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
Saturday, April 20
Slowdown
BY DAY
Friday, March 21 2014
Cultural Connection African Marketplace & Bazaar
The 17th annual Cultural Connection African Marketplace and Bazaar happens today and Saturday from 9am to 7pm at Dixon Elementary, 8306 S. St. Lawrence Ave. Browse more than 60 artists and vendors. Admission is free.
Story Week
Columbia College's Story Week Festival of Writers runs March 16-21. Today's events includes an open mic reading at 11am at Columbia's Haus at the Quincy Wong, 623 S. Wabash Ave., and "Chicago Classics," a evening of Chicago creatives reading works by their favorite Chicago authors, hosted by Rick Kogan, at 6pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.. All events are free; see the schedule for complete details and locations.
Spring Beer Festival @ Eataly
La Piazza (43 East Ohio Street) will be celebrating the first day of spring today with a special selection of seasonal beers poured by our local partner breweries along with their own house-made brews today from 6-9 PM. Featured breweries include Three Floyds, Revolution Brewing, Half Acre and Dogfish Head. $3 and $5 ours available.
Love & Air Sex @ Facets
Facets Cinémathèque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., shows Love & Air Sex, an independent comedy about relationships and the Air Sex World Championships, March 21-27. Director Bryan Poyser will be in attendance for a Q&A after the 7pm screening tonight and Saturday. Tickets are $9.
Reader Spring Cocktail Challenge
The Reader presents the Spring Cocktail Challenge, a live competition based on its popular print series, tonight at 7pm at the Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave. $45 admission gets you samples of drinks by more than a dozen local mixologists as well as complimentary apps from Chop Shop and beer from Shiner from 7 to 9:30pm. Vote for your favorite cocktail and see who wins. DJs PHNM and Hexes spin. 21+
Live Music Performance @ Roman Susan Gallery
Tonight the Roman Susan Gallery, located at 1224 W Loyola Avenue, will be featuring the musician and performer Steven Snowden. His performances include the vibraphone and electronic sounds sampled from 1970s pay phones around the US. The event is free and open to the public; doors open at 7:30pm, performance begins at 8pm.
Great Fires @ Co-Prosperity Sphere
White Elephant and the Stockyard Institute present Great Fires, a "living museum of Chicago: the past, the present, the mythological," tonight at 7:30pm at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219-21 S. Morgan St. Explore six attractions concerning fires since the Great Chicago Fire with guide Mrs. O'Leary. Tickets are $10.
Women of Letters @ Mayne Stage
Seven local women writers and performers, including Tavi Gevinson of Rookie Magazine, will celebrate the lost art of letter-writing at Women of Letters tonight at 8pm at the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park. They will read letters written for the occasion. Two Australian writers created and are co-curators of Women of Letters and have published three collections of letters. This is their second US tour. Tickets are $20 general admission. More information is available here.
Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival
The Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival runs March 19-22 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tonight, see the Chi Nerd Fest Stand Up Showcase at 8pm, Improvised Star Trek at 9pm, WHO PROV at 10pm, and THOR and The Hot Karl at 11pm. Tickets are $10 per show or $50 for a festival pass. See the festival website for full schedule. 21+
CSO at the Movies: City Lights
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra provides the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's City Lights tonight at 8pm as part of the CSO at the Movies series. Tickets are $35 to $99. Order online or call the box office at 312-294-3000. Symphony Center is at 220 S. Michigan Ave.
Good Vybes Fest @ Empty Bottle
Eye Vybe Records hosts Good Vybes Fest today and Saturday at The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. Tonight's lineup features Useless Eaters, Outer Minds, Rabble Rabble and Today's Hits. $10 online or at the door; two-day passes are $20. Doors are at 9pm. 21+
Air Sex World Championships @ Abbey Pub
The Air Sex World Championships -- sort of like air guitar, but for lovin' -- arrive in Chicago tonight at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St. Watch contestants get down and dirty with their imaginary partners (and all their clothes on) for the judges and wild crowd. (If you're interested in competing, email christrew at gmail.com. Doors open at 10pm, show's at 11pm. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
