There is an ivy colored brick building on 5638 S. Woodlawn Avenue in Hyde Park. Once a mansion in its glory days at the turn of the century, it has now been converted into a multi-purpose space for cultural and arts events. Inside, there are brightly colored walls and hardwood floors with a variety of resources, including a radio station, artist studios, and a community museum. Rechristened as the Southside Hub of Production (SHoP) and home to a collective of artists, educators, writers, film makers and beyond, the building recently held its grand opening at the beginning of October and has hosted a slew of events since. From film screenings to workshops, exhibitions of artwork to potluck dinners, SHoP caters to a variety of interests and to people of all ages.

Here’s a glimpse of upcoming events:

• Today (Thursday), from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, Origins, an art exhibition sponsored by Beats & Pieces, a community service organization run by University of Chicago students, will feature works, poems, and performances from students and artists from Chicago at large.
• David Drake, pottery maker and poet, will make his first visit to Chicago on Friday to discuss his art and his pieces, which are now found all over the country in museums and private collections.
• For those with a soft spot for cartoon figures and eastern European history, stop by at 6:30 on Saturday for an hour and a half of animated films created in the 1960s when the Berlin Wall still stood. Entitled Grafiky Soumraku: Eastern European Animated Films, this screening includes segments from different countries and different years.

Behind the scenes, SHoP is still developing some of its facilities and working hard to continue to bring a slew of interesting programs and events to the South Side community. To that end, SHoP is seeking yearlong sponsors to support its efforts to be a cornerstone of the art community and has launched an online Kickstarter campaign, lasting for the next twelve days to raise money. Even if you can’t make it to an event, you can still be a patron of the arts by helping SHoP reach its goal of $8000. In any case, no matter what you choose to do, there is plenty to see and do almost every day for anybody who has even a remote interest in the arts or beyond.

For a complete list of events and information about supporting SHoP, visit: http://southsidehub.org/

One week from Monday night, every self-respecting haunt in America (and beyond) will emerge from their rotten tombs to feast upon the living- or to feast upon the delicious morsels that the living so kindly give out at their doors. Yes, it is almost one week from Halloween, my friends, and this reporter is ready. An example of my readiness:

Eric Shoemaker

Angela, the happily wedded corpse bride that dangles above my writing desk. No pallid bust of Pallas for me, my friends; I go all out.

In light of the festivities and to prepare myself for the perfect holiday that is All Hallow’s Eve, this week’s writing features the second installment in this blog’s spooky series: The Hyde Park Players present An Evening of Classic Horror and Suspense!

To mention: first of all, that the existence of the Hyde Park Players is, in the first place, a most glorious occasion worthy of recognizing. The itty-bitty troop in their wee storefront theater over at 6100 Blackstone Avenue is truly the rip-rap band of dramophiles it should be- mostly men and women over the age of thirty, but still, ripe in the mind and voice, able to easily portray several distinct and typed characters. A round of applause for the Players.

Their performance tonight was enjoyable, if a bit long- running around two and a half hours. BUT do not let this dissuade you, lovers of the macabre- if you enjoy listening, let me emphasize that again, listening to radio show style stories, this is the show for you. It is truly an exercise in using one’s ears. I recommend going and closing your eyes for a bit; you get a different experience.

It is rather fun to watch this enthusiastic group of theater geeks fully invest in what they are saying, and it is equally fun to hear from some of the great storytellers of all time- Ray Bradbury, Guy de Maupassant, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, plus a few more. But it is most gratifying to realize all of the work that this troupe put in- from mixing the sounds to adapting the works. It is truly a labor of love.

Go see this show, if you have the time. Adieu, until next weekend.

-Eric Shoemaker

An Evening of Horror and Suspense, The Experimental Station: 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. Tickets $8 presale, $10 at the door, 7:00 pm. hydeparkcommunityplayers.org

The Log

An Evening of Classic Horror and Suspense in the Old Time Radio Tradition* @ The Experimental Station: Oct 21 & 22

Flow* @ eta Creative Arts: Sep15-Oct23

Audience Annihilated @ Dream Theater: Oct 20-31

A Weekend of Workshops @ University Theater: Oct 27-29

The Physicists @ University Theater: Nov 3-5

Wait Until Dark @ Jedlicka Performing Arts Center: Oct28-Nov12

From the Circle @ Filament Theater: Sept 30-Nov 13

Broke-ology @ eta Creative Arts: Nov3-Dec18

*Ending Soon

Chicago may be the third-largest city in America, but it seems to get passed over time after time when it comes to reality show locations. Ever since the eleventh season of the Real World vacated its Wicker Park loft in 2002, the only reality TV series set in Chicago was part of Top Chef’s 2008 season. (Unless I’m forgetting anything?) Now, though, it looks like reality television may be coming to the South Side, as the Southtown Star announces a casting agency is looking for “buff, hot, sexy, crazy, fun, outgoing” participants for a “Jersey Shore”-type series set in these parts.  No details yet about the show beyond that, but if you’ve got a colorful personality and nothing better to do, see the Star article for how to apply.