Wednesday, Sept. 10 Escanaba in Love, the prequel to Escanaba in da Moonlight, has its Chicago premiere at Circle Theatre. The work of Jeff Daniels, the film actor who didn’t lose his small-town sensibilities to Hollywood, this story, too, is set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a part of the world Daniels knows as home. This comedy about the hunting scene in Escanaba, Mich., premiered two years ago at Daniels’ own theater in his home state. It opens tonight in Forest Park at 8 p.m. and runs through Oct. 26. Tickets are $26; $20 on Thursdays and Fridays. 7300 Madison, Forest Park. 771-0700, www.circle-theatre.org
Friday, Sept. 12 The Chicago area’s first gluten-free cooking expo opens at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook. Organized by Oak Parker Jen Cafferty, mom of two gluten-intolerant children, the two-day conference will include such sensitivity-aware chefs as Gaetano di Benedetto of Gaetano’s in Forest Park. Cookbook authors, nutritionists and other chefs will be at this consciousness-raising event. For details, call Jen at 763-8255 or go to www.glutenfreeclasses.com.
Saturday, Sept. 13 The first event in a year-long centennial celebration for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple will honor David McLaren, past president of Unity Temple Restoration Foundation and Landmarks Illinois. Musical entertainment is provided by jazz trumpeter Orbert Davis. The gala will start at 6 p.m. with dinner; music and auctions follow. $100 ($150, patron; $80, student). Call 383-8873 by Wednesday, Sept. 10, to reserve. 875 Lake, Oak Park. www.unitytemple-utrf.org