Category: Store Events

Black Ocean press readingThursday April 19th 7PM
 
Black Ocean press presents a poetry reading featuring the following poets:
 
Carrie Olivia Adams, is the Poetry Editor for Black Ocean. She lives in Wicker Park and works for the University of Chicago Press, with a MFA from Vermont College. Her chapbook, A Useless Window, was published by Black Ocean last spring. Her first full-length collection is forthcoming for Ahsahta Press. Her poetry and criticism have appeared in Quarterly West, Verse, Cranky, Diagram, and others.
 
Zachary Shomburg wrote The Man Suit. Currently, he?s pursuing a doctorate in creative writing from the University of Nebraska. Schomburg edits Octopus Magazine and Octopus Books, and co-curates the Clean Part Reading Series in Lincoln, NE. His poems have appeared in the Canary, CutBank, Diagram, Ducky, Fence, Forklift, among others.
 
Joshua Marie Wilkinson is the author of four collections of poetry: Suspension of a Secret in Abandoned Rooms(Pinball, 2005), Lug Your Careless Body out of the Careful Dusk (Iowa, 2006), Figures for a Darkroom Voice(with Noah Eli Gordon; Tarpaulin Sky, 2007), and The Book of Whispering in the Projection Booth (Tupelo, 2008). His first film, a tour documentary about the band Califone, is due out next year also, and this summer he’s moving to Chicago to take a teaching position at Loyola University.
 
Mathias Svalina lives in Lincoln, Nebraska where he co-curates The Clean Part Reading Series. He is also co-editor of Octopus Magazine. Poems of his have been recently published or are forthcoming in Jubilat, Fence, Bridge and Denver Quarterly among other journals.
 
Black Ocean is an independent publishing and production company based out of Boston, New York and Chicago. We are dedicated to promoting artists and writers who produce intelligent, skilful, and passionate work. In addition to publishing literary fiction, non-fiction and poetry, Black Ocean produces a number of events each year that incorporate a variety of artistic mediums. From early silent films to early punk rock, we bring together a spectrum of aesthetics, and combine them with a radical social perspective on the nature of art and humanity.
 
for more info visit: www.blackocean.org

THE2NDHANDSunday April 15th 4PMGEEK AND DORK TOUR, 2007
Featuring readings by
Todd Taylor (Los Angeles)
Jennifer Whiteford (Ottawa)
Mike Falloon (Brewster, NY)
Jonathan Messinger (Chicago)
hosted by THE2NDHAND (www.the2ndhand.com) designer/illustrator Rob
Funderburk.
 
GEEK AND DORK TOUR, 2007
For one week in April, three intrepid folks are going to hop in a station
wagon from Minneapolis to New York City and read from their collected works.
They promise this: they?ll read some entertaining stories. It?s not slam
poetry. It?s not dull. It?s good stories told well. They don?t barely bumble
through them, they tell them.
 
Todd Taylor heads the Los Angeles-based Razorcake Magazine
(www.razorcake.org) and co-heads Gorsky Press (www.gorskypress.org). Todd is
also a regular contributor to Thrasher magazine, and has published work in
Suburban Voice, Barracuda, Verbicide, Sleepwalk, and Maximum Rock’n’roll. In
2006, Razorcake became the United States’ first bonafide non-profit
independent music magazine and it is currently attempting to set up a
community center in East Lost Angeles. Todd will be reading from his first
work of fiction, Shirley Wins. Shirley Wins is a novel of not giving up and
not giving in as seen through the eyes of a physics-obsessed grandmother and
her punk music listening granddaughter who, against all odds, will create
the pumpkin cannon to end all pumpkin cannons. Shirley Wins is the follow up
to 2004’s Born to Rock, a collection of in-depth interviews illuminating the
often-misrepresented subculture of punk rock.
Jennifer Whiteford lives in the lovely and very cold city of Ottawa,
Ontario, where she is a civil servant by day and a rock?n?roll,
rollerderbying, novelist by night. Her first book, Grrrl, has been likened
to “a killer mixtape from the early 1990s that you want to play over and
over again.” She has a shy dog and a very loud laugh. She takes no offence
to being labeled as a geek and/or a dork. It has become par for the course.
She has a blog, too: http://www.jenniferwhiteford.blogspot.com/
 
Mike Faloon has paid the bills as a DJ, dishwasher, drummer, and school
teacher. He is the publisher of two zines (Go Metric, Zisk) and a
contributing writer to magazines such as Chunklet, Razorcake, and Roctober.
His work has also appeared in The Zine Yearbook (Soft Skull) and The
Overrated Book (Last Gasp). His first book, a collection of essays and
stories, is due out on Gorsky Press. He resides in Brewster, NY with his
wife and daughter. www.gometric.typepad.com
 
Jonathan Messinger is the publisher behind Featherproof Books
(www.featherproof.com) and books editor at Time Out Chicago.

Connie Lawrence and live dancersSaturday, April 7th, 7:00 PM
 
This is a reading/signing/performance to tie in with the novels Amazons: Sexy Tales of Strong Women and Sex & Satisfcation both by Connie Lawrence. A ?teaser\” or two will be read in conjunction with a cooperative dance performance.
 
About the performers:
AUTHOR: Connie Lawrence, has published both globally and nationally, including Amazons: Sexy Tales of Strong Women (Thunder Mouth?s Press), For The Girls and Tit-Elation. (subscription webzines), Sex & Satisfaction (Accent Press/Xcite Books)
 
DANCERS: Sue Yan: What started out as a hobby has turned into a passion: salsa, cha cha, bachata and merengue, Argentine Tango for 2 years. Performed and taught for: Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (annually); Esperanza Community Service, Formed a small dance ensemble dancing with a focus on performing/teaching non-profit organizations, fundraisers, charities, etc… Studied belly dancing…
 
Patrick Thomas Sabor Latino Barbados Performances: Chicago Crystal Ball 2004 and 2005, United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association Chicago,2004; Kentucky 2004; St Paul 2005. Dance Chicago, 2005; Indiana Dance Challenge 2005; Windy City Showcase Ball 2005 Dance styles: International Latin American Rhythm Salsa, Merengue. Won the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Performance team regional and national championship for 2005.
 

Marry SoderstromThursday, March 29th, 7:30 PM
 
Mary Soderstrom, a Montreal-based writer, whose new book Green City: People, Nature and Urban Places has recently been published by V?hicule Press of Montreal. With nine books to her credit, Soderstrom is well-known to Canadian readers. Her new book uses 11 cities–Chicago among them–as starting points for exploring the ways that people have brought nature into cities over history.
 
This reading will be co-sponsored by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and someone from the center will introduce Soderstrom.

Mitch O? ConnellFriday, March 23th, 7:00 PMFREE
 
Mitch O? Connell will be on hand to sign copies of his new book Mitch O’Connell Tattoos. It’s 264 pages of his best tattoo designs.
 
From the back of the book:
Are you the type that gets a kick from sin-streaked, steaming hot tattoo designs full of beauties, cuties and nudies?! Then you’ve just hit the jackpot!!
 
In your sweaty grip is the greatest collection of lewd, rude and crude, yet cute, cuddly and curvaceous tattoo art ever published ? all of it itching to be engraved on your flesh (or just drooled over beneath the covers late at night)!
 
Fill up on a bountiful buffet of salacious selections overflowing with high-heeled, hell-bound dames hoisting high-balls; pile on a side of tasteless and trashy; top it off with a pinch of the adorable and the deplorable, and you?ve got yourself one satisfying book ? THIS book!
 
What people are saying:
 
?It’s the highbrow of lowbrow where every hour is happy hour.???Bizarre Magazine
 
?Awesome tattoo flash art! Beautiful and brilliant???Club International Magazine
 
?He is one of the defining artists of his generation.???Tabu Tattoo Magazine
 
?Kitschy and wacky, pop cultureish and slick, full of pin up girls, retro americana, cute wide eyed babes and traditional tattoo images all incorporating a sense of humor that is exclusively Mitch O’Connell.???Tattoos Downunder Magazine

Lauren R. WeinsteinThursday, March 15th, 7:00 PMFREE
 
Lauren R. Weinstein is a cartoonist. Her most recent book, Girl Stories, was published by Henry was one of the ALA\’s \”Great Graphic Novels for Teens\”. In 2003, she was the recipient of the Xeric Grant, allowing her to self-publish her first book, Inside Vineyland. In 2004, she received the Ignatz award for \”Promising New Talent\”. Her comics and illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, McSweeney\’s, LA Weekly, The Chicago Reader, Kramer?s Ergot, and Seattle\’s The Stranger. Currently she is working on the sequel to Girl Stories, tentatively entitled Calamity and a sci-fi fantasy comic entitled The Goddess of War. Her work has been anthologized in Yale University Press\’s \”Anthology of Graphic Fiction\” and will be in this years \”Best American Comics\”.
 
Lauren will be doing a multi-media reading of recent work, from Girl Stories and other places. She will be showing gigantic flash cards with sound effects. Check out www.girlstoriescomics.com
 
Girl Stories Reviews:
?In a time when memoirs are fake and writers aren\’t who they seem, Girl Stories is the real thing.?–Bust
 
\”Girl Stories feels real, approachable, and honest in the way that the best art and writing should; it perfectly captures those awkward moments when the potential for manipulating other people\’s feelings is first discovered, and all of the moral questions implied therein. It\’s also really funny.\” –Chris Ware
 
\”These are not only great girl stories, but also great human stories. Lauren perfectly and hilariously captures both the poignancy and folly of that awkward age when we sit perched on the cusp of adolescence. She does this with genuine warmth, sharp wit, and unaffected storytelling.\”
–Ivan Brunetti

Horror Fiction Author David AgranoffSaturday, March 10th, 7:00 PMFREE
 
Agranoff is author of Screams from a Dying World and co-author of The Gutter Limits Both available from Punk Horror press. His script \’The slaughter\’ is currently in development with Ahimsa pictures. He is a long time Animal Liberation Activist and spent 3 months in federal prison defending the first amendment.
 
Screams From a Dying World is the inaugural work of David Agranoff. This collection of Agranoff?s political and eco friendly brand of horror fiction is bound to get your heart pumping for one reason or another. Featuring five stories this staple bound chap book.
 
The Most exciting part of this project is the organization that David has chosen to benefit. All proceeds from Screams for a Dying World benefit Animal Acres farm animal sanctuary.
 
Animal Acres is a farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center located just 45 minutes from Los Angeles. Animal Acres works to promote compassionate living through its farmed animal rescue & refuge efforts, public education & outreach, and advocacy projects to prevent cruelty to farmed animals. Over 150 rescued farmed animals call Animal Acres \”Home Sweet Home\” and they invite YOU to become a member of their sanctuary family too! Animal Acres is a volunteer-based organization and they are funded entirely by dedicated animal advocates.
 
This event will include a signing, reading and Q and A.
 
Check these for more info:
www.punkhorror.com
www.davidagranoff.com
 

BEASTS! Release EventFriday March 9th at 7PMWith Artists
Jay RyanDan GrzecaLittle Friends of PrintmakingJulie MurphyJustin B. Williams

QUIMBY?S and FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS PRESENT:
 
BEASTS! With artists signing the new hardcover collection of nearly 100 illustrators depicting mythological and folkloric creatures.
 
BEASTS! book release signing with Dan Grzeca, Jason Robards, Little Friends of Printmaking, Anders Nilsen, Julie Murphy & Justin B. WilliamsFriday, March 9th, 7pm
 
Beasts! is a 200 page, full-color (plus Gold throughout), hardcover book from Fantagraphics Books. Ninety artists from the fields of rock posters, skate graphics, comics, children\’s books, fine art, etc. have each chosen a classic mythological or folkloric creature to illustrate. All of the depicted beasts have been thought at some time to exist (generally through a handful of eyewitnesses or as cultural stories). Each beast is accompanied by a brief description of the creature written by Paul Hughes, Felicia Gotthelf, Heidi Broadhead, or Rob Lightner. It was birthed/curated by Jacob Covey and marvelously edited by Karin Snelson. Beasts! is available Now!

Ben Tanzer and Steve LaflerWednesday, March 7th, 8:00 PMFREE
 
Join us as Ben Tanzer, Chicago writer, reads from debut novel Lucky Man. Cartoonist Steve Lafler reads & performs interpretive dance from the graphic novel 40 Hour Man.
 
Ben Tanzer\’s debut novel Lucky Man follows four friends from their final days of high school though their first couple of years out of college. Each has personal demons they are battling – anger, substance abuse, sexual identity, and detachment – and the novel is separated into four sections, with each section focusing predominantly on one of the friends and his individual struggles.
 
It is a story about friendship, growing-up and trying to move on. Interwoven throughout are explorations into dreams, the Twilight Zone, the Grateful Dead, and The Greatest American Hero. There are drugs, road trips, breakdowns, violence, and adultery. Fathers and sons try to make sense of their relationships and characters question what it means to know God. It is a quintessentially American tale, and at the end only one character remains on his feet. Whether this means he is lucky, or not, will need to be decided by the reader.
 
Ben Tanzer lives in Chicago where he shoots pool, dabbles in social work, compulsively watches High School Musical, and spends all sorts of quality time with his lovely wife and young sons. He has had work published in a variety of magazines and journals including Rated Rookie, Clamor, Punk Planet, Abroad View, Opium, THE2NDHAND, Thieves Jargon, The Truth Magazine, Chicago Parent, Third Coast Press, 20dissidents, and Caketrain.
 
Is it a career, or a series of really lame jobs? Stephen Beaupre (author) and Steve Lafler (cartoonist) pose this timeless question in Forty Hour Man, a hilarious saga of one working stiff\’s three-decade journey into the minimum wage heart of the American Dream. It\’s all here – from scrubbing a steakhouse floor with a toothbrush to going bust in the Internet boom. Every bad boss. Every crazy co-worker. All the more shocking because it\’s true!
 
Steve Lafler is the cartoonist behind BugHouse, Baja and Scalawag, a trio of graphic novels about bugs on drugs playing be-bop jazz, and the seminal indie comic book series Dog Boy, featuring a lad with a canine head on a zen-trickster rampage through Reagan-era America.
 
Both will sign books (both on Manx Media).