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
Slowdown
BY DAY
Friday, August 20 2004
GB Get-Together
Join the staff of Gapers Block at Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark (just south of Foster) at 9pm for drinks and good conversation. We'll be in the upstairs bar -- go to the back, take the stairs on your left, and then the door on your right. See you there!DJ Puzzle @ Big Horse Lounge
DJ Puzzle, a familiar name to those who use the Sony music program ACID, will be performing tonight at Big Horse (1558 N. Milwaukee). Also on the bill: Mystechs and Flutter (both bands performing together in a confusing inter-band crossover project), Avenpitch, Arcanta and Carla Starla. Admission is $5, and the show starts at 9:00.Streets of Fire @ Film Center
Surely you remember the 1984 epic Streets of Fire? Michael Pare? Diane Lane? Okay, then perhaps you remember the song "I Can Dream About You". Okay, the movie that produced that classic bit of 1980s radio fluff is screening tonight at the Siskel Film Center, as part of its "Beautiful Losers" program. The film screens tonight at 8:15 PM, and also screens next Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins 16
The sixteenth annual Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins theatre festival runs Friday through Sunday. The fest was begun in 1989 in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Woodstock, and like Woodstock it's three days of nonstop, round-the-clock, poorly structured entertainment. Begins at 7pm tonight with the invocation by Abbie himself (in the person of Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company's Richard Cotovsky). At Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway. One-time entry is $5; an in-and-out day pass will run you $10, and a three-day festival pass starts at $25 and decreases as the fest wears on. Full annotated schedule at the Reader.Fest for Beatles Fans
The 2004 Fest for Beatles Fans begins today at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. Opening remarks begin at 5:00, and feature (who else?) WXRT DJ Teri Hemmert, host of "Breakfast With The Beatles". The fest continues through the weekend at the hotel. Video screenings, Beatles cover bands, dealers selling memorabilia... yeah, yeah, yeah. Tickets are $26 for tonight, and $37 for Saturday and Sunday. Check the Website for full details.Chicago Underground Film Festival
The 2004 Chicago Underground Film Festival continues tonight at the Three Penny Cinema (2424 N. Lincoln). Today CUFF welcomes this year's Guest of Honor, Larry Cohen, who will be presiding over a "filmmaking workshop" this afternoon at 2:30. Cohen's majestic winged serpent film, Q, screens tonight at 9:15. Tickets are $5 for shows before 7:00, and $7 for screenings after 7:00. See the CUFF Website for a complete schedule; the festival runs through Tuesday, August 24.Interchange Festival @ Cultural Center & Empty Bottle
The Interchange Festival serves a dual purpose: registering people to vote and rocking out. The festival runs Wednesday through Saturday; see here for the full schedule. Ticket prices vary.Today at noon, catch Steve Dawson & Diane Christiansen of Dolly Varden perform at the Chicago Cultural Center, Washington and Michigan. Free, all ages.
Tonight, head to the Empty Bottle at 8:30 pm: the M's with Bobby Conn and Sam Prekop. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 21 and over.
Silent Summer 2004 Film Festival
Does the usual slew of big budget summer films leave you cold? Then this is the event for you as The Silent Film Society of Chicago presents the Silent Summer 2004 Film Festival at the Gateway Theatre. You can buy your tickets at the theatre on the day of the performance for $11. Tickets for the August 6th film, which will be accompanied by a full orchestra, are $17.This year's schedule includes:
August 6: The Iron Horse (1924)
August 13: It (1927)
August 20: Lilac Time (1928)
August 27: Blood and Sand (1922)
Check out the festival website for more information. The Gateway Theatre is located at 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago.
Ju-On: The Grudge @ Landmark Century Centre
Opening at Landmark Century Centre today: Ju-On: The Grudge, the latest Japanese horror film to build a huge amount of buzz before making it to the US. Based on a series of direct-to-video films by director Takashi Shimizu, Ju-On tells the stories of a number of people who are tangentially related to a specific act of horror, and the curse that haunts each of these people. The film has already been bought up for the inevitable American remake by Sam Raimi (and the remake is opening next month, according to IMDb), who no doubt has visions of the next Ringu, and from preliminary reviews he may very well be correct. See for yourself, if you dare. Landmark Century Centre: 2828 N. Clark. (773) 509-4949.Fun at the Hideout: AIDS Foundation fundraiser
6:30PM until 9PM"RUN AND GET IT" at The HIDEOUT - 1354 W. Wabansia 773-227-4433
THE exalted CAUSE:
Salt-of-the-earth Southsider, and Hideout bartender extraordinaire, Marie Marasovich -- and her sister and her niece -- are in training to run the AIDS Marathon in Honolulu this December. This is a tight-knit affair (they have a family member who is HIV positive) and they have committed to raising *at least* $10,800 before Tuesday, August 31, 2004. These ladies are TOUGH COOKIES with hearts of gold -- please help!
Performers:
Your hostess, Cookie Crumbles, will emcee in high style, AND become MAE WEST in "another style!" Mike Rogers reads "Becoming Phyllis" channeling and dressing as the divine P.D.! Comic Jared Logan! Marie-Dorette Desjardins IS Marge Simpson! Cyndi Richards does the DRAG! Catherine Smitko sings torch songs! Imperfect Strangers - Evelyn Weston (on saw) and Mike H. (ukulele) do the do in grass skirts! ALSO: Videos by BoxBoy and readings by Joe Steiff!
