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
Tuesday, April 16
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, December 03 2005
11th Annual Northalsted Holiday Walk
Check out Halsted Street between Briar and Irving Park today, catch a glimpse of Santa Claus and Buttons T. Clown, and listen to holiday carolers. The event’s sponsor, the Northalsted Area Merchants Association, also hopes you’ll do some shopping. Visit the website for more information.
Cornelia Arts Holiday Show
Visit the Cornelia Arts Building today between 11 AM and 5 PM to browse among artwork and crafts by more than 40 Chicago-area artists. 1800 West Cornelia, at Ravenswood and Cornelia. For more information, call 773-935-8094 or email CorneliaArts [at] yahoo [dot] com.
Opening: Lillstreet Art Center Annual Holiday Show
Today marks the start of the Lillstreet Art Center’s annual Holiday Show, which presents work by more than 50 artists from throughout the United States through 31 December. Every weekend during the Holiday Show, Lillstreet offers free kids’ activities from 12 N to 3 PM so parents can shop independently. As part of Opening Weekend, Lillstreet offers extended hours (10 AM to 8PM today and 10 AM to 6 PM tomorrow) and opens its more than 40 artists’ studios to the public. 4401 N. Ravenswood. For more information, call 773-769-4226 or visit the website.
One-of-a-Kind Show @ Merchandise Mart
For your higher-end holiday shopping, consider the One-of-a-Kind Show, which runs from 10 AM to 8 PM today, and features unique objects by more than 350 North American artists and craftspeople. Merchandise Mart, 8th floor. $10 admission. For more information, visit the website.
Francis W. Parker School Celebrates Einstein
Commemorating the World Year of Physics, which itself commemorates the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s publication of three critical papers in 1905, this Lincoln Park day school is sponsoring a conference that’s open to the public today; speakers include physicists and cosmologists from Fermilab and the University of Chicago. 330 W. Webster Avenue. Click here for a schedule of free events; to register (required), email einstein [at] fwparker [dot] org, call 773-797-5469, or fax 773-549-4669.
Sound Opinions on Chicago Public Radio
Sound Opinions, the music discussion program that has played for years on XRT, moves to Chicago Public Radio tonight. Tune in at 7:00 PM to hear the beginning of a new chapter in this long-running show hosted by local music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot.
Handel's Messiah @ St. Clement Church
On Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3:30pm, Saint Clement Church is presenting their 30th annual production of Handel's Messiah by candlelight. Randall Swanson will conduct the church's orchestra and choir in the full Messiah score, featuring four renowned vocal soloists: soprano Ellen Hargis, alto Amy Anderson, tenor William Watson and bass Jeffrey Strauss. Tickets range from $25-$45 and can be bought online and by calling 773-281-0371. Saint Clement Church is located at 642 W. Deming Place.
Red Rover Series Experiment #5
Red Rover Series is holding their fifth experiment in readings that play with reading. Tonight at 7pm, Experiment #5 will explore the theme of "Greek Translations" and will feature local writers Asimina Chremos and John Tipton. With a suggested donation of $3, reading happens at SpareRoom, 2416 W. North Ave. Call 773-645-1853 for more information.
Midwest Regional Youth Summit w/Hillary Clinton
The American Democracy Institute is holding its first Regional Youth Summit at Roosevelt University and will feature an opening speech by Senator Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton serves as the honorary chair of the ADI's youth initiative, a group whose goal is increase the number of young people weighing in on "the national conversation on democracy." The free event goes on from 9-11am at Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Congress. Contact Stacy Bennett at sbennett[at]jtpr[dot]com to find out how to register or call 866-705-0268 for more information.
Pleading for the Future, Illinois vs. Leopold & Loeb
The Saint Sebastian Players present an original theatrical production of the notorius Leopold and Loeb murder trial in Pleading for the Future, Illinois vs. Leopold and Loeb. For those rusty on their Chicago history, the 1924 "crime of the century" involved two college graduates who murdered their 14-year-old cousin. The two were defended by Clarence Darrow, who gave an unprecedented argument against capital punishment. The play runs at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at 8pm on December 2-3 and at 2pm on December 4. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for students and seniors, and can be bought at the door and by calling 773-404-7922.
Lusine at Tini Martini
IDM veteran and generally amazing Ghostly International recording artist, Lusine performs at Tini Martini in Logan Square. Miles Tilmann and Lee Foss open. Free before 11:00/$5 After Doors @ 9:00pm. Tini Martini Ultra Lounge, 2169 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Intelligentsia Roasting Works Tour
For over a month now, I've been enjoying making coffee from Intelligentsia Coffee that I watched being roasted on one of their Roasting Plant Tours. It's by far the best three bucks I ever spent. Tours now operate twice a month at 10:30am and 12:30pm on Saturdays at their plant at 1850 W. Fulton Street. Yes, tickets are $3 (less than a latte) but space is limited so make your reservations early. On the tour, you'll get complementary coffee and tea (thank goodness, they're not a tease) and you also get a free (and fresh) 1/2 pound of coffee beans at the end!
Snakes and Rubies
Adrian Holovaty, one of the creators of the Django framework for Python, and David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails framework will answer questions about their work and the future of Web application development today at DePaul University. The event runs from 2-5pm and takes place in the DePaul University Student Center, Room 314b, 2250 N. Sheffield Avenue. Submit potential discussion questions and get further details here.
Saint Georges Court Holiday Art Walk
For one day, Sulzen Fine Art Sudio and Wittig Fine Art have teamed up for Saint Georges Court Holiday Art Walk. From 10am-6pm, there will be paintings, watercolors, drawings, photgraphs, notecards, antiques and new works on display in both studio locations. Sulzen is located at 2720 W. Saint Georges Court and Witting is locatd at 2735 W. Saint Georges Court. Call 312-409-4618 for more information.
Women's Performance Art Festival
From improv to dance to standup comedy, the 6th Annual Women's Performance Art Festival hosts a wealth of performance art written, directed and performed by women. Held at Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield Ave., the show runs for three days, December 2-4, at 8pm. The performers tackle community needs, romanticism and love, Edward Gorey, identity and a whole lot more. Admission is $15; call 773-281-0824 to save your spot.
Chicago Hot Glass Holiday Sale
Pick up some cool art glass for your family this Christmas: Chicago Hot Glass, 1250 N. Central Park Ave., is holding a holiday art sale today from noon to 6pm.
Five and Dime Comedy Hour
The 5 & Dime Comedy Hour is not your average sketch show. The 5 & Dime Comedy Hour = Megan Bell, Molly Hale, and John Pattavina. These three consider themselves old souls and their comedy comes from a love of "old-timey" pop-culture and painful loneliness. The show is directed by WNEP's infamous Don Hall. This is not the same sketch show you've seen where the lights come up, and punch line occurs and the lights go down. 5 & Dime has orchestrated a night of absurdist theatre that will thrill those new to and veterans of sketch comedy. Saturday nights @ 11pm, November 5th - December 17th @ The Trapdoor Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. (In Bucktown behind Jane's restaurant) $10 and BYOB! $5 for improvisers
DEPART-ment
It's time for another season of handcrafted clothing, art, stationary, jewelry and other desirable wares. "All things handcrafted. No brand-names. No foreign assembly. No questionable ethics." That's DEPART-ment's motto and the more than a hundred vendors there can demonstrate exactly why that's such a great thing. Open Friday, 7-11pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm, at Open-End Gallery, 2000 W. Fulton #310. Call 312-560-1442 for more information.
