Neil Degrasse Tyson, courtesy of David
Gamble
1. If there’s such a thing as a rock star astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson is it. After putting a wrap on FOX’s “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” he now takes his explanatory show on the road. Dec. 11. Riverside Theater.
Slavne, Ukraine, from You Are Here, courtesy of NASA
2. Another spaceman visits when Col. Chris Hadfield, a former resident of the International Space Station, brings copies of You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes, which features impressive images (below) from his travels. Nov. 13. Boswell Book Company.
3. Self-taught photographer Leanne Parshelle caught her first blues show at Century Hall, the esteemed East Side venue that went up in flames. Since then, she’s carried a love for the blues – and her camera – with her as she hit up blues fests and concerts across the country. Now, her pics are getting their turn in the spotlight with Blues to the Rescue: A story in Photographs. Sept. 9-Nov. 9. Central Library.
Garth Stein courtesy of Susan Doupe Photography
4. Garth Stein’s New York Times bestseller – The Art of Racing in the Rain – is the classic tale of man’s best friend readying himself for reincarnation. OK, so maybe it’s a novel tale. In any event, Stein reads from his follow-up, A Sudden Light. Oct. 4. Boswell Book Company.
5. A new crop of gaming and fantasy fanatics are planting their freak flag. Fantasticon (Oct. 24-26. Crowne Plaza Hotel) brings in sci-fi celebs alongside costume contests, trivia, seminars and loads of all-ages gaming fun. And later, the D.C.-based Awesome Con invades the Wisconsin Center (Nov. 21-23) along with its legions of furries, sci-fi fans and devotees of the comic form.
