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
Saturday, April 16 2011
Record Store Day
A nationwide event, Record Store Day is a celebration of the independent music store. Record stores across the city and suburbs will have special in-store performances, exclusive albums, EPs and singles, and more fun stuff planned. Visit Transmission for more details about goings-on in Chicago. Free.
CIMM Fest
The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival continues tonight with multiple events at locations across the city; see the CIMM Fest calendar for full details.
SAIC Spring Art Sale
The School of the Art Institute's Spring Art Sale takes place Friday from 11am to 7pm, and today from 10am to 5pm in the MacLean Center Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave. More than 120 SAIC students will be selling original paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, jewelry, fashion and more, at prices ranging from $1 to $1,000+. Free.
Poetry Off the Shelf @ Curtiss Hall
Curtiss Hall, 410 S. Michigan Ave., presents Poetry Off the Shelf, an "experimental piano series," with a performance inspired by the poetry of Ed Roberson and Christina Pugh, with music provided by Chicago jazz pianist Ari Brown and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The evening will also feature a solo performance by pianist Mabel Kwan, who uses poetry by Rachel Jamison Webster and Reginald Gibbons as her muse. The program starts at 7pm; tickets are $10-$20 and can be purchased online. For more information, call (312) 291-0291.
Urban Folk Circuit @ The Grafton
The Urban Folk Circuit sets up shop in the The Grafton Pub, 3540 N. Lincoln Ave., from noon to 5pm today. Shop locally made art and crafts, while enjoying a drink and the live acoustic music of Tisa and Gregg, Lara Unnerstall,
Steve Gilpin and Shelley Miller, and Andrew Francis. More info and a full list of vendors is available on Facebook. Free. 21+
"Art Talk" with Environmental Artist Cydney Lewis @ Harold Washington Library
To celebrate Earth Day, the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., hosts Chicago artist Cydney Lewis and her exhibit, T.A.W.G.A. (Throw Away Won't Go Away), which features various works created from recycled plastic bags. This event, held today at 2pm on the 8th floor in the library's Art Reference Room, is free and open to the public. For more information, call (312) 747-4300.
Native American Poetry Night @ Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Tonight the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian will host its first Native American Poetry Night. Kimberly Blaeser, Mark LaRoque, and Thirza Defoe -- Native American poets from the Midwest -- will read and talk about their poetry from 5 to 7pm at the museum (3001 Central St, Evanston). Admission is $8 for the public and $5 for Mitchell Museum members. For more information, visit the museum's website.
All-day benefit for Japan @ Old Town School
The Old Town School of Folk Music is going to be raising money for Japanese earthquake relief pretty much all day today. From 11am to around midnight, the 909 W. Armitage location will play host to various sales (bake sale, art sale, etc.), free yoga classes, and starting in the afternoon performances by a huge number of performers too numerous to mention here. Admission is a suggested $10 donation; 100% of the funds will be matched by an anonymous donor and given to the Japanese Red Cross. For more information on the the event please see the Old Town School Website.
Pastry Chicago's Cookie Competition @ Whole Foods
Pastry Chicago sponsors its fourth annual cookie competition at the Lincoln Park Whole Foods (1550 N. Kingsbury Street) from 1pm-4pm. Register by April 11 if you've got the stuff.
