Friday 20
The title of Strip, a one-woman exhibit and performance by Mary Brogger, refers to the Mobius strip; the piece, say the folks at N.A.M.E. Gallery, 1255 S. Wabash, “explores the relationship between exterior and interior, self and other, and the philosophy of pragmatism.” To see Brogger’s performance part of the installation, you need to go to tonight’s free opening reception, from 6 to 8. Otherwise, the art will be up through June 25; hours are noon to 6 Tuesday through Saturday. Call 554-0671 for more.
Omnimax heads–those who groove on the Museum of Science and Industry’s Omnimax Theater, with its 76-foot-high screen–have a common complaint: they make only about two movies a year to watch on the damn thing, and while these tend to be long on cool subject matter (sharks, volcanoes, etc), they also tend to be short on desiderata like documentary objectivity, narrative flow, and so forth. But after the success of The Rolling Stones at the Max, the museum is taking a chance with a new and different presentation. The attraction is Chronos, directed by Ron Fricke, a 40-minute compendium of time-lapse photography along the lines of Koyaanisqatsi, which Fricke shot. Three animated shorts fill out the Maxfest program, which shows at 7:15 and 9:15 PM on Fridays and Saturdays (except June 3) through October 1. It’s $10, $8 for museum members. It’s at 57th and Lake Shore Drive; call 684-1414.
That fateful evening at the Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill in Harwood Heights began with four gay men from Chicago dancing together and ended with various members of the foursome being charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and aggravated battery. Queer Nation is raising money for their defense (which is being supplied by the People’s Law Office) with a “tag night” this evening at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan. There’s no charge to get in, but the point is to buy “tags” that say you support the quartet. Things get under way at 8:30. Call 862-2465 for details.
Saturday 21
The tony Francis Parker School’s annual Great Parker Garage Sale runs today and tomorrow from 9 to 4. The school promises designer clothing, stereo equipment, furniture, bikes, phones, and lots of other stuff in the school’s gym, at 330 W. Webster. Admission is free. Money raised goes to the school’s scholarship fund. Call 549-0172.
Remains Theatre has staged 50 plays, including acclaimed productions of Road and American Buffalo, and still finds itself homeless–their former home at 1800 N. Clybourn is being demolished–on the eve of their 15th anniversary. But you can show your support tonight at a celebratory dinner at the Chicago Athletic Association, 12 S. Michigan. The $75 ticket ($70 for theater members) gets you dinner, music from the Gentlemen of Leisure, and an auction with ensemble members William Petersen, Amy Morton, and D.W. Moffett wielding the gavels. Cocktails are served at 6:30. Call 335-9595.
Illinois poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks is the special guest at the fourth Big Goddess Pow Wow, subtitled “Loose Lips Sink Ships,” the sorta annual concatenation of performance art by women. Also on the bill: Pow Wow organizers Paula Killen and poetry slam champion Lisa Buscani, as well as local performance divas Marcia Wilkie, Joan Dickinson, Ayun Halliday, and Jeanette Green. The hostess with the mostest is Cheryl Trykv, and music will be provided by Dolly Varden. It’s at 9 PM, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Tix are $10 at Ticketmaster or the door. Call 549-0203 for details.
Sunday 22
The original Black Nazarene is a life-size statue of Jesus carved by an unknown Mexican craftsman sometime in the early 1600s. The statue found its way to Manila, where it’s stood for centuries. Then, on Holy Thursday, 1993, Aidee Guerrero, founder of the local prayer group Seculars of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, dreamed of a Chicago version. A full-size replica of the famous statue will be unveiled at 3 PM mass today at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic church, 1634 W. Gregory. After the service, the statue will be pulled on a flat in the church’s annual Santacruzan parade. Call 271-6586 for more.
The Hemlock Society has deemed this National Death With Dignity Week. The society, which thinks that euthanasia should be an option for the terminally ill and those in intractable pain, is presenting a local psychotherapist–who’ll deliver a talk called “Issues of Death and Dying in the Time of AIDS”–to mark the occasion. It’s at 3 today in the hospitality suite of McClurg Court, 333 E. Ontario. It’s free. Call 341-3612 for details.
Monday 23
Three lawyers working for women’s rights are being feted today by Personal PAC, a prochoice political action group. The honorees are Fay Clayton, who used antiracketeering legislation to go after Operation Rescue-style protesters; Colleen Connell, the director of the ACLU’s reproductive rights project; and Susan Getzendanner, who defended Richard Phelan’s executive order reinstating abortion services at Cook County Hospital. The luncheon–with Gloria Steinem speaking–is at the Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe, at noon; tix start at $50. For more information call 337-8484.
Cults come in all shapes and sizes, as large as the Catholic Church, as tiny as a small outpost in Waco. Here’s a biggie you might not have heard of: the Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, which claims to practice its soi-disant Science of Spirituality
Tuesday 24
Playboy Enterprises head honcho Christie Hefner talks about “The Spirit of Liberty: A Free Marketplace of Ideas” at a Women’s Advertising Club of Chicago luncheon today at the Hotel Inter-Continental, 505 N. Michigan. It’s $35, $30 for members, and starts at 11:30 with cocktails. Call 263-2215 for reservations.
The Music Room, Dennis McFarland’s first novel, got hosannas from critics and book buyers too. Tonight he reads from his second book, School for the Blind, which, in the tradition of back-of-the-book backslapping, Walker Percy calls “amazing” and Frank Conroy swears is “the kind of book you press into people’s hands, telling them if they don’t read it you’ll never speak to them again.” It’s at the New Town Barbara’s Bookstore, 3130 N. Broadway, at 7:30. It’s free. Call 477-0411.
Wednesday 25
If tap dancing is what’s been missing from your life, the Dance Center of Columbia College–which generally presents more modern forms of dance–has what you’re looking for. Turns out today is National Tap Day, and the school’s offering free classes at the Chicago Cultural Center dance studio, 78 E. Washington. From 10 to 10:45 you can get the rudiments of tap; from 11 to 11:45 there’s instruction for intermediate tappers. Finally, there’s an open tap session at noon. Call 271-7804 for details.
Each year the Chicago-based Retirement Research Foundation gives out its National Media Owl Awards, which salute the best films, videos, or TV shows about aging. This year they’re giving a lifetime-achievement award to singer-actress Rita Moreno. Ann Landers and Gene Siskel host the free presentation, tonight at 7:30 at the First Chicago Center, Dearborn and Madison. For more information call 664-6100.
Thursday 26
The city’s new Skyline Stage–that neat-looking fiberglass pavilion you’ve seen taking shape at Navy Pier–opens tonight with some kinda lineup of talent. Consider: A 1,000-voice chorus; an aggregation called the Chicago All-Star Orchestra; comedy from Second City; a version of “Rhapsody in Blue” by the Chicago Civic Orchestra; theater from the Goodman; the Lyric Opera’s Gary Martin; gospel singer Albertina Walker; and the band Chicago will baptize the site, with a fireworks show to end it all. The show benefits Gallery 37, the summer youth arts program; tickets are $125, $250, and $500. A reception begins at 5:30, the show’s at 7. The 1500-seat stage is on the pier, at Illinois Avenue and the lake. Call 744-7651 for tickets.