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. ✶
Thursday, March 28
Reading Under the Influence aims to celebrate Mardi Gras at their February reading (the first of 2012). Readers will feature Patricia Ann McNair (author of The Temple of Air), Seth Alexander (writer and religious scholar), Quinn Stephens (writer and animator of Laser Dragon University) and Kyle Chaney (a RUI co-host). The month's theme will be "carnival" just in time for Fat Tuesday.
Stop in to at the back-back room at Sheffield's, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave, 7pm with a $3 cover.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation's Lunchtime Lecture series this week features architect Juan Moreno discussing the design and construction of Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy and UNO Charter School. The event runs from 12:15pm to 1pm in the CAF Lecture Hall Gallery,
224 S. Michigan Ave. Free -- bring your lunch.
CHIRP Radio presents "The First Time: First Record" tonight at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., at 8pm. The Reader's Miles Raymer of The Chicago Reader, Chicagomag.com's Whet Moser, Chicagoist's Chuck Sudo, Second City's Sabrina Harper and CHIRP's own Shawn Campbell read stories about their first records, followed by an acoustic cover of a song from that record by the First Time house band. Jocelyn Geboy hosts. Tickets are $10 in advance or at the door. 21+
The Hideout (1354 W Wabansia) hosts Soup and Bread, which is a casual soup-eating event and fundraiser for a local food-related charity. Donate what you can; eat what you will. Event runs 5:30-7:30pm.