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
Get your holidays started right with an all-out festival in Lincoln Square. This weekend you can listen to some stories at the Book Cellar, make some pottery at the Lincoln Square Pottery Studio, do yoga with your kids at the Bloom Yoga Studio, take pictures with Santa, listen to the Saint Matthias Choir and much more. The festival is centered around Giddings Plaza at 4731 N. Lincoln and run Friday, 5-8pm, Saturday, 10am-7pm, and Sunday, 10am-4pm. For more information contact the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce at 773-728-3890.
Tonight from 6:30pm to 10pm is the 2nd annual Old Town School of Folk Music Holiday Craft Bazaar. Come see (and buy) the crafty goodness made by Old Town School teachers, administrators and volunteers. It's part of the School's First Friday activities, which also includes a Dance Extravaganza from 8:45pm to 10pm, featuring performances by faculty and students from every discipline; $4 suggested donation covers the whole night.
Photographer Brian Ulrich debuts his new collection, "Thrift," tonight at Rhona Hoffman Gallery, 118 North Peoria St., from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Ulrich says "'Thrift' focuses on the used up discards and strange still lives
in thrift and resale stores as well as the laborers who sort through our
cast-offs and render them anew." Sneak peeks at Not If But When.
The Enterprising Kitchen is a non-profit organization that supports "women seeking self-sufficiency and independence" and this weekend they're opening their doors for a Natural Soap and Spa Products Holiday Sale and Open House. Check out their independent line of spa products, all made on site by the women of Enterprising Kitchen. Friday, 4-8pm, and Saturday, 9am-2pm, at 4426 N. Ravenswood. All shoppers get a special gift with each purchase. Call 773-506-3880 for more information.
What can you do with a dollar? Come to the monthly reading series that expounds on the wonders of cheap things. This month's Dollar Store show feature Serendipity Theatre's Matt Miller, i.O. Chicago's Paul Brittan and improv artist Dennis O'Toole. Co-hosted by Jeremy Sosenko and Christopher Piatt (usual co-host Jonathan Messinger is on vacation). 7pm at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. $1 gets you in. Call 773-227-4433 for more information.
You've gotta hotfoot it to the Rhona Hoffman Gallery at 118 N. Peoria St. this Friday to check out the Thrift opening. This show by Brian Ulrich takes a look at what ends up in thrift stores as well as the folks who work in them. Reception from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.
It's time again for one of the quarterly DEPART-ment craft fairs at Open-End gallery. This awesome idea to bring you a department store-style set up of some of the absolute best indie Chicago crafts happens just in time to get your holiday shopping done. Items will be arranged by category, with one convenient checkout station at the end. Cash only (ATM on site). Open-End is located at 2000 W. Fulton, #310 (at Damen, just south of Grand) . Give them a call for more info at (312) 560-1442. The sale runs Dec. 1 (Friday) night from 7pm-11pm, Dec. 2 (Saturday) 11am-5pm and Dec. 3 (Sunday) 11am-5pm.
Can't get enough crafting or art? Then head on over Wood Street Gallery (1239 N Wood Street) tonight from 5-9pm and see a great combination of handmade goods that someone on your holiday shopping list would love to have. Like most shows, admission is free but purchasing is recommended. See a list of vendors here.