Best of the West: The Newberry Library is hosting “The Frontier in American Culture,” a free exhibit of books, manuscripts, drawings and poster art. Also offered will be a series of lectures and, on Sept. 23, a special performance of Eric Sorg’s “Cody! An Evening With Buffalo Bill.” The exhibit is open from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday and 8:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Newberry, 60 W. Walton St., and runs through Jan. 7. For information call 312-943-9090, ext. 310.
– Brian Downes
Pet tricks: Can your cat put finicky Morris to shame? Can your dog ham it up more than Lassie? Murray, the mixed-breed pooch on “Mad About You,” along with corporate big-wigs, will be holding auditions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Anti-Cruelty Society, 510 N. LaSalle St., for talented “spokespets” to promote a new bottled water product for dogs and cats. Murray’s trainer, Boone Nar, will be there too; he’ll answer questions on basic obedience.
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– Steve Dale
X marks…: Reality bites again in “Generation Why?,” a new play by Eric Frankie. Presented by Big Gulp Productions at Cafe Voltaire, 3231 N. Clark St., the satire journeys into the slacker-soft heads of three Generation X-ers. The rent is due, they’re jobless, and they’re too disgusted with society to do anything but indulge in highbrow, self-righteous chitchat. For reservations call 312-404-8081.
– Larry Bommer
Pop quiz: There’s a lot more than corn in Indiana this week at the Popcorn Festival. The celebration started 16 years ago in honor of Orville and Gary Redenbacher. Events include a parade with floats made of, yes, popcorn, the Popcorn Panic 5-mile run, the Popcorn (hot-air) Balloonfest, arts and crafts, food, and… popcorn! The all-day activities (Friday through Sept. 11) draw droves of visitors,who greatly outnumber the natives. The fair goes from Jefferson to Monroe Street, Morgan to Napolean Street, Valparaiso, Ind. For info, call 219-464-8332.
– Ann McSheehy
Time to howl: The new season in art begins with “Around the Coyote,” the annual multimedia festival and studio walk that will have its fifth installment next Thursday through Sept. 11 in Chicago’s Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods. All sorts of new events have been added. Information Central is at the Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. Call 312-342-6777 or 312-342-9928.
– Alan Artner
Cutting edge: What’s smaller than a tractor, covered with flags and decals and gets up to 50 mph? Most of the lawn mowers that will be racing in the STA-BIL Nationals on Saturday. But these won’t be your father’s lawn mowers. Instead, the championship race will allow cutting-edge participants to ride their souped-up mowers, sans blades. The big mow runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hawthorne Race Course, 35th and Laramie Streets, Cicero. The day also will include a lawn mower parade, drag race, exhibition and petting zoo for children. Admission is $5 adults; $1 children. For more information, call 708-729-7363.
– Shirley Henderson