September is upon us, and once again the sexiest holiday of the year draws nigh: National Punctuation Day. That’s right. We saw the way you used those brackets indicate a change in capitalization. Reports indicated that “[i]t drove us wild.” We want to be the semi-colon between your closely-related independent clauses; we want to be … Continue reading
On August 17th, 1982, the first ever compact disc – or CD, as the cool kids call them (that’s pronounced “cee-deez”) – was stamped on a Philips Electronics assembly line in Germany. To mark such an historic occasion, the good people at Philips thought long and hard about what piece of music ought to be … Continue reading
On July 20, 1801, a community of devout Baptists in Connecticut combined their powers to create a 1,235-pound wheel of cheese, which they sent down the eastern shore via sailboat and sleigh to Washington D.C., where President Thomas Jefferson awaited the gift. According to newspaper accounts, Jefferson “stood in the White House doorway, arms outstretched, … Continue reading
On June 15th, we will be less than a week away from the summer solstice, the day of the year on which the daylight glows longest. After the solstice, of course, the sun shines less and less each day. As early as the Fourth of July, while distracted by flashy exploding things, we will already … Continue reading
Say! It’s May! Time to allay your dismay – winter’s gray no longer holds you under its sway. Don’t delay, sashay your way down to The Book Cellar on Monday, May 18th, 7pm, for your hosts Willy Nast and Karen Shimmin and this lineup of writers in their respective heydays: The Back Talk Creative Director … Continue reading
Every April 20th, Americans celebrate the legacy of Smokey the Bear by lighting many small, controlled blazes of their own and subsequently feasting on campfire staples such as s’mores, hot dogs, and Doritos Locos Tacos. So after you wake from your Taco Bell-induced nap, come on down to The Book Cellar (where they have cupcakes and scones … Continue reading
The St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place on Saturday, March 14th, kicking off a weekend of solemn reflection and quiet religious observance in Chicago. This somber weekend is merely a precursor to Tuesday, March 17th, the actual St. Patrick’s Day, on which nary the hoot of laughter nor the holler of vomit can be heard … Continue reading
Presidents’ Day is the day on which we observe the birthday of every US president. It’s totally weird that all presidents were born on the same day. Doesn’t anyone else think this is an odd coincidence? No one? Huh. Come on down to The Book Cellar on Monday, February 16th at 7 pm, for a Presidents’ … Continue reading
The New Year may have arrived, but the New Year of Essay Fiesta doesn’t begin until Monday, January 19 at 7 pm. Willy Nast will be out of town, so come keep Karen Shimmin company at the The Book Cellar, as she raises some fancy, new 2015 money for 826CHI with the help of these precious jewels: Erin Diamond grew up in Arlington Heights in a … Continue reading
They said that 2014 was the year of the essay. 2015 will be the year of Essay Fiesta. Or, at least, a year of Essay Fiestas. Which means this year will be a lot like last year, and the previous few years before that. Huh. Anyway, join Karen Shimmin and super special guest host Nathalie … Continue reading
Essay Fiesta 