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

Thursday, December 12

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Great Works of Mollie Edgar's Living Room

An art show in an apartment! All new artwork by Derek Erdman, Jason Polan, Allison Reimus, Hannah Woodroofe and Michael Worful, this evening from 6pm to 8pm at 1116 N. Damen, Apt. 1F. Free!

Circus Cats!

Samantha's Amazing Acro-Cats perform tonight at Caro d'Offray Gallery, 2204 W. North Ave., tonight at 6:30pm and 8pm. Watch Chicagoland's only domestic cat performing troupe ride skateboards, ring bells, roll barrels, climb ladders, walk a high-wire and even play in a rock band. Special guest Rusty the raccoon shoots hoops! $5 cover, all ages.

Grassroots Media Festival

The fourth of its kind, the annual Grassroots Media Festival is an outdoor celebration of community, culture and alternative media. There will be live music, art workshops, independent video documentaries, cultural performances and information on to get involved with the independent media. To join in come to Amor de Dios Methodist Church & Community Garden, 2348 S. Sawyer. Friday, 7:30-11pm and Saturday, 5:30-11pm. Call 312-376-8898 for more information.

Bike Messenger Prom

Four Star Courier Collective is holding their second annual Bike Messenger Themed Prom. You don't have to be a bike messenger to come to the prom, but you will be treated to bike themed door prizes and the King and Queen will be named from the bicycling court. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 per person and include drinks and live performances from Uncle Carl and the Bad Touches, Merle the Mule and The Logan Squares. 8:30pm-1am at the Chicago Electrical Company, 1318 W. Cermak.

Dance For Life @ Harris Theatre

This evening, Giordano, Hubbard Street, the Joffrey, River North, Thodos Dance Chicago and Muntu Dance Theatre come together to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS programs. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit IDS Foundation of Chicago, Bonaventure House, Luck Care Center, Interfaith House, and the Dance for Life Fund. At the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph). The 7:30pm performance is preceded by a reception at 5pm. For more information call 312-922-5812 or visit the website.

Roustabout opening night @ Neo-Futurarium

The Neo-Futurists kick off their 2006-07 season with Roustabout: The Great Circus Train Wreck!, a play that takes as its inspiration a train accident that happened in Chicago in 1918. The show has its official opening evening tonight, and runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM through September 30. Tickets are $10 for preview shows, $15 during the regular run, $10 for seniors and students with ID, and pay-what-you-can on Thursdays. For more information or to purchase tickets, please see the Neo-Futurist Website or call the Neo-Futurist hotline at (773) 275-5255. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster).

American Craft Exposition

Join fellow collectors, both connoisseurs and novices, for the 22nd American Craft Exposition, featuring works in metal, glass, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, baskets, mixed media and more. Produced by the Auxiliary of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, the three-day show (August 25-27) will be held at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion at 2311 Campus Drive in Evanston. The show benefits breast and ovarian cancer research at the hospital, so not only will you have the opportunity to check out some pretty cool wares, you'll also know your money is going toward independent artisans and vital research. It's a two-for-one that can't be beat. Hours are Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Tickets are $15 at the door and include re-entry throughout the weekend, but if you buy them online before August 23 you'll only have to pay $12. Call 847-570-5096 for more information.

Docent Open House at Archicenter

Learn what it takes to become a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation at this hour-long session at 1 PM this afternoon. You'll meet current docents and get details about the program. Applications to become a docent are due 6 October and the next docent education session starts in January. Free, in the lecture hall, 224 S Michigan. For more information, visit the website.

Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest

If you've never been to Rogers Park, this weekend presents a good incentive to get up there. The fifth annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest features artists, open studios, merchants and live entertainment. You'll get to take in art, theater, music and eats all along Glenwood Ave. from Farwell to Lunt, near the Red Line Morse stop. Friday's hours are from 7-11pm, with their kick-off event at Duke's Bar, 6922 N. Glenwood. On Saturday and Sunday the fair will be open from 12pm-8pm. Free for all. Call 773-262-3790 for more information.

¡Viva! Chicago Latin music festival @ Grant Park

The ¡Viva! Chicago festival, a two-day celebration of Latin music, starts today at Grant Park (at Columbus and Jackson). Among the musical and dance styles featured in the festival: cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, tango, ballads, and much more. For a complete rundown on the festival, please see the City of Chicago site. The festival happens from 2:00 to 10:00 each day, and admission is free.

Assassins @ Schubas

Assassins have had quite a summer. They released You Will Changed Us, which sat in a major record label's closet for way too long, played at Lollapalooza, and have been working on new music. They'll play two sets at Schubas tonight. Echonine opens the 7pm show, which is open to all ages. Prairie Cartel will open for a 21+ crowd at the 10:30pm show.

Service Fair @ Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep

Bringing the services of city agencies directly into the community, this fair offers tax assistance, health screenings, information about home ownership opportunities, job counseling, small business support, assistance for seniors, and more. 250 E 111th, free, 9 AM to 5 PM. For details, visit the website or call 311.

Flamenco @ Martyr's

An evening of pure flamenco: song, guitar and dance, at Martyr's (3855 N. Lincoln Ave, 773-404-9494). Son Trinidad opens the set with Latin jazz, followed by Las Guitarras de España , along with singer Patty Alonso, guitarist Carlo Basile and flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard, director of the Clinard Dance Theater. Tickets are $15, to purchase go to the website .

Work Out @ Millennium Park

Yoga at 8 AM, Pilates at 9 AM, and eastern European dance at 10 AM, led by Ethnic Dance Chicago, 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.

Lesser Birds of Paradise @ Hideout

Want a lil' musical treat tonight? Check out Contraphonic artists The Lesser Birds of Paradise at the Hideout as they celebrate the release of their new album Space Between. The Lesser Birds have a folk accent on an indie rock speaking voice that makes their tunes both easy to listen to and easy to obsessively listen to. Check out their recent appearance on Chicago Public Radio for a chance to hear them chat and play their tunes, or listen here. The Lesser Birds of Paradise play tonight at the Hideout with Captain Yonder opening.

Monkey Business @ LaSalle Bank Cinema

This 1931 film starring the Marx Brothers plays tonight as part of LaSalle Bank Cinema's Mustache Cinema Classic Film Series. Also playing is the 1938 serial "The Spider's Web #7: Shadows in the Night." General admission to the 8pm show is $5 and $3 for seniors and children. 4901 W. Irving Park. Call 312-904-9442 for more information.

Taste of Greece

Greektown explodes with live music, belly dancing, and (not least) food from local restaurants during this two-day celebration. Free, 12 N to 11 PM. Halsted, between Monroe and Van Buren. For more information, visit the website.

 

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