Gapers Block has ceased publication.
Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
TODAY
Friday, April 26
Slowdown
BY DAY
Friday, December 03 2004
Too Much Light: Best of 2004
Tonight the Neo-Futurists begin three weeks of their annual best of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind! Over the course of 2004, the company members have written literally dozens of plays for this show, and starting tonight you get to see the very best from this year. Tonight also marks the night that a price increase goes into effect for the play, so now the ticket price is $7 plus the roll of a six-sided die ($8-13). Too Much Light is performed on Friday and Saturday nights at 11:30 (doors open at 11:00) and Sunday nights at 7:00 (doors open at 6:30). No reservations, sucka! Show up and stand in line in the freezing cold like the rest of us plebes! The Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster). (773) 275-5255.
Dirty FOUND magazine party @ Ice Factory
FOUND magazine, the publication that prints the items found by its readers, is celebrating the release of its naughty sister publication, Dirty FOUND, which as you may guess is devoted to the adult-themed items that readers send in. There's a couple of release parties happening tonight (8:00 PM and 10:30 PM) at the Ice Factory (526 N. Ashland). No information on admission price given, but it should be a brilliant show just the same.
RESFEST Digital Film Festival @ MCA
RESFEST, the digital film festival, hits Chicago this weekend with its 2004 program of short and feature-length films. Tonight's festivities include two separate programs of short films, one at 8:00 PM ("Shorts Program #1") and one at 10:00 PM ("Cinema Electronica", a program of music videos). The films will be shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art. See the RESFEST Website for details on the programs, and the MCA site for ticket information. Museum of Contemporary Art: 220 E. Chicago. (312) 280-2660.
Going Forward in Reverse @ Sonotheque
Local promotional outfits Interrupt Media and Covalent team up once again to present Going Forward in Reverse, a new electronic music series at Chicago's acclaimed Sonotheque. This installment features performances by local house favorite Diz, Gramaphone stalwart and Antennae label head Josh Werner, Crosstalk's Brian Borden, and an opening set by Audiophile of Meiotic. Doors at 9 pm, Tickets are $5 before 11 PM. 21+, $2 PBR. Sonotheque is located at 1444 W. Chicago Ave.
MCA First Fridays: Holiday Edition
Tonight's First Fridays at the MCA offers you some holiday fun from 6 to 10 p.m. First, the Steve Evans Quartet plays some sweet sweet music, while you munch on Puck's appetizers and guzzle chocolate martinis. Plus, you can create personalized wrapping paper and crafty cards at the holiday creation station. Best of all, you can check out Between Past and Future, a stellar exhibit of Chinese photography and video before it closes. Tickets are $7 for members and $14 for nonmembers. Tickets are available at the door. A special $20 ticket includes admission to one screening of RESFEST Digital Film Festival in the MCA theater. A cash bar is available until 9:30 p.m. Guests must be 21 or older to enter.
Make Mag Benefit @ Gunther Murphy's
Tonight at Gunther Murphy's, 1638 W Belmont, a fundraiser for Chicago's newest lit mag, Make Magazine. Featuring Dead Horse Hill, The Like Young and Devin Davis. Hosted by poet Marvin Tate. Doors open at 9pm, $8 suggested donation. 21 and over.
All That Glitters: A Holiday Bazaar
This weekend the Chicago Cultural Center is hosting All That Glitters: A Holiday Bazaar. At this two-day event you will be able to buy gifts from cultural organizations and local artists from all over the city. For those of you who remember, this event seems to be filling the gap left by the Newberry Library's defunct Very Merry Bazaar. Thank you City of Chicago! All That Glitters is open Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.
Four Improv Troupes @ Playground Theater
Four (count 'em) Improv groups performs at The Playground Theater (3209 N. Halsted, three doors north of Belmont and Halsted) at 8 p.m tonight. Tickets are always $10 for four of the city's finest improv troupes. Tonight's headliners are: Inside Vladimir "a fantastic voyage of funny! Without the miniaturization! Or the skin-tight white bodysuits!" Second, The Fling will "bring their rockstar-style ha-ha to the stage. Really smart rock stars, though. Rockstars who make literature references and stuff." Thirdly, Pastor of Muppets will "preach that olde tyme religion of laughing hysterically! You'll be converted to Laughitarianism before you know it!" Closing things out, Atticus Finch will "defend their right to be funny! And they might just bust up a chiffarobe while they're at it! (Literary References! Funny and Smart!)." If that isn't enough to make you laugh, it is, as always, BYOB.
The Dollar Store @ The Hideout
The Dollar Store, a new monthly reading series at the Hideout, will put up its second show tonight at 7 p.m. The Dollar Store is now a monthly show featuring some of Chicago's top literary and performance talents together. Each performer receives an item purchased from a local dollar store one month in advance, which they then use to craft a short story, monologue or performance piece. Each piece is written specifically for the show. This month's performers include "Partly Dave Show" Co-Host Christopher Piatt, Bridge Magazine Fiction Editor Mike Newirth, and Modern Mythologist and local writer John H. Matthews. The show is hosted by Jonathan Messinger, editor of THISisGRAND.org. The Hideout is located at 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. There is a $1 suggested donation for the show.
DEPART-Ment Opening Night Party
If you like the sound of freshly crafted, one-of-a-kind goods in your hands this holiday, you'll have to get down to the winter installment of DEPART-Ment, a collective of local artisans who gather together four times a year to bring you their best and brightest wares. You'll find knowlegable folks at DEPART-Ment, who are none other than the artists themselves, guiding you around the space. Everything's organized to make your shopping easier! Tonight's the big kick off party, and the space is open from 7–11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, shop from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Everything happens at the Open-End Gallery, located at 2000 W. Fulton, #310, Chicago. For more information, on buying or selling check out DEPART-Ment online.
