"The Big Gay Musical"
Thursday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. at Music Box; $12 ($35 for film and after-party)
You might think that showing a musical at a gay film festival seems a bit, well, obvious. But Casper Andreas's latest goes beyond simple song and dance to tackle some deep issues of identity. Don't worry, he manages to include a few tap-dancing angels for good measure, too. Continue your high with a post-film gala at Architectural Artifacts, where you'll enjoy an open bar and hors' d'oeuvres.

"Stuck!"
Friday, November 6, 7 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema; $10 ($25 for film and after-party)
Who can resist a good "broads-behind-bars" flick? Director Steve Balderson's homage to the genre includes plenty of catfights, hijinks and the occasional illicit love affair. Stop by Circuit afterward for a prison-themed lesbian party with Mink Stole (John Waters's muse).

"The Baby Formula"
Friday, November 6, 9:15 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
They had us at "Canadian mockumentary." The premise of this one is predictably outlandish: Athena and Lilith are partners who decide they want to have a baby with two biological mothers. Except they both get pregnant. Then they have to tell their families. Then things get weird.

"Baby Jane?"
Saturday, November 7, 2 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
It's really as simple as this: "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" with drag queens in the Joan Crawford and Bette Davis roles. We're guessing you already know whether you'll like this one or not.

"And Then Came Lola"
Saturday, November 7, 9:15 p.m. at Film Row Cinema
When something is described as "the fun-filled lesbian rom-com of 2009," you have to check it out. And this take-off on fast-paced German film "Run Lola Run" seems like it will live up to the billing, with an intense pop soundtrack accompanying Lola as she sprints through the streets of San Francisco in a quest to save her relationship with her new girlfriend.

"Fruit Fly"
Sunday, November 8, 2:30 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
A communal house in the Castro district of San Francisco is the setting for this upbeat musical starring "fag hag" performance artist Bethesda, a recent transplant from the Philippines who's just trying to put on a one-woman show. The film has won awards at festivals in Ft. Worth and Philadelphia.

"Fig Trees"
Wednesday, November 11, 9 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
Only at Reeling will you find a documentary that uses opera to get its point across. This film tells the story of two AIDS activists fighting to make treatment accessible for all - even at the cost of their own lives. Narrators include an albino squirrel, an amputee busker and a garlic clove.

"Rivers Wash Over Me"
Saturday, November 14, 9 p.m. at Film Row Cinema
A sensitive gay hipster from New York gets sent to a repressive Alabama town after his mother dies, and deals with rape, assault and murder. Hilarity does not ensue.

"Oy Vey! My Son is Gay!"
Sunday, November 15, 7:30 p.m. at Music Box; $12 ($35 for film and after-party at Architectural Artifacts)
Bruce Vilanch, Jai Rodriguez ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"), Carmen Electra, Vincent Pastore ("The Sopranos") and Lainie Kazan (the mom in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") star in this crazy family comedy. Emphasis on the crazy. If you've ever pondered the "worst-case scenario" of coming out, or you have a Jewish mother, you should see this film.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> On The Scene Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/themoth.html So a lawyer, a DePaul professor and a dance therapist walk into a bar...

The joke would stop there, if not for the endearing comedic weavings of all the lighthearted, though real, characters that highlighted the Chicago kick-off of New York City's immensely popular storytelling series, The Moth, at Martyrs' on September 24.

Down-and-out poet George Dawes Green created the series in 1997 in an attempt to resurrect the ageless art of a well-told tale (as he and his friends used to do growing up in rural Georgia, with a bottle of Jack Daniels as their only aid). Over the years, it's grown from a simple apartment gathering into an always-sold-out party at a bar, to the second most popular podcast on the web, downloaded millions of times per week. In 2001, the series expanded to include open-mic nights, dubbed StorySLAMs; this year, Chicago and Detroit join Los Angeles as the only cities outside NYC to host such events.

The StorySLAM rules are simple: 10 randomly selected performers (would-be participants put their names in a hat at the beginning of the night) get five minutes each to tell a story that fits within a broad theme, such as "School." The off-the-cuff nature of the event recalls Chicago's poetry slams of the mid-'80s, pioneered by Marc Smith - aka SlamPapi - at the now-closed Get Me High Lounge (Smith still hosts Sunday-night slams at the Green Mill). The locals taking the stage last month repped the city well, offering entertaining tales about childhood games (the lawyer), the upside of bulimia (the dance therapist) and educational bravado (the prof), among others.

The very different stories had a couple things in common: all were true, and all were told without notes. This enforcement of spontaneity is a key aspect of any StorySLAM, and while it increases the possibility of failure, that?s part of the appeal, according to guest host Dan Kennedy (who?s also the permanent host of The Moth podcast). Audience members are typically polite, he says ? ?they say hello and that they love you, but they also hang back to see if they?ll need to move to the left should you fall flat on your face.?

The crowd gets plenty of input at any Moth event.

"I like downtown writer-performers, but it's about authenticity,? says Kennedy. "If the choice is between my favorite performer who does gigs all over town to a loyal following, or the guy from the gas station on 8th who just got off work and wants to give this a shot, give me the gas station guy every time. The gas station guy isn't getting off stage to update his Twitter about how he crushed it onstage tonight like the rest of us are doing ? that alone is worth its weight in gold these days."

The Moth StorySLAM will be held at Martyrs' on the last Tuesday of every month ($7 at the door, stories start at 8 p.m.), MC'd by a rotating spotlight of Chicago voices. Upcoming themes include "Firsts" (October 27), "Blunders" (November 24) and "Cars" (December 29).

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> On The Scene Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/international-film-festival.html 'Looking For Eric' (Courtesy of Chicago International Film Festival) There are so many movies from so many places at the Chicago International Film Festival (specifically, 103 films from 45 countries) that finding what you want, as well as when and where to watch it, can be a daunting task. To ease some of that burden, this year's 45th annual festival (running October 8-22) has consolidated all shows to the AMC River East 21. To make it even easier for you, we've gone through and picked the 10 shows you shouldn't miss. Motherhood
USA; Opening Night show, October 8, 7 p.m.
OK, so it isn't the most "international" of films, but Uma Thurman's portrayal of a New York City mother trying to balance a family and a writing career is sure to be up for the year's big awards. Get yourself a seat at the tribute/awards presentation before the show, where Thurman will be a career achievement award recipient. And be sure to check out the post-show reception at The Wit Hotel.

Bellamy
France; October 9, 6 p.m.; October 19, 8 p.m.
In veteran director Claude Chabrol's thriller, famed Paris chief of police (Gerard Depardieu) gets involved in a "sort of" murder that isn't as simple as it sounds. Looking for Eric
UK; October 10, 8:30 p.m.; October 11, 3:15 p.m.
A depressed postman delves a little too far into his obsession for the Manchester United soccer team ... until one night when legendary footballer Eric Cantona appears in his bedroom and tells him to get off his arse and do something with his life (or something like that).

Girls on the Wall
USA; October 11, 1:30 p.m.; October 16, 3:30 p.m.
In a doc that hits close to home, the girls at a juvenile prison in Warrenville tell their troubling life stories through music.

Antichrist
Denmark/Germany; October 12, 7 p.m.
Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg are a couple trying to overcome the death of their son by taking a trip to a backwoods cabin, where things go very, very badly. Dafoe is scheduled to introduce the screening.

Green Waters
Argentina; October 13, 6:15 p.m.; October 14, 8:30 p.m.; October 16, 4:15 p.m.
An overprotective father's worst fears are realized when his daughter falls for a bad-boy on the way to a beachfront vacation in this darkly comedic thriller.

Berlin '36
Germany; October 15, 6:30 p.m.; October 16, 8:15 p.m.; October 18, 11:30 a.m.
The story of Jewish high jumper Gretel Bergmann training alongside Nazi athletes who can't stand her as a lead-up to the controversial 1936 Olympic games is not only an uplifting story, it provides some solace to Chicagoans: Hosting the Olympics is a huge pain anyway.

Those Who Remain
Mexico; October 16, 8:45 p.m.; October 18, noon
If you're going to see one documentary during the fest, this one might be the choice. It's the story of Mexicans left behind after their relatives leave for the allegedly greener pastures of the U.S. Exquisite views of the Mexican countryside make this a visual winner.

Astro Boy
U.S./Hong Kong; October 18, 4 p.m.
The CGI animation tale of the title character, who learns acceptance and how to be a hero in futuristic Metro City. Listen for the voices of Eugene Levy, Nicolas Cage and Charlize Theron, among others.

Dear Doctor
Japan; October 19, 7:45 p.m.; October 20, 5:30 p.m.
A psychological drama about a beloved small-town doctor who one day disappears, leaving a trail of lies for the tight-knit town to discover.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> On The Scene Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/unlikelyart.html Art by Tracy Kostenbader at Cole's in Logan Square. Love art but intimated by the gallery scene? Luckily, there's a wealth of art on display in unlikely locations throughout Chicago, from sushi restaurants to dive bars and public murals. You don't need to pay museum fees or worry about your outfit in order to see compelling exhibits. Simply follow this guide and you'll find art right under your nose.

Hot Woks Cool Sushi (Loop)
Look at contemporary art over your culturally evolved plate of Obama-nami maki rolls or shrimp with lobster sauce and rice at this Asian restaurant located directly across from Millenium Park. Works by Chinese artists like Jie Tann and Chicago artist Glenn Bates grace the walls in a brightly colorful, harmonious display, allowing patrons to check out (and even buy) the art in a laid-back and serene environment.

Rainbo Club
Nelson Algren parked himself here regularly to refuel; currently, you'll find a bevy of locals in skinny jeans and retro glasses relaxing here pretty much every night of the week. Hipsters are always looking for something new, so the selection of art here rotates monthly, but it usually includes photographs, drawings and paintings by local artists - like photographer Jeremy Bolen, also the vocalist in Chicago avant rock band Chin Up Chin Up. Regular receptions provide networking opportunities for artists, and for the crowd, the chance to view emerging art free without sterile white walls and pretentious vibes.

The Whistler
This popular Logan Square spot is home to fancy vintage cocktails and no-cover artsy entertainment, including DJs spinning soul and indie rock, readings by local authors and a storefront gallery displaying monthly exhibitions by local artists like photographer carlsweets and painter/designer Mark Benson. Low-key artist receptions feel more like gatherings (with DJ or band accompaniment) and precede all art shows. Check the website for details on upcoming shows.

Cole's
A breath of fresh air amid much generic gentrification in Logan Square, Cole's is a dive bar with benefits. Local artist Tracy Kostenbader graces the walls with striking photographs and drawings, and local indie bands perform on a well-equipped stage in the spacious back room on Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to the music and art perks, cheap beers ($5 drafts and $2 PBRs, every day) keep folks firmly planted on bar stools.

Three Peas Art Lounge
More of a relaxing, hip lounge/cafe than a gallery, this haven for art lovers and collectors frequently displays work by local standouts. Exhibitions often feature emerging artists such as Dawn Okoro, who does pop art, and Amanda Williams, who creates contemporary paintings that explore the racial and economic boundaries of the city's neighborhoods. Check the website for details on upcoming shows and artist receptions.

Riverwalk Gateway Murals, Lake Shore Drive and Wacker Drive
Nestled in a passageway on the south bank of Chicago River at the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Wacker Drive is a promenade with free art on display. This lovely strolling area presents the painted tile murals of Ellen Lanyon, which depict the history of Chicago from its inception, and show how the river played a major role in the city's growth. Go here for a romantic first date or just an afternoon reprieve. Free to the public, open 24 hours.

Chicago Cultural Center
If you're downtown and get the itch for art, but don't feel like paying $18 to get into the Art Institute, head a bit north for tons of free fun. Multiple art exhibitions - black-and-white photography of Chicago landmarks, contemporary artwork from China and shows by locals like painter Nicole Gordon and venerable photographer Barbara Crane, to name a few - are on display in this landmark building, which is a work of art in itself, with Doric columns and Romanesque arches.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> On The Scene Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/codyhudson.html

Cody's work often details the relationship between found objects, simple shapes and robust colors, which opens the door to layered realms of prosperity and unity. In other pieces, his simple, matter-of-fact demeanor is contrasted by landscapes that are in constant motion, pulsating from one shape to another. The vibrations emanating from Cody's work were much too vivid to ignore, so Centerstage made time to correspond with him to gain some insight on everything from his early inspirations to his undying loyalty to Hot Doug's.

Can you tell me a bit about where you grew up and what inspired you to start making art?
I was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, about one hour north of Chicago. I grew up on the same stuff most of my friends were into, starting with Dungeons and Dragons, then skateboarding and BMX, and punk rock and hip-hop. So I was always making stuff, whether it was drawing D&D characters and weapons to later drawing on the grip tape of my board and making skate zines to making mix-tape covers.

Who were some of the artists that kept you motivated along the way?
I've been inspired by a lot of different people and movements. On the design side of things, I've always looked up to people like Milton Glaser, Paul Rand, & Bruno Munari. And on the fine art side it's an ever changing group of influences including everyone from Paul Klee, Ellsworth Kelly, Ben Shahn, Stuart Davis, Eddie Martinez, Chris Johanson, Nick Cave & Tom Sachs.

When you're creating, do you ever get the sense that what you're making is just an interpretation of another piece of art you've seen and been inspired by or is there a certain process you go through to put your thoughts at the forefront?
Even if I am inspired by someone or something I see, I block that out when creating new work. I want the piece I'm working on to come from my mind state at that time and not come from a reference photo or object.

As a working artist, do you ever get heat from idealists who think you're "selling-out" because some of your art is intended to sell a product?
I really don't listen to much of that.

You've traveled around a lot yet you've decided to make Chicago your home-base. What is it about the city that inspires you?
The mid-west state of mind.

What went into the process of creating album covers for Chocolate Industries?
It's always great to listen to the record and try to interpret it, so that is where I would usually start, although sometimes between myself and the label we would have a pre-conceived idea and just go with that.

I know you're a Sox fan, so tell me what was going through your mind as Buehrle pitched that perfect game.
I've got love for the team and for the Bridgeport area and my grandfather briefly pitched for the Sox in 1918, so it was exciting when I saw the news of the perfect game.

Most of the time it seems like you're occupied by your work. Is there anything in particular that keeps you grounded?
Working in the garden, riding my bike, drinking too many beers.

You have an affinity for Hot Doug's, too. Give me the description of your perfect dog.
I love all the specials, but I'm really into the classic char dog with everything - minus the onions.

Bears or Packers?
Growing up in Wisconsin I was raised in a Packer family, but living in Chicago for such a big part of my life, I've been leaning towards the Bears. So I favor the Bears, but I still have a bit of interest in the Pack, even without Favre.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/koneerok.html The first time I got to know about filmmaker Konee Rok was about 13 years ago when some friends and I went over to his house to bone up on our breaking skills. I remember being somewhat intimidated to share a circle with a guy who loved hip-hop so much that he would hand out flyers at events that berated breakers who danced to house music. We practiced for a few hours, and then Konee pulled us aside to show us a short film he made when he was younger. It was a hilarious stop-and-go animation of Spiderman battling with what I believe was a Puffkin. We shared a good laugh and I was impressed by the skillful timing of his scenes, but I don't think I could have ever anticipated the level of success that he would later go on to achieve.

In a little under nine years Konee has turned Konee Rok productions into a vast database of hip-hop happenings. He's shot footage for artists like Rhymefest, Cap D, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Kanye West and he's been the lead producer for the critically acclaimed City vs. City DVD series (a nationwide b-boying competition started by fellow Chicago Tribe members Check-It and Sneeks). His current resume boasts over 30 projects, and his work has been praised by publications like Time Out Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times to name a few. It's not a stretch to say that Konee is the eye of the Chicago hip-hop scene, so Centerstage thought it would be interesting to catch up with him and hear about his roots in the b-boy scene and how he made the transition to filmmaking.

Who gave you the nickname Konee, and what's it based off of?
One legend says I ran over a bunch of restrictive cones in Driver's Ed, and all the kids made fun of me saying 'I rocked the cones.'

When I met you you were a b-boy for Olympix and then Chicago Tribe. Can you tell me about your experiences with them?
I was in a crew called Hoodlum Posse first with my boy Paulo, then N.S.M. (North Side Movement), then Olympix Krew, then Chicago Tribe. Olympix was formed from a few former N.S.M. members. With N.S.M. we were all in high school. We had something like 20-plus members, not all breakers necessarily, and we would hold regular weekly practices-usually my basement-and head out to parties each weekend to break. I don't know how most breaking crews were run in the early '90s, but we were run by a president, Ares. He had a lot of our battles set up for us and would help strategize battle tactics and tell us what he thought we should practice. My specialty was the backspin [laughs], so I was basically told, 'If someone does a killer backspin you know what to do.' I made great friends and have awesome memories from being in N.S.M., but I ultimately left because at some point it felt like it was leaning towards the idea of a gang more so than a breaking crew. And that wasn't the direction I wanted to go in.

So, when my friend Paulo and I started Olympix, for me, it was about growing up. I was figuring out who I was and what I wanted in a crew; taking more of a leadership role, learning about and embracing hip-hop as a whole and understanding where breaking was rooted. N.S.M was like an introduction to what it meant to be in a crew, holding practices and battling other crews. Olympix, which didn't last very long, was a transition. I later met DJ Spryte (Kid Spryte), and then myself and the rest of Olympix ended up dissolving into Chicago Tribe. Chicago Tribe is now in its 15th anniversary now and has been my commitment. Thanks to the dedication of its members through the years, it has become a legacy and I'm very grateful for that. That's a special thing to help create and still be a part of.

Who makes up Tribe right now?
Man, we got a lot, 15 I think. There are new members every few years. We got the OG's, the contemporaries and the newbies. I think the older guys are about knowledge, advice and groundedness. The contemporaries are out there doing it and the newbies are trying to earn contemp status. If I had time I'd still be a contemp, [laughs].

Were you dabbling in filmmaking before you started breaking?
I was in fact making films and drawing and animating when I was twelve, about two years before I started breaking.

When did you decide to start focusing more of your efforts toward filming?
When I was 19-20 years old. The balance started shifting, and my priorities started leaning more towards film. I had an injury that helped make that happen probably faster than it would have.

Around when did you start Konee Rok Productions?
1999 officially and incorporated in 2001.

The CVC series is pretty amazing. Could you give me your synopsis of what the b-boy scene is like right now?
Thanks. We just put out the new City Vs City DVD part 5. Hope you like it. Originally for me it was all parties and battles with purpose and meaning. Then it became organized competitions and marquee events. There are tons of events these days, but the giant events that everyone from all walks of life would save up and practice for aren't as prevalent. TV shows and the Internet have softened the scene and watered it down I think. I see a lot of difficulty in moves, but I don't see as much creativity. I also see a lot of sloppiness. Also, I see a lot of breakers that look dirty and greasy. I'd like to see more cleanliness.

You've filmed a wide array of hip-hop events. Do you see any cohesion developing in the city or are things still pretty segregated?
Well, I do see many of the artists recording at the same studios when I'm filming; I think it's better, but yes, segregation is still there. It's not NYC. We have more rappers with word names then we ever did, but not a plethora. Chicago isn't on like that yet; where we have so many big names that it's commercially or politically beneficial to do songs together.

What other projects can we expect from you this year?
Just tons of music videos and some interesting documentaries. That's my focus. Thanks for the interview.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/writers-haunts-in-Chicago.html Writers, whether born in Chicago or drawn to it, have been inspired to pick up their pens by everything from the muted beauty of the South Side to the grisly meat-packing district to the "raw-potato odor" of Lake Michigan, as Saul Bellow once wrote. If you're looking for a shot of literary inspiration, the city is full of it. From houses to hangouts, here's where to look. Check out Hyde Park, Saul Bellow-style
A Chicago resident for more than 60 years, Bellow attended and later taught at the University of Chicago. A large section of Harper Memorial Library's north reading room is devoted to books by and about the author, with sprawl-worthy chairs and plenty of sunlight just begging you to curl up with a good book. Head to the Social Sciences Tea Room in the building next door; long before penning The Adventures of Augie March, Bellow would hang out here and discuss literature with friends. Despite the name, there's no tea to be had, so head to the nearby Divinity School Coffee Shop where, as the slogan goes, even God drinks coffee. Grab a burger in Mike Royko's memory
A Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Trib, Chicago native Mike Royko was just one of the many journalists that made the Billy Goat Tavern into an unofficial watering hole for writers, including Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times writers Dave Condon, Bill Granger and Irv Kupcinet. Grab a table amidst the blown-up newspaper clippings adorning the walls and sink your teeth into one of the famous "cheezborgers." Even today you're likely to overhear snatches of writers talking as they nosh on burgers and beers. Walk off your meal with a stroll past Royko's old workplace, the Tribune Tower, located just across the street. Wander Wicker Park while channeling Nelson Algren
Famous for both his realistic writing about Chicago, including Chicago, City on the Make, and his torrid, Chicago-based love affair with Simone de Beauvoir, Nelson Algren was a Chicago man through and through. If you want to channel some gritty Algren energy, head no further than the elaborate fountain named in his honor at the intersection of Ashland, Milwaukee and Division. Algren's old apartment is nearby, at 1958 W. Evergreen Ave., with a sign next to the first floor window letting you know you're in the right spot. If hitting a few landmarks leaves you parched, head north to Algren's favorite bar, Lottie's Pub. Learn the history of Ernest Hemingway in Oak Park
The man that brought us The Old Man and the Sea was just a boy when he lived in Oak Park, but that hasn't stopped this area from memorializing all things Hemingway. Born in a second-floor bedroom with his father's help, Hemingway lived in the house until the age of six and you can tour Hemingway's birthplace to take in more nitty-gritty details of his childhood; get your fill of Hemingway artifacts and stories at the Ernest Hemingway Museum. If all that time indoors leaves you antsy, head to Scoville Park, at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue, where little Ernie would go sledding with his sister when they were kids. Retrace Carl Sandburg's love affair with the city
Carl Sandburg fell in love with Chicago's broad shoulders after moving from Milwaukee to a second-floor apartment on the North Side at 4046 N. Hermitage Ave., but you'll have to head south to scout out Sandburg's haunts. Many of his favorites are long gone, including the Dill Pickle Club, where Sandburg would play guitar, read poetry and hang out big shots like Sinclair Lewis and Robert Frost, and the former site of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, where, in an upstairs room, Sandburg worked on his epic ode to Abe. Live kinda like Sandburg with a stop at the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop's current 357 W. Chicago Ave. location.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/peabe.html Not being as hip to the local art scene as I would like to be, I have followed the work of artists who have the ability to speak volumes outside the intimidating settings of your traditional art gallery. I first met Bryan Odiamar aka Peabe (a surname he adopted through his love for peanut butter) three years ago while spinning at the Elbo Room, and I was immediately drawn to his unconventional take on character representation. Whether it's walking down the street or riding the L, Peabe has managed to display the beauty that surrounds urban life, and show how oblivious we all can be while it fades into the background of our day-to-day grind (an idea expressed in the vacant eyes of his characters). Looking at his work is the same as peering into a comic-book interpretation of someone about to undergo a life-changing experience. It's transformation on canvas, but done in a way that's not nearly as serious as I'm making it seem. To clarify the matter Centerstage caught up with Peabe for a brief 101 on how things got started for him and his take on the current artistic trends.

How long have you been painting?
Been painting on and off since high school. Didn't really get focused until about 4 or 5 years ago. My grandfather was an artist and as a kid drawing time was the fun time. I'd have to get all my homework done and then I'd get to sketch with my lolo [grandfather]. Been drawing since I can remember.

Where there any mentors along the way?
Definitely my grandfather was a big influence on me as a kid. I mean, he got me into drawing and art so he was huge. Other than that, no real mentors.

Did you ever get into traditional graffiti?
Yeah but I fuckin' sucked. I used to write with a couple crews back in the day, but I only did throw-ups and fill-ins. I was, still kinda am, garbagio with a can.

I'm wondering if you can clarify the relationship that modern-day urban art has with the traditional train tagging styles of yesteryear.
There's definitely an influence. I mean I did graff 'cause I never thought characters were a cool thing to do on a wall. Then I quit graff and stuck to canvas. Even then I thought doing characters on canvas was weird but I said whatever and took a stab at it. The color, lines, flow, imagery is an influence and I wanna say it's vice versa now. With any art the main purpose, in my eyes, is to evolve and I get upset when I see an artist I dig becoming complacent with their style and not evolving. I think that's what differentiates the old with the new. Old-school artists not evolving, but making bank off their style from the past, that is just...blah.

Do you have a personal philosophy with your art?
I think it's more of an organic process. I sometimes have a loose idea of what I want to feel from the piece, but I can never definitively sketch what I'm going to do. That's why I have a hard time with commission pieces. People always want to know what they're paying for, but I try to make everything come out of the moment. Luckily people have dug what I've done, but I think it's pretty nerve-wracking for them until it's done and they see it.

Do you see your art as part of any particular type of movement?
So many weird names for it. Pop surrealism. Low brow. Character art. Post pop. I like new brow. There are so many influences in this movement, it's so hard to pinpoint one, so why not just name it something new?

Why the vacant eyes on your characters?
My characters were originally influenced by riding the L every day from when I was 13 until I moved last August. Everyone generally looks sad/empty on the way to and from work. You even see the same people once you get into a routine. It always upset me because there was always such beautiful scenery all around. I used to love staring out the train throughout the '90s, and look out for new pieces on the walls. The CTA competitions were awesome. I always wondered how people could be so melancholy when there's all this beautiful scenery flying past them. So the vacant eyes came from watching people staring out aimlessly while all this beauty flew by. Almost like they were hollow, and in the stage right before they discovered the colors surrounding them.

Now I know you relocated, but I can tell your heart is still in Chicago. Where do you remember finding sources of inspiration?
Dude, everywhere. The lake, my old neighborhood growing up, the neighborhoods I lived in, my family, my friends, the artists there, the people, the haters, the L-I miss everything about Chicago. I always have random details from back home pop in my head to make me miss it all the more. I used to love when I was on the L and it would rain. It would be dark outside while the inside would be lit. Outside looked gloomy, but you still felt good. The rain beading on the glass, looking at buildings with graff whizz by with the reflection of the passengers looking like they're flying through the air. Lightning striking in the background illuminating the rooftops of the buildings close to it. The smell of rain in the city. I still know how Chicago feels, if that makes sense. I feel it right now as I type this and it makes me miss home so bad.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/poetryreadings.html Spoken word may not be quite the draw it was a decade ago, when poetry slams were all the rage. But we set out to find some places in Chicago were the wordplay still packs a wallop. Rather than heading to the expected spots (read: coffee shops and bookstores) we went straight for the local pubs, where the performers (and their work) are expectedly less inhibited and far more intoxicating. Here's what we found.

Green Mill
Jazz may be the typical forte of this Uptown haunt, but when the bands need a break, Chicago's local wordsmiths take the stage. And they've been taking it with fury since its weekly poetry slam's inception at the Green Mill in 1986. Over the years, the slam, hosted by Marc Smith, has featured a plethora of performing poets. The events take place every Sunday around 7 p.m. beginning with an open mic. After that, a number of featured spoken-word artists awe the crowd with rhyme and reason until the evening ends with a serious competition.

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This unassuming diner, located just down the street from the Green Mill, has its own take on spoken word, one that revolves entirely around the city's GLBT community. The aptly named Homolatte reading series, hosted by Scott Free, features gay and lesbian spoken-word artists on the first and third Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. You can check out work by past performers on Homolatte's website.

2nd Story
OK, so we're straying a bit from poetry for a minute here, but the stories told by this literary troupe are just too good to pass up. Produced by the Serendipity Theater Collective, 2nd Story is a strange and pleasing mix of storytelling, wine and music (you're bound to love at least one, if not all, of the above). The reading series is held monthly at two of our favorite vino-fueled spots; Webster's Wine Bar (second Sunday of every month) and Red Kiva Lounge (last Wednesday of every month). For just $10, you get to hear four to five different storytellers backed by a live band (for theatrical purposes like creating atmospheres, acting as a love interest, serving as dialogue and so on). For more information on storytellers, bands, schedules, or to purchase tickets in advance on 2nd Story's website.

Funky Buddha Lounge
This River West club's bold moniker sets high expectations, and its Supa Soul Sundays (9-11 p.m.) sure deliver. Expect a lineup of poets, vocalists and comedians, followed by local musicians and MCs. Afterward (11 p.m.-2 a.m.), you can dance to a mix just as eclectic as the poets (think hip-hop, rock, salsa, soul, pop, reggae and underground).

Inner Town Pub
Considering the crowd of hipsters and starving artists that stake claim to this Bucktown dive, it isn't surprising to find the same cats taking a poetical stance on open-mic night (Thursdays and Sundays, 10 p.m.). In fact, if you're at a loss for inspiration, this is the ideal spot to ignite your literary libido. Just take a look at the eclectic (and extremely dark) interior, which is something akin to the aftermath of a shipwreck; you're bound to find something on these cluttered walls to write about.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Lit Happenings Sun, 31 May 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/grant-park-art.html As "front lawn" to the city of Chicago, Grant Park hosts more than its share of summertime festivities. Add to that the jam-packed social calendar of the adjacent Millennium Park, and most Chicagoans will be spending the duration of festival season in this enormous downtown green space. So how does one keep entertained between sets? How can visitors to our fair city sneak in a little tourism en route to the festivities? By taking a self-guided public art tour, of course! Start at the northern end of Millennium Park and wander south to catch these al fresco exhibits.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion
"What the hell is that thing?" That's the question that gaggles of tourists are wondering aloud as they stand in front of Frank Gehry's revolutionary concert venue. At 120-feet high, the proscenium of this brushed stainless steel structure boasts Gehry's signature waves, and the design continues with an elaborate trellis that encompasses the entire 95,000-square-foot lawn. The only venue of its kind in the United States, this pavilion offers an egalitarian approach to the live music experience; clear sightlines reign supreme, and the state-of-the-art sound system is designed to assure that every member of the crowd gets a good listen.

Cloud Gate
That gigantic mirrored bean-shaped sculpture on the northern end of Millennium Park isn't just for giggles?it happens to be a masterwork by Indo-British provocateur, Anish Kapoor. So why does it look like a legume? For maximum reflections of the cityscape and prairie skies (and all those funny faces you're making into it). Sixty-six feet long, 42 feet wide and 33 feet high, Cloud Gate's fortified steel frame was constructed on this spot before a stainless steel shell was applied and buffed smooth. This hollow structure is actually among the priciest pieces of public art Chicago has ever commissioned; meant to cost $9 million, the final costs totaled upwards of $23 million. That's one pricey bean.

Crown Fountain
What at first glance seems to simply be a water-themed play park for the little ones, the twin glass-block towers that make up Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain are a visionary example of interactive, multimedia art with a civic duty. Located in the southwest corner of Millennium Park, both 50-foot-tall structures contain massive LED screens, which the artist fills with images of Chicago residents; Plensa filmed 1,000 Chicagoans to represent the multi-cultural face of the city. So why do they spit? He intended the faces to pay homage to gargoyles of yore, whose open mouths could often be found streaming aqua (a symbol of life) in historic fountains.

Buckingham Fountain
It's hard to resist humming "Love and Marriage" while watching the majestic eruptions of Buckingham Fountain, but this stately display has a history that goes back a little further than "Married With Children." It was commissioned by Kate Buckingham as a memorial for her brother and designed by Edward H. Bennet (who, along with Daniel Burnham, co-authored the Plan of Chicago). The architect constructed the fountain, still one of the largest in the world, of Georgia pink marble and modeled it after the much smaller Latona Basin in the gardens of Versailles. The four seahorses (by Marcel Loyau) are intended to represent Lake Michigan's neighboring states (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan). Opened in 1927, the fountain contains 820 lights and 134 jets that circulate over 14,000 gallons of water per minute.

Agora
No, those terrifying headless sculptures hanging out at the southern end of Grant Park aren't zombies; they are just Magdalena Abakanowicz's gift to Chicago. One-hundred-six iron-cast figures congregate in a crowd, with enough space for flesh-folks to wander between. Each of the reddish-brown figures is over nine-feet tall, which gives visitors the distinct impression of walking in a forest. Abakanowicz and her team carefully molded individual details on each model before casting the sculptures, nuances which can be detected upon close inspection, despite that they all look very similar from far away. What a treat to traverse a crowd of immobile figures after elbowing your way through festival swarms all day.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Sat, 09 May 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/artchicago2009.html

If there's one thing that we can all agree needs change, it's the frail economy. But Madden and Art Chicago Vice President Tony Karmen don't think that money woes will pose a problem for potential attendees, especially fellow artists and enthusiasts. "We expect another great year," says Karmen. "Art Chicago is still a major attraction, especially for those in the art world." And as Madden points out, "Chicago offers the perfect contextual backdrop for an art fair." We do, after all, have entire city blocks devoted to some of the nation's best architecture and recreational parks. Heck, even our street art is inspiring, not to mention totally free.

You'll have to pay ($20) to get into Art Chicago, and you'd better bring a checkbook if you plan on shopping, as prices range from $500 into the millions. Those numbers might not mean much to serious art enthusiasts, but as Madden puts it, "Every purchase will be more considered and thoughtful this year."

In addition to the Partisan exhibit, Art Chicago will feature New Insight, a collection of work from graduate art programs around the country, and The Hairy Who and Imagist Legacy in Contemporary Art, which will honor the legendary, subversive Chicago movement of the 1960s. Those looking for further intellectual stimulation should explore the provocative series of panels and presentations called Art Chicago Speaks, featuring a vibrant palette of experts discussing everything from museum cutbacks to collecting outsider art. "Our speaker series has about 100 of the brightest minds in art participating in one way or another," says Madden. The full schedule is available on the Art Chicago website.

Continuing the theme of change, ARTropolis (Art Chicago's umbrella art fair) has undergone a few transformations. First, the fair is hosting fewer galleries in more open spaces, along with fewer shows. Typically, Artropolis features five different shows, but with so much art to see and so little time, that got to be a little overwhelming. This year, there will be more focus with just three shows running concurrently, including Art Chicago, NEXT (an invitational exhibit of cutting-edge art) and the 12th annual International Antiques Fair, where long-time antiques enthusiast and collector Martha Stewart will serve as keynote speaker.

Another big (and we mean big) change is the recent Buckminster Fuller installation. Both Karmen and Madden are particularly excited about the 24-foot fly's eye dome (courtesy of Max Protetch Gallery, New York), which will serve as a focal point for the fair. Madden points out that "it will be the first thing people see when they walk in." The modern structure, constructed from fiberglass sections and stainless steel bolts, will be displayed in Merchandise Mart's grand South Lobby through late June.

Fuller's work will also be represented at Art Chicago by Carl Solway Gallery from Cincinnati. The booth's exhibition, titled, "Buckminster Fuller and his Friends at Black Mountain," will feature the work of Fuller, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Joseph Albers and Robert Rauschenberg. In all, Art Chicago will showcase work from 110 leading galleries, 42 cities and 9 different countries (Spain, Germany, England, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, India and France). It will also include pieces from world-renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

If you've got $150 to spare, we suggest heading over to the Merchandise Mart on Thursday, April 30 (noon-3 p.m.) for a special sneak preview during Art Chicago's First Focus, benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art. There will also be a nighttime preview (6-9 p.m.) for $40. The general and more affordable ($20 gets you into all three shows) run of the fair will take place from Friday, May 1-Monday, May 4.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Art Guides Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/revisecmw.html When Won Kim (aka Revise) puts brush to canvas, people take notice. As a longtime member of the famed Chicago's Most Wanted crew (aka CMW), he has played a key role in hip-hop's emergence in the contemporary art world, thanks to work often described as controlled chaos molded by a kaleidoscope of colors, letters, and shapes. Kim has been featured in a number of art shows including Hello My Name Is Chicago, Urban Garden Walk, Impaired Visions: Chicago and most recently the Winter Block Party at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater.

Before he got caught up in something new, Centerstage sat down with him to conjure up his perspectives on the scene.

Tell me a little bit about where you grew up and the impact it had on your development as an artist.
I was raised in West Rogers Park. It really didn't impact me that much as an artist growing up around that area. If anything, it taught me how to accept a lot of different cultures and people. It was a pretty diverse area where Pakistanis, Jews, blacks and Assyrians just sort of got smashed together.

You mention in your bio that you decided to take on a demanding art form when you entered junior high. What went into that decision and what was your experience like as a budding artist?
I initially wanted to do graff because my locker partner in grammar school did it. His style and letters were something out of this world to me at the time. That grew into curiosity which grew into research and then obsession. It was the only thing that made me feel like I was progressing at a rapid rate. It was almost liberating to do something self-taught and not have boundaries or a set of rules.

What local artists helped your progression?
I think a lot of local artists influenced my style as well as opened up my eyes to technicalities that I to this day try to perfect. Underground artists like Chris Silva, Antck, UFG crew, CMW crew of course, Raven SB, DC5 crew, ASC, Arem and all of the heavy hitters at the time who adorned the train lines with color and cleanliness.

How did you link up with the CMW crew?
I linked up with ERIE from CMW at a b-boy event in, of all places, Northbrook. He was wearing a winter hat with CMW embroidered on it and I, like a groupie, went up to him and asked about the letters on his hat. I happened to have my sketch book on me and showed him some stuff and he seemed impressed enough to ask if I wanted to join because they were trying to recruit some younger members with newer styles to advance. There are only a few crews in Chicago that have made the kind of mark that CMW has as far as stature, work and progression. CMW has more of an impact on the graffiti world more than anything. We don't consider ourselves as artists-some cross over but the majority remains bombing and doing what real graffiti is supposed to be-illegal. CMW is a crew that will always come up in any graffiti conversation regarding Chicago so I can say that I am a proud member and will continue to be.

Some idealists really make a fuss about putting graffiti on canvas, what's your response to that?
Well that's funny because these "idealists" always end up painting on canvasses anyways. I don't really care for idealists because situations and opportunities change. I know a lot of hardcore bombers that will shun the art community, yet attend all of the openings to see if their names are recognized. There are rules that are self-implicated so they always change and are up for debate according to each individual. I know that I struggle with it sometimes, but in the end, I'm losing sleep over how I'm going to pay bills rather than whether or not I'm keeping it "real."

What's your feeling on graffiti becoming more of a commodity; does that alter or fuel your creative process?
I think like any other art form where something is seen as an investment, you have to think about the audience and what is relevant. The commodity portion doesn't alter it as much as opinions - the likes and dislikes. I take everything to heart and always try to switch things up. I don't ever go into a piece thinking about the possibility of a sale because that would make me feel like more of a sellout than I might be! I just paint what comes to me - as cliché as that is.

How do you price your pieces?
A lot of people tell me that I underprice things, but I price things realistically. I take into consideration the time it took, the size, materials used, blah blah blah. I am by no means famous enough yet to price things in the thousands. I guess I need to document crazy things I do to look more unstable, maybe that'll get me famous a la "Jackass."

Compare Chicago's style of graffiti to other major metropolitan areas.
I think that Chicago style has a certain edge and bite to it. It's very sharp and angled - the blue-collarness really comes through in my opinion. It's clean and dirty at the same time. It's not as free flowing and large as the West Coast and it's not as grimy as the East Coast, where bubble letters are prized. I think we have the best of both worlds here with influences from all over.

How has your work been received overseas?
I've only had direct contact in Seoul and they loved it. They loved the fact that I was from the U.S. and had a completely different style from them and my methods were so backwards. Graffiti is one of those unexplained things where you don't have to have any kind of history with someone that does it, yet this one commonality is enough to fuel a comradery that is universal.

Are there any favorite spots in Chicago you use as sources of inspiration?
I like to walk a lot so I get to see a lot of details about this city that you miss when driving or on a bike. I think everything about the city inspire me. The limited intentional nature everywhere, all of the construction, the segregated lines of neighborhoods, pot holes, shoddy construction, dirty alleys, fire escapes, tin ceilings - the city is its own organism.

You DJ as well. Does one part of your art bleed over to the other?
I haven't really noticed but if I had to guess, it may be impatience. I never hear a song to the end, it's mixed out after the second chorus or breakdown, of a song...I started [doing it] as a stress-reliever to graffiti and now it's vice versa.

What are your upcoming projects for 2009?
I am always doing my Sketch Monday over at Corosh, Sketch Monday is something I started to get some work done outside of my home with other artists who may have the same kind of cabin fever. It's also a chance to connect with other styles, methods and personalities. I also have a show with the fellas over at Oh No Doom at the end of February, I'm going to New York for a live art gig, a project with Whole Foods...all over the place.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/bookslutpreview.html Bookslut reading, well, you probably need to get out more. Or, perhaps, you just need to read more. The online resource for literary junkies launched in 2002, when editor-in-chief Jessa Crispin was bored at work in Austin, Texas. The following year, she moved to Chicago and her little hobby turned into a full-time gig; the site now reels in 8,000-9,000 unique readers each day. For the past three years Crispin has hosted a monthly Reading Series in an effort to expose authors to their Chicago audience.

This month, in honor of The Association of Writers and Writing Programs Annual Conference, Bookslut is featuring a notable trio of nationally recognized poets. The bookish bash is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11 on the second floor of Andersonville's Hopleaf, where an estimated 50 guests will rub shoulders with a roomful of authors and fellow book-fiends. A private bar will offer a selection of Belgium brews and wines to take the edge off, but reservation has never been much of a problem for the Bookslut crew. Especially when authors like Jonathan Ames take the stage.

During a recent Bookslut reading, Ames encouraged audience participation during a handful of magic tricks. Other surprises are more subtle, like the one Aleksandar Hemon (author of The Lazarus Project) made back in October, when he showed up for a reading from Dubravka Ugresic. Bookslut Assistant Caroline Eick was just as shocked as the audience members to see the famous author: "My jaw almost hit the floor," she said. Other author's, like local poet Queeney offer VIP readings with a special sneak preview into unpublished work. Eick likens the previews to hearing a band's new album before they've even set foot into the recording studio.

February's lineup promises to blow those past events out of the water. "This particular event is exciting because it's taking place the week of AWP, but before AWP really gets swinging," says Eick. "This city will be chock full of great authors and we selected three standout poets to participate in this reading."

Idra Novey

Brandi Homan

Hilda Raz

"It's [Bookslut] such a unique opportunity to hear the best voices in literature," says Eick. "Since we feature three to four authors per reading, attendees often find themselves coming for one author, but being swept away by another author's work."

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Lit Happenings Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/kevincoval.html Kevin Coval is an author/spoken-word poet who has penned two critically acclaimed books: Slingshots (EM Press 2005), which was named a "Book of the Year" finalist by The American Library Association, and Everyday People (EM Press 2008). His poems have graced the pages of the Chicago Tribune, The Spoken Word Revolution, Rattle, Cross Currents and The Huffington Post, to name a few. He's appeared in four seasons of Def Poetry Jam (for which he also serves as artistic consultant), makes regular appearances on NPR and started the world's largest teen poetry festival, called Louder than a Bomb: The Chicago Teen Poetry Festival.

And as if his resume wasn't impressive enough, Coval has served as an ambassador for hip-hop by making countless pilgrimages to locations all across the globe including The Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town, South Africa, The African Hip-Hop Festival: Battle Cry, Poetry Society of London, University of the West Indies in Jamaica and St. Xavier's College in Mumbai, India. Centerstage was lucky enough to catch up with Coval while he was in Chicago to talk about everything from his new book to the late, great Studs Terkel.

Tell me a little about where you grew up and how you got interested in hip-hop?
I grew up in Northbrook. I started listening to hip-hop around 1982. "Flashdance," "Beat Street" and "Breakin'" were important movies for me as a kid. I tried to break early on, I danced on cardboard in front of the convenience store for change. I was kinda wack, but stayed listening to the music. Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," a bit later heard Run DMC's "King of Rock" and was entranced by the fun and brilliance of their wordplay; the circus-like language and juggling they engaged in.

When did poetry begin to creep into your creative development?
Hip-Hop is poetry. KRS-ONE called himself a poet. Chuck D would send me to the library to look up references he was making in his rhymes. These emcees were consciously participating in and exposing me to an alternative canon of verse in American letters, verse that felt more inclusive of the American experience; a working class narrative, not just dead white dudes getting lost in the woods.

Why take on the role of a poet/author rather than a straight-up MC?
I love rhyming and choose at times to use various rhyme schemes and forms in my poems, but for me poetry broadens the possibility of my poetic. I sometimes, while writing rhymes, feel trapped by 4/4 time, and there are amazing emcees who break that time, but for me, the freedom on the verse, of the blank page, of recording a story for my life and the lives around me, seems best suited for a poem. I do, however, feel my responsibility is to still move the crowd. Like Rakim said, this is what it means to MC, to reach people where they are at.

There seems to be a fine line between spoken-word and rap. Draw the line for me.
There is and isn't a line. Both are the same ancient forms of oral story-telling, all indigenous traditions tell and retell their histories. Rappers are poets, poets are spoken-word artists, spoken-word artists are emcees and backwards from there. And in all these forms, including traditional canonical poets, there are writers who take their craft seriously and excel, and there is a whole lot of wackness everywhere. And this is true in all forms. There are a billion wack dance recitals, but then there is Wakka from the Brickheadz or other amazing dancers. The idea of movement, of what is possible with the body is transformed. Language is common, but to hear how Lil' Wayne pulls apart the sounds of words, or how Ang 13 splits styles and elevates rhyme to a new-school blues, the idea of wordplay and the musicality of language is altered and advanced.

You're an ambassador for hip-hop, with your visits to universities and different countries. How has academia accepted your work as a whole?
Academia is always late to the party. That's part of its role, to preserve, but the new is often happening outside its walls. I teach colleges that the freshest culture happens by and large outside the institutions when people create for the sake of creation, not degrees.

Tell me a little about your relationship with Def Poetry Jam, and how that came to fruition.
In 2000 or 2001, before the HBO show, there was a 12-city tour. In each city there was a poetry slam and a showcase. When the folks from Def Jam came to Chicago, I read in the showcase at the MCA, and after the show HBO producers whispered in my ear that there would be this show on HBO and to stay in touch. I never really believed them, but every now and again I'd drop Deb Pointer, one of the producers, a line just saying "what's up." She said it was all coming together and eventually they got the go-ahead to film four episodes for the first season. I appeared on that season and four of the six seasons in all.

I see that you have a wonderful quote from Studs Terkel on your bio page. Were you able to develop a friendship with him before he passed? Any words on Studs himself?
I am humbled what Studs said about me and the book, he was very generous. I have been radically shaped by his belief in the elevation of the personal narrative and his radically egalitarian views of people's stories. Whether the mayor or a nurse or custodian or bartender, he thought all folks were equally relevant and interesting. I met him a couple of times and we shared a stage at the Steppenwolf, but he read my work because Rick Kogan, himself a Chicago institution and Studs' heir, gave Studs my book. I received a beautiful letter from Studs upon his reading it and am honored to pick up a pen in the same city he recorded in.

Tell me about Everyday People?
Realist portraits of people I see often, or have met once; a meditation on Chicago and American History. In the tradition of Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks, trying to record the stories in front of my nose and capture the beauty and brutality of the city, to hold in the same moments this paradox and seeming contradiction that is Chicago/America. In this city, in the same moment we have a governor to evict and a President-elect, now President. This is typical of our city, our country.

How did you bring together the Louder Than a Bomb series? And what has been your strongest tool for battling apathy within the youth?
Nine years ago an amazing poet and educator, Anna West, and I along with Young Chicago Authors, created LTAB. We were finding in classrooms all over the city young people who responded well when asked what they thought about the world(s) they inhabit. Chicago has a failing public school system, and part of the reason for this is that students are not engaged in the classroom because they are not asked to connect the learning to their everyday lives. Our pedagogy is to invert the teacher-student model, and simply ask students to become reporters and recorders of the neighborhoods they live in. They become, in the words of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, "real-life documentarians."

It's a loaded question, but what about Chicago inspires you?
The people. We are a proud and great and segregated city filled with contradictions and tradition and hope. We are the great American city, NY really being cosmopolitan and LA being plastic. As goes Chicago so goes the rest of the country, we are the heart center, and as of Nov. 4 the rest of the world got hip to that.

You seem to wear many different creative hats, is there any place you like to go just to relax and settle the mind?
Montrose Harbor, I got aunts in Michigan City and the local drive south and 41 through Gary are always chill. I recently became an artist in residence at the U of C and Hyde Park is a kind of oasis. I like film so the art houses in Chicago are pretty great, the Gene Siskel Center, the Landmark and Music Box. But for real though riding the train is kind of relaxing to me, comforting for some reason: the loops and the trains make the bodies huddled and quiet, the public intimacy of napping commuters, all these places.Who are some of your favorite Chicago personalities?
Dr. Haki Madhubuti, Rick Kogan, Ang 13, Marc Smith, Rami Nashashibi, my aunt Joyce and cousins Jackie and Charlotte.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/streetwise.html This past November, Chicago's notorious street newspaper became a full-color glossy. The news was somewhat shocking, considering the downward spiral of the city's print publications, but that didn't seem to be a concern for the not-for-profit organization, which hopes to see a positive change with its new format and slogan: "A better StreetWise, A better life."

Currently, StreetWise has just over 200 vendors who pay out of their own pockets in the hope of gaining enough income to keep them afloat. Each one buys the publication wholesale and then sells it at retail value. These vendors are the men and women you often see standing outside of Starbucks, CVS, White Hen and other local quick-stops. Most of them are homeless or near-homeless and have no opportunity to work outside of StreetWise. Next to the financial assistance provided by the publication, many vendors hope to gain invaluable learning and entrepreneurial skills through hands-on classes, which the publication can offer more of with the possibility of increased revenue.

Vendor Don Smith is currently honing in on computer and basic construction skills at a local trade school and spends three days out of the week selling StreetWise. Smith has been a vendor since 1995 and credits the publication for getting him back on the right track: "I used to drink, and do some other wrong things. Now I've put myself together. I got more pride in myself, take care of myself, and I've got more confidence in myself. It's like a self pick-me up. It's not just a step up, but a couple steps up." Other long-time vendors, like Lonnie Lloyd, use their earnings to support their families. Lloyd works hard to provide for his sixth-grade son Isaiah, and in turn, Isaiah keeps Lloyd company while he sells StreetWise each morning.

On any given day, you can find vendors greeting shoppers at a number of Jewel locations (Lloyd can usually be found at Jewel in Wilmette on Green Bay Road); the local chain is, after all, one of StreetWise's biggest sponsors. Other vendors, like Ray Thomas, target commuters in need of caffeine by selling StreetWise outside of the Lincoln Square Starbucks (located on the corner of Lincoln and Wilson). "I'm always right here on this corner, no matter how cold it is," says Thomas. And lately that means standing outside in below-freezing temperatures. But the longer Thomas waits, the higher his chances of selling. Now think about it: how many times have you forked over a buck or two for your neighborhood StreetWise guy? Probably just about as often as you've doled out a dollar for a beggar on the street, because, unfortunately, this is how we're wired to respond. But the publication's new format seeks to change all that by not only gaining corporate support from local sponsors, but also developing a solid foundation of readers in the process.

From a reader's standpoint, the new format is more of a value, even with the increase in price (up from $1 to $2). Visually, a full-color glossy is far more appealing, and editorially, it allows for more freedom by making room for lengthier features and a number of shorter, timely pieces. Articles like "Non-Toxic Solutions" offer non-alcoholic drink recipes and savvy tips on how to present them, while more city-focused pieces like "Chicago 25 Years Ago" provide a little history. For many, it's quite an improvement from the old StreetWise, which portrayed a gritty, "from the streets" perspective. But you've got to see the magazine to believe it, and Thomas says that not as many people are willing to give it a good look with the price hike: "They just don't want to pay that extra dollar, especially when times are tough for everybody."

Looking ahead, the new magazine plans to publish even more human interest and lifestyle stories-still keeping focus on the issues at hand, with a more approachable tone. But the glossy images and professional photos are more than just an added perk for readers; they're also a selling point for advertisers. Another motivating factor in the change-urged by the country's economic woes-is the expectation for an increase in Chicago's homeless population. StreetWise board members plan to alleviate that by increasing its advertising pages.

Other efforts are being made to assist vendors in their magazine-selling venture. For one, individual and bulk subscriptions-specifically for those in surrounding suburban areas and corporations-are available for the first time since StreetWise's launch in 1992. A certain percentage of each paid subscription will go directly to the vendors, while remaining revenue will fund new programs at area colleges. The organization plans to collaborate with local institutions to offer structured learning programs for its vendors, such as career skills training. It's the combination of these financial and community factors that will ultimately push the StreetWise-sellers into the mainstream marketplace.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Lit Happenings Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/local-comic-creators.html

That said, color me surprised to the point of painful arousal when I learned that there's actually a rather robust Chicago comic scene for me (and you and your brother and his science teacher, Jethro) to explore and experience, with more than its fair share of awesome comic creators to pad the potent ranks. The following are just a few of my favorites, soon to be a few of your favorites as well. So go out and buy their comics at Chicago Comics.

Or else.

Daniel Clowes
Do you know who Daniel Clowes is? I really doubt it. Though he's not a household name among the "normals" of the world, he's downright famous when it comes to underground comic book nerds. Even if you haven't read his long-running Eightball comic (1989-present, which is practically my entire life), you've probably heard of either Ghost World or Art School Confidential, both of which were adapted from his Eightball comic into critically acclaimed, Terry Zwigoff-helmed feature films. (Clowes was even nominated for an Academy Award for Ghost World's screenplay).

Ghost World is a sad, sad book, and if I had a human heart?one that regularly pumped blood and wasn't black and shriveled?I'd probably be heartbroken by the oppressively depressing (if somewhat comedic) nature of the story. I've heard that some people call this the Catcher in the Rye of comic books, and sure, I can see that?if I squint really hard. Catcher in the Rye, for all the sadness it embodies, is entertaining as hell. It's hard not to love Holden Caulfield, and it's even harder to like Enid Coleslaw, the nasty, self-loathing and mean-spirited main character in Ghost World. That's probably why I like her so much.

Alex Ross
Alex Ross is, without a shred of doubt, the most famous comic book artist working today. His beautiful, picturesque paintings are at once life-like and dream-like and lurid and lucid, as if the images themselves transcend the page and come to life in front of your very eyes. Typically, it's hard to see a full-grown man with muscles bigger than your head, underwear over a pair of blue tights and laser beams for eyes and not think, "There's something unrealistic about all of this," but somehow Ross pulls it off. He became famous in the comics community for his work on Marvels, a comic miniseries that retells the major Marvel characters' origin stories?Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the like?from the everyman's perspective.

His most famous work, however, is Kingdom Come (co-written by Mark Waid in 1996), a dark and twisted, but ultimately very entertaining, glimpse into a "potential" future of the DC Comics universe. Have you ever wanted to see old-man Batman belittle old-man Superman, or Joker get shot through the chest and killed? Or what about Superman and Wonder Woman making a super, wonder, half-clay, half-alien baby? Probably not, but here's your chance anyway.

Chris Ware
Ahh, more sadness in the form of comic books; indeed, if there's a reoccurring theme in the world of Chicago comic books (except Alex Ross), it's the overwhelming and pervasive sense of melancholy to the point of nihilism. Take Chris Ware's award-winning Acme Novelty Library, for example. First, you read that title and then you see the art?drawn like old cartoons from the early 20th century, only far more bizarre?and the last thing you're thinking about is how pointless and painful everything in life is. Then you read the words and...my God, it's the only thing you'll think of ever again.

That doesn't mean the Acme Novelty Library series isn't beautifully crafted in the most incredibly minute and impeccable detail possible. After all, there's a reason it has, since 1993, won numerous Harvey Awards, Eisner Awards, Ignatz Awards and Good Taste Awards, and it probably has nothing to do with everyone feeling so sorry for Chris Ware and how sad he is?probably.

Jeffrey Brown
If you didn't know who Daniel Clowes was, there's no chance in hell you've heard of Jeffrey Brown. Hands down my favorite book of his is Clumsy, a badly drawn graphic novel (it looks like a monkey?that was terrible at drawing?drew it really quickly) about how powerful and perplexing and sometimes paralyzing "new love" can be for the lovers. The emotions are intense, heightened tenfold or higher, and all you ever want to do is touch her (or him), see her (or him), think about her (or him) and most of all be with her (or him). This book captures all of that (and the aftermath) effortlessly, and it barely looks better than stick figures whilst doing it. Bravo, Brown, you terrible artist you. Bravo.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/skokie-art.html

North Branch Gallery
Owner and curator Sonya Baysinger opened this spot last January, when she finally had enough of Skokie's dour art scene. "I wanted to bring back the celebration of art," says Baysinger, who teaches at Columbia College. She brings in controversial, cutting-edge pieces from seasoned artists all over the states; a mere glance through the windows of this gallery and you'll see there's nothing suburban about the work featured here.

Baysinger is also involved with IMODS (Independent Merchants of Downtown Skokie) in an ongoing redevelopment project that jazzes up abandoned storefronts with local artwork. Unlike the professional pieces housed in her gallery, Baysinger uses the street-level exhibition to showcase works by upcoming artists, including high school students.

Skokie Public Library
As Manager of Public Information and Programs, Christie Robinson scouts the map for an eclectic range of artwork to feature in the library. Past works have included traditional Korean paintings by Young Ro Lee and photos from the local Skokie Photographic Society and illustrations by Alan Magee, who has had work featured in Playboy, Time and New York Magazine.

Library exhibitions change frequently, but there are a few pieces that have become aesthetic extensions of the building. Sculptures like "Swans" and "The Zen Bench," as well as an intricate painting titled "Piece in Vietnam" can all be found inside the library, while the more monumental sculptures, including a nine-foot tall, bronze Holocaust memorial, have a permanent home just outside the building.

photo: Stacy Warden; Refuge's "I'm Sorry" exhibit

Past exhibits included the aptly-titled "I'm Sorry." The exhibit showcased three-by-five images filled with heartfelt words and images that'll leave you standing awestruck in the middle of Current's small space.

Northshore Sculpture Park
In the late 1980s, the Village of Skokie and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District built an artful recreation area along the Chicago River. The bike path and sculpture park, an impressive combination of fitness and culture, run north along McCormick Boulevard. The path, running two miles long from Dempster Street to Touhy Avenue, is peppered with more than 60 sculptures from artists all over the world, including some of Chicago's finest.

Free guided tours are given monthly from May through October, covering a different section of the park each time. But if you want to see it all in one shot, you'd better go DIY. Download the self-guided tour from the park's website and bring it with you for directions and details on each piece. Cram your picnic basket full of goodies and make a day of it.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Art Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/summerwriting.html Not going back to school this fall? That doesn't mean you can't learn a thing or two. Exercise your brain with these writing courses, and someday, it could be your words those eager young minds are reading (or at least buying the Cliffnotes for).

Get real (or fake it) at StoryStudio Chicago
Whether you're looking to write the great American novel, chronicle a real-life event or write the screenplay that could get you to Hollywood, the StoryStudio has got you covered. Students can choose from a variety of ongoing courses, encompassing everything from short stories and comic essays to how to handle your first public reading (hint: laughing at your own jokes is no-no). If you're too busy to take an extended course, jump in for a single-session class.

Sketch away at the Second City Training Center
Aspiring comedians can get a taste of writing sketch comedy in this four-level program covering everything from basic scene structure and character development to how to establish actions. Using weekly writing assignments and in-class exercises, the Second City staff will help you get your skills off the ground. After a while, you might even be able to move up to the Advanced Writing Program, which includes tutorials on using sources such as current events and personal history to create new sketches.

Get personal at The Writers' Loft
Jerry Cleaver promises to get you writing if it's the last thing he does?and he's done a lot of things, including creating the online course Write Your Novel Now. Cleaver created The Writers' Loft more than 20 years ago (it's the longest-running writing workshop in Chicago), and he's still as committed as ever. He offers unlimited personal conferences to all his students, and if that doesn't do the trick, you can call the Story Help Line anytime for assistance with your plot. Each workshop meets once a week for six weeks.

Go virtual with MediaBistro
You can do everything else online; why not take a writing class? This nifty website does offer some in-person courses (fewer in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles), but its online offerings are far more diverse. Learn everything from how to write for documentary TV to how to create good chick lit, all while sitting in your underwear?which means you're also getting a pretty good idea of what it's like to be a full-time writer.

Inspire kids to write at 826CHI
If you want to be involved in writing but don't necessarily want to do it yourself, check out 826CHI, a non-profit organization that helps kids ages 6?18 with their creative and expository writing skills (you may have seen the center's "Boring Store" facade on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park). Volunteers can donate their time in a variety of ways: drop-in tutoring programs, field trips, in-school projects and workshops on journalism, comic book production, radio broadcasting and more. 826CHI is the local branch of an organization created by author Dave Eggers).

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/alternativetexts.html

Seminary Co-Op Bookstore
Sometime back in the early '60s a bunch of booklovers got together in Hyde Park and decided to open a shop of their own. Here's the kicker: Each of them invested no more than $10. The bookstore now houses over 100,000 titles on its aging shelves and is touted as one of the best academic bookish locales in the world. Seminary Co-Op has a selection of university-press publications as well as a nostalgic assortment of childhood classics. National authors often make appearances to read and promote their latest works. The shop also carries a wide range of indie bestsellers, national award winners and specialized, themed book lists like cartography titles in honor of the Chicago-wide Festival of Maps. Seminary Co-Op also owns 57th Street Books, where you will find a similar intellectual hodgepodge of sorts.

Books in the City
Dig out your student ID and throw all your old texts in a tote before heading over to Books in the City. Thanks to the shop's buyback policy, you can save even more money on new and used titles. You can also use the website's online search engine to browse by school, author or title. Books in the City also sells those pesky professor-written coursepacks (read: huge waste of paper) and cram-all-night study guides. In addition to the inescapables, the shop houses a small children's literature section and stocks plenty of stationery, gut-busting greeting cards and strange little baubles. Books in the City caters to DePaul University, Columbia College and Roosevelt University (the latter two in its South Loop location).

Women & Children First
Forget people; you won't need them anymore once you step into this popular Andersonville bookshop. There are enough titles here to keep you curled in the corner for days. Although Women and Children First doesn't specialize in textbooks, it has become a go-to source for a number of profs from Loyola, DePaul and Chicago's Art Institute. If you're signed up for any women's studies or social activism courses, chances are you'll be swinging by this spot. We recommend paying a visit, no matter what you're studying.

photo: courtesy of Prairie Avenue Bookshop

Beck's Book Store (Truman College)
Catering to the nearby Truman College, Beck's Book Store in Uptown offers more than just the stuff you need to study. Many, if not most, students come here on a budget and jump specs-first into the stacks of used texts. Only when those are picked over do they move on to the pristine plastic-wrapped newer editions. Before you take out another loan just for books, apply for the Arthur Beck Olsen Textbook Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded each semester and offers loyal patrons a chance to splurge on texts without digging themselves into debt (you must be a current Truman student to apply). Beck's has several other locations throughout the city, though they're not as textbook-heavy.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/live-in-galleries.html

photo: courtesy of All Rise

Marco Logsdon of Logsdon 1909 Gallery & Studio
Marco Logsdon moved to Chicago from Kentucky a few years ago and opened a gallery and studio space for his own work. But in September 2006, after a few successful shows, he decided to start showing other artists' pieces, too; he now rotates exhibits (mostly mixed-media, drawings and paintings) in the front and shows his work in the back. In line with the nature of most Pilsen galleries, Logsdon's space is only open on Saturdays and the second Friday of every month. With slim to none walk-in traffic, he's able to have some privacy though, "[I've always] got to be ready for people, so I can't be a slob," he says. Though keeping tidy isn't very fun, drawing a curtain at the halfway point of the gallery ensures his privacy.

photo: courtesy of Polvo

Architectural Artifacts
Stuart Grannen has a penchant for shiny objects of great value, and this obsession has taken shape in the form of Architectural Artifacts, a museum and a store. Many of the statues, furniture pieces and fixtures at the 80,000-square-foot space hail from all corners of the world, like the rows of $1,800 to $6,800 Argentinean and European wall sconces from the turn of the 20th-century. Or, how about picking up a hypnotic, wooden Bolivian Primitive Santo statue?if you happen to have $695. But fans of homegrown relics will be happy to know that plenty of Grannen's pieces were acquired locally; nothing says "Cubs fan" like a $2,200 cast iron turn style from Wrigley Field.

Studio Rose
Public space artist Ginny Sykes (whose work includes a piece for the Cool Globes Project on the Field Museum Campus) retreats to Studio Rose when she feels like creating something smaller than, say, her average mural to display over the Chicago River. An amorphous painting, which is under perpetual construction and was initially created for 2007's Art Walk Ravenswood, covers the walls of the studio and gallery. It is within these broad strokes of translucent paint that she creates her home-friendly abstract paintings of unbridled feminine prowess. While Sykes spends most of her time in her studio creating these pieces, she opens up her space as a performance spot or gallery for other artists three to four times a year.

Lillstreet Art Center
Trying to break into the art scene? The Ravenswood Art Corridor has a simple solution for aspiring and experienced artists alike: The Lillstreet Art Center, which offers gallery and studio space, as well as various creative classes. Members and students of the center work toward fostering and stimulating artistic endeavors in a noncompetitive workspace. Classes run the gamut from chain mailing to bouquet design to glass workshops. Annoyed with the faint scent of Turpenoid in your house? Some membership benefits allow artists 24-7 access to studios, and locker spaces are available for on-site storage. Best yet, there's an on-premise cafe, First Slice, which slings out amazing pies while helping to feed the less fortunate through its meal subscription program.

The Enterprising Kitchen
The non-profit organization known as The Enterprising Kitchen crafts bath and beauty products, like lavender-scented soy candles and bath tea soaks made with tea tree oil to help you unwind after a hard day. Not only will your body benefit from these organic treats, but your chi will also prosper due to the fact the store directly benefits lower-income women trying to change their lives. The Enterprising Kitchen offers a six- to 12-month workforce preparation program to help the women understand their potential by taking part in many of the company's day-to-day functions, ranging from soap making to customer service.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Art Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/comic-books.html

Chicago Comics
The aptly named Chicago Comics?because it's located in Chicago and sells comics?really should be called "Awesome Comic Shop in Chicago." But, unfortunately, that name was already taken. A hodgepodge of vibrant visual styles?from neo-cyberpunk to the gothic stylings of Tim Burton?makes up the decor. The shop stocks comic books, action figures, posters and more; not a single space is left unused here, like an American Indian version of a comic book store (which can be a problem when it's really busy). The coolest thing about Chicago Comics, though: You can sell your own comic on their shelves, if you so desire.

Graham Crackers Comics (Loop)
Graham Cracker has less to do with quasi-cookies and more to do with high-quality comic-book selling around Chicagoland. If my words don't convince you, the giant, cartoonish sign that reads "COMICS" above the door, coupled with the oversize-cardboard cutouts of The Hulk, Iron Man and the recently dead Captain America (he'll be back!), should more than suffice. As soon as you walk through the door, you'll enjoy a bright, colorful and utterly welcoming vibe. Comics are organized first by publisher (DC, Marvel, Image, etc.) and second by alphabet; the graphic novel section is as vast as they come. There's even an ATM inside the store and a revolving door, which is greatly appreciated come negative-20 degree days with wind chill. The only downside is that they close at 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Evil Squirrel Comics
At first glance, the moniker "Evil Squirrel Comics" seems to be a name without meaning?words that only sound cool. But take a closer look, and you'll realize that the name says everything. Tucked away in Rogers Park, this comic book shop is small but feisty, with the kind of atmospheric exuberance more often attributed to bigger, more blatant stores like Chicago Comics. Small though it is, it stocks pretty much everything, and if you're lusting for an item it doesn't have on offer, the friendly employees will hunt it down for you. The owner and staff are some of the nicest, most talkative fellas you'll ever come across in a comic book shop, a 180-degree difference from your typical "Comic Book Guy," a la "The Simpsons." Also, if you're interested, the store hosts Friday Night Magic (FNM) games at 7 p.m. for a $5 entry fee.

Brainstorm Movies, Comics and Gaming
Brainstorm Comics (painted yellow, red and blue on the inside like an old-fashioned comic book!) is a self-described "Geek Safe-Zone." Now, I'm not sure that this affirmation is unique to Brainstorm, as I'm pretty certain every comic book shop earns geek safe-zone status (except for maybe "No Geeks Comic Shop" on Michigan Avenue). What does make Brainstorm unique is its enormous collection of hard-to-find superhero movies, like the straight-to-video "Captain America" or the original, somehow even cheesier version of "Fantastic Four" (sans Jessica Alba). On the comic book side of things, Brainstorm goes to the trouble of bagging and boarding all issues before they're placed on the shelves, which ensures that you won't read them without paying and protects your comic books for nary a penny.

Comix Revolution
Comix Revolution in Evanston looks like a nihilist's dream, with all the sleek grays, pitch blacks and dim spotlights sporadically peppered amongst the colorful comic books and posters. The black-and-white checkered floors will even further convince you that you've stepped into a 1990s commercial for Calvin Klein's "Obsession." Thankfully, looks can be deceiving. Though it has been called "pretentious in all the right ways," Comix Revolution is anything but nihilistic. The truth is, the staff cares more about the quality of a book than they do about its mainstream appeal; they place an emphasis on graphic novels (over 2,000 in stock), superhero-themed and not, without skimping on the weekly comics.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST http://CenterstageChicago.com/art/articles/book-clubs.html

For mystery and history lovers
The city's aspiring-gumshoes gather at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore on the third Saturday of every month at 2 p.m. to discuss mystery novels. Into Some Danger Involved, a Sherlock Holmes-esque novel set in Victorian London's Jewish ghetto, or how about A Cold Day for Murder by Kat Shugak, which the club read last year? It tends to attract a mixed crowd of men and women in their mid-30s, and the members lead their own discussions sans moderator. If your reading interests skew more history than mystery, this store's got you covered, too. Its history book club meets on the last Sunday of every month at 2 p.m.; the folks who swoon over historical events have delved into Joan of Arc by Mark Twain and Intimate Voices from the First World War by Svetlana Palmer and Sarah Wallis. Both clubs are free, but the store expects you to purchase the book onsite.

For gay and lesbian readers
Gay and lesbian bookworms have a few queer-focused book club options. Gay men are encouraged to visit the Gerber/Hart Gay and Lesbian Library & Archives every fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m., while ladies should hit the library every second Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m. The groups primarily discuss gay and lesbian literature, like Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown (a coming-of-age lesbian novel) and the story of a woman who pretended to be a man, Self Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back by Norah Vincent. Gay men are also invited to join a book club organized by the Unabridged bookstore staff, which meets at the shop at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month, to talk about gay-themed literature and non-fiction.

For drinkers with a reading habit
Reading is great and all, but reading with the reward of drinking really motivates you to finish that book. Join the resident lushes who set up shop at the Book Cellar on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. for a discussion directed by the owner. The bookstore's cafe offers wines and pastries to perfectly accompany the discussion?whether you're reading Jeremy Mercer's Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co or Naeem Murr's The Perfect Man. The club focuses on local fiction wordsmiths. It often has signed books available, and some authors even show up to engage in the discussion.

For world travelers
The next best thing to traveling the world with friends is reading about traveling the world with friends. At 826CHI's Globiblio club (run by 826CHI's community outreach coordinator, Patrick Shaffner), members gather on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. to discuss books from around the globe, like Alicia Cossio's Bruna & Her Sisters in the Sleeping City (from Ecuador) and David Toscana's Tula Station (from Mexico). The non-profit writing/tutoring center, founded by Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Dave Eggers, features a different country each month, and participants often bring food from that country to share. The tutoring lab can get packed, so be sure to RSVP to (773) 772-8108 ahead of time.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals! ]]> Literature Guides Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST