Category: Quimby’s co-sponsors

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

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    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

  • Offsite & More: CAKE Kick Off Events & Tabling Exhibition …AND a QUIMBY'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY PANEL!

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    Quimby’s is proud to co-sponsor The [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. 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. The Fifth Annual CAKE tabling exhibition will take place on June 11th-12th at the Center on Halsted (more info below). Special guests include Chester Brown, Tyrell Cannon, Ezra Clayton Daniels, Sammy Harkham, Cathy G Johnson, Patrick Kyle, Laura Park, Trina Robbins, and Leslie Stein.

     There are all sorts of awesome CAKE-related things happening that weekend in other places that weekend too! Here are just a few:

    Thurs, June 9th, 7pm  David Alvarado & Tyrell Cannon at Sulzer Library at  4455 N. Lincoln Ave (NOT at Quimby’s)

    Fri, June 10th, noon-1:30pm Chester Brown at Graham Crackers Comics Downtown, 77 E Madison St. (NOT at Quimby’s) He’ll be signing and discussing his new graphic novel Mary Wept at the Foot of Jesus.

    Fri, June 10th, 7pm YES, THIS IS AT QUIMBY’S: CAKE Presents Kramer’s Ergot 9 Signing, with Sammy Harkham, Andy Burkholder, Anya Davidson, Kevin Huizenga, Patrick Kyle, John Pham, and Lale Westvind. This event is also sponsored by Revolution Brewery, and will have refreshments provided while supplies last!

    Sat, June 11th & Sun, June 12th 11am-6pm Tabling exhibition at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted Ave.  (NOT at Quimby’s) Workshops and panels and all that fun stuff! 

    AND OH!!! Don’t miss the Quimby’s 25th Anniversary Panel at CAKE!

    11:30–12:30 A 25th Anniversary Celebration of Quimby’s! 

    All Panels are located on the 3rd Floor Hoover-Leppen Theatre at the Center on Halsted

    Ok, so a lot of things happened in 1991: with George H. W. Bush still in office, the Gulf War came to an end, the indie comics scene was still recovering from the so-called “black and white implosion,” Superman had about a year left to live, and Nirvana released Nevermind. Meanwhile, in Chicago, Steven Svymbersky opened a little shop on Damen Avenue that, he said, would “carry every cool—bizarre—strange—dope—queer—surreal—weird publication ever written and published,” a place where you could discover, he added, “something you never even knew could exist.” A quarter of a century later, Quimby’s, stuffed with comics and zines and poetry and novels and magazines and newspapers and other paper things that don’t even have a name yet, remains one of the premier bookshops in North America. Jake Austen, editor and publisher of the legendary Chicago music and comics zine Roctober, will moderate a conversation with zinemaker Liz Mason and cartoonists Gabby Schulz (a.k.a. Ken Dahl) and CAKE Special Guest Laura Park (Do Not Disturb My Waking Dream) about the history of Quimby’s and its legacy of strangeness and delight. Who’s bringing the cake? This panel is sponsored by The Center for Cartoon Studies.

    For more info about CAKE: cakechicago.com & Max Morris cakeexpo(at)gmail(dot)com.

    This year’s banner by Chicago’s own Krystal DiFronzo.

  • Offsite: Chicago Zine Fest Valentine’s Day Karaoke Fundraiser at Beauty Bar Chicago 2/14

    cfz karaoke 2016 gina wynbrandt

     

    Show your love through song this Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th as you help raise funds for the independent literary event Chicago Zine Fest, at Beauty Bar, 1444 W Chicago Ave. (NOT AT QUIMBY’S.)

    For their fifth annual karaoke fundraiser, Zine Fest partners with Shameless Karaoke with a songbook of karaoke favorites from Blondie, the Smiths, James Brown, Madonna, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Prince, The Clash, Elvis Costello, the Kinks, Kiss, Britney Spears, Roxy Music, the Sex Pistols, classic punk and new wave and more. You can voice your feelings about Valentine’s Day with your song selection, whether it’s “Addicted to Love” or “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”

    Bring some extra dollars as Beauty Bar offers unique drink specials all night long, including a signature martini and manicure to make sure you look your best this holiday.  Plus Zine Fest will hold a 50/50 raffle, splitting the pot that night with one lucky winner. Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to take home a nice holiday gift.

    There is a $5 admission which will benefit the 2016 Chicago Zine Fest. The event beings at 8pm and is 21+.

    About Chicago Zine Fest: Chicago Zine Fest (CZF) is a celebration of small press and independent publishers. CZF’s mission is to showcase the culture and accessibility of zine-making through workshops, events, and an annual festival that welcomes artists and creators to share their stories, knowledge, and love of zines. Chicago Zine Fest 2016 takes place on April 29th and 30th, 2016. Visit chicagozinefest.org for more information.

    Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/545483928934905/

    About Shameless Karaoke: Visit www.facebook.com/ShamelessKaraoke/

    See the Shameless Karaoke list here to think about what song(s) you want to do!

    Artwork by the lovely and talented Chicago artist Gina Wynbrandt (Big Pussy).

    Quimby’s is proud to co-sponsor Chicago Zine Fest, which is April 29th-30th, 2016.

  • Quimby's & Friends Co-Sponsor Wicker Park & West Town Lit Day, Sat, 9/26

    westtown_lit_posterWicker Park & West Town Lit Day is Saturday, September 26th. A group of local organizations and businesses got together to promote all things literary in the West Town and Wicker Park neighborhoods.

    Read Local + Shop Small!
    Support these partnering organizations during their open hours and for special events during the day!

    Invite your friends! Here’s the Facebook event post for it.

    Quimby’s Bookstore
    1854 W. North Ave, Open Saturday from 11am-10pm. quimbys.com
    Shop for independent publications, comics, zines and books from local authors as well as writers from around the world. Plus shoppers, get a secret surprise adult refreshment with purchase! And whatever other surprises we feel like! While supplies last!

    Chicago Public Library West Town Branch Library
    1625 W. Chicago Ave.
    Stop by these Mini-Maker Lab Classes (ages 14+) today!
    10am-1pm and 3-5pm Make a 3D Fridge Magnet
    1-2pm Maker Lab Drop-in and Q&A
    And Register/Renew your Library Card too!

    Chicago Publishers Resource Center (Chi Prc)
    858 N. Ashland
    CHIPRC is a workspace for literary and arts projects. Stop in today for:
    12-5pm Proud Moments Art Show
    6pm Figure Drawing w/ New Mediums

    Revolution Books Chicago
    1103 N Ashland Ave, 11am-5pm
    Visit them at:
    11am—Book club discussing God Help the Child, Toni Morrison’s latest book
    and
    2 pm—Author event with Christopher Benson: Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime that Changed America, on the murder of Emmett Till, co-written with Mamie Till-Mobley.

    826CHI
    1276 N Milwaukee Ave., is open Saturday from 11am-6pm.
    This creative writing non-profit is fronted by the Secret Agent Supply Co., which sells gadgets of espionage and books written by their students.

    Volumes Bookcafe
    1474 N. Milwaukee Ave.
    New kid on the block, this book café is coming soon! Make sure you note their presence and follow them for grand opening updates on fb, instagram and twitter at @volumesbooks

    Event day poster designed by Susie Kirkwood.

  • CAKE Chicago Alternative Comics Expo & CAKE Satellite Events Thurs-Sun, 6/4-6/7

    If you haven’t been living under a rock then you know CAKE is this weekend. Quimby’s is proud to co-sponsor. The tabling exhibition is at The Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted Ave) 6/6 & 6/7, but did you know there are other CAKE-related events going on around town? Here was a most recent missive from the folks at CAKE HQ that we thought it helpful to repost here!

    The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo is this Saturday and Sunday, June 6 & 7! We can’t wait! Before the weekend get’s started, we wanted to share some more information about the exciting weekend ahead.

    1Signings

    For information about signings for Special Guests, Publishers, and CAKE poster artist Ivan Brunetti, visit www.cakechicago.com/2015-expo/signing-schedules

    2

    Satellite Events

    Thursday, June 4:

    Visiting Artist Lecture: Dash Shaw at the DePaul School of Cinematic Arts, 14 E Jackson Blvd #LL105 at 6pm

    How to Draw Comics The Ladydrawers’ Way featuring Femicomix Finland at Women & Children First Bookstore, 5233 N Clark St at 6pm

    Comic Reading at the Archer Ballroom 3012 S. Archer Ave 3rd floor at 7PM featuring readings by Lale Westvind, Blaise Larmee, Anna Haifisch, Andy Burkholder, Sarah Ferrick, Lane Milburn, Gina Wynbrandt, Krystal DiFronzo, Paul Nudd, and David Alvarado. Hosted by Nick Jackson.

     

    Friday, June 5:

    Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez Signing at Graham Crackers Comics, 77 E Madison St from 6-8pm

    CAKE Presents: Eleanor Davis, John Porcellino & Keiler Roberts panel moderated by Hillary Chute at Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W North Ave at 7pm

    Andy Burkholder’s Qviet Book Release/Exhibition at Learning Machine Gallery, 3145 Morgan at 7pm

    CAKE Weekend Kickoff Concert, featuring CAKE exhibitors sound projects, 3012 S. Archer Ave 3rd floor at 8PM

    Screen shot 2015-06-03 at 11.07.24 AMCAKE Afterparty
    Saturday, June 6:

    CAKE is hosting two Saturday after parties in the same building!

    Enter through the 4th floor entrance for both parties, a $5 donation supports the bands & the Observatory, an independently run music space.

    8pm – late The Observatory, 3036 N. Lincoln, 4th floor. CAKE will be hosting a night of musical performances after the first day of exhibition. Bring some cash, there will be a bar. Performers include: Ambergris featuring Matt Thurber, Traducer featuring Lane Milburn, Pet Theories featuring Brian Cremins, and Naff Whiff featuring Eddy Rivera.

    8pm – midnight: 3036 N Lincoln, 3rd floor. For exhibitors looking for a quiet place to meet up, join us on the 3rd floor (below The Observatory) for a Drink & Draw sponsored by Print Ninja. Snacks will be provided by CAKE; BYOB, or purchase drinks at The Observatory and bring them downstairs to the drink & draw. To get to the Drink & Draw space, go to the 4th floor after party and go down the back stairwell to the 3rd floor (the same stairwell that allows rooftop access).

    Screen shot 2015-06-03 at 11.15.28 AM

    CAKE Minicomic Incentive Punchcard

    We are so excited to have our punchcard incentive back this year- As if buying mini comics wasn’t reward enough!

    When you buy a mini-comic you support a fantastic self-publishing artist! We will be handing out incentive punchcards to all of our exhibitors at the beginning of the day Saturday.

    Spend $8- $15- Get a free CAKE 2015 poster!

    Spend $15- $25- Get a free CAKE 2015 poster, and an assortment of 5 1-inch CAKE buttons, provided by CAKE sponsor Busy Beaver Buttons!

    Spend over $25- Get an assortment of 5 1-inch CAKE buttons, and a CAKE 2015 screenprinted poster printed by Steve Walters of Screwball Press!

    Thank you Mike Freiheit for the wonderful punchcard design!

    The Fourth Annual Chicago Alternative Comics Expo will take place on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted Ave.For more info: cakechicago.com

  • Chicago Zine Fest Announces 2015 Dates, Exhibition Location and Artwork!

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    Quimby’s is proud to co-sponsor Chicago Zine Fest! As per their most recent press release:

     

    CHICAGO- Chicago Zine Fest is thrilled to announce that the dates for our 6th annual festival will be Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th!

    The exhibition will be Saturday May 9th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Plumbers Union Hall on the near West Side. This is a new location for the fest’s exhibition. This venue will allow us to add more participants, organization and programming to the expo. Friday May 8th will host our opening panel, as well as a youth reading, and exhibitor reading (information, location and times TBA).

    Registration for the exhibition will be open on Sunday, February 22nd at 12PM CST. The festival welcomes self-publishers who release independent zines and comics. Registration occurs through our website.

    The artwork for the 2015 festival was designed by Chicago based cartoonist, illustrator, and teaching artist Corinne Mucha (maidenhousefly.com). Final artwork to be released.

    Look for future press releases closer to the festival date to include programming information, festival workshop schedule, invited guest panelists and announced festival exhibitors.

    For more information on the Chicago Zine Fest, visit our website at chicagozinefest.org.

     

    More info as developments are announced!