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
Thursday, November 13
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, March 29 2008
Cajun Dance Night
The Chicago chapter of the Cajun French Music Association is holding a dance tonight from 8pm to 11pm at the Portage Park Center for the Arts, 5801 W. Dakin. Denise and Earl Thompson, Stu Greenspan and Dennis Nuccio perform. Don't know how to dance Cajun? Not to worry, there's a free lesson during band break. $10 for non-members, $5 for members. More info here.
Maple Syrup Festival @ North Park Village Nature Center
Watch the entire syrup-making process from tree to table today at the Chicago Park District's Maple Syrup Festival, which will be held at the North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N. Pulaski) from 10am to 3pm today.
Swap-o-Rama-Rama @ AV-aerie
The legendary Swap-o-Rama-Rama -- part swap meet, part political statement, part DIY Project Runway -- finally hies itself to Chicago on March 29 at the AV-aerie, 2000 W. Fulton. Bring $20 and a bag of your cast-off clothes, linens, and other goodies, then raid other people's stuff and gussy it up with the sewing machines, silk screens, and other supplies on the premises. There will also be workshops and a fashion show. What is Swap-o-Rama-Rama, you ask? Watch this.
Electric Six, Alex Winston, Tight Phantomz and Ramova play benefit @ Double Door
As a part of a weekend of rock and tattoos to benefit the Anti-Cruelty Society and celebrate the 3rd anniversary of Insight Studios (a lil tattoo parlor in town) you can catch some sweet tunes and help out the animals at the same time. On Saturday, March 29th, there's a second benefit show at the Double Door with Electric Six, Alex Winston, Tight Phantomz and Ramova. Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm. Tickets are $15, and are available at the door or online. A percentage of the ticket sales will be donated to the Anti-Cruelty Society, as well as a percentage of bar's profits that night. Another raffle will be held to win prizes from Insight Studios and Twisted Scissors. Any additional audience donations are welcome at both shows or at the shop. Details on the weekend of events in Transmission.
Earth Hour
Chicago is participating in the global warming awareness initiative Earth Hour tonight, from 8-9pm. Many notable businesses and buildings around Chicagoland will be dimming or turning off their lights entirely. Check the skyline during Earth Hour, and you'll see the Hancock Tower dimmed, the Allerton Hotel sign turned off and the ferris wheel at Navy Pier darkened -- all in an effort to raise awareness to the perils of climate change. Learn more at the World Wildlife Fund's website where you can also sign up as a participant.
Rock for Reading & Open Books Sort-A-Thon
Join Rock for Reading and Open Books for their second Sort-A-Thon. The two non-profit organizations will be sorting through 15,000 children's books donated by The Child's World to be distributed to local schools and reading programs and they need your help to get it all done. The event starts at 10:30am and runs until 1:30pm. If you're not free to sort, but still want to help you can drop off books to donate at the Sort-A-Thon or you can donate food and drink to sustain all the hard workers. The sorting will happen at the Open Books Warehouse at 600 N. Albany Ave. Email Becca Keaty at bkeaty[at]open-books[dot]org to for more information or to sign up.
Shop Chicago
GenArt presents Shop Chicago, part of Fashion Week. More than 80 independent clothing and accessory designers will sell their wares in the Great Hall at Union Station, 210 South Canal St., from 4pm to 8pm today.
Carnaval @ Epiphany Episcopal Church
Set in a 120-year old gothic cathedral, CARNAVAL will fill the pew-less church with 750+ guests, live rock music, couture costumes, interactive performances, decadent artistry, dancing and unlimited drinks. Live performances by Dark Wave Disco DJs; Mark Gertz and Trancid; DJ Jordan Z; DJ LA Jesus; and Collaboraction company member DJ Anacron. With an advance donation, anyone can attend the event. A General donation is $20-$25 and the Premium Donation is $60-$75. +21. 9 p.m. 201 S. Ashland. For more information about Collaboraction, visit www.collaboraction.org.
Bill Kurtis @ Prairie Grass Cafe
Journalist, cookbook author and cattle rancher Bill Kurtis will be at Northbrook's Prairie Grass Cafe at 1pm today for a signing session of his new book, The Prairie Table Cookbook. In addition, a delicious-sounding lunch featuring recipes from the cookbook made with meats from Kurtis' ranch, Tallgrass Beef, will be served by chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris. Cost to attend the meal is $35 (advanced payment required), and you know you're going to have to grab the book, too, which will be available onsite ($30); visit Prairie Grass Cafe for registration information.
World Kitchen Learning Series: Make Mine Vanilla
Celebrate the beloved flavor 11am-2pm today through the World Kitchen learning series sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs. Class to be held at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph Street. Class fee is $30. Click here for more information and to register.
International Vintage Poster Fair @ Chicago Cultural Center
Exhibitors from the U.S., Canada, China, Israel and Western Europe offer thousands of original vintage posters for sale dated from the 1890s-1980s. Styles include classic Art Nouveau Belle Epoque images and increasingly popular Art Deco and Modernism posters. Posters offered will include food and liquor advertisements, WWI and WWII posters, film, travel and transportation, and sporting events. $15 for a weekend ticket. Through March 30. 10am-7pm. 77 E. Randolph. For more info, call 800-856-8069 or visit the Website.
