North by Northwestern

May 3

Dillo Day Battle of the DJs

It might still be a few weeks till Dillo (and some of us at NBN Entertainment might be scratching our heads about the lineup that’s coming together), but that doesn’t mean you can’t start partying early. Support your favorite student DJ group as they vie for a chance to play on the Dillo main stage. Contestants will include Guac Club, Onnij and Ouyang, Lawless, Hyraxe, Zoren Lo and SLIM + JEFF, and each will perform a 20-minute set. 10:30 p.m., Tommy Nevin’s Pub. 18+, 21+ to drink. $5.

May 4

Back to Zero

2017 marks 20 years of Boomshaka at NU, so it’s time to celebrate. Join the drumming and dancing group this weekend for a show that goes back to the start of Boomshaka. 8 p.m., Shanley Pavilion. Also May 5-6, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. $5 advance, $7 door for students; May 5 shows are free.

Black Women as Giants

Gwendolyn Brooks is a giant in her own regard - the Chicago poet was the first black woman to win the Pulitzer for poetry. She was also lauded for her poems about Bronzeville, a neighborhood in the south side of Chicago. Celebrate Brooks and the women she’s influenced during a panel and a reading with five acclaimed poets. Lutkin Hall. Panel at 10 a.m., reading at 6 p.m. Free.

M.F.A. thesis exhibition opening

In case you don’t know by now, we have super-talented students on campus. Support some of their work as students in the M.F.A. in Art Theory and Practice debut their thesis projects. 6 p.m., Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art. Through June 18. Free.

NU Night at the Art Institute

Or, you could spend your night checking out some art in the city. Bring some friends and visit the Art Institute with NU, and make sure to take advantage of the discounts from the university at the gift shop and cafe. Buses leave at 4 p.m., Cahn Auditorium. Free.

May 5

9 Plays by Red Hook

You might think plays have to happen in theaters, but Arts Alliance is here to prove you wrong. The theater board will put up 9 Plays by Red Hook, written by Communication junior Kori Alston, in the Dittmar Gallery. Alston’s collection of plays, each with a different director and actors, explores the stories in the buildings of the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, known as “the Crack Capital of America” and was heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy. 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.; Dittmar Gallery. Also May 6 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Free with reservation; no reservation required for May 5 at 11 p.m.

Cameraperson with Kirsten Johnson

Kirsten Johnson, an award-winning cinematographer, has filmed documentaries on topics from Darfur to Edward Snowden. Now, look behind the camera with her critically acclaimed directing debut, Cameraperson, which uses footage from her previous filming experience. As the Hoffman Visiting Artist for Documentary Media at the School of Communication, Johnson will have a conversation with the audience about the documentary after a showing. 6:30 p.m., Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art. Free.