Night & Day Events

28 Thursday
With narration by the likes of Edward James Olmos and Mumia Abu-Jamal and music from such rabble-rousers as Rage Against the Machine and Ozomatli, Big Noise Films’ Zapatista offers a unique view of the indigenous struggle in Chiapas, Mexico. The hourlong documentary involves a firsthand account of the Zapatista movement, which rose up at the dawn of the North American Free Trade Agreement — after the people of Chiapas had endured 400 years of oppression. Presented by the National Zapatista Student Alliance, the film screens tonight at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main, starting at 6:30 with a discussion led by local activists who have worked as human-rights observers in Chiapas. They suggest a $5 donation.

29 Friday
Lewis Black is pissed, and he’s here to tell anyone who will listen at Stanford and Sons this weekend. Black has been named one of Variety‘s top 10 comics to watch, and his vituperative political commentary also is a regular feature on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. He’s an angry but talented guy who’s nurtured his rage into wit, with an energy so intense it looks as though fire is about to shoot out of his wildly pointing hands. To get sucked into the fury, call 816-561-7454.

30 Saturday
Future television personalities and newspaper columnists, as well as camera operators and salespeople, need look no further than the Adam’s Mark Hotel near the Truman Sports Complex for job opportunities today. The United Minority Media Association is sponsoring a job fair, and representatives from several area media outlets will be on hand armed with information and advice on careers in broadcast, print, cable, advertising, and new media. The fair is free to job-seekers, but prior registration is required. To register or for more information, call 816-822-1313.

Pipe down! The Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists continues its series of organ crawls today. Organ enthusiasts can experience a “hands on” visit with instruments at All Saints Lutheran Church, Cathedral of St. Peter, and St. John the Baptist on Strawberry Hill, all in Kansas City, Kansas. Each church’s resident organist will play; the crawl takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For details call 816-254-2409.

1 Sunday
Like humans, pets often do things for which they need forgiveness and redemption. So today, Westwood Lutheran and Westwood Christian churches are teaming up for the Blessing of Animals. The undoubtedly noisy sacraments begin at 8:30 a.m. at Westwood Christian Church, 5050 Rainbow Avenue. For information, call 913-262-1308.

In today’s second edition of “Dispelling the Myths,” a Social Security Information office representative, an AARP education director, and a financial planner try to undo the damage done by pesky newspaper columnists and politicians who’ve so irresponsibly perpetuated misconceptions about Social Security. The meeting, held at 1 p.m. at the Christian Church located at 291 Highway and Tudor Road in Lee’s Summit, is a nonpartisan effort; for more information on the event, call 816-561-0044.

2 Monday
In a combined act of artistic expression and community outreach, the Mental Health Association of the Heartland brings My Sister’s Sister, a one-woman autobiographical show dealing with mental illness, to the American Heartland Theatre for one night. The play is the creation of Julie Portman, whose sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 19. Portman offers an educational but intimate look at mental illness by relating how she learned about herself through her sister’s challenges. Her story has earned rave reviews from The Washington Post and New York Daily News. For tickets, call 913-281-2221, ext. 111.

Get ready for the beauty cults. The Independent Filmmakers Coalition of Kansas City hosts a screening of Superstarlet A.D., an independent feature film from Memphis filmmaker John Michael McCarthy. A self-described “heterosexual John Waters or gay Russ Meyer,” McCarthy has created a postapocalyptic city called Femphis, where all the men have devolved into deadly Neanderthals and all the women have made it through the apocalypse with an extra chromosome and only vintage undergarments to wear (all other clothing naturally having been destroyed). Gifted with style and intuition but cursed with gossip and a hatred for other hair colors, the women have banded into beauty cults. The dumb platinum blonde Phayrays, ruthless brunette Santanas, and ill-tempered redheaded Tempests battle among the ruins over a dissipating supply of lipstick and ammo. Then along comes a different beauty cult — Superstarlet A.D., a multi-hair-colored force of three enlightened starlets who love all hair color. The spectacle occurs for one night only in KC, at Harlings Upstairs, Main and Westport, at 7:30 and 10. For more information, e-mail ifc@ifckc.com.

3 Tuesday
Armchair political pundits tend to get lonely yelling at their television sets during campaign season. Luckily, the Rockhurst University Community Forum invites community members to watch the presidential debate in public and discuss their opinions with other people. The event will begin with a briefing in Rockhurst’s Mabee Theater 30 minutes before the debate (check television listings for start time) and a postdebate discussion moderated by Frank Smist, Rockhurst’s chairman of political science. For more information, call 816-501-4607.

4 Wednesday
A man whose voice is as sweet as his name, Coco Tea is one of Jamaica’s favorite singers. For more than 15 years Tea has stayed true to his Rastafarian principles. And when he brings his melodic style to the Grand Emporium, 3832 Main, he’ll no doubt treat the crowd to a current Jamaican hit, “Zeeks,” which has made a folk hero out of its namesake, a Kingstown man working to rid his neighborhood of crime and violence who was arrested for disciplining some robbers and released on bail after spirited public demonstrations. For information, call 816-531-7557.