Garfield has been hating Mondays for 39 years, but if he knew about Essay Fiesta, we’re sure he’d make an exception for third Mondays. So get out of bed, eat an entire pan of lasagna (maybe don’t do that), and head down to The Book Cellar on Monday, June 19th at 7pm for this lineup … Continue reading
On Monday, June 19, 1978, the first Garfield comic strip made its debut in 41 newspapers. Since its inception, the cutting-edge comic has never been afraid to shy away from controversial topics like Mondays, naps, and lasagna, so it’s no wonder that Garfield sprawled to over 2,500 newspapers and spawned a billion-dollar-a-year merchandising enterprise. (Yes, … Continue reading
We’re only a few days away from a wicked post-Bastille Day hangover. After you’ve re-hydrated and eaten a stack of French Toast, come to the Book Cellar on July 15th, 7pm, and keep the Bastille Day festivities going with hosts Karen Shimmin and Willy Nast, as well as this group of literary revolutionaries: Erin Diamond … Continue reading
There’s nothing that gets our blood pumping like some good, old-fashioned fortress o’ertaking. Which is why we know you’ll be more than a little hungover on Monday, July 15th, the day after Bastille Day. But we hope you’ll manage, with stomach still half-full of red wine and baguettes, to lift the beret from your eyes … Continue reading
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
Happy Tuesday, everybody! This evening Keith and Alyson of Essay Fiesta will be teaching a personal essay workshop to Chicago public school students at 826CHI. Exciting stuff! In the meantime, we’d like to introduce you to one of our March readers: Sheri Reda. Sheri is a writer, editor and performer. Sheri has served as a dramaturg … Continue reading
The next Essay Fiesta is only a few short weeks away, and we are already getting super excited about this super stellar line-up. Your hosts Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon are pleased as pickles to welcome the following entertainers: Author of Living Oprah Robyn Okrant Chicago Fringe Festival Executive Director Vinnie Lacey Host of Real Talk Live J.W. Basilo … Continue reading
Essay Fiesta 