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.
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TODAY
Monday, May 6
Slowdown
BY DAY
Friday, July 10 2015
G-FEST XXII
Join fans of Godzilla and Japanese monster movies at G-FEST, called the largest regular gathering of fans in the world. Throughout the weekend, the conference includes presentations, dealers, and panels with actors and filmmakers including Millennium Series Godzilla director Masaaki Tezuka. Movie screenings and concerts celebrating the genre will also take place at various venues throughout the weekend. The conference runs July 10th to July 12th at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare, 5440 N River Rd. in Rosemont. Admission is $25 per day for adults and $40 for the weekend.
Artfest Michigan Avenue @ Chicago Tribune Building
This new summer art festival will take place today from 10am to 7pm and continue throughout the weekend. The festival will feature over 100 artists from around the world, including Zimbabwe artist Peter Rujuwa, Polish Artist Lidia Wylangowska, Julio C. Garcia, Rahmon Olugunna, and Vladimir Pailodze. Admission to the festival is free. The festival will be located at the base of the Chicago Tribune building, 435 N. Michigan.
Windy City Smokeout
The Windy City Smokeout runs July 10-12 at 560 W. Grand Ave., overlooking the river. It's three days of barbecue, country music and craft beer. Kacey Musgraves headlines today's lineup. Tickets are $40 or $145 for VIP -- or get a three-day pass for $99.50 ($400 for VIP). The festival runs from 3pm to 10pm today.
Ruido Fest
Finally, Chicago gets a top-notch Latin alternative music festival. Ruido Fest's lineup soars with talent from all over the Spanish-speaking world, and includes plenty of local acts. Friday's headliners are the psych/alt-rock band Zoé from Mexico and indie rockers Banda de Turistas from Buenos Aires, with a dozen more bands playing on three stages; see the festival website for the full schedule. The festival is all ages. 3-day tickets are $154.99, or $254.99 for VIP. Daily tickets start at $54.99. Ruido Fest is at Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St. Gates open at 3pm, and the festival closes at 10pm.
Square Roots Festival
The Old Town School of Folk Music presents their annual Square Roots festival, a three-day festival featuring live music, local food & beverage vendors, and family activities all weekend long. The festival takes place on Lincoln Avenue, between Montrose and Wilson. A complete schedule is available at the Square Roots website. The fest runs from 5 to 10pm tonight.
A Murder in the Park @ Film Center
The Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., presents the new documentary A Murder in the Park, about a controversial murder case and the exoneration of the man charged for the crime. The directors and executive producer will be at tonight's screening at 8pm for audience Q&A, and there are discussions planned for later screenings of the film. See the Film Center site for a complete schedule and advance tickets. Box office: (312) 846-2085.
US Air Guitar Regionals @ Double Door
The US Air Guitar Chicago Regionals are tonight at the Double Door, 1551 N. Damen Ave., at 8pm. See guitar heroes pick, shred and finger the air as they compete to represent Chicago in the national championships, in hopes of going on to Finland and conquering the world. Past World Champion Nordic Thunder performs at halftime. Tickets are $15. 21+
The Hudson Branch @ Abbey Pub
The Hudson Branch headline a 17-and-over show at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., tonight with Tara Terra and The 92s opening. Doors are at 8:30pm, show's at 9pm. Tickets are $10.
Vaudeo Motion II @ High Concept Labs
Vaudeo Motion II, a multidisciplinary event featuring interactive dance, music, and video, will be performed tonight at 9pm at High Concept Labs, located at 2233 S Throop. Ben Baker-Smith, Evan Kuhl, and Nora Sharp comprise the trio Vaudeo Motion, and use feedback loops of audio, video, and motion signals in their performance to transform spaces into a "unified system." See the show tonight yourself -- tickets are only $5.
