The Three Cs

The Midwest and the Cinema with a capital C are very rarely said in the same sentence. Cinema and Culture has been claimed by the coasts for years, but another C word has claimed the nation's attention: Chicago. With the nation's eyes trained on the Second City as President-Elect Obama shapes our future from here, Chicago's cultural wealth is finally being acknowledged by the masses.

For those of us that didn't need an Obama presidency to know what a vibrant city Chicago is, the Midwest Independent Film Festival continues to be a cultural boon. Their first Tuesday screenings at the Landscape Century Cinema Theatre remains high on the must-do lists of newspapers and lifestyle websites like Going. Tomorrow the Midwest Independent Film Festival will host their first fundraising gala: the 2008 Best of the Midwest Awards, a ceremony to "recognize the premier films and filmmakers" screened during this year's first Tuesday film festival screenings.

Taking place at Rockit Bar and Grill (22 W. Hubbard) from 6-9, the night promises to excite. Limited tickets are still available and with delicious appetizers provided by Rockit, a cocktail reception hosted by Effen Vodka and Corona, and all proceeds going towards the nonprofit organization's 2009 budget, $50 sounds like a steal. Buy tickets here.