Tagged with Elizabeth McQuern …

What a Day That Was: Essay Fiesta Recap

Hello friends of Essay Fiesta. This past literary extravaganza was a swell shindig indeed. Great prizes were won. Wonderful readers performed their work. Baristas slung coffees and beers. People absorbed art. We have to say it was a smashing success. Our good buddy Monte (who is also an Essay Fiesta alumni) was kind enough to … Continue reading →

Pictures from Last Night’s Essay Fiesta

Hey Essay Fiesta fans. Last night was an amazing show! We packed the Book Cellar more than ever. Our readers were amazing. Thank you again to Kristin Clifford, Tom Wolferman, Scott Smith, Robyn Okrant and Diana Slickman. Alyson and Keith really can’t express how touched they are that so many people appreciate their little show. … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Gives Thanks

Thanksgiving is coming up, and Essay Fiesta is in the thanking mood. Over the last year, we’ve had a number of wonderful people, organizations and businesses give us their support to help make our show one of the best reading series in the city. The following is a list of these people and entities we’d … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta on Literary Chicago and Fun Facts!

Hey you! If you didn’t already know, Essay Fiesta’s one-year anniversary is on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at The Book Cellar. It’s going to be extra special! We’ve got a great line-up, awesome raffle prizes and more! Literary Chicago, a great blog about literary things going on about Chi-Town, recently published an interview … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Is Moving Right Along

This past weekend, Essay Fiesta did some heavy lifting—literally. Essay Fiesta’s Keith Ecker moved just a few blocks to a new pad in the heart of Andersonville. The space is perfect for a writer, complete with a separate office that overlooks a backyard. Helping with the transition, both physically and emotionally, were Essay Fiesta’s very … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Seeks Video Editor

Essay Fiesta is looking to enlarge our team. Currently we’re a small operation that consists of creators and producers Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon, Howard Brown rep Bryant Dunbar and our videographer Elizabeth McQuern. We’d like to add another person to our team, namely a video editor. You can check out our recent post on … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta: Post-Game Wrap-Up

My what a party we had last night. To all who made it, a big Essay Fiesta gracias. To all who didn’t, try harder! (You’ll have a chance to make it up to us June 21st). And once again, we’d like to thank our readers, our videographer Elizabeth McQuern, Howard Brown and the Book Cellar. … Continue reading →

Essay Fiesta Reader Profile: Bryan Bowden

Bryan Bowden is a manly mountain man who hails from North Carolina. Legend has it, he caught a bear with his bare hands and rode it cross-country to Chicago. That legend is probably false. Currently Bowden is a stand-up comic. He performs regularly around town. Bowden also has a gift for teaching. He currently is … Continue reading →

Second City 7 Day Shorts

Update! The short is now officially on the Second City 7 Day Shorts YouTube Channel. Hurrah! Here’s the much-anticipated video short we’ve been telling you about featuring Essay Fiesta co-producer Keith Ecker. It’s called “Atomic Test,” and it was written by Essay Fiesta alum Bryan Bowden, filmed by Essay Fiesta videographer Elizabeth McQuern and co-starring … Continue reading →