‘Nowhere’ by Ian Whitmore
NOWHERE Johalla Projects presents new work by the photographer Ian J. Whitmore

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 10.31.12 through Tue 11.6.12:

1

art Ian J. Whitmore
The former Chicagoan captures place without definition. In his recent project, Nowhere, Whitmore snaps eerie pictures that transform banal spaces, like empty office buildings, into lyrical images. Bonus: He put up work at the Damen Blue Line stop, too.
GO: 11/3 at 7; free. Johalla Projects, 1821 W Hubbard. johallaprojects.com
2

film Dinner and Show 2.0
It’s a new take on an old classic. David Morten and Michael Kornick’s Ada St.—one of Chicago’s Best New Restaurants this year—teams up with the non-profit arts organization Facets Multi-Media for two nights of food and film. On November 5, the Chicago filmmaker Tom Palazzolo presents his comedic documentaries about Chicago.
GO: 11/5 at 9; $50. Ada St., 1664 N Ada. RSVP: eboyer@dmkrestaurants.com
3

folk Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival
This fine-lookin’ festival in downtown Urbana features, among many others, the old-timey Devil in a Woodpile, the Gypsy-ska-roots Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, and the singer-songwriter John Lilly.
GO: 11/2–3. Details: folkandroots.org
4

art Justin Cooper
There’s nothing predictable about Justin Cooper—some say he’s a performance artist extraordinaire. The wacky guy has used everything from garden hoses to party supplies as source material—so expect the unexpected.
GO: 11/3 at 4; free. Monique Meloche, 2154 W Division. moniquemeloche.com
5

festivals Chicago Humanities Festival
With a lineup including the New Yorker’s Ian Frazier, the Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, and the notorious Mike Daisey, choosing a Humanities Festival schedule is a daunting task. The good news? You really can’t go wrong.
GO: 11/1–11. Details: chicagohumanities.org
 

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Seth Reiss
Seth Reiss

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Seth Reiss, the Head Writer at The Onion. The Old Town resident also contributed to the new book, The Onion Book of Knowledge.

“I’m a recent transplant from New York to Chicago, so I don’t have a lot of friends. Friday night, I’ll go to Nookie’s in Old Town and work. I’ll probably stuff my face with this pasta and chicken dish that I always order. I like having Nookie’s in my neighborhood and I’m drawn to the diner feel. They also have good coffee.

“For Saturday morning brunch I might go to the Bongo Room. My girlfriend and I have gone in the past and it was delicious. The best part is the pancakes—they’re always decorated with crazy ingredients like chocolate, but they also stand on their own as great pancakes. Afterwards, I’ll hunker down at Filter Café in Wicker Park. Whenever I write, I like activity around me. And I also like to know that I can walk to the counter and get a treat. I treat myself and then get to work. Later, if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll likely eat at The Publican. Everything is just so good. I never thought I’d eat a piece of a pig’s face until I had dinner at The Publican.

“Sunday I’ll try to find a Steelers game somewhere. But I haven’t found a place that I like yet. Onion folks aren’t really the people inside the party. They’re the ones on the outside making fun. Later, I’ll most likely end up at Thai Aroma, it’s right off the train and super easy. The night will end at the cool Chicago hang, my apartment, where I’ll watch Homeland.” —As told to Elly Fishman

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

literature Cedar Sigo
As a student of the poets Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Joanne Kyger, Cedar Sigo’s writing is reminiscent of the Beats at the height of the San Francisco Renaissance—his poems include elegant insights into queer identity and politics.
GO: 11/1 at 6:30; Free. Poetry Foundation, 61 W Superior. poetryfoundation.org

 

Photography: (NOWHERE) Courtesy of the artist; (REISS) Courtesy of The Onion