Filed under Announcements …

Check Out Our January Line-Up

Essay Fiesta is kicking off the new year with plenty of new faces. Not only does our first show of 2013 feature new hosts (including a new spin on the Essay Fiesta theme song), but it also features three readers who are brand new to Essay Fiesta – and, as always, some (very) familiar faces. … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Announces September Line-Up

Essay Fiesta had a packed house this past Monday! Thank you all for coming out and showing your support for the local live lit community and for 826CHI. We broke a new fundraising record! Good on you! Our next show is Sept. 17! Co-producer Alyson Lyon is being called away on make-up duty, so we’ll … Continue reading →

Update: Essay Fiesta Submissions

Hi Essay Fiesta folks! Keith and Alyson wanted you to know, that as our 3rd-year anniversary approaches in November, we are putting reading submissions on hiatus until December. Currently all shows from now through the anniversary show are in the process of being booked. So to give us a break, we’re going to wait until … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Announces August Line-Up

Hey Essay Fiesta fans! We’ve got another great show lined up for you in August. Hosts Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon have invited some pretty talented folks to share their personal stories with you. Mark your calendars for Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar so you don’t miss seeing: Stand-up comic Kristin … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Loves America!

Essay Fiesta would like to take a moment to say we hope everyone had a joyous and safe 4th of July! We hope you tossed a burger on the grill, threw back a brewski and had a good ol American’ time. If you still have some leftover fireworks, be very careful for goodness sake. Those things are the … Continue reading →

Help the Fullmers: Special Book Cellar Event

Like the binding on your favorite book, the Chicago literary community is tightly woven together. Not in an annoying cliquish sort of way. More in that lean-on-me kind of way, where we can all depend on one another for support, usually just emotionally but sometimes in more tangible ways. This is one of those times. … Continue reading →

Printers Row Lit Fest Is Upon Us!

Hello bookish boys and gals! Last Essay Fiesta was a homerun! Our readers really brought it, and you really helped fund a great cause with a sizable amount of donations for 826CHI. Good work, team! Summer is here, which means the smell of literature is in the air. “Huh?” you say. That’s right. It’s the … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Salutes Maurice Sendak

What child of the latter part of the 20th century was not touched in some way by the words of Maurice Sendak? The prolific illustrator and author penned such perennial classics as Where the Wild Things Are and Chicken Soup with Rice, passed away today at the age of 83. Essay Fiesta thinks this is … Continue reading →