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
Sunday, September 14
Slowdown
BY DAY
Friday, November 21 2008
Rise Against @ The Congress Theater
Chicago's hardcore heroes Rise Against play a second all-ages show at The Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., tonight with Alkaline Trio, Thrice and Gaslight Anthem. Doors at 6pm. Tickets are scarce.
FamilyFarmed EXPO @ Chicago Cultural Center
The FamilyFarmed EXPO brings local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products together with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems. Event is at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington; admission $15-60. Local chefs will be on hand for Localicious!, an event that features local food made by local people. Begins 10am.
Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol preview @ Neo-Futurarium
The Neo-Futurists present the latest show in their 2008-09 season: A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol, a new take on the Charles Dickens classic tale. Please note: the show contains adult language and themes, so it's not family-friendly. The show previews tonight, and officially opens on Saturday evening. Showtimes for all nights are at 8pm. Tickets are $15, $10 for students, and Thursday nights are pay-what-you-can. More information and tickets are available at the Neo-Futurist Website. Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster). 773-275-5255.
CTA Holiday Train: Blue Line
The CTA Holiday Train brings joy to Chicago transit riders for the 2008 holiday season. Santa will greet riders on the blue line with candy canes and season's greetings. The afternoon run departs from Forest Park toward O'Hare at 3:39 pm. A second run from O'Hare back to Forest Park takes off at 5:46 pm. The last run of the day leaves Forest Park at 7:24 pm. Click here for a timetable. A complete list of dates and lines for the CTA holiday train is available here. Normal CTA fares apply. 888-YOUR-CTA (888-968-7282).
M83 @ Bottom Lounge
French group M83 (essentially Anthony Gonzalez with touring accompaniment) combines elements of electronica and shoegaze (albeit with keys and synths at the forefront). Their latest album, Saturdays = Youth, is possibly their most accessible release yet, with an array of homages to pop music. Opening act School of Seven Bells is comprised of former members of Secret Machines and On! Air! Library! Located at 1375 W. Lake, the show begins at 9pm and admission is $20 for an 18+ crowd. For more information, visit the Bottom Lounge.
Sefi Atta & Mary Schmich @ Center on Halsted
Nigerian novelist Sefi Atta joins Tribune columnist Mary Schmich for a reading and discussion of their works. Atta is the author of Everything Good Will Come, Swallow and Lawless & Other Stories and she has won prizes from Zoetrope and Red Hen Press. Schmich has been named a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and the Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. Presented by Northwestern, the reading is free and open to the public at 7pm at 3656 N. Halsted St. in the Iriving Harris Family Foundation Reception Hall (3rd floor). Email rsvpscs[at]northwestern[dot]edu or call 312-503-4682 for reservations and information.
Randa Jarrar @ Book Cellar
Author Randa Jarrar comes to the Book Cellar for a reading and signing of her new book A Map of Home. The book follows the daughter of an Egyptian-Greek woman and a Palestinian father whose life takes her from Kuwait to Egypt to Texas. Through the narrator's life, Jarrar gives a look into an eccentric middle-class family in the Arab world. Free at 7pm. 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-293-2665 for more information.
Calexico @ Metro
Touch n' Go's diplomatic envoys from the mellow mellow west make good on their promise from their Transmission interview to play here again (and to rock while doing so). Calexico will be playing with equally smooth tourmates The Acorn, from that country just to the north of us. 3730 N Clark St. Tickets are 18 in advance, 20 day of, and just plain not available to those 17 and under. Doors open at 8pm, show at 9pm.
New Church of Ease @ Morseland
Folk and country fans alike should turn northwards this Friday and head up to the Morseland to see New Church of Ease. These guys played together in the no longer extant High Hawk and the drummer is also from The Thin Man. So mosey up to the Morseland for free pool, tasty food and some excellent music. It's a small venue, so everyone will see you dancing. Opening for Sarah & The Tall Boys.
Tickets $5 at the door. Doors open at 9pm. 1218 W. Morse Ave.
