The Mix: Really cool things to do

Contemporary and traditional dance and song of southern Africa come to life in A Southern African Odyssey, presented by DanceAfrica Chicago at 8 tonight at Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph. The DuSable Museum of African-American History is sponsoring the program, which features the Pamodzi Dance Troupe from Zambia; Lesole's Dance Project, which specializes in the dance of southern Africa, and Ubuntu Chicago, a new group performing a new work by Chuck Davis. Tickets are $25-$54. Call (312) 334-7777; www.harristheaterchicago.org.

Dead on Division, a Halloween tradition in the Rush Street area, is alive and well at six watering holes tonight. Q101's Tingle and Lou will broadcast live Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight from the Original Mother's, 26 W. Division, where Judas Beast, a Judas Priest/Iron Maiden tribute band, will play, and the top prize in a costume contest is $1,000. The cover charge at the Original Mother's is $5. Check out the VooDoo Bar at She'nannigans, as well, the pirate costume contest and scavenger hunt at Bootleggers, the Alice in Wonderland costume contest at the Hangge-Uppe, the Time Machine ride at the Lodge Tavern and the palm reader at Mother's Too. For more information, visit www.rushanddivision.com.

The Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair, SOFA, now in its 16th year, returns to Navy Pier's Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand, Nov. 6-8, but the SOFA Chicago 2009 Opening Night Preview Gala is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Get an early look (and first crack) at the amazing works that will be presented at the fair, and mingle with curators and collectors, as well as some of the designers and artists themselves. Tickets are $50. Visit www.sofaexpo.com.

A murdered curator has left a secret code in his calendar that may allow a team of sleuths to track his killer through the galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan, for thrilling and edifying Halloween fun. It's Watson Adventures' Murder at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt, which sets off at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for this adults-only event are $32.50, including museum admission. Call (877) 946-4868; www.watsonadventures.com.

The Red Queen, the White Rabbit and, of course, the Mad Hatter will be among the characters from the most famous tea party of all who will be on hand at the Mad Hatter Tea Party from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Palm Court at the Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton. Wear your best bonnet and enjoy an informal hat fashion show by the British milliner Joy Scott. Tickets are $29 and reservations are required. Call Shaun at (312) 932-4619; www.thedrakehotel.com.

DanceChance, a program from the Ruth Page Center that carries the "open mike" concept for musicians into the world of dance, has presented works by 48 choreographers in 16 months of performances. Now, in partnership with DanceWorks Chicago, the Page Center presents the best of the best in DanceChance: Redux at 8 tonight and Saturday night, with fully developed works onstage at the Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr. Tickets are $15-$20 (NEIU students, faculty and staff are free). Call (312) 337-6543; www.ruthpage.org.

Los Lobos, the veteran roots rockers from East L.A., are going unplugged in a special acoustic program 7 p.m. Sunday at Symphony Center. Celebrating their Mexican-American heritage, the Wolves will perform their hits and Latin standards on traditional instruments such as the jarana and bajo sexto. For tickets, $25-$70, call (312) 294-3000 or go to cso.org.