Combine food, farm, vintage, collectors, crafters, and artists and what do you get: Bellwether, a new cultural fest and the brainchild of the folks behind local indie favorites The Vintage Bazaar and The Renegade Craft Fair.
Organizers of the fest, to be held on 2 separate weekends at 2 locations describe Bellwether as "a roving Market + Happening + Feast all in one that brings together the finest purveyors, pickers, makers, and doers, as well as curated films, live performances, killer DJs, and food gatherings."
Date, locations and hours for the all-day event are:
The Hideout June 8 and 9 noon to dark after hours: 8-10 p.m.
Garfield Park Conservatory September 21 and 22 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. after hours: Saturday 6 to 9 p.m.
The Actors Gymnasium's hit show "Lost & Found" is back for a limited time and playing now until March 11 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston. This family friendly show is a high flying mix of astounding aerial skill, upbeat live and recorded music, slapstick comedy and thrilling circus acts performed by kids, teens and adults.
"Lost & Found" is a collaborative original work by Co-Artistic Directors of the Actors Gymnasium School for Circus and Performing Arts Larry DiStasi and Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi along with a talented team of designers and performers. The creators describe the show as an exploration of "the world of second-hand treasure. Cast-off junk and cast-off characters are saved in this show and given thrilling, new life." Costumes and elements of the set are recycled from previous performances.
My 7-year-old daughter and I had the pleasure of catching the show on its opening night and were thrilled by the performances of the cast. The show features a tender and sweet storyline throughout with many moments of hilarity and humor. Lots of ideas are at work here, from an innovative reference to our tech-obsessed culture to an old fashioned boy gets girl tale.
While some of the humor may be best understood by the 8 and up crowd, this show is suitable for ages 5 and up and filled with plenty of laughs and thrills for all ages.
The
play, performed in a unique style of black light with florescent puppets captures the charm of three favorite Eric Carle stories:
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Little Cloud”and “The Mixed-Up
Chameleon.” The 50-minute play is recommended for ages 3
to 6.
Tickets are
$25 for children 12 and under; $35 for adults (service charges may apply). Seating
is general admission. Each ticket includes
post-show all day access to the museum. Audience members are encouraged
to bring select canned and dry goods (chili, cereal, pasta, peanut
butter, soup, tuna, canned vegetables and canned fruits) to be donated
to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Soft-packaged
foods cannot be accepted.
Those who donate will be entered to
win a special “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” themed gift basket.
