This weekend, Naperville plays host to the 19th annual Duckon, a yearly sci-fi convention featuring nearly everything including panels on how to pick up geeks, tips on costume making, a bird show, masquerade ball and more. Duckon is a bit different from other conventions that come through Chicago, with a heavier focus on both fandom and actual science. While events like C2E2 and Wizard World feature loads of fandom and fun, Duckcon definitely brings some more unique aspects of the culture together under one roof. While there's definitely enough interesting programming to keep anyone with a passing interest busy, some of the more exotic highlights of this three day geek extravaganza include: more ›

One look at that trailer and, if you didn't already know it, you can see echoes of Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, and pretty much every other sci-fi movie (whether good or bad) that's been made in the last 75 years. Metropolis even contains the early seeds of what would become the disaster movie. It's been amazingly influential. In 2002, the "definitive" restoration of Metropolis was released, a 127-minute version compiling footage from no less than four separate prints. Historians assumed that this was the closest we'd ever get to seeing the movie as it must have looked at its 1927 premiere in Berlin. They were wrong. A few years ago, a nearly complete 16mm negative was discovered in a Buenos Aires archive (!) and after extensive cleanup work, 25 minutes of footage from this negative has been added to create the new version of Metropolis which opens Friday at the Music Box. more ›

Lollapalooza wasn't the only big event going on this weekend. It was also the annual Chicago Comic-Con. And judging by these pictures, it was an incredible, surreal time for all involved. A miniature Darth Vader? Check. Billy Dee Williams signing a bottle of Colt 45? Check. More comic costumes than you could ever dream of? Check. And there's plenty more where these came from. more ›

It's Fourth of July weekend but maybe you're not into the patriotic stuff. Sure, you love stuff exploding so the fireworks are cool, but maybe you don't dig all the John Philip Sousa that goes along with it. Or kids in big Uncle Sam hats waving tiny American flags. The sound of Lee Greenwood makes you sick. That's cool. We're not here to judge you. What we're here to do is to point you to the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare for this year's G-Fest. more ›

Spring is here. So no more excuses! Movies a-plenty out there, so get off the sofa and go watch some. more ›