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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Monday, December 2
The Grant Park Music Festival really embraces world music with this performance of Mozart's Requiem that incorporates Tibetan chanting. In the Pritzker Pavillion, free, 6:30 PM. For more information, visit the website.
The Neo-Futurists present their annual Gay Pride show, a queer-themed performance of their long-running show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind at 8:00 PM tonight. Tickets are $15, and all proceeds from the show go to the Broadway Youth Center, which the Neo-Futurists describe as "Chicago's most comprehensive health and social service program for at-risk youth." The show happens at the Neo-Futurarium (5153 N. Ashland, at Foster). For reservations please call the Neo-Futurist hotline at (773) 275-5255.
Neo-Futurist alums Steve Mosqueda, Sean Benjamin and Diana Slickman present the latest iteration of the long-running play Drinking and Writing, a meditation on how the two activities often go hand-in-hand. The play will be performed at various bars on Saturday evenings through July 1; check the Drinking and Writing Website for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets. This evening's performance happens at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap (1172 E. 55th) at 7:00 PM.
Yoga at 8 AM, Pilates at 9 AM, and Latin dance at 10 AM, on the Great Lawn. If you need more incentive than taking in the amazing skyline views while working up a sweat, consider this: it's free. For more information, visit the website.
Join GB contributor Ted McClelland at Arlington Park racetrack, where he'll be signing copies of his book Horseplayers: Life at the Track from noon to 1pm. Stick around after the reading and play the horses, with free picks from Ted. After the reading, stick around and play the horses with him and he'll give you free picks for each race -- although he says, "Whether you actually end up paying for them will be determined on the track."
Barbara's Bookstore is celebrating a new biography of Chicago boxer Barney Ross with a full day of events on the Near West Side. From 2-4:30pm attend a panel discussion and book signing at Barbara’s Bookstore on 1218 S. Halsted St. with Douglas Century, author of Barney Ross. Then at 5pm head over to the UIC Athletic Fields for amateur boxing fights and other events. The bookstore panel discussion is free, but admission to the boxing event is $15, if pre-ordered, or $20 at the gate. Visit the Barbara's website for complete details on all of the day's events.
A Saturday night performance in conjunction with MOBFest 2006 brings former Chicago residents (and siblings) Eleanor and Matt Friedberger back with the music of The Fiery Furnaces at the Metro. Their music is bouncy, dancy and way fun. Head on over! Tickets are $18.50, and the show is 18+ starting at 9pm.
The 10th annual Chicago Dyke March, a response to the male-dominated Pride events in Chicago, kicks off today at 1:30 PM at the Trumbull Elementary School at the corner of Ashland and Foster. The march will thread through the streets of Andersonville until it hits the lake shore, where there will be a rally with performers and a dance party. For full details please visit the Dyke March Website.
The first of three major Chicago music festivals happens this weekend when the Intonation Festival, brought to you by Vice Records, hits off in Union Park for two days of rock, rap, hip hop and appearances by some really fun bands that you're probably not listening to (but you probably should be). Highlights include Bloc Party, Constantines, Lady Sovereign, 90 Day Men and The Streets as well as Blue Cheer and Roky Erickson who are making rare appearances this year. (Check out the website for more artist info and the full lineup with performance times) Tickets run $20 for one day and $35 for the weekend. Music starts at 1pm each day, and runs until around 10pm. (PS: If you're going, look for the Gapersblock booth. Stop by and say "hi".)
The Goodman Theater holds its annual prop sale today. If you've been waiting for a chance to get your hands on some actual props used in the theater's recent plays, now's your chance! The sale happens at the theater's scene shop at 2040 W. Carroll. Hours for today's sale are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cash or check only, and it's free to browse. For more info, call (312) 243-7295.
This neighborhood festival includes live music, arts and crafts vendors, kids' activities, and more; the requested $5 donation benefits the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce. 4850 N. Milwaukee, Jefferson Park. 12 N to 11 PM. For more information, call 773-868-3010.
Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, and Friends of the Parks have joined together to host this walking tour, followed by a reception at Goose Island Brewpub. Free for members of the participating organizations; otherwise, $10. Meet at the McCormick Tribune YMCA, 1834 N. Lawndale Ave. at 9:30 AM. Reservations required: call Sarah Dunn at 312-857-2757, ext. 14.