Dill Pickle Food Co-op Garage Sale

The Dill Pickle Food Co-op will hold a "GINORMOUS" garage sale today from 12 to 5pm at the ACME Art Space, 1741 N. Western Ave. (just north of North Avenue). The organization describes itself as offering "healthy food choices and the benefits of cooperative practice to build a vibrant local community and more sustainable world." It meets at the Association House, 1116 N. Kedzie St., on the second Saturday of each month from 12 to 2pm; these meetings are open to the public, with all are welcome. If you've got items you'd like to get rid of by donating to this benefit sale, you're encouraged to bring them by around 11am. For more information, join the co-op's email list.

Taste of Lincoln Ave.

Food! Music! Crafts! Carnival-like entertainment! This, and more, can be found at the 22nd Annual Taste of Lincoln Avenue, Wrightwood's yearly fundraising event. Located from Fullerton to Wrightwood Ave., this Taste benefits evreyone from Friends of the Lincoln Park Library to Lookingglass Theatre. If you're interested in becoming more involved in the event, volunteers are always need to keep it going hitch free. Taste it all from 12-10pm. Call 773-944-7755 for more information.

Newberry Library Book Fair and Bughouse Square Debate

This weekend marks the Newberry Library's 21st Annual Book Fair, featuring more than 100,000 donated books sorted into 50 categories. Many of the books are priced under $2, so come with a backpack, suitcase or extra pair of arms if you're the bona fide bibliophile I think you are. Also, come early because, trust me, it's slim pickin's by the end of the day. This book fair is free and open to the public at 60 W. Walton, 10am-6pm. Additionally, there will be a Bughouse Square Debate in Washington Square Park from 1-5pm. There will be music, poetry and all kinds of first-amendment exercising. Cheap books and open mic. Can't go wrong. Call 312-255-3510 for more information.

The Dean Evans Show @ Neo-Futurarium

The Neo-Futurists present The Dean Evans Show! Ensemble member Dean Evans presides over a live talk show which features Neo-Futurist Bilal Dardai as Dean's sidekick, intern Chip Dickerson, and a cavalcade of special guests, video clips, and other surprises. The Dean Evans Show runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM at the Neo-Futurarium (5153 N. Ashland) through July 30. See the Neo-Futurist Website for full information and to purchase tickets, or call the Neo-Futurist hotline at (773) 275-5255.

Chicago SummerDance

The ninth annual Chicago SummerDance festival of public dancing continues tonight in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park (601 S. Michigan, between Harrison and Balbo). This evening's entertainment: Paul Tyler, teaching old style square dancing; and the Foghorn Stringband, playing old-time American fiddle tunes. SummerDance features one hour of dance lessons, followed by two hours of live music and dancing. Tonight's show runs from 6:00 to 9:30, and SummerDance runs at the park Wednesday-Sunday nights (weather permitting) through August 28. See the SummerDance site for a complete schedule.

You Am I opens

Purveyors of the finest in positive street art, You Are Beautiful is showcasing it's "You Am I" book exhibition at Open End Gallery today from 6-11pm. The exhibition displays the 111 books that went out into the world to be creatively stamped by many and returned. A $5 dollar donation is suggested, which will go towards funding similar projects.

saturday, july 30th 6-11pm
open-end
2000 w fulton #310
chicago usa
312.738.2140

Venetian Night

This is perhaps my favorite night of the year. Not because of the boats, although those are cool, but because of the awesome fireworks display. Venetian Night is the perfect night to get together with a big group of friends, pack some food, head down to Grant Park and chill for an evening while you watch the decorated boats come in. Then there are the fireworks, choreographed to XRT's selection of music. It never fails to be amazing. The boats start at 8:30pm; the fireworks go on at 9:30pm.

Wicker Park Summer Fest

I think this description says it best: "Just before dawn on a July morning, in the middle of Chicago's trendiest neighborhood, the main drag will be barricaded, a big main stage will appear, tents will be erected and prepared for food and beer service, local merchants and art galleries will prepare for an onslaught of visitors. Musicians will tune their instruments, and, finally, at 12 noon one of the best 2-day parties of the summer begins. It's Wicker Park Summer Fest, a celebration of Chicago's cutting edge music and art scene." Click on the date to view the information and schedule of performances. 12-10pm Saturday and Sunday on Damen between Milwaukee and Schiller.

Flashback Weekend convention

Well, it's July, which means it's time for Chicago to become a horror show, literally, as the annual Flashback Weekend horror/sci-fi/fantasy convention rolls into town July 29-31 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare in Rosemont. Dignitaries appearing this year include the guest of honor, Bruce Campbell, who will be promoting his new book, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, and his new film, The Man with the Screaming Brain. Actor Ted Raimi will also be at the show, along with the lovely Adrienne Barbeau (as part of a cast reunion for The Fog), Bill Moseley and Sid Haig from the new film The Devil's Rejects, and Camille Keaton, the star of the controversial film I Spit on Your Grave (which Mr. Ebert and Mr. Siskel effectively got tossed out of theatres in 1978, making it an immediate cult hit). Gapers Block staff member Steve Prokopy is one of the co-hosts of the event, along with Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire and WGN Radio's Nick Digilio. For complete information about the convention, visit the Flashback Weekend website.