Enjoy Two Purr-fect Events For Chicago Cat Fanatics In October
By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 3, 2013 6:20PM
Photo credit: Rose Garrett/SFist
Face it, we live in a day and age when celebrity Internet cats exist. They have fans, followers, devotees. There are Etsy shops in their honor and memes galore. If you're a typical, easily distracted office worker with no blocks on her Internet access like this writer, chances are you'll eventually know the struggle of wanting to transcend the screen and meet these famous felines. What I would give to share the room with Grumpy Cat.
Well, enjoy an extra scratch behind the ears this month, Chicago, because cat celebs are abounding in our city.
For the first time ever, Chicago will play home to the touring Walker Arts Center Cat Video Festival. Described as a "cat Woodstock," the festival debuted in Minneapolis last summer and drew such a tremendous crowd (more than 10,000) that its creators decided to take it on the road.
It hits Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 19, in the Irish Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Ave.). It promises cat-friendly activities, music (or, rather, "meowsic"), an adoption center and, of course, five screenings of a 75-minute hilarious and adorable cat video compilation featuring "Catalogue," a locally produced video starring Chicago Tree House Humane Society alum Crepes the Cat. Crepes, the cat who's also behind catinthefridge.com, will be in attendance at the festival. Tickets to the event cost $10.
If you need an appetizer with big flavor before the main festival, then you should know that one of the web's best known critters, Lil Bub will be making a stop at the Metro on Thursday, Oct. 10, to promote her new movie—yes, this cat has her own movie—Lil Bub & Friendz.
The film, more of a documentary, debuted this year at the Tribeca Film Festival and explores the bizarre popularity of cats on the Internet as well as the rise of celebrity cats like Bub, Grumpy Cat, Keyboard Cat, Nyan Cat and others. Tickets—which include a screening of the film and an appearance by Bub live and in the fur—start at $5 for GA and go up from there for different seating options. (Psst, there's a meet and greet option for an additional price!)
If you still refuse to believe in the legitimacy of celebrity cats, know that it's not just a selfish obsession. Both the Cat Video Festival and Lil Bub's appearance at the Metro will benefit local feline-centric organizations. Tickets sales from the Chicago #catvidfest—expected to be near 3,500—will directly benefit Chicago Cat Rescue and the Tree House Humane Society. Proceeds from the Lil Bub & Friendz screening will also go to Tree House Humane Society—a Chicago-based no-kill shelter.
Do we have you purring with glee yet?