Paper Machete Honors Moms

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on May 7, 2010 3:20PM

Mother's Day is Sunday (have you ordered your flowers or Rahm Emanuel apron yet?). But there's plenty to do to honor your mother before taking her out on Sunday morning and waiting in long lines for mediocre brunch. For instance, you could take her to this weekend's Paper Machete, the "live magazine and parlor show" hosted by former Time Out Chicago theater editor Christopher Piatt. Having attended several [and full disclosure, reading at a recent edition], the weekly series continues to grow and attract some of the sharpest, funniest literary and performance minds the city has to offer.

This week's show also has a bit of star-power in the form of renowned NYC monologuist Mike Daisey who's wrapping up a successful run at Victory Gardens. And the prodigal son returns: James Asmus of Hey You Millionaires and a terrific run on Impress These Apes (among other things) but most recently an L.A. transplant to work for Marvel Comics, returns home and appears this week. But there's plenty more. Genevra Gallo (Neo-Futurists), Hank Sartin (Time Out Chicago film editor), Kim Conte (non-maternal editor at an all-mommy website), and Kara Jakubec (of The Basic 8) will be there. And based on his mind-blowing performance at the show in early April, Ian Belknap will be worth the trip alone. Laura Grey and Laura McKenzie of Laura on Laura: The Comeback Tour will also provide entertainment galore (see below).

So what are you waiting for? Call your mom and tell her you're taking her to a bar in the middle of a Saturday afternoon to show her how much you care.

The Paper Machete, Ricochets Tavern, 4644 N. Lincoln Ave., 3 p.m., free