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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Thursday, March 28
The Chicago History Museum puts on a three-day lovefest for the hot dog starting today in Lincoln Park (Clark and LaSalle), featuring the stylings of local joints such as Fatso's Last Stand and Chubby Wieners, music, and even lectures about the history of the dog and its local significance (ketchup will be put on blast). Admission free; event runs 11am-9pm today and Saturday, 11am-8am Sunday.
Retro on Roscoe runs Aug. 7-9 on Roscoe Street from Damen to Oakley. This being Roscoe Village, there's a kids area with plenty of family-friendly activities, plus music on three stages, food vendors and an antique car show on Saturday and Sunday. The festival runs from 5 to 10pm tonight. $10 suggested donation.
The Interview Show returns to The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., tonight at 6:30pm. This month host Mark Bazer talks with chefs Cosmo Goss and Erling Wu-Bower, author Dave Reidy and musical guest Jones Street Nation. Tickets are $12. Goss and Wu-Bower will be grilling outside for attendees. Doors open at 5:30pm. 21+
The Vernacular Photography Festival opens tonight at the Logan Square Comfort Station, 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave. The festival runs through Aug. 30; tonight at 7pm, collector John Foster gives a talk, "The Emergence of Snapshots as a Collecting Hotspot," and refreshments will be served. Free.
"Ask the Oracle" will be opening tonight from 7-11pm at Heaven Gallery located at 1550 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. The group exhibition includes painting, sculpture, performance, and video to reference the process of creation and assemblage. The reception is open and free to the public.
The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson bring their End Times tour to FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island, 1300 S. Lynn White Dr., tonight. Tickets are $41.84-$119.87. Gates open at 7pm.
MANsical, a long form musical improv comedy, will begin tonight at 7:30 pm. Based off audience suggestion, seven male improvisers will delight their viewers in a free form MANtage. MANsical has performed all over Chicago, the US, and Canada and will be at Under the Gun, located at 956 W Newport on the 2nd floor, every Friday night in August at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20.
Ten cancer-related charities team up for an evening of Latin dining by the folks at Mercadito, Carriage House and Mott Street, among others (a panel of judges will also pick the night's best grub). Event takes place from 8-11pm at Morgan Manufacturing (401 N. Morgan); tickets $85-135.
"I'M A VAMPIRE!!!" So says Nicolas Cage in this 1988 film that birthed a million memes. Was he right? Only one way to find out. The film screens tonight and Saturday at midnight at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are $9.