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.
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TODAY
Saturday, April 20
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, June 10 2006
Chicago Blues Festival @ Grant Park
This year's festival commemorates the 100th birthdays of Roosevelt Sykes and Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery. 11 AM to 9:30 PM daily, through Sunday. Click here for a complete schedule. Free. For more information, visit the website.
Quick & Dirty Performance Workshop
Quick and Dirty is a week-long intensive workshop for advanced dancers who want to learn to create choreography. The workshop, offered by Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, runs August 8-12 at Berger Park, with a final showing of the work created during the workshop August 12 at 6pm at Links Hall (3435 N. Sheffield). Audition today, from 10:30am to 1pm at Berger Park (6205 N. Sheridan Rd.) For more information or to reserve a spot, e-mail mollymadshak@aol.com.
Bike to Work Week Begins
This week, bicycle commuters benefit from hosted Bicycle Commuter Stations through Thursday morning (offering free refreshments and chain lubes) and those who enroll their workplaces in the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's Commuter Challenge are eligible for goodies, discounts, and prizes. For more information, visit the website.
Preview: Don't Make Me Over (In Tribute to Dionne Warwick)
The Black Ensemble Theater is previewing their lastest musical Don't Make Me Over (In Tribute to Dionne Warwick). The musical explores Warwick's accomplishment and musical contributions over the past forty years and includes some of her biggest hits. With four singers, three will play Warwick and one will play a concert singer who only performs Warwick's songs. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? Preview tickets are $30 compared to the regular $30 tickets; preview performances are scheduled for June 3, 4, 9 and 10 with the opening performance on June 11. All performances take place at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon and will run through August 27. For tickets and information call the box office at 773-769-4451 or Ticketmaster at 312-902-1500.
Work Out @ Millennium Park
Yoga at 8 AM, Pilates at 9 AM, and Latin dance at 10 AM, 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.
Victorian Flower Show @ Garfield Park Conservatory
Plants popular during the Victorian era, which is also when glass-enclosed conservatories became widespread, are displayed in the Show House and Horticultural Hall through 5 November. Free, 300 N. Central Park Ave. For more information, call 773-638-1766 or visit the website.
Casino Night at Strawdog Theatre
Speakeasy, Strawdog Theatre Company's casino night fundraiser, features cash gambling, silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a live band and full bar. 7pm-2am. $10 in advance (available online), $15 at the door. Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N Broadway. Call 773-528-9696 for more info.
Drinking and Writing Festival @ Hopleaf
The Neo-Futurist alums that are currently performing Drinking and Writing (a play about drinking while writing, and writing while drinking) present their second annual Drinking and Writing Festival today from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Hopleaf (5148 N. Clark, near Foster). Lots of drinking, lots of writing, lots of writing about drinking (and drinking about writing). Plenty of poetry, prose, dancing, and even more drinking. Fun! Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door; see the Drinking and Writing Website for full details.
David Roediger and Mark M. Smith on Race @ Newberry Library
Two scholar-authors discuss their ideas about race, including how stereotypes are constructed and how concepts of race have been applied to different ethnic groups. Free, 11 AM. 60 W Walton Street. For more information, call 312-255-3700 or visit the website.
Andersonville Midsommarfest
This year marks the 41st year for Andersonville Midsommarfest. They've got the standard neighborhood festival's "eat meat on the street" thing going on, with a smattering of fine local Clark Street vendors from up in the 'ville. Plus, this year's got a really great and eclectic music lineup like Mucca Pazza, The Waco Brothers, and Elevation (the U2 tribute band). And, who doesn't like seeing the Jesse White Tumblers? Plus, there's tons of traditional Swedish-themed activities like a Maypole dance, Come out, and support (yet another) great neighborhood cause. The summer's just getting warmed up. The festival runs from 11am-10pm June 10th and 11th on Clark Street starting at Foster Avenue (closest El stop: Berwyn on the Red Line).
Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum Grand Opening
The McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, the city's newest and smallest museum, celebrates its grand opening today from 10am to 3pm. It's located inside the bridgehouse at the southwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, at Michigan and Wacker. Admission is $3. Details here.
Anti-DRM event @ Apple Store
DefectiveByDesign.org is sponsoring a "promotion" in front of the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue this morning at 10:30 AM. The goal of the event is to make people aware of the digital rights management build into Apple's iTunes store that limits or prevents users from making copies of the music that they have bought. For more information on this event please visit the DefectiveByDesign Website.
57th Annual Old Town Art Fair
This art fair benefits local youth groups, schools, and preservation projects, and includes walking tours, marionette shows, live music, and fine art from 260 juried exhibitors. Enter the fair at the intersection of Lincoln and Wisconsin. 10 AM to 6 PM; $5 donation. For more information, visit the website.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Inside/Out @ Athenaeum
Here's a chance to see Hubbard Street for cheap. These performances feature works-in-progress choreographed by Hubbard company members. 8 PM. $10 at the door, 2936 N. Southport. For more information, visit the website.
32nd Annual Wells Street Art Festival
Benefiting the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, this festival features the work of more than 260 juried exhibitors as well as live music and food from local restaurants. The festival is on Wells from North to Division and runs from 10 AM to 10 PM; $5 to $7 donation. For more information, visit the website.
RibFest Chicago
This NorthCenter neighborhood festival benefiting the local Chamber of Commerce includes food (ribs, obviously, as well as other selections from neighborhood restaurants), live music, and children's activities. 4000 N. Lincoln, at Irving Park, 12 N to 10 PM. $5 donation. For more information, visit the website.
Dance Down Division
Shops on Division from Ashland to Leavitt are providing discounts and free beer, wine, and water today from 12 N to 7 PM and local bars are staging fashion shows. Also, if you make three purchases at participating boutiques you can get a goodie bag. For more information, visit the website.
World Naked Bike Ride
Clothing is discouraged (but all levels of dress are welcome) at this annual ride to protest fossil fuel dependency and celebrate the beauty of the human body. The ride starts at 9 PM, but the pre-party (including body painting opportunities) kicks off at 6 PM. Meet at the Wicker Park fountain, 1455 N. Damen. Free, but check the website for more information, including helpful tips for biking naked.
