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.
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Sunday, October 6
The Neo-Futurists present their annual year-end celebration of their long-running show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. This weekend and next weekend, you'll have a chance to see the best material written for TML in 2005 as performed by the current ensemble members (and possibly some Neo-Futurist alumni!). The best-of shows run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings through December 18. Friday & Saturday shows are at 11:30 PM, and Sunday night shows are at 7:00 PM. For more details see the Neo-Futurist site or call their hotline at (773) 275-5255. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster).
Beatallica, the Metallica/Beatles tribute band that was threatened with legal action by Sony until members of Metallica came to their defense, play at Subterranean tonight at 10:00. Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door; you can purchase tickets at the Subterranean Website. Subterranean: 2022 W. North Avenue. (773) 268-6600.
Intuit: the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art presents a performance by vocal artist Jaap Blonk, an artist combining poetry, spoken word, and the musicality of the human voice in his work. One of Blonk's best-known achievements is the ability to perform Kurt Schwitters' epic Dada sound poem "Ursonate" (original version here, Jaap Blonk's version here). This should be a very unusual and exciting performance. The opening act will be the Chicago group Spires That In The Sunset Rise. The performance begins tonight at 8:00 PM, and tickets are $5. You may call for reservations. Intuit: 756 N. Milwaukee. (312) 243-9088.
For three nights, The Playground Theater will host "Then...Again," an improvised play that starts at a relationship's breakup and moves backward to the couple's first kiss. Starring Adrianne Frost and Andy Eninger, the play was a hit at the 2004 Chicago Improv Festival. Doors open at 7:40 for the 8pm show at 3209 N. Halsted. Tickets are $10, running Thursday through Saturday. Call 773-871-3793 to get them and for more information.
Join Chicago Indymedia for "Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge," two screenings of the Guerilla News Network's film. Short films fill the intermissions. Although the 7pm event is free, a donation of $10 is suggested for those able to afford it. Doors open at 6pm with food and beverages for the hungry. The films go on at Acme Artworks, 1741 N. Western Ave. Email imc-chicago[at]indymedia[dot]org or call 312-446-4939 for more information.
Mint Boutique, 1450 Webster Ave., is hosting a holiday trunk show featuring lamps, beaded jewelry, sterling silver and handbags. In addition to special prices on the items, the store will also offer free gift wrapping on all purchases for the day and holiday treats and drinks for shoppers. 11am-5pm. Call 773-322-2944 for more information.
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
Links Hall is hosting a Do It Yourself Grant Research Workshop. The workshop will demonstrate how to do basic research using the internet and other resources, how to develop strategies for pursuing funding, how to find calls for proposals and how to interpret information on prospective funders. Sarah Best facilitates the workshop that promises to be helpful for all artists. Links Hall is located at 3435 N. Sheffield. $30 for the 9am-12pm workshop. Call 773-281-0824 to register and for more information.
Not sure what to give that good bar buddy for the holidays? Head out to In Fine Spirits today for a free tasting of Holiday Gift Wines. They're super nice at this Andersonville shop, and very knowledgeable as well. And hey, it's free wine! In Fine Spirits is located at 5418 N. Clark Street, and the tasting lasts from 3-6pm. Call 773.506.WINE for more information.
Facets Multimedia presents a clearance sale of thousands of DVDs and videos. Facets sells and rents a lot of independent and foreign films, so expect to see a lot of titles you won't find anywhere else at discount prices. The sale runs today and tomorrow, as well as next Saturday and Sunday, at 1535 N. Dayton in the Drucker Center of the Menomonee Boys & Girls Club. Hours of the sale are 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on each day. For more information call (773) 281-9075, or visit the Facets Website.