

The Syn featuring Chris Squire (of YES) @ Martyr's

The Syn featured Squire before he went on to found the prog-rock pioneers Yes, and vocalist Nardelli, who became a successful businessman in the clothing and sporting goods business. Now, 40 years later, the two have re-teamed to revive the legendary band and release their first album of brand-new material in Syndestructible, scheduled to hit retail shelves in the U.S. on Nov. 8 through their own Umbrello Records and independent distributor ADA. Appearing at Martyr's. Show starts at 8pm - $35

Grave of the Fireflies @ Block Museum of Art

Isao Takahata's 1988 animated masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka about a boy and his younger sister's struggle to survive after their town is firebombed by Allied planes during World War II. Featuring top-notch animation by Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away), this is one of the most moving and heartwrenching films of all time, animated or otherwise. You will cry, and Grave of the Fireflies will have earned every tear. Shows Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 7:30pm at Northwestern University's Block Museum of Art. $6 General Admission, $4 for students or museum members.