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
Wednesday, April 24
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, September 24 2011
Tamale Hut Reading Series
The Tamale Hut reading series will host a special night for one of its frequent readers, Claire Suzanne Elizabeth Cooney. She will be debuting a recently completed play. The festivities happen tonight, 7pm at the Tamale Hut Café, located at 8300 W. Cermak Road in North Riverside, IL. Lots of tamales, great stories.
Yarncon
YarnCon, Chicago's annual exhibition for yarn and yarn-related crafts, runs from 11am to 6pm today at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. See a list of vendors here. Admission is $3.
Chicago TomatoFest Potluck
Do you grow your own tomatoes? Don't worry, there's a fest for that! Come to the Chicago Honey Co-op for a TomatoFest potluck tonight. Bring your home grown beauties, a potluck dish to share, and chairs or picnic blankets to sit on. Event held in partnership with Slow Food Chicago. The Chicago Honey Co-op is located at 3740 W. Fillmore. Cost is $10 for Slow Food Chicago and Chicago Honey Co-op members (plus side dish or dessert); $15 for non-members (plus side dish or dessert). Children are free. 4pm-5pm -- Help harvest at the preSERVE garden (at 12th Pl and Central Park Ave); 5pm - 8pm -- TomatoFest Potluck at the Chicago Honey Co-op. Tickets can be purchased here.
Fork and the Road Tours: Mediterranean Cruise
Meet at Intelligensia Coffee in the Loop (53 E Randolph) today at 11am for a bike-guided trip that will touch on Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern fare at several restaurants around the city. Tour led by Fork and the Road; tickets $60. Event ends at 4:30pm.
Rock & Roll Pig Roast
The Rock & Roll Pig Roast at Ethyl's Beer and Wine Dive, 324 S. Racine, features, as you might have guessed, music (by Mannequin Men, Secret Colours, Bully in the Hallway, The Record Low, Chicago Stone Lightning Band and Elephant Gun) and roasted meat and veggies, plus plenty of beer and other drinks. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 21+
Urban Harvest @ City Farm
Head to City Farm at Division and Clybourn tonight; from 4-9pm they're holding an Urban Harvest, complete with food, drink, entertainment, and kids stuff (4-6pm only). Tickets $5 for kids, $15 for students, and $30 for everyone else.
Hideout Block Party
C'mon down to 1354 W. Wabansia Avenue for the annual Hideout Block Party today from noon till 10pm. Headliners include Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, and Big Freedia among many other acts. Read a preview in Transmission. Tickets are $25. Dear lord, don't drive! Take CTA or bike for a relaxed afternoon.
Oktoberfest 101 @ Timothy O'Toole's
Timothy O'Toole's, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., will be hosting "Oktoberfest 101" tonight starting at 7:30pm. Participants will learn about the traditions of Oktoberfest, inducing food and brews. Four beers and four food pairings will be sampled. $20 per person. Call 312-642-0700 to reserve a spot. 21+
Out of the Darkness Walk
The American Society for Suicide Prevention holds its annual Out of the Darkness community walk this morning in Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Area 4, in
Elk Grove Village. Registration is from 8am to 9am; the walk goes from 9am till 11am. Register here.
Dweebs, Geeks and Weird-Os @ CSU's Breakey Theater
Tonight, Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Dr., presents Dweebs, Geeks and Weird-Os, for two shows, at 4pm and 8pm. This musical "dramedy" follows the story of 3 socially inept youths and their quest to make it big in the music industry and the challenges they face along the way. Performance takes place in the Breakey Theater; tickets are $20-$25. For more information, contact kingcalvi@gmail.com.
21+ Spelling Bee @ Oak Park Library
Spell Yeah! is looking for spellers and observers over the age of 21 to participate in a 20s and 30s spelling bee at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St, Oak Park. Spellers interested in participating can register online at www.genre-x.com, at the Oak Park Library, or the night of. Spectators will receive one free drink while spellers will receive two. Snacks and a cash bar will be available. First place receives a trophy and a mystery prize.
Mega Pet Adoption Event @ PetSmart
Interested in adopting a pet but don't want to make the trek to Chicago Animal Care and Control's building at 2741 South Western? They're coming to you (or a location that's easier to get to) today for their 33-hour-long Mega Adoption event, which starts at 9am at PetSmart, 2665 North Elston. The event runs nonstop (yes, nonstop) until 6pm Sunday, so go get your new furry buddy. For $65, you'll get a vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered/spayed animal. Not a bad deal for a good cause.
Chicago Gourmet @ Millennium Park
If you love wine, food and having a major city landmark all to yourself and your peers, Chicago Gourmet is your event this weekend. Runs today and Sunday at Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St); tickets start at $164.
