Robots, Aliens and Mad Scientists Entertain This Weekend

By Pam DeFiglio

You are smart and fun and adventurous and compassionate and have a great sense of humor. We know this. That's why we've compiled this great list of local things for you to do this weekend. 

• Dress up as an Alien or a Robot for the Robots and Aliens party, then wear it again on Halloween! The 8 p.m. Friday party at the Skokie Public Library celebrates local Skokie author Kevin Luthardt's new children's book.  Free and open to the public--plus, you get to march around the library in a costume parade. 
• Do you dare to enter Fear City? The denizens of this frightening metropolis are so chilling it's been rated one of Illinois' top haunted houses--right here in Morton Grove, and opening Friday. Click here for details on having $4 of your ticket price donated to the High School District 219 Foundation to help students in need.
• Here's what The Boston Phoenix said about "Scientist Turned Comedian Tim Lee": "Lee, who got his PhD before realizing where his true talents lay, blends science talk (complete with PowerPoint presentations) with comedy. The hilarious result is like what would happen if you crossed your high-school chem teacher with George Carlin." Oct. 4-6 at Gorilla Tango Theater in downtown Skokie. 
• Only three more Morton Grove Farmers Market Days to go this season. Sat. Oct. 5 features Benhart Farms, which humanely raises animals for pork, beef, chicken, etc., and you can even reserve your Thanksgiving turkey. 8 a.m. to noon at 6140 W. Dempster; caution because Dempster is closed at the Metra tracks for construction. 
• Temple Beth Israel in Skokie will present a book discussion of Out of Chaos: Hidden Children Remember the Holocaust, Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Local survivors who were children during those dark years will speak. 
  
• News photographers capture some stunning images. Richard Cahan, former Chicago Sun-Times photo editor, presents many when he talks about his new book, Photojournalism: Chicago Style at the Niles Library at 2 p.m. Sunday. 
• Here's a classical music concert for people who (think they) don't like classical music. Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra presents songs of Tchaikowsky, Gershwin, Ravel and others, which you already know and love. You just don't realize it. Sunday afternoon, 9501 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie.