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
Thursday, April 25
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, May 21 2005
Heroes of Wicker Park
Enjoy the warming weather and come see Heroes of Wicker Park, a free art event taking place in, you guessed it, Wicker Park. There will be puppetry, music and art to be taken in throughout the afternoon. When a large-scale mastodon puppet enters the park at 7pm, you'll know that the evening's performance is about to begin. Located at 1425 N. Damen Ave., this celebration is hosted by Manifest Theater. Call 773-297-2122 for more information.
Trash or Fertilizer: The Uses (or Not) of History in Type Design
In conjunction with the exhibit "Disbound and Dispersed: The Leaf Book Considered," the Newberry Library presents "Trash or Fertilizer: The Uses (or Not) of History in Type Design." Type designer John Downer will address "the use of historical type in contemporary settings" and, following the lecture, the Monotype Foundation will lead a panel discussion on issues raised in the lecture. The 10am discussion is free and open to the public and will be held at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. Call 312-255-3691 for more information.
Queer is Folk 5
The fifth annual Queer is Folk Festival hits the Old Town School. The adorably badass Jill Sobule headlines, with additional performances by Nedra Johnson, Dudley Saunders, Namoli Brennet, Coat with Libby Reed, Anthony Whitaker & Shelley Miller. Hosted as always by Mr. Scott Free. 8pm at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave (6:30 wine reception before the show). $20 in advance, $22 day of show. For tickets call 773-728-6000 or order online through TicketWeb.
Too Much Light Kids!
The Neo-Futurists present "Too Much Light Kids!", a family-friendly version of their long-running late-night show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. GB's Alejandra Valera reviewed the show when it ran last December; read the review here. Appropriate for ages 6 and up, "Too Much Light Kids!" happens at 2:00 PM on Saturday afternoons through June 25 at the Neo-Futurarium. Admission: kids get in for $1-6 ($1 x the roll of a six-sided die), adults get in for $8-13 ($7 + the roll of a six-sided die). Group rates available; call (773) 878-4557 for details. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster). General show details: (773) 275-5255.
Chinese-American Museum of Chicago grand opening
Today Chicago's newest museum, the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, officially opens at 1:00 PM. Their debut exhibition is called "Paper Sons: Chinese in the Midwest, 1870-1945", and is the first exhibition anywhere to focus on early Chinese immigrants in the Midwest area. See the museum's site for full details. Chinese-American Museum of Chicago: 238 W. 23rd. (312) 949-1000.
Bloomingdale Trail Spring Cleanup & Picnic
Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail and the City of Chicago Departments of Streets and Sanitation and Environment are organizing a Spring Cleanup & Picnic of the proposed Bloomingdale Trail. The cleanup will start in parking lot of McCormick YMCA, 1834 N. Lawndale, will last from 10am-2pm, and will be followed by a picnic at Yates Elementary. The cleared ground will soon be transformed for use as a park and multi-use trail. For more information or to volunteer, call Ben at 773-677-7970 or send an email to info[at]bloomingdaletrail[dot]org.
Gross Park Sculpture Invitational opening
Gross Park, a block-long stretch of green that you might mistake for a really wide median strip, is the site of the surrounding neighborhood's 6th annual sculpture show, a reception for which happens today from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A dozen artists have created sculptures for the show's theme, "The Flora and Fauna of Chicago". In addition to the reception, there will be a poetry reading at 5:00, a performance by the dance company Perceptual Motion at 6:00, and even an opportunity to participate in a Raku ceramic firing starting at noon (a nominal fee for this activity). The sculptures will be on display at Gross Park through July 17th, so if you miss the reception you can still see the sculptures. The opening is free and open to the public, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Gross Park Neighbors Foundation, which maintains the park. Gross Park: 1700 West Henderson (3300 North).
Medium Cool @ Music Box
In honor of the new documentary on legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler (Tell Them Who You Are, directed by his son Mark), the Music Box Theatre is screening Wexler's 1968 classic film Medium Cool, shot during the infamous 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. Definitely a film to see if you've never caught it before. The film screens Saturday and Sunday morning at 11:30. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.
Lesbian Rights @ Early to Bed
Chicago NOW's Lesbian Rights Issue Team is hosting a Wine and Cheese Reception at Early to Bed tonight, from 9pm-midnight. Meet the women of Chicago NOW's Lesbian Rights Issue Team while shopping at a sex-positive, feminist owned sex toy store! Learn about recent state and local lesbian rights initiatives while you examine all the nifty new toys on the market. Come for the free food, wine and conversation, and then stay for the company and raffle prizes. The event is free and open to the public (donations are encouraged). Early To Bed is located at 5232 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago.
