Past Events

Fuller Award: Sandra Cisneros

Saturday, March 13, 2021
7-8:15 p.m.

Via Zoom
Free and Open to the Public
Register in Advance

Sandra Cisneros, the poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, performer, and artist whose work beautifully and profoundly explores working class lives and landscapes, will receive the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s Fuller Award for lifetime achievement. The event is free and open to the public, but you must register in advance. A native…

Chicago (Love) Classics

Saturday, February 13, 2021
7-8 p.m.

Zoom
Register in advance.

In the first of several themed Chicago Classics this year, a group of extraordinary writers will read to us about love. Chicago natives Jacquelyn Mitchard, Peter Orner, and Dipika Mukherjee lead a lineup filled with authors with much to say on the subject. Each will treat us to a sampling of one of her or his own books as well as a favorite Chicago…

Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: A Chicago Literary Cocktails Fundraiser

Friday, January 29, 2021
7-9 p.m.

Zoom

This interactive seminar is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $25 for those who want to contribute. We want you to attend whether you decide to donate or not. Register through Eventbrite. For Sterling North and Carl Kroch's recipe collection, So Red the Nose, Oak Park native Ernest Hemingway contributed a cocktail named for his…

Today A Reader, Tomorrow A Leader

Monday, January 18, 2021
12:30-4 p.m.

Via Zoom
Register to receive link

AmeriCorps Project YES!, a program of the Northwestern Settlement House, connects caring adults with youth in the West Town community through mentorship, including educational, service, artistic, and recreational activities, to support academic achievement. Its 14th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literacy Fair will be held on Monday, January 18,…

Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year Awards

Saturday, January 16, 2021
7-8:30 p.m.

Zoom Ceremony

The Chicago Writers Association presents its annual Book of the Year Awards in a virtual ceremony Saturday, January 16, starting at seven p.m. Elizabeth Wetmore (Valentine, Traditional Fiction), Katey Schultz (Still Come Home, Indie Fiction), Jaqueline Saper (From Miniskirt to Hijab, Traditional Nonfiction), and Mary Lang Sollinger (From…

CLHOF 2020 Online Auction Fundraiser

Thursday, December 10, 2020
7 p.m.

Via Zoom Webinar

January 10, 2020

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's major 2020 fundraiser features three live auctions, readings by Carlos Cumpian, Haki Madhubuti, and Toya Wolfe, and even some literary trivia. Auctioneers Brian Hieggelke and Elizabeth Gomez will entertain you as the bidding for original artwork, a vacation package, and a unique virtual cooking experience…

Chicago Fall (2020) Fit/Lit

September 15-December 1, 2020

https://discord.com/channels/720153745152802838/721887602361368668

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Fit/Lit returns for the fall and early winter, and the new session is open to all ages. After a successful inaugural session (and requests from the adults to be included) we decided to expand the program. What It Is: A community of Chicago book lovers reading Chicago literature and plotting excursions based upon local…

Chicago Fit/Lit Challenge

Monday, July 13 through Monday, Aug. 17
1 p.m.

Zoom Meeting Room and Discord Channel.

In this Summer of Covid, we find ourselves struggling to maintain a healthy body and mind while also entertaining ourselves. Parents, especially, want to engage their children with activities outside the television screen. Our new online summer program, Chicago Fit/Lit combines physical fitness (walking or biking), reading (Chicago books) and…

An Off-White Christmas at 19th Century Club

Monday, December 16, 2019
Noon-2:30 p.m.

The Nineteenth Century Club
178 Forest Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60301

A staged reading of CLHOF founder Don Evans's story "Bah!" will be featured at the Nineteenth Century Club's regular Monday enrichment series. "Bah!" is one of 12 stories in his short story collection, An Off-Whte Christmas, which was just released as an audio and e-book. Kevin Theis, Savanna Rae, and Bryan Wakefield, all affilated with the…

CLHOF Appreciation Party: Board Members, Volunteers, Partners and Friends

Saturday, December 14, 2019
7-10 p.m.

Invitation Only

Venue TBA

A party to show our gratitude for all the support we've received throughout the year, from volunteers, to partners, to board members, to authors and scholars. There will be food, drink, and a plenty of conversation. At the party, we'll recap our 2019 accomplishments and unveil our 2020 calendar.