Chicago Is Lit: Independent Bookstore Day and More Spring Events
For regular readers of this column, Saturday’s Independent Bookstore Day is likely as highly anticipated as the Super Bowl (if not more so). If you haven’t made your game day […]
Book Smarts: Secret World Books of Highland Park—Third Space for the North Shore
Capitalism abhors a creative gathering place—otherwise auto dealerships would put on poetry slams and hardware stores would host book clubs, wouldn’t they? While coffeehouses and restaurants often step up to […]
Chicago Is Lit: A Literary Pub Crawl & More February Events
Authors are frequently asked, “When is your book coming out?” I heard this question when I finished the first draft of my novel, and while I was editing the sixth […]
Channeling Book Fair Nostalgia: Call & Response Books’ Grown Up Book Fair
By: Holly Smith Many adult readers remember, with a good dose of nostalgia, the excitement and awe they felt at the annual Scholastic Book Fair. Books were trundled into the […]
Chicago Is Lit: Poetry Brothel and More December Events
Chicago’s literary scene heats up this weekend at the relaunch of the Poetry Brothel’s local chapter. For those who like their poetry with a side of burlesque, this event bills […]
Dialogs: Five-Star Authors in a Five-Star City
The Chicago Humanities Festival brought two midwest authors to Northwestern’s campus last Saturday afternoon and a packed crowd of literature lovers. Rebecca Makkai and Indiana’s John Green had the audience […]
Dialogs: “The Only Moral Is Run!” – R. L. Stine at the Chicago Humanities Festival
This Guest Post was written by Holly Smith I entered the Music Box Theatre with anticipation. I was there to see the first episode of the Goosebumps TV show and […]
Feature: The Red Devil Lady Presides Over Chaotic Fun – Quimby’s and Zine Club Chicago’s Anniversary Celebration
By Guest Author Holly Smith The Mothership “Quimby’s is the mothership,” proudly declares Cynthia E. Hanifin, producer of Zine Club Chicago which often meets at the bookstore at 1854 W. […]
Review: Malört—Chicago History in a Bottle
He had been warned. At a recent house concert in Printers Row, Pat Byrne, a soulful Irish troubadour based in Texas, bravely took a swig of the yellow liquid, scrunched […]
12 Years of Crafting Mad Science: Kate McKinnon Discusses Her New Book The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science
By Guest Writer Holly Smith A Cosplayer Welcome As I sat down in the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture to see a live interview with comedian Kate McKinnon about […]
Chicago Is Lit: Printers Row Lit Fest and More September Events
Avid book lovers can be a solitary bunch—after all, it’s hard to lug our stacks (and stacks) of books around a party. But that is exactly what’s about to go […]
Chicago Is Lit: August Live Literature Events and Readings
This month’s column explores another reason Chicago’s literary scene is “lit”: the wide variety of live literature events held in neighborhoods across the city. From conversations with award-winning authors to […]