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

Thursday, March 28

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Cafe Scientifique @ Hopleaf

Chicago's Cafe Scientifique sets up shop tonight at the Hopleaf (5148 N. Clark) from 7-9pm for an April discussion about "Looking for Dark Matter through the Bottom of a Wine Glass" to be led by Evalyn Gates.

The event is FREE, but due to space considerations is limited to the first 50 attendees.

Background Info:

What is the Universe made of?

New data insist that normal matter - everything you were ever taught in chemistry class - makes up only about 5% of the total amount of matter and energy in the Universe. Dark Matter, an exotic new form of matter that has never been directly detected, accounts for about 23%, while the remaining 72% is not matter of any kind, but some strange new substance, dubbed Dark Energy, that is fueling an accelerated expansion of space itself. The search for dark matter and dark energy is complicated by the fact that they cannot be seen directly with even our most powerful telescopes. Instead, cosmologists are using the warps and dimples in space-time described by Einstein in his theory of General Relativity as giant "cosmic lenses". Gravitational lensing - also known as Einstein's Telescope - allows us to probe the dark Universe in an entirely new way: to search for black holes and planets within our own Galaxy, map out the dark matter that dominates a galaxy or cluster of galaxies, and detect the imprint of dark energy on the web of dark matter that winds across the cosmos.

Background urls:
http://einsteinstelescope.com/
http://kicp.uchicago.edu

Monsieur Verdoux @ Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a screening of Charlie Chaplin's little-known 1947 film Monsieur Verdoux, featuring Chaplin as a Parisian bank clerk who lures women into marriage and kills them! Inspired by an idea from Orson Welles and featuring a performance by Martha Raye, Monsieur Verdoux is a much darker film than the lighthearted comedies Chaplin is famous for. The film screens at the Film Center this evening at 6pm. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

James Kennedy @ Edgewater Public Library

The fantastic James Kennedy will be at the Edgewater Public Library today to read from and discuss his fantastic book The Order of Odd-Fish as part of the library's Teen Volume Book Discussion. The discussion is free, but registration is required. Call 312-744-0718 to save your spot. Free at 4pm, 1210 W. Elmdale Ave.

Karen Abbott @ Chicago History Museum

Karen Abbott, author of the bestselling Sin the Second City will be at the Chicago History Museum to discuss her research and the famous brothels of Chicago's levee district. 7pm at 1601 N. Clark St. $10 for the general public and $8 for members; tickets can be purchased online. Call 312-642-4600 for more information.

French Kicks @ Schubas

The French Kicks (oddly enough from Brooklyn, not France) come to Schubas tonight. On their latest full length album, Swimming, it could be the suggestion of the title, or just an appropriate name for the mellow flowing music that gives you the feeling of being on the water. This tour, however, is supporting their new Covers EP Trouble, which came out last fall on Vagrant Records. Chicago group Ultra Sonic Edukators open. 9pm. Tickets are $14. 3159 N. Southport. 21+

The Streeters @ Quenchers

I'll keep it simple here, since you can read the rest over in Transmission. The Streeters are playing Quenchers. You only have to pay if you're a nice person. Is that enough to get you in the door? Be warned though, these guys draw a crowd and the space is not exactly copious. Don't get left out in this bloody hail we've been having. Come in and hear some melodramatic punk country with whiskey on top.

The Streeters, Sawbuck, LeRoy Bach
Quenchers
2401 N. Western Ave
Doors at 9pm, Suggested donation $5

 

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