All Agenda events are Reader- recommended. Look for the icon throughout the issue and find more recommended events at chicagoreader.com/agenda.

FRI 3/4 FILM SPOTTING

Chicago Filmmakers presents the Onion City

Film Festival, the annual international festival exclusively devoted to experimental film and video. This year’s showcase includes installations by Torsten Zenas Burns and Sara Magenheimer. Through 3/6, Defibrillator Gallery, 1463 W. Chicago, onioncity.org, $5, $25 for festival pass.

SAT 3/5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHICAGO! The Chicago History Museum hosts special speakers and music from the Latin School of Chicago’s concert band to celebrate the city’s anniversary at Chicago’s 179th Birthday

Celebration. And it wouldn’t be a birthday without cake— Eli’s Cheesecake presents slices for visitors. 10 AM- 1 PM, Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org, $14, $12 seniors and students (13-22), free kids 12 and under.

SUN 3/6 BELLE OF THE BALLS Local chefs go head-to-head to see who can create the tastiest meatball at the Battle of

the Balls. Participants include Sean Pharr ( the Bristol), Paul Virant ( Perennial Virant, Vie), and Joshua Kulp and Christine Cikowski (Honey Butter Fried Chicken). Noon and 2 PM, Formento’s, 925 W. Randolph, battleoftheballs. bpt.me, $60.

MON 3/7 I WILL SURVIVE “In Plain Sight: A Women’s History of HIV/ AIDS in Chicago” is a public exhibition of oral narratives inspired by an ongoing project called “I’m Still Surviving: A Women’s History of HIV/ AIDS in the United States.” Opening reception Fri 3/4, 5-7 PM. 3/4-4/2, Pop Up Just Art Center, 1255 S. Halsted, historymoves.org/inplainsight. F

TUE 3/8 ERIN GO BRAGH The annual Saint Patrick’s Day celebration Siamsa

na nGael features performances fromMetropolis SymphonyOrchestra, Old Saint Patrick’s Concert Choir, Trinity Irish Dancers, Irish Trad band, soloists Gavin Coyle, Rodrick Dixon, Catherine O’Connell, and more. 7:30 PM, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan, cso.org, $30-$60.

WED 3/9 FAMILY TALES

Sarah Wildman discusses her book Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind, which documents her efforts to discover the fate of her family in Nazi Germany, with Diane Afoumado of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Wed 3/9, noon, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods, Skokie, 847- 967-4800, ilholocaustmuseum.org. F

THU 3/10 TAKE A RISK Kevin Allison of the legendary sketch troupe the State hosts RISK!, a live storytelling and podcast series featuring true stories of crippling embarrassment and shame told by people who never thought they’d share their tales in public. Previous guests include Marc Maron, Sarah Silverman, Michael Showalter, and Maria Bamford; you never know who could show up tonight. 7 PM, Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee, concordmusichall.com, $25-$30.