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, March 29

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Slowdown

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Early to Bed Fourth Anniversary Party

Come celebrate Early to Bed's fourth anniversary with cake, champagne and 10% off everything in the store. The women-owned, gender-friendly adult store features everything from books to movies to toys, so you'll definitely find something to get your 10%'s worth. The party lasts from 7-10 tonight (the discount is good all day) at 5232 N. Sheridan. Call 773-271-1219 for more information.

Canoe Trip: Fall Colors

Organized by Friends of the Chicago River, experience Chicago's fall splendor on the mild bends of the North Branch. View wildlife like black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, minks, eastern soft-shelled spiny turtle and snapping turtles. Paddling equipment, paddling instruction, bus shuttle, and a box lunch provided. Pets and alcohol not permitted. Fees are $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Registration required. Call (312) 939-0490. The trip lasts from 9am-4pm today.

Flashback Weekend HorrorFest

An all-day and all-night festival of horror films, the Flashback Weekend HorrorFest will feature celebrities, bands and a horror merchandise fleamarket all in addition to a 35mm horror movie marathon. The festival will be held at the Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In in Aurora, the oldest operating drive-in in the state which may soon be sold to land developers. Tickets to the fest are $20 and can be bought online and at the doors, opening at 2pm. Live entertainment goes on at 4pm and the first movie starts at 6:45pm. This may be the "Last Picture Show" for the Hi-Lite, so get your horror movie fix from dusk to dawn at this historic landmark of cinematic culture. Call 847-478-0119 for more information.

Aloft Aerial Dance "Rolling Blackouts"

Aloft Aerial Dance's debut performance, "Rolling Blackouts" is an aerial performance that explores the power of electricity and darkness in human lives. The show is inspired by the blackouts that plunged much of the country into darkness and by the choreographer's own fear of losing her sight. Using aerial circus equipment, the performers employ contemporary dance techniques and eschew electricity to examine new ways of interacting with the environment. The doors open at 7:30pm with the show starting at 8pm at the Circus Factory, 4430 N. Western Ave. Tickets are $15-$20 and can be purchased at the venue. Email aloftaerialdance[at]yahoo[dot]com for more information.

Lonely Planet festival @ Park West

Lonely Planet's Passport to the World tour, headlined by Michael Franti and featuring locally-based, international musicians, touches down in Chicago tonight. Besides enjoying the tunes, attendees will be able to have their passport photos taken and receive passport applications, meet and talk to Lonely Planet authors & experts, and tape video testimonials about their greatest travel story (or greatest travel dream). Details: Park West, 322 W. Armitage, 7pm, tickets via TM

Urban, Rural, Wild Seed Collection Walk

"Urban, Rural, Wild" is part exhibition and part platform to investigate the divisions between the urban, the rural and the wild and where these divisions break down. The exhibition presents workby eight artists focusing on the historical and modern relationships between the urban Chicago and the rural downstate Illinois. The show will run through October 22. Today, at 3pm, participating artist Nance Klehm will lead a seed collection walk to teach you how to identify and collect useful wild and navtive plants in the city. For more information, contact Sarah Kanouse at kanouse[at]siu[dot]edu.

Renegade Craft Fair @ Wicker Park

After taking this craft fair on the road to Brooklyn, NY earlier in the summer, it's now finally time for the 3rd Annual Renegade Craft Fair to set up tents in Wicker Park this weekend. Come out and stroll through booths of over 150 crafty types (check out vendors through the Renegade website) from around town and around the country at this fantastic event. You'll find knitters, purse makers, artists and even independent magazines like Bust and Venus on the scene, and you can't beat the day for people watching. Check out GB staffer Anne's booth with The Crafty Ladies while you're there. Wicker Park is located at 1425 N. Damen right by the Damen stop on the Blue Line. The fair runs from 11am-6pm Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.

Estrojam

The final night of Estrojam is upon us! Start the evening at Uncommon Ground at 6 p.m. Pay just $8 and check out Alina Simone, Kristen Shout, The Sisters O'Brien, Shelley Miller and Emily White. Make sure to make a dinner reservation at Uncommon Ground to reserve a table.

Then, trot right down Clark to the Metro at 8 p.m. Drop $15 to see Brazillian Girls, Anna Oxygen and Breakbone DanceCo.

Sustainable Convergence '05

What is it? It's a big party with food, beer, organic wine, live entertainment, dancing, prizes and a Sustainable Business Fair with companies offereing sustainability-minded products and services. There will also be award ceremonies with short presentations on "how Chicago can alter its grocery bag consumption by design challenge teams." If you want to know more about this community and their concerns, this promises to be a fun way to make your introduction. From 6-9pm, the party goes on in the North Lobby of Merchandise Mart. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door, and $25 for students. Register here.

 

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