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Category: Off-site event
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Quimby's Offsite: Emil Ferris Discusses My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two at Harold Washington Library Center, June 5th

Emil Ferris at the Harold Washington Library Center
400 S. State Street, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Lower Level
Wednesday, June 5
6pm–7pmNot at Quimby’s.

The Chicago Public Library and Quimby’s welcome Emil Ferris to the Harold Washington Library Center to discuss her highly anticipated new book, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two. Emil Ferris will be in conversation with painter Kurt Devine.
Set against the tumultuous political backdrop of late ’60s Chicago, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two is the eagerly awaited conclusion to the most acclaimed graphic novels of the past decade. Presented as the fictional graphic diary of 10-year-old Karen Reyes as she tries to solve the murder of her beloved and enigmatic upstairs neighbor, Anka Silverberg, a holocaust survivor, while the interconnected stories of those around her unfold.
In Book Two, dark mysteries past and present continue to abound in the tumultuous and violent Chicago summer of 1968. Young Karen attends the Yippie-organized Festival of Life in Grant Park and finds herself swept up in a police stomping. Privately, she continues to investigate Anka’s recent death and discovers one last cassette tape that sheds light upon Anka’s heroic activities in Nazi Germany. She wrestles with her own sexual identity, the death of her mother, and the secrets she suspects her brother Deez of hiding. Ferris’s exhilarating cast of characters experience revelations and epiphanies that both resolve and deepen the mysteries visited upon them eariler. Visually, the story is told in Ferris’ inimitable style that breathtakingly and seamlessly combines panel-to-panel storytelling and cartoon montages, filled with B-movie horror and pulp monster mag iconography.
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two is part of the My Favorite Thing is Monsters series.
Emil Ferris grew up in Chicago during the turbulent 1960s, where she still lives, and is consequently a devotee of all things monstrous and horrific. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Find her at on Patreon here – on IG @emilferris on Twitter @Emilferrisdraws

How to Attend – In Person: Doors to the Auditorium open at 5:30 p.m., and seating is first come, first served (350 capacity). Quimby’s will be selling Emil’s book, and she’ll be available to autograph books at the conclusion of the program.
How to Attend – Virtual: This event will also take place live on CPL’s YouTube channel and CPL’s Facebook page. You’ll be able to ask questions during the event as well! Can’t make it to the live stream? CPL will archive the video on YouTube to watch later.
Accessibility: Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
More info at the CPL Event Listing here.
Facebook event listing here.
Note this event is NOT at Quimby’s!

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Off-Site: Quimby's at Shred the Shed Portable Gray Release Celebration at the Salt Shed, 6/21
The Salt Shed presents Shred the Shed, their four day skatepark pop-up coming June 21-24, four days of DJs, food and drink vendors, guest skaters, and a skatepark designed and built by Chicago artist and skater Juan Chavez. It kicks off National Go Skate Day (June 21) with a Portable Gray release celebration, which Quimby’s will be there to sell, as well as other relevant items from 4pm to 9pm.
What does this UChicago Press arts & ideas journal have to do with skateboarding, you ask? This spring issue of Portable Gray is the Family Issue, and Brent Heyl of the Empty Bottle and The Salt Shed appears in the issue with his brother Shane (a professional skateboarder).
In addition to the skateboard park, music and refreshments, Bad at Sports will be streaming conversations with contributors to this issue.
The Fairgrounds will be open to all to come and skate, though they require participants to sign a waiver (and if you’re under 18, your parent/guardian must sign a waiver). RSVP at this link.
We hope to see you there!
The Salt Shed is accepting donations at this event to donate to the Chicago Abortion Fund, which you can donate to online here, and donations will be accepted on site as well.
(very sick drawing by @agrapedope!)
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Off-Site Event: Zine Camp 2023 presented by Zine Club Chicago, July 9th!
OFF-SITE EVENT!
Zine Camp 2023 presented by Zine Club Chicago
2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Picnic Grove 5 at Dan Ryan Woods
Free!Join Zine Club Chicago for an in-person outdoor hangout for adults who love zines!
We had such a blast at Zine Camp last year that we’re bringing it back and packing in even more summer fun. Newbies and Zine Club Chicago regulars alike are welcome at Zine Camp 2023, set for 2 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9 in Picnic Grove 5 at Dan Ryan Woods on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Free!
Camp activities include zinemaking, zine trading, and socializing with fellow self-publishing enthusiasts; a crowd-sourced, collaborative, zine-focused Complaint Chorus by Ayun Halliday: a Zinemaking Workshop by Jude R. Bettridge; and SO. MANY. SNACKS!
We’ll also be hosting a pen pal station so you can strike up a correspondence with one of our out-of-town Zine Club Chicago friends! (Can’t make it to Zine Camp and want a pen pal? Sign up here: tiny.cc/ZineCamp2023PenPals)
Feel free to drop in anytime between 2-6:30 p.m. and stay for as long as you like. Dan Ryan Woods is a Cook County Forest Preserve; our campsite at Picnic Grove 5 will be located off Western Avenue near 84th St.
Need a map, directions on how to get there via public transit or car, and accessibility information? You can find all the details about Zine Camp 2023 (including where we’re going for the afterparty!) at zine.camp. Facebook event here.
Zine Camp is made possible by the generous support of zinemaker and all-around awesome person Lucinda J. Williams. Check out her Bookshelf Voyeur zine series here at our shop and online at quimbys.com!
Shoutout to our Zine Camp Counselors: Aim Beland, Michael Verdi, Liz Mason, Cynthia E. Hanifin, Ayun Halliday, and Jude R. Bettridge
Thank you to Aim Beland for designing the Zine Camp 2023 poster!
Image description: A pink flyer with the illustration of a green tent made out of a stitchbound zine and a tree branch, with this text: Zine Camp 2023; a (free) meetup for adults who love zines; Brought to you by Zine Club Chicago; 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 9th; Dan Ryan Woods Shelter #5 @ Western x 84th; for more info, visit zine.camp
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Quimby's Offsite: Chicago Zine Fest, May 19th + 20th
Chicago Zine Fest 2023 is back in person! Quimby’s is proud to be a sponsor for Chicago’s annual celebration of independent publishers in the Chicago area and beyond. This two-day festival includes an online panel discussion and youth reading on Friday, May 19th and an in-person exhibition day featuring 100+ exhibitors and interactive workshops on Saturday, May 20th.
Friday May 19: two online events starting at 7pm: CZF YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/chicagozinefest
Online Zinester Panel Discussion: “Quaranzines: How Zine Culture Has Survived and Thrived Since 2020” featuring Julia Arredondo, Oscar Arriola, Brian Baynes, Anna Jo Beck, Jonas Cannon, CHema Skandal, Billy Smith, and Liz Yerby. Moderated by Quimby’s own Cynthia E. Hanifin. Sponsored by the University of Chicago Library.
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Online Zinester Reading featuring members of the Illustration Student Group at Columbia College.Saturday May 20: Zine Exhibition Day
11:00 am-6:00 pm
Plumbers Union Hall (1340 W Washington Blvd) in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Come visit the Quimby’s table!And join us the day after CZF here at Quimby’s: Zine Club Chicago informal hang on Sunday, May 21st from noon-2pm at Quimby’s. Info about that here.
For more info see chicagozinefest.org.
Poster art by Andrea Bell.
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Midwest Perzine Fest – Off-Site 10/8
Quimby’s is proud to co-sponsor the 2022 Midwest Perzine Fest, which is Saturday, October 8th at Columbia College’s Conaway Center, at 1104 S Wabash Avenue, 10 am to 4 pm! Make sure to stop by our table to say hi!
What’s a perzine? Perzine is a genre of zine. It is short for “personal zine” and is often a self-identified term used by zinesters to describe their zines written about their own personal thoughts, stories, or experiences and can be of a confessional nature. But perzines are not limited to discussions of emotions; they can also explore topics of interest or interactions with hobbies or travel experiences.
More info at MidwestPerzineFest.com.
Still in town on Sunday afternoon? As a post-MWPZF event, Zine Club Chicago and Quimby’s invite you to join us for coffee and cookies. Come here to Quimby’s (1854 W. North Ave) at noon, Sunday, October 9th, to hang out with your zine friends. Feel free to leave items you want to consign (though we will not be able to do payouts due to how busy we will be or check stock levels). We can’t wait to see you all during MWPZF weekend!
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You're invited to Zine Camp on July 17th!
Zine Camp
3-5 p.m. Central Time
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Humboldt Park, Chicago
Free!++ PLEASE NOTE: This is an off-site event! ++
Pack up your long-arm stapler, grab your sunscreen, and meet up with your fellow zine enthusiasts at Zine Camp! If you love zines, you’re invited to this in-person, outdoor summer hangout.
Join the fun at 3-5 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 17 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park.* There will be s’mores, snacks, and some fun surprises … feel free to drop in anytime and stay for as long as you like.
Where to go in Humboldt Park:
Zine Camp will be held on the park side of North Avenue between Mozart Street and Francisco Avenue (just west of the intersection of California Avenue and North Avenue). **
Look for the Zine Camp flying proudly!
What to bring to camp (if you choose):
- Zines to trade (your own or your faves by other zinemakers)
- Snacks to share
- A beverage (we recommend bug juice)
- Sunscreen and bug spray if you need it
- Something to sit on (blanket, camp chair, etc.)
- A face mask if you want to wear one
Zine newbies and longtime fans alike are welcome at Zine Camp! This free event is brought to you by Zine Club Chicago + Zine Party.
More info at zine.camp. Facebook event here.
* Post-event gathering + BAD WEATHER LOCATION info: After Zine Camp wraps up in the park at 5 p.m., a group of folks will head over to the outdoor patio at the Hi-Lo (1110 N. California Ave.) to continue the revelry! The Hi-Lo patio (which has tables covered with umbrellas) also will be the alternate Zine Camp gathering spot in case of rain — please keep an eye on the Zine Club Chicago social media accounts (@zineclubchicago) for updates if the weather is not conducive to a park gathering.
** Please note that the closest public restrooms that will be open during our event are just across North Avenue at Burger King (2840 W. North Ave.; purchase may be required to use facilities) and a few blocks down North Avenue at Cermak Produce (2701 W. North Ave.; purchase not required to use facilities). This isn’t ideal, of course, but the event organizers could not confirm that any public restrooms within the park will be open.
++ This event will NOT be held at Quimby’s ++
Image description: A light green, black, and white flyer with a collaged background of vintage camping advertisements and the following text: Zine Camp; Join us for an in-person summer hangout for folks who love zines! Sunday, July 17, 2022; 3-5 p.m. Central Time; Humboldt Park, Chicago; Free! For more info, go to zine.camp; Hosted by Zine Club Chicago + Zine Party
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2020 Chicago Zine Fest ONLINE, 5/15 & 5/16
Chicago Zine Fest 2020 will take place online on May 15th and 16th, 2020. Here’s how you can participate in #CZF2020:
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Share your zines (or other people’s zines!) on social media with the hashtag #CZF2020 on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th. There’s no registration or limit to who can participate, so long as you’re a zine maker or enthusiast.
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Tune into CZF’s digital programming: Readings, workshops, and panel discussions (more details at chicagozinefest.org). We’re proud to announce a Quimby’s Bookstore behind-the-scenes video tour Sat, 5/16 4pm Central on the CZF Youtube channel!
- Join CZF’s online Zinester Directory: Submit an entry about you and your zines to be included, a spreadsheet of active zinesters to browse in perpetuity! Fill out the form to be included here. Check out the directory itself here.

More info at ChicagoZineFest.org.
#CZF2020 Poster by Caroline Cash
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Quimby’s is proud to be a sponsor of the 2020 Chicago Zine Fest, a celebration of small press and independent publishers, with an annual festival of workshops, events, and the big expo day where 250+ zinesters sell and trade their zines. All the events are free and open to the public. The 11th annual Chicago Zine Fest will take place May 15-16, 2020 at Plumbers Hall (1340 W Washington Blvd).Poster by Andrea Bell.Applications for half table spots will be open 1/13/2020 – 1/20/2020 and table spots will be chosen through a lottery. Application here.More info about Chicago Zine Fest at ChicagoZineFest.org. -
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Postponed: CAKE (Chicago Alternative Comics Expo) 2020
Quimby’s is proud to be a sponsor of the 2020 Chicago Alternative Comics Expo [CAKE], a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists– past, present and future. CAKE features comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue amongst independent artists, small presses, publishers and readers. More info at cakechicago.com.CAKE 2020 will be held 6/13-6/14 11am-6pm at Broadway Armory (5917 N Broadway) in Edgewater.More info TBA.Follow CAKE:
IG: @CAKEChicago
Twitter: @CAKEChicago
Art by David Alvarado. @tuffasaurus
















