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Inspired by World's Fairs of the past, WIRED NextFest presents the future.
At this three-day festival, you will experience robots, flying cars, private space planes, homes of the future, fuel-cell concept cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, hypersonic sound beams, invisibility coats, and much more from visionary inventors, companies, and R&D labs around the world.
Buy your tickets today at www.nextfest.net. |
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Spotlight
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| LECTURE |
Toshiko Mori: Design Matters
| when: |
Tue 5.3 (6pm) |
| where: |
Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312.280.2660) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info | Toshiko Mori |
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Chicago has always been known for its architecture. From Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and Mies van der Rohe's Crown Hall to more recent additions like Frank Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion, the city's urban environment maintains a perfect balance between classic and modern buildings. As part of its ongoing Design Matters series, the Museum of Contemporary Art welcomes Toshiko Mori, Harvard professor and chair of the university's department of architecture, to speak on the future of the design profession. Mori is a graduate of Cooper Union and, since 1981, has run her own NYC-based firm, best known for its work on the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, ME. (KM)
 What's your favorite Chicago architectural landmark? Our two favorite responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| FILM |
The 2005 Midwest Independent Film Festival
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The newly re-christened 2005 Midwest Independent Film Festival (formerly the Chicago Community Cinema) highlights some of our hometown heroes. The monthly event is dedicated to "showcasing emerging directors, powerful artistic visions, and strong cinematic stories from the eight-state Midwest region." Among the night's biggest names is Aaron Himelstein (aka the young Austin Powers in Goldmember), whose directorial debut, Sugar Mountain, boasts a remarkably solid cast including Luke Eberl (Planet of the Apes, Cold Case) and Christopher Marquette (Joan of Arcadia). Also on the bill is the premiere of the latest Morocco Vaughn-directed video from hip-hop trio Do or Die, which features Chicago's favorite son, the multiple-Grammy-winning Kanye West. (VG)
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| MUSIC: Underground Hip-Hop |
Roots Manuva w/ Airborn Audio
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Britain's Rodney Smith — aka Cecil PYLM Pim Pimpernel, aka Hylton Smythe, aka Lord Gosh, aka Roots Manuva — headlines tonight at the always-eclectic Empty Bottle. His releases on Big Dada (a hip-hop sublabel of UK powerhouse Ninja Tune) exemplify everything that keeps underground, independent hip-hop vibrant and influential: political expressiveness, darkly creative delivery, humor, and subtlety. Ex-Antipop Consortium duo Airborn Audio also features prominently in the lineup, touring behind their new Ninja Tune full-length, Good Fortune. Some of abstract hip-hop's finest and most menacing, they put on a show that's worth listening to for both beats and rhymes. (MJ)
Loamy soil is good for your plant's roots. What are the components of loam? The first correct response wins a pair of tickets to this event.
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| DISCUSSION |
Millennium Park: One Year Later
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Millennium Park's singular design begs a multitude of questions: What would the Pritzker Pavilion look like if Frank Gehry had used his original Mies van der Rohe-inspired design? How can you get your face on the Crown Fountain? Why are the trees in the Lurie Garden caged up? Get all the answers you crave and more tonight at the Newberry Library. Edward Uhlir, design director for the park and former chief architect for the Chicago Park District, reflects on its controversial history, its glorious completion, and the city's plans for its future. (SB)
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| MUSIC: Pop-pourri |
War of Independents: 2005 Battle of the Bands
| when: |
Wed 5.4 (8pm) |
| where: |
Abbey Pub (3420 W Grace St, 773.478.4408) map |
| price: |
$7 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Something about this evening's Battle of the Bands at Abbey Pub stokes our rock 'n roll flame. Maybe it's the diversity of the small-time acts involved: Ascot Fire's hyperactive pop-punk has little in common with either Mabel's cello/harpsichord mood pieces, the August's James Taylor-inflected folk-rock, or Speedwell's Velvets-Stooges neo-garage. Granted, the groups all share a clear love of meticulously crafted melodies and lyrics, solid arrangements and honest delivery — but it'll be up the A-Pub's judges to decide who is the most meticulously crafted, solid, and honest. The winners receive several days' worth of quality studio time, and oodles of fancy music gear. Tally ho! (TG)
In 50 words or less, pledge undying loyalty to you favorite local band. Our favorite response wins a pair of tickets to this event.
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| SPECTACLE |
Lucha Va VOOM Cinco de Mayo Spectacular
| when: |
Thur 5.5 (8pm) |
| where: |
Congress Theater (2135 N Milwaukee Ave, 773.252.4000) map |
| price: |
$20-40 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Grab a couple of margaritas at Arturo's and don your mask! Lucha Va VOOM returns to Chicago from Parts Unknown with its multifarious and nefarious one-ring circus featuring the ever-confounding confluence of wrestlers, strippers and, um, midgets. Mr. Show alum Tom Kenny (also the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) and Blaine Capatch provide running commentary while the luchadores, wrestlers of both monster-thick burger and pocket size, wage Mexican-style Lucha Libre warfare in the ring as the (buxom + exotica) Buxoticas tease and titillate the audience. (SB)
If you were a luchadore (Mexican wrestler), what would your costume look like? Our favorite four responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| MUSIC: Hunka Burnin' Amor |
El Vez w/ Baby Teeth
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If you're sick of the usual ho-hum Elvis impersonators (and who isn't these days?), then meet Robert Lopez: El Vez, the Mexican Elvis — this guy's the genuine article, trust us. El Vez (Spanish for "the Vez," of course) stuffs Mr. Peanut-Butter-n-Bananas's '68 comeback special into a bizarro-world time machine, relentlessly lampooning musical touchstones with pro-Latino politics and a velvet touch. His songs, with titles like "You Ain't Nothing but a Chihuahua" and "Say It Loud, I'm Brown and I'm Proud," sound handpicked from the novelty bin, but when coupled with El Vez's sincerely kitschy live shows, a singular practitioner of the timeless art of camp emerges. (TG)
Note: Local pop mongrels Baby Teeth open.
Describe Elvis Presley's costume in the infamous '68 comeback special. The most accurate two responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| MUSIC: Post-Rock |
Mice Parade w/ Boom Bip
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Originally a solo project of drummer Adam Pierce, Mice Parade has grown beyond bedroom recording sessions into a full-fledged ensemble. Over time, Pierce's pastoral post-rock picked up Eastern and African influences, becoming exemplary semi-instrumental music (Pierce often sings, and múm's Anna Valtysdóttir lends airy vocals to the new Bem-Vinda Vontade) that never gets stuck in a groove. The 'Parade really live up to their name when they tour, as Pierce and an array of collaborators take the stage armed with two drum kits and a variety of instruments (both electronic and old-fashioned). Boom Bip also performs tonight, recreating the atmospheric electronic tracks from his recent album Blue Eyed in the Red Room (Lex Records). (PS)
What was the name of the short-lived 1992 animated series in which Neil Patrick Harris voiced a White House-dwelling rodent? The fifth and seventh correct responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| FILM |
The Second Annual "Really" Short Film Fest
| when: |
Sat 5.7 (9pm) |
| where: |
Abbey Pub (3420 W Grace St, 773.478.4408) map |
| price: |
$9 / $7 advance |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Really, the title says it all. Rather than a film festival that lasts a dozen days (we're looking at you, Cannes), this spectacle is a one-night-only engagement. Short films, animations, documentaries, music videos — all running 15 minutes or less — play throughout the evening. In another satisfying departure from the traditional festival format, the "Really" Short Fest is hosted by the Abbey Pub, whose multiple TVs, usually used for sports games, bow down to one sizeable projection screen. The films are screened alongside live performances by Project.44 (featuring Sinderella from Thrill Kill Kult) and live electronica wizards TRS-80. (VG)
What film won Best Animated Short at this year's Oscars? The fourth correct response wins a pair of tickets to this event.
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| MUSIC: Country Punk |
Old 97s
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Rhett Miller and his Old 97s have been around nearly long enough to sit beside the Wilco boys in y'alternative's sage council of elders. Since forming in Austin way back in the early '90s, Miller and Co. have constructed increasingly power pop-influenced country rock, all hard-edged guitars, propulsive, shuffling rhythms, and honeyed chorus harmonies. The quartet's most recent effort, the heartbroken Drag It Up, contains their most sophisticated songwriting to date, although it lacks the trademark pyrotechnics of the past. Their live show still slays — the rhythm section is as tight as drummer Philip Peeples' snare, and Rhett's dry wit and throaty vocals are as charming as a bolo tie. (TG)
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| MUSIC: Sleazetronica |
Adult. w/ Gold Chains & Sue Cie
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With ten years of aggressive, danceable electro-punk under their belt, super-duo Adult. returns to the 'Bottle after a two-year hiatus. This tour comes on the heels of their new six-song EP D.U.M.E., another hard-hitting, foot-stomping, ass-kicking treat. Adam Lee Miller's tight, syncopated electronic beats and bass combine with Nicola Kuperus' commanding, industrial vocals, making for loud, fist-pumping shows that encourage the dancer in all of us to break out. Gold Chains & Sue Cie open with something for the pop-hop heads (hint: it's poppy and it's hip-hop). (MH)
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| PARADE |
Cinco de Mayo Parade
| when: |
Sun 5.8 (12pm) |
| where: |
Cermak Rd, from Wood St to Kedzie Ave |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Commemorating a great Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is additionally significant for Americans because the win helped cut off the supply of weapons to the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The holiday gained notoriety a century later in the late 1960s, when Latino student activists began assembling on May 5th as a way to honor their cultural heritage. While Cinco de Mayo has become akin to St. Patrick's Day, with mass consumption of food and alcohol alike, today's parade also highlights Mexican music and customs. Plus, it's a great opportunity for friends and family to gather and learn a little history. (SB)
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| MUSIC: Jazz |
Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians 40th Anniversary Celebration
| when: |
Sun 5.8 (7:30pm) |
| where: |
Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312.280.2660) map |
| price: |
$20 |
| links: |
Event Info | AACM |
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Since its inception in Chicago in 1965, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians has invigorated the avant-garde. Espousing community ideals and radical musical experimentation, the artists of the AACM — including giants Anthony Braxton, Fred Anderson, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago — have made some of the most forward-thinking jazz of their time. This birthday celebration provides a chance to truly understand and appreciate the group's legacy. A roundtable discussion and composer's forum set the stage for a series of concerts, one featuring current AACM students, and another featuring performances of works by Oliver Lake, Joseph Jarman, James Newton, Reggie Nicholson, and others. (PS)
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| DJ |
Wake Up!
| when: |
Sun 5.8 (9pm) |
| where: |
Subterranean Lounge (2011 W North Ave, 773.278.6600) map |
| price: |
$3 |
| links: |
Subterranean |
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Wake Up! rolls through town every two weeks or so, focusing on a thoughtful blend of listening techno and obscure sounds from around the globe; the event features accomplished artists who are often lauded niche performers but slip under Chicago's cultural radar. Tonight, internationally respected Matt MacQueen contributes a set, taking a break from his regularly scheduled Clinically Inclined radio program on WNUR. A former radio jock herself, co-headliner Kate Simko shares some favorite tunes — most likely with a hint of the exoticism brought back from by her recent stay in South America. The import on the bill is Carlos Souffront from WCBN Ann Arbor, MI. (MJ)
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| SPOKEN WORD |
Jill Scott
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When her acclaimed debut Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 arrived in 2000, Jill Scott established herself as a soul singer who knew more than a little about love's foibles. Now she has turned her attention to poetry, long a repository for matters of the heart. Drawn from the journals Scott has kept for many years, these poems show the same lyrical turns and sensitivity that she's displayed from her early days at open mic nights to this year's Grammy-winning recording. This rare opportunity to hear the talented singer without her usual accompaniment proves the words without the sounds to be just as sweet. (PDS)
To which of the Roots' songs did Jill Scott contribute an indelible melody? The second and seventh correct responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| MUSIC: Cut 'n Paste |
The Books w/ Tim Rutili
| when: |
Mon 5.9 (10pm) |
| where: |
The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, 773.276.3600) map |
| price: |
$12 |
| links: |
Event Info | The Books |
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After earning critical acclaim and a devoted following from their last album The Lemon of Pink, the Books have resurfaced to tour behind their intelligent, sonically stunning new record, Lost and Safe (Tomlab). Making their first Chicago appearance, band members Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto blend cut-up cello, mandolin, banjo, and acoustic guitar samples with vocal narratives and field recordings to fill in the cracks. Producing all elements of the music themselves, the Books have been recently enjoying a rare breed of success based mainly on merit and word of mouth. Chicago-based Tim Rutili of seminal indie rock groups Red Red Meat and Califone (and founder of Perishable Records) opens with a rare solo set. (KS)
With which abstract hip-hop producer do the Books collaborate on their upcoming EP? The third and sixth correct answers each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| ART |
Dan Ibarra and Michael Byzewski: Aesthetic Apparatus
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Dan Ibarra and Michael Byzewski, the artists behind design firm and poster-printing operation Aesthetic Apparatus, once told an interviewer that they put a little "extra" into their work — by extra, they meant they spit in the ink. It may seem a bit extreme, but so is their incredibly large body of work. It's a good bet that your favorite band has been the subject of one of their inventive handcrafted posters. Anyone going batty from staring at a bare wall in their apartment should take note that many of the prints displayed at this show are for sale. (PS)
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| DANCE |
FREEFALL(ltd): Homage
| when: |
Fri 5.6-Sun 5.8 (Fri & Sat: 8pm / Sun: 7pm) |
| where: |
Links Hall (956 Newport St, 773.281.0824) map |
| price: |
$12 |
| links: |
Event Info | FREEFALL(ltd) |
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NYC-based dance company FREEFALL(ltd) self-consciously explores grand themes of love, war, and justice, seeking physical metaphors of emotional complexity through subtle humor. A motivational speech by General Patton is twisted to irreverently address male bravado and inspirational rhetoric; the dance groove is straight from the Marx Brothers; the attitude is all irony. Elsewhere, a piece starts with Ravel's Bolero and ends up as a Weimar Republic love story, complete with high heels, cigarettes, and kazoos. FREEFALL(ltd) have previously performed at the Movable Beast Festival in Chicago. (SB)
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| FASHION |
DEPART-ment: Together for New Economy
| when: |
Fri 5.6-Sun 5.8 (Fri: 7-11pm / Sat & Sun: 11am-5pm) |
| where: |
Open-End Gallery (2000 W Fulton, 312.738.2140) map |
| price: |
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Event Info |
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Wicker Park's hip young residents may have shuddered when a recent article in Crain's Chicago Business revealed that big chain stores like the Gap are planning to expand into the neighborhood. But all hopes of avoiding a mall-like makeover on Milwaukee Avenue aren't lost as long as events like DEPART-ment still exist. A seasonal shopping event that only features handcrafted goods, it isn't your typical craft fair: all the unique items inside are arranged like you would see them in a normal store — this means racks, a friendly staff, and checkout counters. It's a cottage industry with a conscience. (PS)
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| FESTIVAL |
Heritage India Festival
| when: |
Sat 5.7 & Sun 5.8 (12pm) |
| where: |
Odeum Sports & Expo Center, North Hall (1033 N Villa Ave, Villa Park, 1.877.HIFESTIVAL) map |
| price: |
$3 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Boasting one of the nation's largest Indian populations, Chicago is fortunate to have such a wealth of great Indian food, shops, and culture located along one central corridor — Devon Ave. You could spend years trying to find the perfect tandoori chicken or mehndi (henna) while exploring the mile-and-a-half stretch of Devon, but this weekend brings the opportunity to discover all of the best from the subcontinent under one roof. The Zee Heritage Festival features some of Chicago's top Indian restaurants, as well as mehndi artists, crafts, and the Halar Lok Kala Kendra dance troupe from Jamnagar, Gujarat. (SB)
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OUR FURRED AND FEATHERED FRIENDS: Be Kind to Animals Week |
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Animals humor and love us without reservation, and contribute to our mental health in ways that we are just beginning to understand. For 90 years the American Humane Association has celebrated Be Kind to Animals Week, a time to think about how our animal friends, be they furred, feathered, or finned, make our days richer. You can show your support on Saturday May 7th, at the 11th annual Bark in the Park 5K. This walk benefits one of Chicago's oldest and largest humane groups, the Anti-Cruelty Society. Call it compensation for years of slipper-fetching. (PDS)
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CD REVIEW: Silhouette Brown, Silhouette Brown |
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Ether Music
Released March 2005
$18.98 (Amazon)
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While influenced by the likes of soul stars Patrice Rushen and Lonnie Liston Smith, Silhouette Brown update that classic sentimental sound with their West London broken beat. 4hero's drum 'n bass pioneer Dego delivers techy bass lines, while multi-instrumentalist Kaidi Tatham (Bugz in the Attic) embellishes them with smooth keys. Mood music at its most stimulating, ballads such as "Pain" and "Monday's Coming" let newcomer Deborah Jordan's supple jazz-trained voice soar over the future funk with tender affirmation. With their artfully crafted lyrics (penned by nu-soul favorite Bembe Segue) and equally impressive arrangements, Silhouette Brown's songs boast the ease and beauty of true soul music — a feat most pop-based radio tunes can't hold a candle to. (CN)
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DOWNLOADS: Kompakt |
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Kompakt, Cologne's powerhouse techno label, distributor, and retail store, has announced the launch of a new mp3 download site, giving electronic music fans around the globe access to the label's back catalogue, along with releases (and audio samples) from 50 associated imprints, such as Traum and Areal. According to label co-founder Wolfgang Voigt, traditional wax remains the label's most important format, but new media offers an easy way to distribute music around the world. Individual tracks may be purchased from the site for €1.29 (about $1.67), and at reduced prices for full singles and albums. (CJN)
Kompakt is offering Flavorpill readers exclusive access to three free mp3s from the label's online catalog. Click on the links below to download — and be sure to brag to your trainspotting friends that you got them from Flavorpill.
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Markus Guentner, "Wenn Musik der Liebe Nahrung Ist" (from the full-length 1981)
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Superpitcher, "Happiness (Michael Mayer Remix)" (from the Happiness EP and the forthcoming Superpitcher mix Today)
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Justus Köhncke, "Schwabylon" (from the full-length Doppelleben)
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| Header Design: |
| Cinco de Mayo | Fernanda Cohen |
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| Editors: |
| It's a boy! | Jocelyn K. Glei | | Birthday | Todd Goldstein | | Album completion | Jake Lancaster | | Payday | Paul Laster | | Christmas | Doug Levy | | Sunny day | Sascha Lewis | | Good report card | Mark Mangan | | Quit smoking | Colin J. Nagy | | VD-free | Lauren Ragland | | Chanukah | Philip H. Sherburne | | Surgery | Peter D. Stepek | | Good haircut | Toby Warner |
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| ABOUT US |
| flavorpill CHICAGO is a free weekly mailer covering music, arts, and cultural events in Chicago. All listings are pure editorial, never paid advertisements. No money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us, and spread it... |
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| FEEDBACK |
| Please let us know what's on your mind, any and all feedback — comments, questions, ideas, or rants. |
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| EVENT SUBMISSIONS |
| To let us know about an upcoming event that you think belongs here, please email us at events. |
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| Contributors: |
| It's a girl! | Kelly Aiglon | | Liquor | Sean Biehle | | Kwanzaa | Victor Ganic | | Getting a raise | Mia Horberg | | Feelin' good | Darlene Jackson | | Cheesy poofs | Mac Jenkins | | Made the team | Thomas Lawler | | Free chiclets | Karl P. Meier | | 'Cos I Can | Ken Meier | | End of diet | Catherine Nguyen | | Got hitched | Kate Simko | | Got fired | Patrick Sisson | | Found lost wallet | Yancey Strickler | | Baked cupcakes | Craig Tiede |
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Production: |
| Anniversary | Anjuli Ayer | | Victory | Christopher Carson | | Summer | Sander-Martijn Milks | | BBQ | David Morrow | | Extra zucchini | Jamend Riley | | Prom | Sameer Shah | | Won lottery | RJ Valeo |
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MORE FILTERED CULTURE |
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Global fashion trends
A twice-monthly, insider view on fashion trends breaking in Paris, London, New York, and around the world
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