The Dwell Guide to Events in Your City

Wednesday, January 30

Christina Noelle, principal and Urban Lifestyle Specialist at MCZ Development, signs her new book Urban Lofts: How Chicago Redefined the Architecture today. 12:15-1 p.m. ; The John Buck Company Lecture Hall Gallery at the ArchiCenter, 224 S. Michigan Avenue; (312) 922-3432; www.architecture.org

Thursday, January 31

Video installations by Guy Ben-Ner, Arturo Herrera, Catherine Sullivan, Eve Sussman, and The Rufus Corporation open at the Smart Museum today, each linked by the theme of 'adaptation.' Through May 4. Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave.; (773) 702-000; http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu

Dan Sikorski teaches those enrolled in The World Kitchen's Chocolate Challenge how to make the sweet stuff themselves. 6-8:30 p.m.; Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph St.; (312) 744-6630; http://egov.cityofchicago.org

Friday, February 2

The Alliance Francaise serves up a special Mardi Gras brunch this morning, with creole-influenced dishes like poached eggs with crab, sweet potato pecan pie, and chicken andouille hash. 810 North Dearborn St.; (312) 337-1070; www.af-chicago.org

Gordon Matta-Clark is best known for the dissection, destruction and re-presentation of buildings and other man-made structures. Today, an exhibit of the artist's work opens at MCA. And, to further mark the occasion, artists Mark Dion, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Sarah Oppenheimer join architect Walter Hood to discuss Matta-Clark’s influence on their work. Exhibit through May 4. Lecture, 1 p.m.; Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; (312) 280-2660; www.mcachicago.org

Sunday, February 3

Celebrated photojournalist David Rubinger discusses his memoir Israel Through My Lens, and shares anecdotes about his 60-year career. 2 p.m.; Spertus, 610 S. Michigan Ave.; (312) 322-1700; www.spertus.edu

The Chicago Cultural Center hosts the Baroque Band, a group dedicated to "performing music of decomposed composers on instruments that have never been near an electricity socket or an amplifier." 3 p.m.; Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St.; (312) 744-6630; http://egov.cityofchicago.org

Tuesday, February 5

At The Chicago History Museum panelists discuss gentrification’s effect on city dwellers, as well as the history and future of public housing here. 6:30–8 p.m.; The Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.; (312) 642-4600; www.chicagohistory.org

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