People won't be mistaking Bridgeport with Pilsen, Glenwood Ave. or Wicker Park anytime soon, but there galleries and artists spaces that make a trip to "The Neighborhood of Mayors" worthwhile. more ›

Today's listings include two major beer tastings and a kick-off event for the Chicago Calling Arts Festival. more ›

Hey all you post-announcement sadsacks and sour Olympickles: Just because we won't be hosting those kick-ass trampoline and steeplechase competitions in 2016 doesn't mean you should spend the weekend all bitter and defeated-like. Go see some art! It's Chicago Artists Month, after all. In Chicago's art world, every day is like the Olympics — with the painting, drawing, and collaging equivalents of Mitch Gaylord and Bart Conner scoring perfect 10s in creativity and talent. Artists don't bankrupt the city, or inspire weird marketing decisions like "let's turn the water spritzies in Daley Plaza into an orange Faygo Fountain" (it looked so Juggalo!) or anything hokey and bullshitty like that. So pay 'em some respect by checking out these cool events: more ›

Today marks the beginning of Chicago Artists' Month, which means that hardcore visual arts fans should probably plan to spend their October mornings drinking a Sparks-and-espresso shake for breakfast (and another shake for lunch, followed by a sensible dinner of course) just to maintain the required energy levels. This year's CAM offers way too many related events for us to post on; watch for select event previews posted here as we see fit, or visit the online schedule to maintain total information awareness regarding your daily options. more ›

Chicago Calling, a collaborative festival linking Chicago-based artists with international friends and counterparts, continues tonight and Saturday, the exclamation point to Chicago Artists Month 2007. The festival as exchange program is perfect for an age where Skype, Google Talk, and unlimited wireless plans have dissolving the distance between us and our European, African, and Asian friends. If you’re commuting through the Thompson Center tonight, stop by the front plaza to hear Jennifer Karmin’s “Beast Poem,”... more ›

Although we aren't as vocal about it as when we were new to Chicagoist, we still love living in Bridgeport and still consider not moving down here sooner one of our greatest regrets as an adult. An increasing number of artists are starting to call Bridgeport their home base, lured by plentiful space, affordable rents and a welcoming community of artists who have been living down here for years. As part of Chicago Artists Month,... more ›

Hey, kids! Chicago Artists Month is upon us! Although it may feel like there's a different festival/fair/celebration each week in the city, this one isn't one to miss, with a full slate of cool events scheduled to help celebrate one of the city's most vibrant scenes. You can get your culture fix at a number of special gallery exhibits over the next few days, given the bitchin' balmy weather, we'd recommend breaking out your... more ›

It's October, which means Chicago’s arts community is once again collaborating with the City to promote its glorious self during Chicago Artists Month. Through Halloween, you may discover (or be reminded) how accessible and downright friendly that community is and, if they have their way, you'll spend the frigid months touring galleries instead of watching shameful TV. There's simply not enough time for us to visit every event in every corner of the city, but we'll try to make time for these: more ›

"an american dream" via D.James more ›

Hoping you and thousands of your closest friends can turn 35th Street into one big baseball Mardi Gras this weekend, our very own South Side Yawkey Way or Waveland Avenue? Don’t count on it. Come game time, Officer Friendly won’t let you get near the stadium without a ticket. But if you’re savvy enough to linger around Bridgeport six hours before game time tomorrow, an unusual pre-party awaits. more ›