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
Thursday, April 25
Slowdown
BY DAY
Saturday, April 18 2015
Chicago Maritime Festival @ Old Town School
The Old Town School of Folk Music hosts the 13th annual Chicago Maritime Festival all day today. There will be family activities happening from 10am to 4:30pm, a children's concert at 2:30pm, and an evening concert at 7pm. The festival happens in the school's main building at 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.. Full details and passes available at the school's site, or call the school at (773) 728-6000.
SSII: Post-Butoh Festival @ Outerspace
This weekend, April 18-19, the Post-Butoh Festival will be held at Outerspace, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., with performances on both nights at 6:30pm and workshops on both days from 1 to 4pm. RSVP for the event on the Butoh website. Free!
YarnCon
If you like to do anything with yarn, anything that requires yarn, or if you just like being surrounded with pretty soft things, then you'll want to go to YarnCon today. There are a wide variety of classes offered for all skill levels, many vendors who are hard to find at larger yarn shows around the country, and so much inspiration that you'll leave agog and full of ideas. Head over to Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union Hall (1340 W Washington St.) today from 10am to 5pm.
Lake FX Summit + Expo: Culinary @ Macy's State Street
Learn more about Chicago's restaurant scene and the industry in general at today's Lake FX Summit + Expo: Culinary today at Macy's on State Street (events throughout the day). Sustainability, business development, and farm-to-table cooking demos are among the many offerings over today. Free.
Record Store Day
Independent record stores throughout the city and suburbs participate in Record Store Day today, featuring limited edition releases, in-store performances, discounts and other events. See the map for the nearest store to you. Read our preview in Transmission with store listings in Chicago.
Chicago Crafter and Musicians Spring Pop-Up Market
The joy of spring brings the desire for new, pretty things. And the Chicago Crafter and Musicians make it possible to pick up delightful things for yourself, or for gifts, while listening to great local music. Head over to Ebenezer Lutheran Church at 1650 N Foster today from 11am to 6pm to shop from ~25 vendors while several different bands will play.
Record Store Day Brunch @ Boiler Room
Celebrate Record Store Day with an afternoon of brunch at Boiler Room (2210 N. California). From Noon-4pm, you can hear live music (Lulabelles and Model Stranger), do some in-restaurant shopping, and eat some pizza and Bloody Marys.
Baconfest @ UIC Forum
UIC Forum (725 W. Roosevelt) turns into a giant cloud of pork at today's Baconfest; over 150 restaurants (Barn and Company, Black Dog Gelato, Firecakes, Osteria La Mada, Farmhouse, Homestead, etc.) will serve their bacon-infused delights (drinks and food); you sample, sample, and pass out. Today is divided into two sessions: general admission for the first (lunch) session is 12-3pm; dinner is 7-10pm. tickets $100. Event also benefits Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Home Video Day @ Nightingale Cinema
Chicago's first Home Video Day will be held today from 1-5pm at the Nightingale Cinema, 1084 N. Milwaukee Ave. To participate, bring your VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, Hi-8, Video 8 or Mini-DV cassette to have it inspected and repaired (if necessary) before playing up to 5 minutes of the video for the audience. Visit the event's Facebook page for the compete details.
Chicago Latino Film Festival
The 31st annual Chicago Latino Film Festival runs April 9-23 at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. Today's lineup includes 20 films, beginning at 3pm; see the schedule for full details. Tickets are $12 per film, $10 for members of the Illinois Latino Cultural Center. Film passports, good for 12 admissions, are $110.
Empty Bottle Book Club
The Empty Bottle Book Club meets today at the Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., at 4:30pm to discuss Kim Gordon's memoir, Girl in a Band. Free, 21+
20x2 Chicago @ Schubas
Gapers Block is proud to present 20x2 Chicago, a live event where 20 people given 2 minutes each to answer the same question in whichever way they choose. The results may take any form, from spoken word to music to film, and can be as varied as the emotions and reactions they evoke. This edition's question is "What's Next?" and the speakers include Safia Abdalla, James Allenspach, Veronica Arreola, Lily Be, Blagica Bottigliero, Ramsin Canon, Jasmine Davila, Mike Ewing, Sarah Hollenbeck, Felix Jung, Dubi Kaufmann, Rosamund Lannin, H.Melt, Coya Paz, Curtis Shaw Flagg, Jeremy Scheuch, Moshe Tamssot, Sandor Weisz and Ernest Wilkens. See the answers tonight at 7pm at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are $10 online or at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm. 21+
Red Rover Reading Series @ Outer Space
The reading series Red Rover, founded in 2005, celebrates its 10 year anniversary with a reading tonight Outer Space Studio, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. The show is curated by Laura Goldstein and Jennifer Karmin, and for this occasion, readers were asked to defend any issue or topic with their own writing. Exploring this idea will be local writers Cean Gamalinda, Marcy Rae Henry, Nathan Hoks, Daniela Olszewska and Anne K. Yoder. There is a $4 suggested donation at the door. The doors open at 7pm and lock at 7:30pm.
You're Being Ridiculous @ Mayne Stage
You're Being Ridiculous, the sassy, funny and fun storytelling show created by Jeremy Owens, is back tonight in its new home at Mayne Stage. With three shows this month, there's sure to be a date that matches your calendar. Come out tonight to hear stories on the theme "Appetite" from Brooke Allen, Molly Brennan, Erin Diamond, Amanda Drenth, Katie Liesener, Ruth McCormack, and Jeremy Owens. Doors open at 6:30pm and stories start at 7:30pm at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave.Tickets are $15 online. There is no better way to celebrate spring!
HUMP! Film Festival Tour @ Music Box
The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Clark St., hosts the HUMP! Film Festival, a series of short & dirty films curated by Dan Savage. The program of 18 shorts screens Friday and Saturday night; showtimes for both nights are 7:30 and 10:30pm. Full details and advance tickets available at the Music Box site.
Chicago Palestine Film Festival
The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the 14th annual Palestine Film Festival. Seven films from Palestine are scheduled to be screened during the festival, starting with the 2014 film Eyes of A Thief this evening at 8:00pm. See the Film Center site for a full schedule and advance tickets. Film Center: 164 North State Street. Box office: (312) 846-2085.
