Oscar Shorts @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a program of Oscar-nominated short films. If you've ever wished that you had a chance to see the nominated short films, now's your chance. The program starts tonight at the Film Center and runs through March 3. See the Film Center Website for complete showtimes. Tickets are $10, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

DJ Hell @ Sound Bar

DJ Hell, whose International DeeJay Gigolos label helped set off the electro[clash] movement several years ago, brings his eclectic mixing all the way from Berlin to Sound Bar. Traxx is also on the bill. 226 W. Ontario, 21+, 11pm, $13 pre-sale.

GB staff member JD will be in attendance.

Gapers Block Get-Together

Gapers Block staffers, readers and friends gather on the last Friday of every month to meet, sip cocktails (or beers) and talk geek. We'll be getting drunk at the bar at Rodan in Wicker Park this month from 9pm onwards. Look out for faces from the Proprietors page or for t-shirts, or buttons with the four stars. Rodan is at 1530 N. Milwaukee, close to the intersections of Damen, North and Milwaukee. See ya there!

Fareed Haque @ Martyrs'

Guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque enjoys a career that spans the spectrum of musical styles. Moving easily between jazz and classical guitar, Fareed's versatility has created a demand for him with prominent jazz and classical artists including Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Holland, Sting, Joe Henderson, Kurt Elling, Arturo Sandoval, Robert Walter, Carl Denson, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Kahil el Zabar, Edgar Meyer, members of the Vermeer Quartet and many symphony orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. He has performed all of the major guitar concertos, is an active transcriber of baroque as well as South American music and has had numerous modern works dedicated to him. Fareed performs tonight with Goran Ivanovic at Marytrs' located at 3855 N. Lincoln, Chicago. Music at 10pm, tickets are $10, 773-404-9494.

Nutshell of Unexplained Death @ Glessner House

Who knew the deep secrets lurking beneath the surface of the Glessner House Museum? Apparently, the Glessners. In a new exhibit, Frances Glessner Lee and The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, which opens today, visitors can explore Glessner Lee's own incredibly detailed dioramas of crime scenes, complete with tiny shell casings and blood stains. The exhibit is open until April 30, and the Glessner House is located in the South Loop at 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, call (312) 326-1480 for more information. Admission is a teeny tiny $2 (and is free tonight during the opening reception from 6-8pm).

Parody of Pleasure @ Abbey Pub

"Parody of Pleasure" hits the Abbey Pub tonight, featuring performances by Three Dollar Bill (it's their CD release party), Stewed Tomatoes, 8" Betsy, Hellcat Hussies Burlesque and members of Heartless B!tch Entertainment. Doors open at 8pm and show starts at 9pm. Tickets are $8 in advance via TicketWeb or $10 at the door. More info at threedollar.net.