The Campaign to End the Death Penalty's annual conference is taking place this weekend at the University of Chicago. Tickets to the Keynote Address by Howard Zinn on "The Power of the People" are available to non-conference goers, details in Slowdown.
Starting Monday, Chicago locations of Dunkin' Donuts will offer a new 99-cent menu. Keep an eye out for Dunkin' employees handing out $2 gift cards on your morning commute.
Inspired by our recent post about vintage photos of Chicago, Berg with Fries went out and reshot most of the images from the same spot for a little then-and-now action. (Thanks, Amanda!)
It's not, er, hard, as the Paupered Chef demonstrates.
Whither the Jack Brickhouse bust that sat between the Michigan Avenue Bridge and Tribune Tower? Not to fear, per Steve Johnson, Jack's out for repairs.
Thought not the most toxic city in America, according to Forbes. That honor belongs to Atlanta. (We're tied for third with Houston, behind Detroit.) [via]
Photographer Michael Wolf took pictures in the "central downtown area" (we just call it the Loop, New Yorkers) with a telephoto lens, sneaking peeks into the offices and apartments of individuals who either can't afford blinds or don't bother to use them. Yeah, that's not weird.
With the City slashing programming in an effort to balance the budget, Pitchfork has preemptively created a petition to save our free music festivals from the chopping block. Add your name here
The Gene Siskel Film Center, after having great success last year with a Jim Henson/Muppets retrospective, is kicking off a second month-long retrospective this weekend. You can see The Muppets Take Manhattan, a collection of rare TV appearances by the Muppets, or a compilation of musical moments from "The Muppet Show." See the Film Center Website for a complete schedule of screenings.
Have you been reading Travel Writing by Peter Ferry along with the Gapers Block Book Club this past month? The November meeting is coming up on Monday, and it will be a special event as author Peter Ferry joins us for our discussion. Get the details in Slowdown. Plus, find out what the Book Club will be reading next year -- the 2010 book list is revealed!
Imagine a wall with the name of every person from your neighborhood who had died for decades. Imagine having to walk past it everytime you went to the grocery store. Now imagine how you'd feel if the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation would result in the wall being torn down.
Our good junior senator owes nearly $650,000 in legal fees in a six-month period.
In Transmission, we have a chat with a few local music industry interns who give us the low down (and sometimes dirty) truth about their jobs with some of our favorite Chicago labels.
Gapers Block is one of 12 recipients of Community News Matters grants from the Chicago Community Trust and Knight Foundation. We're receiving $35,000 to expand our original local reporting, with a priority on stories about underserved communities and issues that affect them. More details in A/C.
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Saturday 11/07
Pumpkins and Squashes @ Kendall College
DIFFA Table Hop & Taste @ Merchandise Mart
Chicago Fire Semifinal Match @ Toyota Park
Mrs. Gruber's Ding Dong School
Eccentric Soul Revue @ Lincoln Hall
The Incredible Journey That is Consciousness @ Golden Age
Half Acre Chilli Cookoff @ The Arts of Life Studio
Daria Martin and Anne Collod in Conversation @ MCA
Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer @ Bailey Auditorium
Sunday 11/08
New Belgium Experimental Dinner @ Lush
Artists Run Chicago Digest Release Party @ Hyde Park Art Center
Muppets double feature @ Film Center
"Wine and Time" Lecture/Tasting @ threewalls
Monday 11/09
Hollows Record Release with White Mystery @ Empty Bottle
Gapers Block Book Club Meeting & Author Event
The Muppets Take Manhattan @ Film Center
Tuesday 11/10
Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book @ Ina's
Society of Midland Authors: Burnham's Plan of Chicago
Guerrilla Girls Lecture: Feminist Masked Avengers @ MCA
Wednesday 11/11
White Rabbits @ Schubas- SOLD OUT
Viento de Los Andes and Folklore ballet Pachacamac @ The Old Town School of Folk Music
Thursday 11/12
War and Peace @ Th!nkArt Salon
Women Helping Women: Shopping & Cocktails
Friday 11/13
Innervation Dance Cooperative @ Links Hall
Mrs. Gruber's Ding Dong School
