Originally from Sweden, Love in October now calls Chicago home. Not only has their home base changed over the years, their music has also transformed from their darker Words of Sound EP to something much more pop-oriented. On their newest album, Pontius, The Devil, and Me, they combine their new and old sounds to create a strong blend of post-emo and power pop (think Plain White T's meets Motion City Soundtrack).

Insider Info: The headlining band is actually The Heaven Seventies, which are quite good in their own right and are worth seeing, even though they don't quite fit with the rest of the Indie line up.

Electronic Duo, Ratatat, channels upbeat and tropical sounds over fresh electronic beats to create a sound that transports you to a warmer climate and a happier state of mind. If you close your eyes, you'll swear you're relaxing on a beach under the sun. It's a sure bet to chase away the worst case of the Mondays.

Insider Info: If you check your coat at The Metro, make sure you don't leave your phone or beer money in the pocket. It will cost you just to grab it back once it goes over the counter.

Local outfit, Raise High the Roof Beams, has been a busy band lately, playing their brand of eclectic indie rock all over the city. Their earnest vocals and witty lyrics make for a bright mix and an upbeat and fun show.

Insider Info: The Abbey Pub is located in an awkward area to get to from public transportation. I suggest taking some friends, grabbing a cab, and getting some dinner before the show. They make a pretty tasty order of fish & chips, which got me through some long days last year at Pitchfork Music Festival.

Hailing from Ocean Beach, CA, Slightly Stoopid draws from the realms of electric and acoustic rock, reggae, dub, blues, hip-hop, punk, and even metal to create a unique sound typical of the SoCal vibe. In fact, the band was originally signed by Bradley Nowell (Sublime) to his label, Skunk Records, while still in high school.

Insider Info: The doors for the show open at 6:00 PM, and the show should start around 7:00. As an all ages show, it will have an earlier let-out. A quick ride on the blue line can get you to Wicker Park to keep the night going.

Insider Info: Make sure you try the pulled pork and the Division Street chili with Monterey jack, sharp cheddar, white onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and Smoke Daddy's famous BBQ sauce.

Tired of green beer and the same old parades? Looking for a more sophisticated way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Well, check this out! Every third Tuesday, The Tasting Room and Randolph Wine Cellars hold "Third Tuesday Tastings," and they are getting in on the "green" action for the holiday--minus the dye. Taste wines that are produced with sustainable, organic, and biodynamic practices. Thirty wines for $30 with light appetizers.

Insider Info: March has been a busy month for The Tasting Room, as they expanded and debuted a new menu. For years, The Tasting Room has offered small plates, cheese, and charcuterie to compliment the many wines offered by the glass. Now, with the arrival of Executive Chef, Marc Kuchenbecker, the menu strives for a new level. Expect an expanded selection of entrees, new innovative small plates, and even more cheese!

Hideout has been throwing weekly Wednesday gatherings with free soup prepared by chefs, food writers, and such. Here's the deal: A hat is passed around to collect donations for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which will then help feed Chicagoans in need. This popular weekly event ends April 1st and this week is the last one during winter.

Insider Info: Soup and Bread has been so popular since its start, so I'd arrive there during the first hour.  Michael Nagrant of Hungry Magazine and Jeanelle Hayner of Graficionada are some of the cooks.

The weather is just beginning to turn around and what better way to celebrate a greener Chicago than to go green on actual St. Patrick's Day! Check out RedEye's annual St. Patrick's Day party at Mystic Celt in Lakeview. Get ready for more green beer, authentic Irish music (bagpipes etc.), and Irish food. They are also throwing in a special live performance by the Sugar Beat Band.

Insider Info: This is a themed party so go dressed in your craziest green attire. Finding open-metered spots on Southport is nearly impossible so take a cab. Also, make sure the cab takes Ashland to the nearest Mystic Celt cross-street off Southport (Cornelia or Newport). Southport can get jammed during rush hour.

It's time to warm up with good friends and good times for a good cause. Imerman Angels hosts its annual Spring Party at Enclave this Friday night. Tickets include open bar and food from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. There will be a special DJ and a dance performance which I am particularly looking forward to. Presale tickets are available online at www.imermanangels.org, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the cause.

Insider Info: Imerman Angels connects cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers for one-on-one support all across the country. The crowd at these events is not that of your typical bar scene. These are the people making things happen in Chicago. If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $40, but get them online to avoid being the only one of your friends who can't get in!

If you have not yet been to "The Party," then I don’t think you've really ever been to any party! Paul Blair--aka DJ White Shadow--and James Brown from Maxwell + Carter, have teamed up with the Griffin Lounge to bring some good, simple fun back to the Chicago club scene. At their "Spring Cleaning Party," guests will be encouraged to donate their bad fashion fads to the Salvation Army.

Insider Info: So if you are ready to donate your fashion regrets like Ed Hardy and Affliction, this party is for you! Each guest who donates will receive complimentary admission and a complimentary cocktail upon arrival. "The Party" features DJ Dan Sah, resident of Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson's pool house (I'm not kidding). RSVP to james@maxwellandcarter.com.

A wise Lisa Turtle once asked: "What is art? Is art art? Are we art?" While Saved by the Bell never quite got around to answering her question, the play "Art," now at  Steppenwolf's intimate Upstairs Theatre, attempts to do just that. A wickedly funny play about male friendship and modern art, think of "Art" as Aaron Sorkin-meets-the MCA. 

Insider Info: Now through the end of March, Steppenwolf is offering two-for-one tickets to "Art." Enter promotional code 5176 when you purchase your tickets online. Hang around the theater afterwards for a post-show discussion with members of the Steppenwolf artistic staff.

After spending time in New York (SNL) and L.A. (Mean Girls), Tim Meadows has returned to Chicago and his improv comedy roots. With his newly formed group, Uncle's Brother (featuring Brad Morris and Joe Canale of Second City), Meadows performs every Sunday night at IO after Children of a Lesser God, one of Chicago's best all-female improv troupes.

Insider Info: You won’t see the Uncle's Brother show on IO's online ticketing calendar, so be sure to call the box office directly (773-880-0199) a few days in advance to secure tickets. Special guests (read: Meadow’s high-profile friends) have been known to stop by and join in when they're in town. Bonus: look for Uncle's Brother members Brad Morris and Joe Canale in the upcoming teaser video for a certain newly-founded insider's guide to Chicago's best events....

Cameron Gray manufactures "paintings" with other artists, producing a sort of digital pointillism. Gray's newest works address heavy themes via a set of credit card-sized mini tableaux. He starts with hundreds of pieces electronically sent to him by other artists, breaking them down to a pixel grid, and outsourcing work through a virtual Internet factory.

Insider Info: You recognize each work's main "portrait," then you see its spooky, smaller, thematic make up. The most striking image is of a skull made up of pictures of babies and flowers--hopeful images against an ominous, dark background…Then again, the trendiest babies even sport skulls now.

There are a few players' presences you can actually feel when they arrive in town, and Kobe Bryant has one of them. The LA Lakers is the best team in the NBA and feature one of the highest scoring offenses in the league. The Bulls, as we all know, are in a transition phase and…well…uh…just aren't very good right now. But hey, Kobe is in town and I can guarantee there will be a lot of points put on the scoreboard and that Kobe will not disappoint.

Insider Info: For pre or post-eats check out Third Rail, which is loaded with good drinks and great food. They have a menu full of delicious appetizers, soups, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and wraps and their beer menu is nothing short of extensive, with over 50 choices including six on tap.

If you want drama, excitement, action and emotion this weekend, do not go see Watchmen. Instead head over to Wrigleyville for cheap March Madness deals. Three Wrigleyville bars are making it easy for you to take an extended lunch or play hooky, including Casey Moran's opening at 10:00 AM, Harry Caray's Tavern opening at 11:00 AM, and for the night games, Rebel is sponsoring a benefit party at 6:00 PM.

Insider Info: You should start at Casey Moran's to get a few appetizers/cocktails in before the games start an hour later. There are more than 35 plasmas and an additional $25 meal package (10:00 AM to 3:00 PM), which includes domestic drafts, cocktails, and a buffet. Harry Caray’s Tavern, a block Southeast on Sheffield, is also having a package deal including a buffet and domestic drafts from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The Cubs and Sox square off for the fourth time this pre-season. The Sox lead the series 2-1, despite getting shut out in the first matchup, 13-0. Despite being an inconsequential game, the Cubs/Sox rivalry will always be one of the most heated and fun in all of baseball, if not all professional sports. If the game itself isn't too exciting, you can always pick a friendly fight with a fan of your opposing team.

Insider Info: Of course March Madness will be going on at the same time as this game, but Barleycorn is an Iowa bar. At 15-17, Iowa's chances to make the Big Dance are slim to none and other Big 10 fans may be at their respective bars, so there's a good chance the Cubs/Sox game will already be on. No food or drink specials on Saturdays, but if you're hungry, try the chicken fajitas. They've never let me down.

Raymi Productions and PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment) have partnered to present a hands-on self defense class, taught by professional instructor and retired police officer, Dominick Izzo. Izzo will be demonstrating the Izzo Training Systems Self Defense Program, which integrates martial arts theories and his experience as a police officer while teaching students to work with the tools they already have.

Insider Info: It only takes a few training moves to potentially fend off an attack. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 232,960 women in the U.S. were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006. Call 312-730-8262 to reserve your space.

Fans everywhere will gather for first dibs on the release of Twilight on DVD, and Borders Books and Music is hosting the official celebration. The store will be decked out with Twilight-themed décor while playing snippets of the movie and the soundtrack. This all leads up to the midnight release of the special edition box set.

Insider Info: You might be thinking there's no way anyone over the age of 15 would care about Twilight coming out on DVD, but you never know. That chick at the cubicle behind you might have already pre-ordered her copy....

Gen Art Chicago will host "Shop Chicago" on March 21, an amazing shopping event featuring more than 80 designers and boutiques from around the city. Peruse through these designers' spring collections, which offer discounts of up to 70% off in everything from menswear to accessories. You can even enjoy some pampering at the "Shop Chicago" Beauty Lounge.

Insider Info: Usually it doesn't pay to get the VIP pass, but this one is actually worth it. For $40 you'll get a preview party reception, complimentary cocktails and wine, snacks, a gift bag, and access to a private VIP lounge.

A manicure that lasts three weeks long? If you haven't heard about it yet, you've got to try the "no chip" manicure at Old Town Nails. It's a special new nail treatment that's painted on and hardens under UVA light. The polish dries immediately so you don't have to worry about smudging your nails on your way out the door. Many loyal customers, including myself, attest that it truly lasts three weeks. The gel is available in over 100 different colors as well as transparent and French.

Insider Info: Even though the "no chip" treatment uses a special polish color palette, you don't have to abandon your favorite OPI and Essie colors. Old Town Nails will custom mix your favorite color just for you.