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.
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TODAY
Friday, April 19
Slowdown
BY DAY
Thursday, June 08 2006
Chicago Blues Festival @ Grant Park
This year's festival commemorates the 100th birthdays of Roosevelt Sykes and Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery. 11 AM to 9:30 PM daily, through Sunday. Click here for a complete schedule. Free. For more information, visit the website.
Ford Free Evenings Kickoff Party @ AIC
The Art Institute's new pricing and schedule took effect Saturday, and the first Ford Free Evening is tonight. The museum celebrates tonight and tomorrow night with live blues in the McClintock Court and throughout the galleries, as well as bluesy cocktails and food, and blue-themed tours of the Art Institute's collection. 111 South Michigan. 5 PM to 9 PM, free. For more information, visit the website.
Apartment Therapy Launch Party
Apartment Therapy: Chicago is throwing a launch party at the North Avenue Design Within Reach, 1574 N. Kingsbury, from 7pm to 9pm. Come mingle with the staff and expensive designer furniture. Details here.
Natural Pest Control and Cover Crops @ Garfield Park Conservatory
If you’ve been growing vegetables this spring, consider this organic gardening class, which discusses how you can use beneficial inspects, physical barriers, and botanical insecticides to discourage garden pets. Cover crops are also discussed, both for pest control and soil nutrition. The class runs from 6 PM to 7:30 this evening, requires pre-registration, and costs only $5. 300 N Central Park Avenue. For more information, call 773-638-1766 or visit the website.
Wallace and Gromit @ Garfield Park Conservatory
Nick Park's claymation feature Curse of the Were-Rabbit screens outdoors tonight at dusk (some time between 8:30 PM and 9 PM). And what better place to see a movie about a rapacious bunny? Free, 300 N. Central Park Ave. For more information, call 773-638-1766 or visit the website.
Spanish Dances @ Cultural Center
Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, a dance company in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, demonstrates classical, folkloric, and Flamenco styles in the Claudia Cassidy Theater this evening at 6 PM. At 7 PM, two short Flamenco films will be screened, followed by a moderated discussion. Free. 78 E. Washington Street. For more information, call 312-744-6630 or visit the website.
Chicagoist 2nd Anniversary
Chicagoist is two years old, and they're celebrating with a party at the Pontiac Cafe, 1531 N. Damen, at 9pm. Suffrajett performs and DJs Coco Le Roc and Tankboy spin. Free, 21 and over. Full details here.
Kevin Guilfoile @ Barnes & Noble
Kevin Guilfoile talks and signs his book Cast of Shadows at the Webster Place Barnes & Noble at 7:30pm tonight. Free.
Uptown: Portrait of a Palace screening
The Portage Theatre premieres a documentary by Northwestern students John Pappas and Michael Bisberg on the history of the Uptown Theatre, a city gem that's been boarded up for 25 years. Pappas and Bisberg tell the story of the Uptown, opened in 1925 by movie-theater pioneers Balaban and Katz (who had earlier opened the Chicago Theatre on State Street), and its fall into disuse and disrepair, as well as the current efforts of the grassroots Friends of the Uptown to restore the venue to its former glory as one of the largest-capacity theatres in the country, second only to Radio City Music Hall. The short doc won Best Documentary this year at the Flicker Film Festival and Best Short Documentary at the Northwestern Student Film Festival. Tonight's program will also feature two additional shorts and live organ music. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 8pm, Portage Theatre, 4050 N Milwaukee. Proceeds benefit the Portage Film Forum and Friends of the Uptown. Call 773-205-7372 for more information.
