Wicker Park Garden Walk

Feeling footloose and fancy free? Well then go for a garden walk. The Wicker Park Garden Club present a garden walk on Sunday, June 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit some of Wicker Park's finest gardens. Tickets are $5 per person and sold in the park. Ticket price includes booklet with map! For more information, visit their website.

Pride Parade

Of course, the Pride Parade. A quarter of a million people will be descending on Boystown to watch the spectacle, so you might as well, too. Just head to a spot on Broadway or Halsted between Belmont and Waveland sometime around noon and stake out a spot. More info and a parade map here, if you really need it. 12pm-3pm, free.

The Cinematic Orchestra

The Cinematic Orchestra, will be playing their soundtrack for 1929 Russian film 'The Man With The Movie Camera', at the Abbey Pub on 28th June. The film will be shown in conjunction with the performance, and more details on the whole shebang can be found here http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/release.php?id=693. Hat tip: Ian Olsen-Clark.

Dyke March

The Chicago Dyke March, a largely lesbian response to the increasing corporateness of the official Pride Parade, is open to anyone who'd like to participate. The parade starts at 2 pm at Trumbull Elementary School at the corner of Foster and Ashland in Andersonville. Free. More info here.

Pride Fest

In case you didn't know, about a quarter of a million people will be descending on Boystown this Sunday for the Pride Parade. The day before, however, is Pride Fest, a much smaller (perhaps) shin-dig on Halsted between Waveland and Grace. 11am to 8pm, usual $5 "donation" at the door.

Tom and Susana Evert Dance Theater

In a rare Chicago appearance, the Tom and Susana Evert Dance Theater will perform at the Adidam Chicago Center (located at 3301 W Fullerton) on Friday, June 27th at 8:00 p.m. According to the New York Times, "There is a natural and serene feeling to the flow, and the pieces seem to belong to some larger, organic whole...the duets... breathe quiet ecstasy and eroticism." Doors open at 7:30 and the cost is $20.

Taste of Chicago.

Yep, it's Taste of Chicago time again. The Mayor's office is predicting 3.6 million people (!) will turn out for the 10-day culinary event in Grant Park. Of course, it's not all about food; there will be free live music, culminating in a performance by Elvis Costello on the final day, July 6.

Apple Store Chicago Opens

The long-awaited Apple Store opens on Michigan Avenue. Expect thousands of people lined up around the block in order to touch shiny, white plastic computer equipment.

Carlos Souffront and Matthew Dear at Smartbar

Carlos Souffront and Matthew Dear are playing at Smartbar. Expect the showcasing of a sick techno, house, and classic dance collection (Souffrant) and some nasty Perlon-style (funky minimal glitch) house (Dear). 10pm, 3730 N. Clark, $5, 21+

3-turntable techno assault at Big Wig

Zachary Lubin, Matthew Martin, and Mercedez Ben are playing a four-hour three-turntable techno tag team at Big Wig for Ill Measures's Outlet weekly. No cover, 21+, 10pm-2am, 1551 W. Division.

Larry O. Dean @ Quimby's

From The Reader: "In the shadows of what remains of Cabrini Green, / cars line up, obedient, snaking / into sink-holed streets, salt-smudged from last / snow's fall." So begins Larry O. Dean's poem "Gold Coast Hand Car Wash," which appears in his new chapbook, Identity Theft for Dummies. "That phrase, 'identity theft,' just seems to be everywhere these days," Dean says in a press release. "Coupling it with the very popular 'For Dummies' series just seemed to come natural. Plus, I thought it would sell!" The local cartoonist, journalist, singer, songwriter, actor, and poet will read from Identity Theft at tonight's free release party, which starts at 8 at Quimby's, 1854 W. North, Chicago. 773/342-0910."

Buddy Guy & Blind Boys of Alabama @ Ravinia

Buddy Guy and the Blind Boys of Alabama are playing Ravinia, and amazingly there are still tickets for the pavilion left. It's worth the trip for these great performers. Show starts at 8pm, tickets are $40 pavilion/$10 lawn. More info and ticket sales for the event here.

Custer's Last Stand

The 31st annual Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts takes over Main Street and surrounding blocks in Evanston. Lots of arts and craft booths, antiques, food and live music. From the city, take the Purple Line (parking will be scarce) to the Main Street stop. 11am-7pm Saturday and Sunday; $1 donation gets you in.

Chicago Force playoff

The Chicago Force, Chicago's first Women's Pro Tackle Football team will be playing their first playoff game. Kickoff is 3 pm, tickets are $10 ($5 for kids), and their record (no losses, no team scoring more than one touchdown while they score 7 or more) hints at a wonderful victory.

Custer's Last Stand

The 31st annual Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts takes over Main Street and surrounding blocks in Evanston. Lots of arts and craft booths, antiques, food and live music. From the city, take the Purple Line (parking will be scarce) to the Main Street stop. 11am-7pm Saturday and Sunday; $1 donation gets you in.

Raku Day at EAC

Evanston Art Center is holding its first annual Raku Day, 10am-3pm at 2603 N. Sheridan (just north of Northwestern's campus). The event is a fundraiser for the center. They'll have pottery and tiles ready for you to purchase, paint and fire in outdoor kilns, with plenty of faculty and ceramics students around to show you what to do. Raku firing only takes an hour, so "enjoy the beach or the Art Center's galleries and grounds until your piece is pulled red-hot out of the kiln, cooled in water, and is ready to take home." Call 847/475-5300 for more info.

Gigantic!

They've played practically every venue in town, from the Vic to the Metro to Navy Pier, and tonight they're playing the Music Box Theatre: Gigantic, the documentary about the band They Might Be Giants, opens tonight for a one-week stay at the classic movie theatre in Lakeview. Chicago connection: This American Life host Ira Glass was interviewed for the film. (And he'll be doing a special appearance before a screening Saturday night, along with the film's director, AJ Schnack.)

A Day on the Force

A Day on the Force is a documentary by three local filmmakers about the Chicago Force, Chicago's first Women's Pro Tackle Football team. The world premiere takes place at 6 pm at the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of the 72 Hour Feature Proect Series. Filmmakers had 72 hours to film and edit a feature length film. 9 camera crews created 40 hours of film which was cut and spliced on four computer systems and resulted in 1 award-deserving film. Tickets are selling quickly.

Blogger Meet-up

Should you be so inclined, there will be a Blogger Meet-up at Third Coast, 1260 N. Dearborn St., at around 7 pm. Look for the slightly out-of-place bunch with the digital cameras.

DJ Tron at the All-in-One

DJ Tron aka Demon Slut is playing hard acid techno at "Your Brain on Mondays" at the All-in-One-Cafe, 2556 W. Fullerton. 18+ to enter, 21+ to drink, 10pm, no cover charge.

Intermezzo Opera Benefit

Intermezzo Opera Benefit Concert, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park. Alsion Janes, Carrie Kirby and Greg Henkel will perform to raise money for their attendance in the Intermezzo Young Artists Development Program, a professional operatic training program. The concert is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. More info and directions are available on Alison Janes' website.

Artist of the Wall

For the past 10 years, artists in Roger's Park have been gathering at the lake front and painting the breakwall. There are prizes ($300 for the first place in the adult category), there will be food booths, merchant booths, and many musicians have agreed to donate their time to keep people entertained. The painting will begin at noon on the 14th and will end at 2pm on the 15th. The painting will stay in place until a week or so before next year's contest. There is an entry fee of $20, and artists must provide their own supplies. Entry blanks are available online, at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse, or at the Heartland Cafe. Call 773-250-FEST for more info.

UnBound books

Celebrate Queer Pride by supporting unboundbooks.org at Independent Video Alliance at 7009 N. Glenwood (Note: change of venue) on June 14th. For your listening pleasure (suggested $5, but no one will be turned away) you will get to hear gay hip-hop artists God-des and Tina G., Chris Piss from Three Dollar Bill, and Betsy Chainsaw, who some people call Mistress Carmen Li.
All money raised will benefit unboundbooks.org which is an online distributer of books, zines, music with a feminist/anarchist focus. They're hoping to raise enough money to get a bricks-and-mortar store built.

Loyola College Radio Benefit Hip Hop Show

Loyola College Radio Benefit Hip Hop Show, featuring Vakill, Necrobats, Frontline Entertainment MCs, Mac Lethal, Seel, Sureshot, Akbar, Profound, Eratik Statik, Longshot and DJs PNS & Ternaround. Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., doors open at 5pm. $10 general admission, all ages. Proceeds benefit WLUW, Loyola's excellent community-run radio station.

Artist of the Wall

For the past 10 years, artists in Roger's Park have been gathering at the lake front and painting the breakwall. There are prizes ($300 for the first place in the adult category), there will be food booths, merchant booths, and many musicians have agreed to donate their time to keep people entertained. The painting will begin at noon on the 14th and will end at 2pm on the 15th. The painting will stay in place until a week or so before next year's contest. There is an entry fee of $20, and artists must provide their own supplies. Entry blanks are available online, at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse, or at the Heartland Cafe. Call 773-250-FEST for more info.

Wesley Willis art exhibit

Still can't get anough of Wesley Willis, the 350-pound schizophrenic whose insane musical rantings were all the rage in about 1995? There's going to be a show of his drawings at Intuit: the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee, from June 13 to August 30. Opening reception is on the 13th, from 5 to 8PM, with a Wesley Willis performance at 7:30. Rock over London, rock on Chicago!

Joni Laurence

Chaimpaign native Joni Laurence will be playing at Women and Children First (5233 N. Clark St) tonight beginning at 7:30. Bring a non-alcholic drink of choice and enjoy her folk songs that have a blues flair and a rock beat.

Last DePaul Show Ever!

In what is a somewhat sad event, the now legendary DePaul University shows will come to an end this Friday June the 13th. It's been a grand four years of unknown and famous bands gracing the basement room 130 at McGaw Hall on DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus. This is the last show ever, and will go out with a bang.

Friday, June 13th / 6:30 PM / 802 W. Belden / $5 /All ages
Rm. 130 McGaw Hall DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus
Killing Tree, Pelican, Volta Do Mar, Dolorous Canter

All shows are held in the basement of McGaw Hall (802 W. Belden / Room 130) which is located off the corner of Fullerton and Halsted. McGaw Hall is between the DePaul School of Music and the DePaul Concert Hall. Parking is available by taking a right (going towards the lake / east) or left (going away from the lake / west) off Fullerton Ave. onto Sheffield Ave. and then another left on Belden Ave. where you will be able to take a left into the McGaw parking lot just before arriving at Halsted. Please park by the front of the building. For more information read this again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again.

The Discrete Series

The Discrete Series is an event of poetry/music/performance/etc. on the second Friday of each month at Elastic Revolution. The performance on the 13th features poetry by Mark Nowak, Drew Kunz & Greg Purcell. For more information, see the event listing. 3030 W. Cortland, 9pm, $5 donation.

Cinema Under the Stars: Shrek

Evanston Art Center will be showing the animated favorite Shrek -- as well as other video shorts by EAC video art students and faculty -- on an outdoor screen starting shortly after dusk. Bring a blanket and a snack (and perhaps a few bucks for a donation -- it is a non-profit, after all) and enjoy some great film under the stars! They'll be showing two more films in July and August. Evanston Art Center 2603 Sheridan Rd. Evanston, IL 60201 847/475-5300 evanstonartcenter.org Schedule: June 13: Shrek July 11: Spirited Away August 8: Bringing Up Baby All shows start after dusk, preceded by short videos by students and faculty in EAC's digital video classes. $3 suggested donation for non-EAC members.

Ghostly International at the Empty Bottle

Some artists from the Ann Arbor label Ghostly International are playing at the Empty Bottle for the Idol Tryouts tour. Performers include Midwest Product, Kill Memory Crash, and Dykehouse. 1035 N. Western Ave., 9pm, 7$.

Funkstorung at the Empty Bottle

Funkstorung, Alder & Elius, and Labo_Labs at the Empty Bottle, 9:30pm; $10

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood, the author of 26 books, will be speaking at the Harold Washington Library at 1:30 pm as part of the Printer's Row Bookfair.

Printer's Row Book Fair

The 19th annual Printer's Row Book Fair (June 7 & 8, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Dearborn & Polk, free admission) will feature a panel on Chicago's independent publishers.

AVIT VJ Conference

AVIT (Audio Visual It), is hosting its 2003 North American VJ Conference and Visuals Festival this weekend at the Heaven & Buddy galleries, 1542 North Milwaukee. For more information on the North America Conference & Talent Showcase (June 7), visit the AVIT site.

Printer's Row Book Fair

The 19th annual Printer's Row Book Fair (June 7 & 8, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Dearborn & Polk, free admission) will feature a panel on Chicago's independent publishers.

Slow Food Feast of the Senses

The Slow Food movement is sponsoring a Feast of the Senses on Saturday, June 7th / 6:00pm-8:30pm. 24 art galleries will be open for perusal while attendees sample tastings from Chicago's top chefs. Each gallery will host a chef / winery or brewery / food vendor. Tickets are $35 for Slow Food members / $40 for non-members, and can be purchased online at chicagocooks.com.

Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman, long ago the founder of the Modern Lovers, plays his dippy but infectious brand of rock at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark. 18-and-over show starts at 9pm. $12.50 general admission; tickets via Ticketmaster or at The Clubhouse record store next to Metro.

Darkstar 7

Darkstar 7 is a live electronic music event taking place tonight at the Shanley Pavilion in Evanston. Performers include Todd Sines with Natacha Labelle, Soultek with Jackie Kay, Miles Tilmann, Projectile, and others. Five dollars, 5pm-1am, 2031 Sheridan rd. See the Darkstar site for full lineup and directions.

Cremaster 3

Cremaster 3, a sculptural film by Matthew Barney. Landmark Century Centre, 2828 N. Clark (at Diversey), showtimes to be announced. Check the Reader listing here; read Gapers' Block entry here.

Cremaster 4&5

Cremaster 4 & 5, sculptural films by Matthew Barney. Landmark Century Centre, 2828 N. Clark (at Diversey), showtimes to be announced. Runs 6/2 - 6/4. Check the Reader listing here; read Gapers' Block entry here.

Chicago Sushi Club

The Chicago Sushi Club meets on June 1 at Bistro Nami, 439 W. Ogden Ave. in Clarendon Hills. The club is a group whose "sole mission at this time is to meet on the first Sunday of every month to eat sushi. You don't have to do anything to 'join' the club - just feel free to meet with us at our next outing."