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A Night of Spirits and Stories: Toasting “The Song of the Lush”

Friday, March 6, 2026

By Anushka Dabhade  It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a literary community in possession of a good thirst, must be in want of a perfectly balanced cocktail. On Saturday evening, February 28, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame proved this maxim true once again with their latest…

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A Look Ahead A Look Ahead

A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: March

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

by Kayleigh McNamara "In March the earth remembers its own name. Everywhere the plates of snow are cracking. The rivers begin to sing.” – Mary Oliver, Worm Moon As the earth remembers its name in March, so too does Chicago. Ice is melted, windows are opened, and life is once again…

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Writuals Writuals

Danielle Bainbridge

Monday, March 2, 2026

By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors.   Danielle Bainbridge is an Assistant Professor of Theatre, Performance Studies, and Black Studies at Northwestern…

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Beatriz Badikian-Gartler’s Own “Song of the Lark”

Monday, February 23, 2026

by Donald G. Evans In the course of four decades in Chicago, Beatriz Badikian-Gartler has established herself as a notable poet, teacher, and social justice advocate. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Beatriz was an important contributor and organizer in Chicago’s emerging Hispanic…

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Wreck Your Heart: A Review

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Author: Lori Rader-Day Publication Date: January 6, 2026 Publisher: Minotaur Books   by Donald G. Evans There are many variations of “country music,” just as there are many different kinds of “Chicago.” We learn this from Dahlia “Doll” Devine, a 26-year-old…

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I've been meaning I've been meaning

Winesburg, Ohio

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

by Donald G. Evans Though Winesburg, Ohio is not a Chicago book, Sherwood Anderson was, to a large extent, a Chicago author. Anderson first came to Chicago around 1896, after his mother’s death; he stayed with his artist brother, Karl, and worked as an advertising copywriter until he left the…

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Forces That Shaped the City’s Culture: A Conversation with Chicago Literature Expert Jesse Raber

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

by Reese Plagenz There is a dedication in documentation that comes not with rigor, but with care and attention. As a native of Connecticut, there was no specific relation that brought Jesse Raber to Chicago, but as with most people that spend time here, it drew him in, asking him to unravel its…

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George Rawlinson [October 11, 1956-January 13, 2026]

Monday, February 2, 2026

by Donald G. Evans There was a time, long past, when my son, Dusty, considered himself an artist. He also, in prior incarnations, considered himself a detective, and inquired about what it would take to become a TV star. Nevertheless. Art, for a fleeting time, meant something to Dusty. He scribbled…

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A Look Ahead A Look Ahead

A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: February

Saturday, January 31, 2026

by Kayleigh McNamara While this brutal winter drags on (and on and on) into February, fear not, the Chicago literary scene is just heating up for the year. Whether you are willing to venture into the tundra, or prefer to hibernate within your own home and keep up via Zoom, there are ample…

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A Reckoning of A Life: Marc Smith Tells His Story

Saturday, January 24, 2026

by billy lombardo Full disclosure: I’ve had a few narrow escapes in my life, and Marc Smith is one of them. I went to the dress rehearsal of his one-man show on January 21. The start of the first act of Marc Kelly Smith’s one-man show begins in a set that represents the living room of…

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