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 26
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, January 15 2011
Beer Bistro Menu @ Alliance Francaise
Make some seriously delicious combinations of beer and food (Stout Brownies with Cranberry Puree!) today at Alliance Francaise (810 North Dearborn) at 10am with Chef Madelaine Bullwinkel. Admission $85-95.
The Concretes @ Schubas
With a name like the Concretes, you'd expect there to be a hard edge, but this Swedish band that can swell to an octet live have been honing their own brand of indie-pop for years. They headline Schubas tonight with The Red River, Kopecky Family Band and Seapony, opening at 9pm. The show's 18+ and $15. Schubas is located at the corner of Southport & Belmont.
CLLAW @ Mystic Celt
Witness 16 strong-armed, costumed and crazy lady arm wrestlers battle it out for the championship sash in CLLAW VIII. Fusing an open bar, arm-bending strength, shady referees and audience participation, CLLAW is the perfect fundraiser that makes the audience part of the action. CLLAW VIII will benefit Sideshow Theatre Company and The Howard Brown Health Center. The Mystic Celt is at 3443 N Southport Ave. Admission is $25 and includes an open bar for the duration of the event.
The Black Jew Dialogues @ Greenhouse Theater
The Black Jew Dialogues, a comedy that explores race and culture in society, returns to Chicago for a special performance in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday tonight at 8pm at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln. The Chicago performance marks the kick-off of the show's Black History Month tour. Tickets are $17.50-$25; for more information, visit the theater's website or call (773) 404-7336.
Magnetic Fields Documentary @ Film Center
The Gene Siskel Film Center presents a screening of the 2010 documentary Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields. Fans of the band will definitely want to catch this documentary showing Merritt and his co-writer, Claudia Gonson, working on new material. The film screens today at 8pm, and again on Thursday, January 20 at 8:30pm. See the Film Center Website for full details. Film Center: 164 N. State Street. (312) 846-2600.
Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah
"Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah" returns to the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., for two public performances this weekend, Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7:30pm and Sunday, Jan. 16 at 3pm. Tickets are $30-$69 and are available online, by calling 800-982-2787 or at the Auditorium box office. More info here
Windy City Rollers Bout @ UIC Pavilion
The Windy City Rollers kick (or skate) off their 2011 home season tonight at the UIC Pavilion (525 South Racine). Tonight's bout pits the Manic Attackers vs. Hell's Belles and the Fury vs. Double Crossers. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the game starts at 6. Tickets start at $20--get yours online or at the door.
Chicago Poetry Brothel @ House of Blues
The Chicago Poetry Brothel is back to share more whiskey, burlesque, and poetry whores tonight at the House of Blues (329 N. Dearborn) Foundation Room. Pay $10 (or $5 if you're dressed Victorian), and take part in the brothel's latest: Dangerous Amusements.
Write-A-Thon @ Story Studio Chicago
Have a New Year's resolution to write more? Try Story Studio Chicago's Write-A-Thon this Saturday. Come and go as you please, caffeine, food and fellowship provided. Registration not required but recommended. $12 for non-members, $7 for members. Story Studio Chicago, 4043 N. Ravenswood, #222, 9am-7pm.
Lincoln Fair Burlesque
Vaudezilla hosts Lincoln Fair, a free evening of burlesque, tonight at the Lincoln Tap Room, 3010 N. Lincoln Ave. Two shows run at 9pm and 11pm.
As Always, Julia Child @ Kendall College
Culinary historian Dr. Joan Reardon will take you on a tour of the correspondence between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto today at Kendall College, 900 North Branch, at 10am. Event sponsored by the Culinary Historians of Chicago; email to RSVP. Admission $5, $3 for students.
Winter Block Party @ Chicago Urban Arts Society
The 3rd Annual Winter Block Party kicks off today at Chicago Urban Arts Society (2229 S. Halsted St). Celebrating Chicago's hip hop arts, the event features a visual art and graffiti exhibition by some of the city's most notable and up and coming contemporary artists, along with a marketplace, hip hop barbershop, film screening, live sampling showcase, B-Boy/B-Girl battle hosted by The Legendary Brickheadz, an Open Mic Academy open mic, and music all afternoon by some of Chicago's favorite DJs. The free event runs from 11am to 10pm. For special event ticketing and additional information, check out WBEZ's official event page.
Steve Wiebe @ Logan Hardware
Steve Wiebe, star of acclaimed documentary King of Kong, will appear at Logan Hardware (2410 W. Fullerton) today at 2pm to celebrate the re-opening of the store. Wiebe was the first person to achieve over one million points on Donkey Kong and will be conducting his DK101 Donkey Kong tutorial. For a schedule of the day's events or to register for the course, visit the website.
