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.
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Wednesday, April 17
The CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights is Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington St., today, with more than 50 vendors selling vinyl, tapes, CDs and other musical paraphernalia while DJs from the Chicago Independent Radio Project spin. Pay $25 for early access to the crates from 8am to 10am, or $7 for general admission at 10am; print this flyer for $2 off general admission. The doors close at 7pm.
Terror in the Aisles presents the Sci-Fi Spectacular, a 14-hour movie marathon, today at the Patio Theater, 6008 W. Irving Park Rd. Featured films include Escape from New York, Buckaroo Bonzai and Night of the Living Dead. Doors open at 11am, first film rolls at noon. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
The Handmade Market returns to the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., from noon to 4pm. Shop for handcrafted jewelry, clothing, foodstuff, paper goods, art and more. Free, 21+; children under 12 admitted with an adult.
Five area Whole Foods Markets will host a free store-wide bacon party today as part of Bacon Month from 12 noon to 3:00 PM. Stop by one of the locations listed below to taste complementary samples of their natural, organic bacon.
* Gold Coast: 30 West Huron St.
* South Loop: 1101 S. Canal St.
* Lincoln Park: 1550 N. Kingsbury St.
* Lakeview: 3300 N. Ashland Ave.
* Halstead & Waveland: 3640 N. Halstead St.
The Chicago Latino Film Festival runs April 4-17. Films primarily screen at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St., as well as the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; see the full schedule for showtimes and locations.
The Windy City Rollers begin the home league playoffs at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave., tonight. Doors open at 5pm, first bout is at 6 -- see which teams will advance to the Ivy King Cup! Tickets are $20-35 online or at the box office.
The ninth annual Black Playwrights Festival runs April 8-13 at the Black Ensemble Theatre, 4450 N. Clark St. Each night showcases a different playwright; tonight features Daryl D. Brooks's musical Use Me: The Story of Bill Withers at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 per night, or $50 for a festival pass. Call the box office at 773-769-4451.
Mortified! returns to Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., tonight at 7pm. The Blue Ribbon Glee Club performs in between cringeworthy stories of personal embarrassment. Shay DeGrandis hosts. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 21+
The Men have evolved from jangly punk rockers to cow-punk over their last few albums, notably last year's New Moon and this year's Tomorrow's Hits. Their show is a frenzied mess in the best way possible. The Men headline the Empty Bottle. Basic Cable and Vee Dee open. The show is 21+, starts after 9PM and is $12. The Empty Bottle's at 1035 N Western.