Past Events

Official Launch: Wherever I’m At: An Anthology of Chicago Poetry

Monday, June 13, 2022
7 p.m. CDT

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Performance Penthouse
The University of Chicago
915 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

A new poetry anthology, edited by Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Founding Executive Director Donald G. Evans and the late Robin Metz, was celebrated at this official launch party. More than 100 Chicago poets are included in the anthology, and many were present to join in the release. There were short readings, music, and drinks. This collaboration…

Induction Ceremony (Class of 2020)

Thursday, May 19, 2022
7 p.m. CDT

The Poetry Foundation
61 W. Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60654

Program pdf When the pandemic shut down live programming back in early 2020, we held over an induction class. Then last year, with conditions not dramatically improved, we held the rescheduled ceremony but not the latest class. Finally, this year, we were determined to get up to date on all our new inductees. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Class…

Chicago in Verse: A Discussion of Poetry and Our City

Sunday, May 15, 2022
5:30 p.m.

Millenium Room
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington
Chicago, IL 60602

Carlos Cumpián leads a discussion of Chicago poetry as he and panelists Angela Jackson, Faisal Mohyuddin, and Johanny Vázquez Paz give a sneak preview of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's soon-to-be-released Wherever I'm At: An Anthology of Chicago Poetry. Though the official release date is Monday, June 13, a limited number…

Chicago Lit Walking Tour: Nelson Algren

Saturday, May 7, 2022
3-5 p.m.

Meet at the Nelson Algren Memorial Fountain
Intersections of Milwaukee Avenue, Ashland Avenue, and Division Street, Chicago
Polonia Triangle

Join the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame as we join up with several Algren afficionados, including filmmaker Michael Caplan, biogapher Mary Wisniewski, teacher John Lillig, and DePaul University lecturer Salli Berg Seeley, on a walking tour of the author’s old neighborhood. Stops will include his old longtime residence, several of his favorite…

Independent Bookstore Day 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022
Noon–1 p.m.

via Zoom

Join Billy Lombardo as he leads the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's roundup of Chicago bookstores. Independent Bookstore Day is a tradition meant to celebrate and support our local stores, and it always is a special and fun-packed day. Our live correspondents, including Beth Doyle, Jarrett Neal, and YA author Riley…

Shel Silverstein illustration of a kid catching an apple from his book, The Giving Tree.

Shel Silverstein Forever Stamp: First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony

Friday, April 8, 2022
11 a.m. CST

Darwin Elementary School
3116 W. Belden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame inductee Shel Silverstein (Class of 2014) is getting his own postage stamp. CLHOF Founding Executive Director Donald G. Evans will serve as Masters of Ceremonies for a lineup that includes Air Force Academy High School (Honor Guard), USPS Letter Carrier Khalid Haynes, (National Anthem), USPS VP of…

The Martini Chronicles

Friday, April 1, 2022
7 p.m. CDT

via Zoom

For the second straight year, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, with hosts Michael Burke and Robert Charles, put on a virtual cocktail clinic and party featuring Chicago literary-themed drinks. After the great success of last year’s Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, we were inspired to dust off the blenders and shakers and have another…

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Presents Ana Castillo with our Fuller Award for lifetime achievement

Thursday, March 24, 2022
7 p.m. CDT

American Writers Museum
180 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601

and via Zoom

Acclaimed author Ana Castillo was awarded the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s Fuller Award for her lifetime achievement as an author, activist, educator, and scholar. The ceremony was live at the American Writers Museum on Thursday, March 24, at seven p.m. It was also live streamed. The event was free and open to the public with registration.…

Life Celebration and Book Launch: Scott Jacobs

Wednesday, March 2, 2022
5-7 p.m.

The Cliff Dwellers
200 S. Michigan Ave.
Penthouse
Chicago, IL 60604

Scott Jacobs, a gifted video and print journalist and a prolific writer, died suddenly of a heart attack on October 21, 2021. At the time of his death, Scott was in the latter stages of pushing out, I Told You So!: Donald Trump, The Awful Years, that he considered his finest work to date. As was his habit, Scott was doing this book on his own,…

Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writers: Virtual Reading

Thursday, February 17, 2022

via Zoom

Buy the book here.

On Thursday, February 17, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame teamed up with contributing authors from Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writers to present a special virtual reading. The lineup, emceed by editor Vincent Francone included Joe Mallon, David Matthews, Dipika Mukherjee, Nancy Werking Poling, Steve Trumpeter, and Cyn…