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
ONLY YOU Can Appreciate Our April Lineup
Tonight is the night! Monday, April 20th! Do Smokey the Bear proud and come out to The Book Cellar at 7 pm. (Bring s’mores. And Doritos. Plus a couple pizzas and a bag of Funyuns. Thanks.) We’ll be passing around the bucket to raise money for 826CHI and our smoking-hot readers will be passing around some smoking-hot stories. Rebecca … Continue reading
On April 20th, Essay Fiesta Will Be (Safely) On Fire!
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
Break Your Vows of Silence and Sobriety With Our St. Pat’s Lineup
Give yourself a break, Chicago. We know you’ve spent the weekend secluded in quiet contemplation, abstaining from pleasures of the flesh and green beer. But you deserve just a few hours of fun. Come out to The Book Cellar on Monday, March 16th at 7pm and let our readers show you a real good time. Natasha Tsoutsouris is a … Continue reading
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Halftime with Essay Fiesta on March 16th!
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
Honest Abe Approves Our Presidents’ Day Lineup
Monday is Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day reminds us of Abraham Lincoln, who was pretty good at writing things down and reading them in front of people. If you join us at the The Book Cellar (in LINCOLN Square) on Monday, February 16th at 7pm, you’ll be treated to this lineup of humans who are also … Continue reading
Essay Fiesta Gets Presidential on February 16th!
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
Ring In The New Year With The Gems in Our Lineup
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
The Year of Essay Fiesta Begins on January 19th!
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
Gather Round The Festivus Pole With Our December Lineup
Happy Festivus, one and all! Come to the The Book Cellar on Monday, December 15 at 7pm for the annual airing of grievances – er, we mean raising money for 826CHI. We’ll be joined by these five Festivus miracles: Lily Be is a momma, a nanny, a friend, and a storyteller. She’s a wise Mexican badass from Humboldt Park with a … Continue reading