Pilcrow Lit Festival

Sunday, May 17
{5p}
Orange Alert Reading Series
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee Ave (map)
A monthly reading series, formerly known as The Fixx Reading Series, with readings held the third Sunday of every month at The Whistler in Logan Square. Join host Jason Behrends with special guests Simon A. Smith, Conor Madigan, David Peak and Megan Milks. No cover, open to the public, 21+.


{7p}
Opening Night Cocktails
Matilda's/baby ATLAS
3101 N. Sheffield Ave. (map)
Join Pilcrow Lit Fest volunteers, staff, and participating authors and publishers for an opening night reception. Raffle will be held throughout the evening to benefit Young Chicago Authors. No cover, open to the public, 21+.

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Monday, May 18
{7-10p}
Reading Under The Influence
Sheffield's
3258 N. Sheffield Ave. (map)
RUI is a reading series based in Chicago developed by a group of Chicago writers who happen to like drinking. Featuring reading by Joe Meno, John Berger and RUI co-hosts. Jointly-hosted by Julia Borcherts, Robert Duffer, Jessee Jordan, Gabriel Levinson and Pilcrow founder/director, Amy Guth. $3 cover, open to the public, 21+.

{7p}
Boring Nude Girl In The Boring Devil's Boring Territory
w/ Gina Frangello
The Book Cellar
4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. (map)
The final stop of the 25-city Live Nude Girl in the Devil's Territory Tour, Zach Dodson will read from his novel Boring, Boring, Boring, Boring Boring, Kyle Minor will read from his story collection In the Devil's Territory, Kathleen Rooney will read from her memoir Live Nude Girl and featured guest Gina Frangello will read something awesome. No cover, all ages are welcome.

{7:30p}
Waiting 4 the Bus
w/ featured guests Larry O. Dean and Charlie Newman
Jak's Tap
901 W. Jackson Blvd. (map)
Waiting 4 the Bus is an open mic on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, a poetry collective, and a workshop of writers talking with writers about writing, held in the backroom of Jak's Tap. Hosted by Buddha 309. No cover, open to the public, 21+.

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Tuesday, May 19
{7:30p}
Quickies! Reading Series
Innertown Pub
1935 W. Thomas (map)
A Chicago flash fiction reading series featuring complete stories read in 5 minutes or less. No excerpts, no cheating. Hosted by Mary Hamilton and Lindsay Hunter. No cover, open to the public, 21+.

{8p}
The Cafe
w/ featured guest Susan T. Moss
5115 N. Lincoln Ave. (map)
Now halfway through its second decade, The Cafe is a poets-first salon-style reading series, with all styles welcome. Held every Tuesday in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood and hosted by Charlie Newman. $2 cover, open to the public, all ages are welcome.

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Wednesday, May 20
{7p}
Show 'N Tell Show
The Whistler
2421 N. Milwaukee Ave. (map)
The Show 'n Tell Show is a bi-monthly live talk show where the guests are the most dynamic designers, photographers, illustrators and poster-makers around. Rather than a gallery show, or some mega-conference, the Show 'n Tell Show truly provides a space for designers to talk about what they do, and what they love: design. The Show is free of commercial interests and not affiliated with any institution or entity. Featuring David Barringer, Doug Fogelson, Paul Hornschemeier, Zach Huelsing, Matt Kessler and Jay Ryan. Hosted by Zach Dodson and Mike Renaud, with comedy relief provided by SpokesMom, the spokesmodel that is also your mom. No cover, open to the public, 21+.

{7p}
Local Author Night @ The Book Cellar
The Book Cellar, the official bookseller of Pilcrow Lit Fest, hosts Local Author Night, featuring Gillian Flynn, author of the crime thriller Dark Places, Lenny Kleinfeld, author of the thrilling page-turner Shooters and Chasers, and Jamie Freveletti, author of the thrilling adventure story Running from the Devil. No cover, all ages are welcome.

{7-9p}
Uptown Writer's Space
4802 N. Broadway #200 (map)
Susan Karp, a certified yoga teacher and writing instructor, will be leading a two-hour workshop at the Uptown Writer's Space that begins with breath work, and leads into a Yin Yoga practice, to focus on cultivating space the body and mind to connect with creativity. While Yin Yoga was developed to prepare the body for meditation, the same principles are used in for putting words down on the page for the remainder of the workshop.
Regularly prices $40, special Pilcrow price of $25! Please RSVP at 773.275.1000. All ages are welcome.

Thursday, May 21
{7:30p}
StoryStudio Chicago Writers Read Showcase
42 Degrees North Latitude
4500 N. Lincoln Ave. (map)
Come out, have a drink and hear works from StoryStudio Chicago's teachers and students. No cover, open to the public, 21+.

{10:30p}
2nd Story
Strawdog Theater
3829 N. Broadway (map)
2nd Story is a hybrid performance event combining storytelling, wine, and music. A typical 2nd Story evening goes something like this: hang out with your friends and eat and drink and make merry. Four or five times during the night, the lights go down, a spotlight comes up on somebody and they tell a story. Tickets $10 (buy tickets here), open to the public, all ages welcome.

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Friday, May 22
{7p}
The Dollar Store Show
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia
An evening of readings and performances given by some of Chicago's top literary talents, monologists, performers, and drunks. Each writer is given an item purchased at a local dollar store (mundane to insane) and a month to craft a story (fiction or non-) that involves the item as directly or obliquely as the author wishes. Hosted by Jonathan Messinger. $1 cover, open to the public, 21+.

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Saturday, May 23
{9:15am}
Participant Check-In/Swag Center Opens
Main level of Trader Todd's, 3216 N. Sheffield (map)

{10a-5:45p}
Discussion panels & workshops
Upstairs @ Trader Todd's, 3216 N. Sheffield (map)
No cover, open to the public, all ages are welcome.

{10a-5:45p}
Discussion panels & workshops @
Matilda's, 3101 N. Sheffield (map)
No cover, open to the public, all ages are welcome.

{7p bar opens/8p event}
The One-Two Punch:
Literary Death Match & Rebuilt Books Auction
$12 cover with proceeds to benefit Opium Magazine and Young Chicago Authors, open to the public, all ages welcome, wristbands for 21+.
Viaduct Theater
3111 N. Western Ave. (map)
Info about directions and parking can be found here. Rideshare options also available.