Weekend Arts Roundup

Here’s what you missed while you were gawking at fallen trees and the troubled lives of Michael Vick and Owen Wilson:

• The first signs that fall’s on the way: cooler temps, fading leaves and university gallery art openings. Two shows open today at Columbia College’s Glass Curtain Gallery and C33, and a new exhibit of Carol Jackson’s ‘signatureless’ work opens at UIC’s Gallery 400 tomorrow.

• When Thursday’s storms cut power to Belmont Avenue businesses, Bailiwick Rep offered 2-for-1 Barenaked Lads tickets to patrons bringing candles or flashlights to Friday night’s 8 p.m. “candlelight performance.” Artistic Director David Zak recalls: “the cast did a quick rehearsal and was raring to go when, bam, the lights went on at 7:20.” Their phone service went south for around 30 hours, but fortunately for them, the wildly popular Jerry Springer: The Opera closed last weekend.

• The Harris Theatre kicks off their Fall Season with the WFMT Folk Festival benefit concert September 9 and stays busy through the holidays. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will make their Harris debut and Hubbard Street, Giordano Jazz Dance, and the Joffrey Ballet return. Musical programs include Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra performing Haydn’s “The Seasons” and Portuguese fado performer Mariza.

• Impress These Apes is halfway home. After week 4, Fuzzy Gerdes leads, Jenny Staben is in second place, Erin Pallensen is third. Former Chicagoista Margaret Hicks is in a four-way tie for fourth. Looks like The Trib loves The Apes too.