This month is National Novel Writing Month — Nanowrimo for short. A time for cranking (crunking?) out 50,000 words of elegant prose — or crap, depending. A time (30 days, to be precise) within a time (that lacks a foreseeable end, to be depressing) of widespread unemployment among writers, many of whom used to get paid to wordsmith. Damn, man. Those were the days. more ›

So are the fruit flies buzzing around the basket of tangelos and peaches on your kitchen counter, and your Aunt Kathy, and your Cousin Melvin, and your landlord. Even the Amalgamated Union of Lolcat-Artists, Local 12 — one of Chicago's most cutting-edge arts organizations — is throwing a group show (theme: "Kittehs H8 Scaree Glenn Beck"). Chicago Gallery News' comprehensive list of openings should help you find what's what and where, as should Newcity's list. but here are some highlights (i.e., emailing us about your upcoming events works!) to help you along: more ›

Perhaps you couldn't afford to Lolla this year -- sux. Or maybe you are disenchanted with the whole music festival scene: the $6 hot pretzel dinners, and the foul-smelling porta-potties, and the crappy bands you have to sit through to get to the good bands. Well, we are here to remind you that you have entertainment options -- and they don't involve wristbands, or Perry Farrell, or the onset of tinnitus, or even hot pretzels. Instead, they involve mingling, and pine-scented bathrooms, and possibly some bowls of Sun Chips. Oh -- and visual art! more ›

In recent weeks we've heard about two local arts orgs that are looking for new members. Printmakers -- including aspiring ones as well as seasoned pros -- can join up with Spudnik Press, the West Town cooperative that offers common studio space with the ability to make traditional as well as photographic litho, relief, and silkscreen prints. For a monthly fee, Spudnik members can use the studio for all but a few hours out of the week, when it hosts classes and special events. Visit their website for more info. more ›