Autumn Osmosis Artisans Show
Best Western University Plaza
1501 Sherman Ave.
Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Oct. 16, noon-5:00 p.m.
$3 admission
From jewelry to English toffee to stationery, Evanston artisans will bring their original designs to the Best Western this weekend for a boutique and showcase.
A group of female artisans, many of whom were trying to start businesses, began meeting at a friend’s house about a year and a half ago to focus on networking with others in their field.
“We thought, ‘We have all these great women, so let’s do a show,'” said co-founder and jewelry designer Joan Maxwell. “It’s all women in design – some of these women have never done a show before, and we’re helping them find sources.”
In April, the women held their first showcase at the Best Western and plan to continue doing bi-annual showcases. For $3, visitors get food, a raffle ticket and access to all the booths, as well as a cash bar.
This year’s show also features clothing, handbags and photography.
Proceeds benefit the Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center, which offers classes, seminars and an after-school program for kids.
“We give them a free booth, and the kids can bring and sell everything they make so they learn how to handle sales,” Maxwell said. “Everything we’re doing is really fun.”
Bill’s Blues Bar
1029 Davis St.
(847) 424-9800
Music at 8:30 p.m. daily and 7 p.m. Sundays
$5 cover Fridays, $7 cover Saturdays and Sundays
Students who have exhausted the Sherman Avenue bar scene can check out Bill’s Blues Bar, which features genres of music such as jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock and folk every day of the week.
“We’re not just a Thursday night bar,” co-owner Debbie Gilmore said. “And we’re not just a blues bar – we’re more of a variety club. We cater to a wide audience.”
Gilmore said she and her husband, Bill, opened the bar because they thought Evanston, as a college town, needed an entertainment bar. The establishment serves Hecky’s Barbeque and offers smoke-free blues sets at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, folk music on Sunday night and open mic on Sunday afternoon. On Thursday, the bar holds Northwestern Rock Night, where cover prices are decided by the artist.
This Saturday, well-known blues group The Kinsey Report will play at Bill’s Blues, and Gilmore said she thinks the band will put on a good show.
“They’re internationally known blues artists – they’ve been around a while, and they have their own style,” Gilmore said. “They put a new spin on old traditions.”
Some shows are all-ages, and Gilmore said the bar offers a large selection of drinks.
“Come Dance With Us”
Dance Center Evanston
Evanston Plaza, 1934 Dempster St.
(847) 328-6683
Oct. 17-Oct. 21; call for reservations
All next week, Dance Center Evanston will offer free ballet, tap, modern and hip-hop classes as part of Arts Week Evanston. The studio, which is directed and largely staffed by Northwestern graduates, normally charges at least $12 a class.
Managing director Ann Tomlins said it’s a great opportunity to see the center’s offerings, especially for non-dance majors at NU.
“I understand it can be hard to get into a dance class at Northwestern if you’re not a dance major,” Tomlins said. “We’d love to see some NU students.”
The classes have been in session since the start of the studio’s fall season, but Tomlins said people who haven’t danced before are also encouraged to watch or take a class. She recommended making reservations early.
“Sometimes it’s harder for people who haven’t grown up in a dance studio to get started with it,” Tomlins said. “This is a fun way to try different styles without any risk.”
Even for people who don’t plan to dance, there’s a lot to watch. Rehearsals take place in four studios and the companies are working on pieces for performances at NU and Dance Chicago, an annual dance festival.
Reach Kristyn Schiavone at [email protected].
