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. ✶
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Canasta, who wrote an amazing diary of their tour of Mongolia in Transmission this winter, celebrate their 10th anniversary with a concert at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., at 9pm tonight. Wood Rings opens. Tickets are $12. 18+
Reading Under the Influence is back Wednesday June 6 with an appropriate theme for a Wrigleyville area bar: Pain (The Baseball Edition). Join readers Ben Tanzer (This Zine Will Change Your Life), April Newman, writer-zinestress Liz Baudler (The Toucan magazine) and Windy City Story Slam All-City Champion Alex Bonner.
RUI is always in the back room of Sheffield's, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave, 7pm, $3.
Battles perform an all ages early show at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., tonight. Doors are at 6pm, show starts at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20.
The Windy City Rollers' Ivy Cup championship is tonight at 6pm sharp at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave. Watch The Fury defend their title against the Manic Attackers, with an undercard bout benefiting Tequila Mockinbird. Tickets are $20 in advance, with $35 VIP seating available.
The Chicago Force women's pro football team plays the Indy Crash at 5pm today at Lazier Field at Evanston High School, 2285 Church St. in Evanston. Tickets are $10/$3 for children and seniors.
The Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., presents award-winning costume designer Virgil C. Johnson, renowned for his spectacular drawings of the costumes from the Goodman Theatre's 1994 production of Stephen Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music. Held from 2pm to 3pm, this free event and tour are in conjunction with the library's exhibit, A Little Night Music: Costume Designs by Virgil C. Johnson, on display through August 12. For more information, call 312-747-4300.
The sixth annual Do Division street festival runs three days this year -- June 1-3 -- on Division Street between Ashland and Damen avenues. The festival runs from noon to 10pm today, with music on stages at Damen and Leavitt, and more than 300 vendors selling clothing, accessories, art and crafts. Family Fun Fest gives the kids something to do, too. $5 suggested donation.
Damen Stage:
1pm - Chris Connelly
2:30pm - In Tall Buildings
4pm - Mannequin Men
5:30pm - Craig Finn
7pm - Besnard Lakes
8:30pm - Peanut Butter Wolf
Leavitt Stage:
3:45pm - Magic Milk
4:45pm - The Blind Staggers
5:45pm - Brown Bird
6:45pm - White Mystery
7:45pm - O'Death
9pm - Le Butcherettes
Mayfest runs May 31 to June 3 in Lincoln Square, clogging the intersection of Leland/Lincoln and Western with people drinking beer, eating sausages and pretzels and generally having a good time. The festival starts at noon today and runs till 11pm, with music by Phenix, Paloma, Alte Kamaraden, Dr. Zylo and the Captain Blood Orchestra. Admission is free.
This street festival (Sheffield, between Addison and Waveland) is a celebration of all things pork--Bobak's and Paulina Meat Market will represent their wares--and a benefit for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. A "Sausage King" will be crowned during the festivities, too. Event runs noon-10pm today and tomorrow.
The 64th annual 57th Street Art Fair runs today and Sunday, June 2-3, in Hyde Park. More than 250 artist booths run along 57th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood, and on Kimbark Avenue from 56th to 57th. The fair is open from 11am to 6pm today. Admission is free.
Learn all about cooking with Indian cuisine's most prominent spices today at 11am at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph St. Admission is $30. Event offered by the City's World Kitchen Learning Series.
Crack open a beehive and see how liquid gold is made at Chicago Honey Co-op's introductory beekeeping class. This session'll be held at the co-op's Rancho Verde rooftop apiary at Christy Webber Landscaping, 2900 W. Ferdinand. Class starts at 10 a.m. and runs til 3 p.m., and the co-op has some recommended reading for you. $80, reservations required.