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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Tuesday, March 19
The Show of Hands craft show runs today and Sunday at the Ravenswood Event Center, 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave., from 10am to 5pm. Shop for hand-made wares from 60 independent artists and designers. Admission is free.
The Chicago Toy & Game Fair is at Navy Pier today and Sunday. Check out new and old board games and other toys, compete in Settlers of Catan and Rummikub tournaments, and meet game inventors and more. Tickets are $10 for adults and kids 13 and up, $5 for kids aged 3-12, and free for kids under 3. The fair is open from 10am to 6pm today.
Forget Black Friday. Kick off holiday shopping today while supporting local with the eleventh annual DIY Trunk Show, Chicago's largest one-day indie craft fair, featuring more than 130 local vendors selling handmade, one-of-a-kind items. Unique jewelry, ceramics, paper goods, bags and purses and even pet accessories are among the many items available in addition to free hands-on workshops and "make and take" jewelry projects. The show opens at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 5:00 p.m. at Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. Stop by the Gapers Block table for swag and free stickers.
The Randolph Street Holiday Market runs today and Sunday at the Plumbers Union Hall, 1340 W. Washington St., from 10am to 5pm. Shop for antique, vintage and modern furniture, jewelry, artwork and housewares. Admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the door; see the website for package deals.
The School of the Art Institute's 26th annual Holiday Art Sale runs Nov. 20-22 in the SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave. Shop for art of all media created by more than 120 students. The show's open from 10am to 5pm today. Admission is free.
Enjoy beers from local brewers (and snacks!) while watching two short films about the love of the suds (Craig Noble's "Craft" and Matt Checkowski's "The Art and Science of Beer") today at noon at Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch. Tickets $45.
Taste (and vote!) on 14 craft beers, then enjoy dinner with the Chicago Beer Society tonight at their Annual Fall Tasting & Dinner, which runs 12:30-5:00pm at Kaiser Tiger, 1415 W. Randolph St. Tickets $50-60.
The inaugural Chicago Italian Film Festival runs Nov. 21-27 at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. The theme is "Italian Comedy: Then & Now." Today's films are The Referee (L'Arbitro) at 2:15pm, The Easy Life (Il Sorpasso) at 4:30pm, Viva la libertà at 7pm and Escort in Love (Nessuno mi può giudicare) at 9pm. Individual tickets are $10, or $8 for members of the Italian Cultural Institute Chicago. See five films for $40.
Lumpen celebrates the release of its 123rd issue with a party at Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St., tonight from 5 to 9pm. There will also be a "Mini Mart" craft show featuring more than a dozen local makers, and Marz Brewing has brewed a special Lumpen IPA for the occasion.
Run the Jewels, the collision of New York's El-P and Killer Mike's southern rap, will be headlining an amazing hip hop show at the Metro, 3630 N Clark. Joining them will be Harlem's Ratking and Queens' Despot. This all ages show starts at 5:30pm. Tickets are $23.
Preview in Transmission
The Old Town School of Folk Music presents an evening of music from Robyn Hitchcock. The concert starts at 7:00pm, and happens in the concert hall in the school's main building at 4544 North Lincoln Avenue. Full details and advance tickets available at the school's Website, or call the school at (773) 728-6000.
November's monthly Cumbiasazo! Dance Party at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, is back with a great lineup including special guests DJ Chorizo Funk and VJ 4th Wall from Texas' Peligrosa crew as well as live stylings of Bomba Con Buya. Dance lessons early-- part of proceeds will benefit Teachers for Social Justice. 8pm-3am, $8 with RSVP or $15 at the door.
Forgotten Species celebrates the release of their first record with a show tonight at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. Daniel Wade, Ancient Friends, plus Made in England Made In France DJing between sets. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors open at 9pm. 21+