We are 5 now. That means we are REALLY OLD. Like any other 5 year-old child, we can now count ten or more objects, peddle a tricycle, and speak clearly using more complex sentences. We are also better able to express our emotions. And we have so many emotions. It’s been 5 years since co-founders Alyson Lyon and … Continue reading
Bela Lugosi was born on October 20th, 1882, in full Dracula regalia. Throughout his entire life, he never removed his cape, even insisting on keeping it draped around his shoulders while showering. By the time he achieved success as a character actor in Hollywood, that cape had gotten pretty gross, ultimately contributing to fewer movie … Continue reading
Baseball games are often called off for bad weather, but on September 15th, 1946, a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs was called in the 5th inning due to “an invasion of gnats.” Your hosts, Karen Shimmin and Willy Nast, want to assure you that on September 15th, 2014 at 7 pm, Essay Fiesta … Continue reading
Come on out to The Book Cellar at 7:00 pm on Monday, August 18th. This lineup is so good, they could make a helium atom react. Kelsie Huff is a stand-up comedian and writing/stand-up instructor. She also produces and hosts a comedy show called the kates, held right here at The Book Cellar. The next show will be August 30th … Continue reading
On August 18th, 1868, a group of French astronomers discovered helium. On August 19th, 1868, they discovered what happens to your voice when you inhale helium. On August 20th, 1868, they gave up their scientific pursuits to tour the countryside entertaining villages with their sideshow. At 7pm on Monday, August 18th, 2014 , Essay Fiesta celebrates … Continue reading
Put on your Hemingway-shaped party hat and come on out to The Book Cellar at 7:00 pm on Monday, July 21st. Hosts Karen Shimmin and Willy Nast will be joined by a lineup so good, you’ll wish you could sit in a boat with them for days, trying to catch a giant fish. Scott Smith grew up in the suburbs of Chicago … Continue reading
Can’t wait until the next Fiesta on July 21st? Lucky for you, Willy and Karen produce a literary podcast and this week’s episode features three stories told at Essay Fiesta. Hop on over to All Write Already! to hear Erin Kahoa recount his greatest moment on the baseball diamond, Randy Richardson taking the birds and the bees … Continue reading
July 21st is not only the date of our next Fiesta, but it’s also the day that Ernest Miller Hemingway punched his way out of his mother’s womb in Oak Park, Illinois. Whether or not you were enchanted with his prose when your high school English teacher made you read The Sun Also Rises, you have to … Continue reading
Sure, everyone loves Father’s Day, but what about the day after Father’s Day? June 16th, commonly known as Hungover Dad Day, is the day Dad has to pay the consequences of having his own Hallmark-endorsed Sunday Fun-Day. On Sunday, you made Dad breakfast. On Monday, you make him a tall glass of water, four ibuprofen, and a … Continue reading
Treat yourself to a tariff-ic night of essays at a tariff-ic venue (The Book Cellar) on Monday, May 19th at 7pm. These writers are sure to give tariff-ic performances (this is the only tariff joke we can think of so we’re really getting our money’s worth out of it): Dana Norris is the Editor-in-Chief of … Continue reading
Essay Fiesta 