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
Friday, April 19
Slowdown
BY DAY
Sunday, June 25 2006
Monster Piano Concert @ Millennium Park
Ten Steinways and 30 guest pianists grace the Pritzker Pavillion stage this evening at 6:30 PM. For more information, visit the website.
Girlie-Q Variety Hour
The Girlie-Q Variety Hour presents its latest show this evening at the HotHouse. The Girlie-Q shows combine drag, striptease, burlesque, vaudeville and performance art to provide a unique entertainment experience. Featured performers: Strawberry Fields, Oosha Boom, Maiden Sacrifice, Bloody Belle, Dixie Darlin', Clare De Lune, Bit O'Honey, Fanny Tastic and many more. The show starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the HotHouse site. HotHouse: 31 E. Balbo. (312) 362-9707.
The Black Factory @ Hyde Park Art Center
The Black Factory bills itself as a "mobile social service experiment". During the five hour performance, audience participants will be fed, cajoled, and provoked, all in the name of starting a new dialogue about race and community in America. William Pope.L, the CEO and mastermind behind the project, will sell you one of his "Twice-Sold Goods" and accept donations of your favorite black object. The Factory's caravan will arrive at the Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell Ave) today at 12pm. For more information, visit the the website.
Sunday Salon @ Charleston
Charles Blackstone, Paul Jones and Ted Grossman are the writers participating in this month's Sunday Salon at the Charleston bar in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. This reading event begins at 7:30pm, and the Charleston is located at 2076 N. Hoyne. Visit the Sunday Salon website for more information.
Biggest, Gayest Burlesque Ever
Hot hootchies! Dirty dancing! Salacious songs! And lots and lots of gaiety! The latest installment of the Girlie-Q Variety Hour, a local burlesque troupe of gay, straight and all-around fabulous performers. Come on down to the HotHouse located at 31 E. Balbo on Pride Sunday. Doors at 7, show at 8. All this hot sexiness for only $10.
Cinechat @ Facets
Following the 1:30 screening of the film Who Gets To Call It Art?, Facets Cinematheque will host a Cinechat panel discussion about the issues of collecting art. Chicago Public Radio's Gretchen Helfrich moderates the panel which will include Susanne Ghez, director of the Renaissance Society; Judith Russi Kirshner, dean of the College of Architecture & Art at UIC; and art dealer Donald Young. See the Facets Website for fulle details. Facets: 1517 W. Fullerton. (773) 281-9075.
Pride Parade
Boystown and much of eastern Lakeview will be impassable today from about 10am to late afternoon, as the 37th annual Pride Parade winds its way from Halsted and Belmont to Broadway and back down to Diversey and Cannon Drive. The parade officially starts at noon, and the whole weekend is full of events: check out this list on Metromix.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebration @ Alliance Francaise
Join the Quebec Delegation in Chicago and Alliance Francaise at this free celebration of Quebec's national holiday. The party begins at 12:30 PM with a beer and cheese reception. A screening of the 2004 film Nouvelle France follows at 1:30 PM. 54 W Chicago. For more information, visit the website.
Treaty of Paris @ Metro
(No, not an actual "treaty". This one's a-rockin') Treaty of Paris hits the stage tonight with that punk-rooted, guitar-driven singer-with-something-to-get-off-his-chest rock we've grown to love over the last few years. Check out some of their tunes online, then head over to the Metro for the show tonight (in fact, they're the last act of the week's MOBFest 2006). Escape From Earth, Quietdrive, White Light Riot and Flying Just Below Radar all open, starting at 6pm. Tickets are a mere $9, and the show is all ages.
Intonation Music Festival
The first of three major Chicago music festivals happens this weekend when the Intonation Festival, brought to you by Vice Records, hits off in Union Park for two days of rock, rap, hip hop and appearances by some really fun bands that you're probably not listening to (but you probably should be). Highlights include Bloc Party, Constantines, Lady Sovereign, 90 Day Men and The Streets as well as Blue Cheer and Roky Erickson who are making rare appearances this year. (Check out the website for more artist info and the full lineup with performance times) Tickets run $20 for one day and $35 for the weekend. Music starts at 1pm each day, and runs until around 10pm. (PS: If you're going, look for the Gapersblock booth. Stop by and say "hi".)
Shadow Puppets @ Cultural Center
This afternoon at 3 PM, a shadow puppet master from central Java, Purbo Asmoro, presents a Javanese puppet drama (wayang) accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra, or gamelan. Free, in Preston Bradley Hall. 78 E Washington St. For more information, call 312-744-6630 or visit the website.
