This week we will launch Mash Tun: A Craft Beer Journal, during our inaugural Mash Tun Craft Beer Festival on May 19, 2012. Mash Tun is our paean to craft beer. It follows the pleasures and aesthetics of craft beer and how it intersects with food, culture, and society. The Mash Tun comes in the form of a printed Journal, a Website, a Festival, and a printed Guide. It features contributions by: Bryce Dwyer Jeriah Hildwine ,Frank Hays Jamie Trecker, Shanna van Volt, Sarah Morton,  Kyle Smith,  Matthew Mikkelsen, Andy Skelton, Jon Braun, Dan Morgridge, Paul Durica, Samuel and Jesse Edwin Evan, Plural, Erin Drain Mairead Case, Michael McAvena Dan O'Shea, Michael Kiser, and Ed Marszewski. You will be able to purchase the Mash Tun Journal at Quimby's and Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar. The Guide will be distributed at better beer bars in Chicago.

Bicycle-powered floats. Mobile sculptures. Origami architecture, marching bands, hot dogs, and dance performances. Everything is welcome but flame-throwers and ketchup. Lion VS Gorilla (LVG), a curatorial collaboration that uses experiential art to build community, is partnering with Version12 to create the First Annual Bridgeport Day, on May 12, 2012! Bridgeport Day is a celebration of the diverse communities that make up the neighborhood, and will be a fun, relaxed day where neighbors can meet, talk, mingle, and celebrate the community. Join us for the Bridgeport Day Community Parade, as it winds down Morgan Street from the Zhou B Arts Center (35th St.) to Benton House (31st St.), from 2:00 to 3:00. At 3:00, the Bridgeport Day Block Party begins, at Benton House. There will be everything from a kimchee deathmatch battle (aka kimchee cook-off) to 12 pop-up operas with artisanal ice cream pairings to Bridgeport history storytelling to musical performances to a three-legged race, because running is better when someone else is tied to your leg. There will even be a petting zoo!

Friday, May 11, 5pm - 11pm http://www.versionfest.org/may11.html Join us at the SMALL Showroom for our Friday Night openings in Bridgeport. We are featuring tastings and samplings by these local manufacturers: Bee’s Knees, Great American Cheese, Baby Cakes, Hot Temper Sauce, Sampling of Bridgeport Coffee, Katherine Anne Confections, Bridgeport Pasty. These other spaces will be open for business too: Paratext Books, Bridgepop Springpop, Ray Emerick's Studio, Research House for Asian Art, Enoch's Donuts and Quimbys! Join us afterwards at First Trinity for live music by Onyou and J+J+J as well as a screening of Kick, by Clara Alcott.

Today we discovered a new activist art campaign in Bridgeport. The East Bridgeport Commies have asked "Artists Students and Working People of Bridgeport" to boycott Version Festival because the people behind it are gentrifying the neighborhood. We hate to admit it, but it's  true. We are ruining Bridgeport. We hope you will support this campaign. DO NOT COME TO BRIDGEPORT. Unless you are a capitalist stooge. If you are a capitalist stooge then on Thursday night you should stop by The Art Bowl Benefit . Or hang out with weirdos at the Astro Space Station or The Paratext Bookstore art opening. On May 11, Friday night,  you should  check out all the Artist, Student, and Working People - run spaces and check out the live music that night at the brainwashing church called First Trinity.  And if you like parades, like all god fearing Americans do, then please join us Saturday for the ALL DAY LONG Bridgeport Day Celebration which takes place at the evil, gentrifying-agent-run community center, The Benton House. If you know whats best for you, do not participate or support any of these activities in the Comm-unity of the Fu-Ture.

Woah. What a weekend. Thanks for joining us! Bridgeport was swarming with activity as we launched all of our projects and pop up spaces without a hitch. We are resetting our clocks right now and getting prepared for this week's programs. Here are some highlights: On Monday May 7 you can join us at Maria's for some Korean Polish BBQ. Private Feast begins Tuesday May 8th at Co-Prosperity Sphere. On Wednesday May 9 join us for a Bookbinding Workshop with with Nicole Coffineau at Paratext. Then on Thursday check out Community Supported Supper Club (rsvp please), Astro Space Station and a zine/book and art show at Paratext Books. Friday is also a HUGE day of openings and events, and mark Saturday 12, 2012 down in your calendar. Bridgeport Day is Coming...