Category: our illustrious past

  • Quimby's and Community CAKEPOPS Panel

    What an honor! The first CAKE POPS video is up at the CAKE Chicago YouTube page, starring Quimby’s Bookstore employees past and present: Mike Centeno, Corinne Halbert, Caroline Cash & Liz Mason. Come watch us talk about the store, the comics community of Chicago, & the large quantity of duct-taped consignment binders behind the counter.

    —–

    CAKEPOPS is a series of digital check-ins with CAKE (Chicago Alternative Comics Expo) Creators about topics of interest. This installment of CAKEPOPS is our very first!

    Join Quimby’s Bookstore manager and zinester Liz Mason and cartoonist-employees past and present Corrine Halbert, Caroline Cash, and Mike Centeno as they discuss the history of Quimby’s Bookstore, as well as it’s impact on the Chicago comics community!

    Panelists:
    Mike Centeno (he/him) https://www.mikecenteno.com/
    Corinne Halbert (she/her) https://corinnehalbert.com/
    Caroline Cash(she/her) https://carolinecashcomics.com/
    Liz Mason(she/her) https://lizmasonisawesome.com/

    Panel coordination by Aim Ren
    Video editing and animation by Sage Coffey
    CAKEPOPS Graphics by Andrea Bell

    WHAT IS CAKE? The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is 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. Featuring 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. As a completely volunteer run organization, your tax-deductible support is vital to CAKE’s growth and financial stability. If you enjoyed our CAKEPOPS series, please consider donating here: tiny.cc/donateCAKE

    To learn more about CAKE and upcoming CAKE events, visit our website: cakechicago.com

  • Zine Club Chicago ONLINE: I Got It at Quimby’s! Edition 9/29

     

    7:30 p.m. CST Tuesday, September 29 on Zoom

    Free!

    This month, our beloved Quimby’s Bookstore turns 29! To celebrate this anniversary of the best zine shop on the planet, we’ll be joined by a special guest: Steven Svymbersky, who founded Quimby’s in Chicago and now owns Quimby’s NYC. We’ll also be commemorating Zine Club Chicago’s second year with Quimby’s as our home base and sponsor.

    Nearly three decades ago, Quimby’s opened in Wicker Park. Since then, the shop has offered a vast selection of zines, comics, and other unusual publications, along with championing the self-publishing community in Chicago and beyond.

    At Zine Club Chicago Online: I Got it At Quimby’s! Edition, we’ll be discussing our favorite self-published works that we’ve snagged at the store over the years. If you’ve made a zine at Quimby’s (at a Zlumber Party or Zinemaking Hangout, perhaps?), acquired a title in a trade with another zinemaker there, or collaborated with someone you met in the aisles, please bring those zines to share, as well. BYOS(nacks) and join us on Zoom for a great conversation!

    Please note our new event start time: 7:30 p.m. CST!

    ** Zoom info ** We want to make sure that our online Zine Club events are a safe space, so we won’t be releasing the Zoom link and password publicly. If you’d like to attend, please email zineclubchicago@gmail.com to RSVP by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. We’ll email you the Zoom link and password one hour before the event begins.

    Zine newbies and longtime enthusiasts alike are always welcome at Zine Club Chicago, the city’s only book club-style event for people who read zines. This free monthly series is produced by Chicago Zine Fest/Midwest Perzine Fest organizer Cynthia E. Hanifin and sponsored by Quimby’s Bookstore. Anna Jo Beck designs our monthly flyers and created our logo, and also made this awesome Zine Club Shoutout database of zines people talk about at Zine Club!

    Steven Svymbersky published zines under the Quimby’s name from 1985-1991, opened Quimby’s Bookstore in 1991, lived in Amsterdam from 1997-2016 where he worked as the head technician for Boom Chicago Improv theater, and in 2016 moved to Brooklyn where he opened Quimby’s Bookstore NYC.

    More info: on Instagram: @zineclubchicago

    Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/680699006122772/

    Thanks to Megan Kirby for this great illustration of August’s meeting.

     

  • The Skullduggery of 1854!

     

    Wonder what was at our address before it was Quimby’s? Who better to answer that question than one of our favorite history buffs, Quimby’s neighbor Gordon Meyer, the artist and tour guide behind Bizarre Bucktown, who says, “I was crawling thru the Trib archives and spent a few minutes looking into the history of your location. It was formerly a tire store, then an HVAC company. The latter of which might have gotten caught up in some backroom deals. Also, it appears the owner’s son was murdered at DePaul. (I didn’t go far enough to verify that these are the same folks, but it appears to be.)” How fitting that there was skullduggery related to 1854 W North Avenue before Quimby’s moved in to this very building.

    Plus, also, those ads! Gum Dipped Cords! MAN SIZE COOLING!

     

     

    Wonder what was at our address before it was Quimby’s? Who better to answer that question than one of our favorite history buffs, Quimby’s neighbor Gordon Meyer, the artist and tour guide behind Bizarre Bucktown, who says, “I was crawling thru the Trib archives and spent a few minutes looking into the history of your location. It was formerly a tire store, then an HVAC company. The latter of which might have gotten caught up in some backroom deals. Also, it appears the owner’s son was murdered at DePaul. (I didn’t go far enough to verify that these are the same folks, but it appears to be.)” How fitting that there was skullduggery related to 1854 W North Avenue before Quimby’s moved in to this very building.

    Plus, also, those ads! Gum Dipped Cords! MAN SIZE COOLING!

     

     

     

  • Off-Site: Quimby's Freakdom Anniversary Panel at Chicago Zine Fest!

    Yeah! We’re really milkin’ that Quimby’s 25th anniversary thing.   offers the community a way to engage and learn through a selection of workshops held during the expo, and they asked us to do a panel that celebrates the way Quimby’s has contributed to the zine community. How could we resist? So during the tabling exhibition of CZF we’ll be doing a Quimby’s panel (from noon-1pm) called “Ever Evolving Bastion of Freakdom: A Retrospective of Quimby’s,” taking it’s name from the oral history of the same title we published last year. The panel will feature a discussion (moderated by CZF co-organizer Alex Nall) with store founder Steven Svymbersky (and owner of Quimby’s Bookstore NYC), Quimby’s Bookstore Chicago store manager and zinester Liz Mason, with special guests, Neil Brideau (former employee and founder of Radiator Comics) and artist/photographer/Quimby’s regular customer Oscar Arriola. Come for a rousing discussion of how Quimby’s Bookstore got started, how it has evolved over the years, and how each panelist played a vital role in where it is today! Here’s the Facebook event invite for this panel to share it with all your peoples.

    CZF’s tabling exhibition is Sat, May 6th at Plumbers Union Hall (1340 W Washington Blvd) – NOT AT QUIMBY’S. Quimby’s will have a table, yes! Here’s the list of other exhibitors, sponsors, and guests!

    Note: this is NOT at Quimby’s. It is at the Plumbers Union Hall (1340 W Washington Blvd).

  • Quimby's Bookstore is Coming to New York!

    QUIMBYS FLYER

    Since 1991 Quimby’s Bookstore has been selling zines and alternative literature in Chicago and now the founder, Steven Svymbersky is going to open a second store in New York! (No worries, the Chicago store isn’t going anywhere!) The first step is to find the right location. We are looking for a space with somewhere between 600-900 sq. ft. not too distant from a train stop. All neighborhoods are up for consideration. If you have any information or suggestions please contact Steven at ssvymberksy(at)gmail(dot)com.

    Once a location is found it won’t take long for the store to open and then all the zines and small press publications will be accepted on consignment and events can be scheduled. Looking forward to promoting alternative and underground Lit and Art in New York city very soon!

  • Wicker Park & West Town Lit Fest – On & Off Site!

    Print

    Quimby’s is proud to be participating in the Wicker Park and West Town Lit Fest! This year it runs September 15th-18th. And it kicks off at Quimby’s on Thurs, September 15th, which is our 25th anniversary! Founder Steven Svymbersky will be here with slides and video to talk about the mayhem that was the beginning of Quimby’s two and a half decades ago. And we’ve got surprise commemorative swag we’re rolling out! More details about the Quimby’s event here.

    Lit Fest last year was only one day. Perhaps you recall that we celebrated it by giving people a free mini-comic and Chicago-based food puns then served them shots of Chicago-based Malort, demanding we post pictures on our Instagram of their face afterwards?:

    malortfacelitdayminicomic

    Well guess what? Now Lit Fest is FOUR DAYS!

    So now…

    Wicker Park & West Town Lit Fest’s Second Year Celebrates Neighborhoods’ Literary Past and Present

    Join partners from the West Town and Wicker Park neighborhoods for a weekend of programming that will entertain and educate all ages. The weekend has a full calendar of activities planned. Highlights of the weekend include our celebration to kick it off…

    …and there’s stuff elsewhere too, besides Quimby’s! Check out this stuff elsewhere (see www.wwlitfest.com for the details of when and where): 

    *a tribute to Chicago literary legend Nelson Algren

    *a community book swap at the Wicker Park farmer’s market

    *a special edition of Chicago Story Slam at Subterranean music hall

    *workshops, author readings, comic book signings, children’s story time and much more!

    A calendar of events for each day is available on the official fest website www.wwlitfest.com.
    Weekend updates and photos will be available on the official Facebook Page facebook.com/wpwtlitfest
    Follow the fest with the hashtag #wwlitfest

    Participating member’s locations:
    826CHI, 1276 N Milwaukee Ave 826chi.org
    BookClub, 1211 N. Wood St bookclubchicago.net
    Chicago Publishers Resource Center, 858 N. Ashland Ave chiprc.org
    Guild Literary Complex, guildcomplex.org
    Impossible Industries, 1750 W North Ave impossibleInd.com
    Myopic Books, 1564 N Milwaukee Ave myopicbookstore.com
    Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave quimbys.com
    Volumes Bookcafe, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave www.volumesbooks.com
    Young Chicago Authors, 1180 N Milwaukee Ave youngchicagoauthors.org

    Lit Fest planning partners include: Quimby’s Bookstore, Volumes Bookcafe, Chicago Publishers Resource Center, Young Chicago Authors, BookClub, 826CHI, Impossible Industries, Myopic Books, and Guild Literary Complex.  Other neighborhood partners include Reckless Records, Subterranean, Wicker Park Farmer’s Market, and Chicago Public Library.

    Read Local & Shop Small! Help us fight the big box on-line stores!

    Event flyer designed by Susie Kirkwood

  • Happy Birthday To Us!

    We’re 20 years old today! Almost old enough to drink. Definitely old enough to cause some trouble.

    Thanks to Original Quimby’s founder Steven Svymbersky, all the way overseas in Amsterdam, who sent us these flowers with the card that says “Congratulations On 20 Years of Weirdness and Depravity!” We are proud to carry on two decades of mayhem!

    Celebrate with us tonight at our event featuring Rebekah Mercuri reading from her book Weeding the Seeds of Deceit, her book of fiction closely based on her own experiences growing up in a catholic cult. 7pm.

  • New Stuff This Week & Old School Ephemera Quimby's Business Card

    Check out this old Quimby’s business card! From the last century! How cool is that?

    NEW STUFF THIS WEEK:

    ZINES & ZINE-RELATED BOOKS!
    FAQNP #2 Computer Camp Fall 10 Queer Nerd Publication $7.00
    JD Samson From the Life and Times of Butch Dykes vol 1 #2 2009 (B & D Press) $6.00
    Agggresssive School Book – Trash Garbage Rubbish Zine by Mark Pawson $8.00
    Comunicacion Contaminacion by Mark Pawson $7.50
    Birkensnake #3 $4.00
    And Who Shall I Say Is Calling? by Jasper Sebastian Sturup $8.00
    When the Crash Meets Something Solid #2 Hewers of Water by Gabrielle Congrave $2.00
    ‘ Za the Pizza Zine by Nicki Yowell $4.00
    Schematic Quarterly #3 $2.00
    Dance Your Troubles Away by M. Miller $6.00
    35th and Kind Drive – Bad Ass and Rides of Als Chicago South Side $6.00
    Megaton Medias Modern Man Manual #1 $3.00
    Dumb Magazine #1 Random Music Issue Hot Sum 10 (First Edition) by Noah Lyon $5.00 – From the artist of Retard Riot and the buttons that said, “Retardo Monteblon.” Like a David Shrigley for the mini-comics set.
    Assuming Size #1 Poems $3.00
    No More Coffee #3 by Ben Spies $2.00
    Reality Mom vol 7 #4 Fall 10 by Corbin Lewars $3.00
    Map #3 Manual of Architectural Possibilities – Archive $6.50

    COMICS & MINICOMICS!
    I Swallowed the Key to My Heart #2 by Liz Prince $6.00
    Four Squares #2 More Squares by Liz Prince etc. $5.00
    Ferocious Quarterly #1 $12.00
    Acmeat 2 Fuckin Symphonies Bongout Colors by Sylvain Gerand $18.00
    Retard Riot #35 by Noah Lyon $2.00
    Love Under the Big Top by Dakota Bardy $4.00
    This Tactile Earth by Patrick Kyle $3.00
    Wowee Zonk #3 (Koyama Press) $8.00 – With Michael Deforge, Jan Avendano, Selena Wong, Patrick Kyle and more.
    You Don’t Get There From Here #17 by Carrie McNinch $2.00
    M. Sauters Guide to Douchebaggery vol 2 $3.00

    GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS!
    Sophie Crumb: Evolution of a Crazy Artist by Sophie Crumb (Norton) $27.95 – Don’t need any introduction here!
    Powr Mastrs #3 by CF (Picturebox) $18.00 – The third volume in C.F.’s Dune-like science fiction/fantasy epic.
    What I Did by Jason (Fantagraphics) $24.99
    Castle Waiting vol 2 HC by Linda Medley (Fantagraphics) $29.99
    Native Trees of Canada by Leanne Shapton (D+Q) $19.95
    Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc Sec 1: Pterror Over Paris and the Eiffel by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics) $24.99 – Beautiful. In English. And in color.
    Tonoharu Part Two by Lars Martinson $19.95 – Part 2 of a semiautobiographical look at an American English teacher adjusting to life in rural Japan.
    Will Eisner a Dreamer’s Life in Comics by Michael Schumacher (Bloomsbury) $28.00
    Six Novels In Woodcuts the Collected Works of Americas First Great Graphic Novel by Lynd Ward, ed. by Art Spiegelman (Library of America) $70.00 – Some people argue that this is perhaps the first American graphic novel.

    ART & DESIGN BOOKS!
    Dream Spectres: Extreme Ukiyo E Sex Blood and the Supernatural by Jack Hunter (Shinbaku) $29.95
    God Damn the Sun: A 100 Drawings From Napoleon at the Party by Jasper Sebastian Sturup $30.00
    Dot Dot Dot #20 $16.95
    Noggins by Mark Pawson $16.00
    Dr. Lakra by Dr. Lakra (Kurimanzu) $35.00
    It’s a Boy – It’s a Girl by Kirsten Dietz (Taschen) $29.99 – Pictures of signs that are either female names or male names. Like Alice’s or Bob’s or whomever’s diner. You kind of have to see it. Well, guess you’ll have to come to Quimby’s then.
    Scary Girl HC by Nathan Jurevicius (Last Gasp) $25.00 – A book of the vinyl toy character. Perhaps you bought one of the figures when it was here. Now get the book.
    Kaws by Monica Ramirez-Montagut (Skira) $45.00 – A vibrant look at the celebrated New York-based artist and designer KAWS.
    Hi Fructose Collected Edition vol 2: Under-the-Counter Culture (Last Gasp) $39.95 – This hardcover collect issues 5-8 of the magazine and feature emerging and established artists such as Camille Rose Garcia, Femke Hiemstra, Jordan Crane, Marion Peck, Paul Pope, KRK Ryden and more. Or get the Deluxe Box Set version for $60.00, which comes with prints, stickers and a poster! Scrumptious! This would make a great gift for someone you want to educate on lowbrow art. Or tell your people you want it.
    Typefontbat 134 Fontbats equals 6000 Graphics (BNN) $39.95 – Weirdo fonts. Comes with disc to install ’em on your computer.
    Hand Made Graphics Design and Art (BNN) $55.00
    Playful Type 2: Ephemeral Lettering and Illustrative Fonts (DGV) $60.00 – You know you want it. That’s right.

    DIY & CONSUMPTION
    High Society: The Central Role of Mind-Altering Drugs In History Science and Culture by Mike Jay (Park Street) $19.95
    Religion of Ayahuasca The Teachngs of the Church of Santo Daime by Alex Polari De Alverga (Park Street) $16.95
    The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life: Cruelty Free Crafts, Recipes, Beauty Secrets and More by Melisser Elliott (Skyhorse) $16.95
    Self-Sufficiency: A Complete Guide to Baking, Carpentry, Crafts, Organic Gardening, Preserving Your Harvest, Raising Animals, and More! by Abigail Gehring (Skyhorse) $24.95
    Punch: The Delights and Dangers of the Flowing Bowl by David Wondrich (Perigree) $23.95 – An anecdotal history of the original monarch of mixed drinks with more than forty historic recipes. Fully annotated and a complete course in the lost art of compounding punch. By the James Beard Award Winning author of Imbibe.

    FICTION!
    Sunset Park by Paul Auster (Holt) $25.00
    Semina #7 Blood Rites of the Bourgeoisie by Stewart Home (Book Works) $19.95
    Pushcart Prize XXXV: Best of the Small Presses ed. by Bill Henderson (Pushcart) $18.95
    Complete Stories of JG Ballard SC (Norton)
    The Petting Zoo by Jim Carroll (Viking) $24.95
    SteampunkD by var. (Daw) $7.99 – An anthology of all-original works of the genre.
    Demon Lover by Dion Fortune (Weiser) $16.95

    MAGAZINES!
    UFO Magazine #154 vol 24 #1 $5.99
    Skunk vol 6 #5 $5.99
    Treating Yourself #25 $7.99
    High Times Jan 11 $5.99
    Gopher Illustrated #1 $16.00
    Make: The Tool Guide Special Issue $9.99
    Wire #321 Nov 10 $10.99
    Ghetto Blaster #26 $3.95
    Against the Current #149 $5.00
    Radical Philosophy #164 $13.00

    LITERARY JOURNALS & CHAP BOOKS!
    Slake Los Angeles Sum 10 Still Life A City and Its Stories $18.00
    Coming Envelope #2 Win 10 $10.00
    Concisely #4 Stories Under 500 Words $3.00
    The Believer #76 Nov Dec 10 Art Issue $10.00
    Sous Les Paves vol 1 #1 Oct 10 by Micah Robbins $2.00
    Used To Be annaelresiak $4.00

    CHILDRENS!
    Who Will Comfort Toffle: A Tale of Moomin Valley by Tove Jansson (DQ) $16.95 – Moomin is not a hippo.

    MUSIC BOOKS!
    Sun Ra: Interviews and Essays ed. by John Sinclair (Headpress) $19.95
    Left Handed Blows Writing on Sound 1993 to 2009 by Bruce Russell (Clouds) $25.00
    Tao of Wu by RZA (Riverhead) $15.00
    True Hip Hop by Mike Schreiber (MBP) $14.95 – Some classy photos.

    POLITICS & REVOLUTION!
    Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America Draft Proposal by Revolutionary Communist Party USA $8.00
    The Idea of Communism (Verso) $26.95 – An all-star cast of radical intellectuals discuss the continued importance of communism, including Slavoj Zizek, Judith Balso, Bruno Bosteels and more.

    MAYHEM & MISCELLANY!
    Cult People: Tales from Hollywoods Exploitation A List by Nicanor Loreti (Headpress) $16.95
    Cannibal Killers: Monsters with an Appetitie For Murder and a Taste for Human Flesh by Chloe Castleden (Skyhorse) $12.95 – Who are you having over for dinner?
    Sexual Outlaw, Erotic Mystic: The Essential Ida Craddock by Vere Chappell (Weiser) $21.95
    The Mystery of U33: Hitler’s Secret Envoy -The Incredible Story of the Mystery Uboats by Nigel Graddon (AdvUnlmtd) $19.95 – From the author of Otto Rahn and the Quest for the Holy Grail.
    Armageddon Survival Handbook: How to Prepare Yourself for Any Possible Scenario by Rainer Stahlberg (Skyhorse) $12.95

    ESSAYS & CULTURE!
    Discombobulated Dispatches From the Wrong Side by Simon A Morrison (Headpress) $16.95 – During the course of the many adventures that make up this discordant operetta, Simon Morrison has a gun held to his head by a celebrity gangster, goes raving in Ibiza with a holiday grandmother, is trapped in a gay bar in Leipzig, sings happy birthday to Kylie Minogue, disco dances in a San Franciscan titty bar, is deported from Russia, travels the white heights of the Alps through to the gutters of Brazil, and still picks himself up in time for tea with boy band Take That.
    Poseidons Steed: The Story of Seahorses from Myth to Reality by Helen Scales PhD (Gotham) $15.00
    Don’t Follow Me I’m Lost: A Memoir of Hampshire College in the Twilight of the 80s by Richard Rushfield (Gotham) $16.00
    The Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide by Richard A. Muller, illustrated by Joey Manfre (Norton) $16.95
    English Opium-Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey by Robert Morrison (Norton) $35.00

    SEX & SEXY!
    Best Erotic Fantasy and Science Fiction ed. by Cecilia Tan and Bethany Zaiatz (Circlet) $19.95
    Quaintance: The Art of George Quaintance by Reed Massengill (Taschen) $99.99
    SPS #7 Sad People Sex by Heather Benjamin $3.00
    Naked In the Gallery 2010 by Christian Gfeller $28.00

    OTHER STUFF!
    Hipster Mustache $4.00 – Put it with your trucker hat and blend right in.
    Heart Gelatin Mold Just Like Moms $6.00 – No really. Like a real heart. Say it with love this holidays.
    Calendario Bestiaro Bestiary Calendar 2011 by Dave Buchen $25.00 – Wood block animal screen prints, with a different adorable beast for every month.

  • Quimby's Makes the Top 10 Stores on Flavorwire!

    Flavrwire2010

    Props to Flavorwire.com readers and staff for mentioning Quimby’s as one of their favorite indie shops around the country! And we didn’t even know they were taking this picture. Read about it here!

  • A Letter From Ecuador

    Perhaps you’ve been wondering what Quimby’s alumni Brian “International” $hapiro is up to these days. Well, here’s a peek into what his Exciting, Educational, Emotional, Enviable life in Exhillarating Ecuador is like:
    BriansPostcard
    Excellent!