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Robbie Conal book release for Art Burn
Friday, November 14, 7PM
 
Robbie Conal-guerrilla poster artist-will be present to sign copies of his new book Art Burn
 
Artburn is a collection of the best pages from the last five years of Robbie Conal’s satirical monthly column in the LA Weekly, updated with background factoids and secret war stories about his subjects, including the likes (and dislikes) of: Dubya, Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft, Rush Limbaugh, Bill, Hillary and Monica, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, even Bill Gates, among others. Artburn reveals production shots of the original pages Robbie and his midnight deadline crew perpetrated at the very alternative LA Weekly, and a chapter of images and voices of the denizens themselves. We’ve even thrown in a dozen late-night remixes that were too hot for the Weekly to print. Artburn is RDV Books’ second publication, following the acclaimed It’s a Free Country: Personal Freedom in American After September 11, which features Robbie Conal’s “Tower of Babble” on the back cover.
 
Robbie Conal grew up in New York City and became a stone-cold Hippie in San Francisco, landing in a storefront in the Haight Ashbury district in 1964. He did time in Connecticut–with time off for bad behavior in SoHo–then moved to Los Angeles, where he now makes street posters and caricatures for the LA Weekly, satirizing politicians of both parties, televangelists, media pundits, and global capitalists. Robbie has gained national prominence as the country’s premiere poster artist; his work has been featured on “CBS This Morning,” “Charlie Rose,” and in Time, Newsweek, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and many other national publications. His first book, Art Attack: The Midnight Politics of a Guerilla Artist was published in 1992.
 
More info at www.robbieconal.com
 

Thomas Frank will be reading and signing BOOB JUBILEE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 4PM
 
Thomas Frank – Editor of THE BAFFLER, co-editor of BOOB JUBILEE, author of ONE MARKET UNDER GOD and THE CONQUEST OF COOL will be reading and signing BOOB JUBILEE-now in paperback.

Neal Pollack reads from his first novelNever Mind the Pollacks
Thursday, October 16, 7:30pm
 
Acclaimed humorist and Vanity Fair contributor Neal Pollack, has been satirizing political and social absurdity to hilarious results in such publications as Vanity Fair, GQ, Men\’s Journal, The New York Times, Slate, Salon, McSweeney?s and The Stranger, as well as on his website www.nealpollack.com.
 
His first novel Never Mind the Pollacks is an epic history of rock-and-roll told through the eyes of two rival rock critics. The novel spans the decades from the 1940s to the present day, and includes such real-life characters as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Bruce Springsteen, Joey Ramone, Patti Smith, Kurt Cobain, and many more.

Todd Dills and Mickey Hess read printed words OUT LOUD!
Friday November 7th 8pm
 
The 2ndhand flings issue #12 at you with a night of vigorous readings. Mickey, contributor to a McSweeney’s and The 2nd Hand, and author of books like El Cumpleanos de Paco and Big Wheel at the Cracker Factory, is in town for the Midwest MLA Convention. He will skip Friday night academic hobnobbing to rub elbows with the Quimby’s crowd. Todd is editor of The 2nd Hand, and author of the story collection For Weeks Above the Umbrella.
 
more info at
www.mickeyhess.net
www.the2ndhand.com

Noah Berlatsky celebrates the release of Angry White Clerihew
Saturday, October 4th, 6:00pm
 
Noah Berlatsky will read from Angry White Clerihew, a new zine featuring vicious, unsubstantiated attacks on the life and work of Emily Dickinson, Tom Frank, Eric Clapton, Chris Ware, and various Australian mammals. Contributing artists Bert Stabler, Keith Herzik, Marcy Boggs, Ryan Walters, and Laura Barghusen will also be on hand to aid in the consumption of FREE pizza and beverages. Group discussion of just what is a clerihew, anyway, to follow reading.
 
Berlatsky is known to at least five or six people as the author of Johnny Monomyth, The Adventures of Eustacia H. Cow and Super-Heroes I Have Known. In the past, he has read aloud from one of the Best American Poetry anthologies and the Babar books.

Kristin Henderson reads from DRIVING BY MOONLIGHT
Monday, October 27th, 8PM
 
Kristin Henderson will be reading and signing her new book Driving by Moonlight a story of one woman’s search for inner peace while cruising the American highways. In this fast-paced memoir, Kristin ponders the meaning of peace, the strength of her faith and religious beliefs. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, a meditation on how life resists strict borders, and on the freedom that comes with letting go.

Jake AustenA Friendly Game of Poker:52 Takes on the Neighborhood GameOctober 10th 7:30PM
This anthology features essays by a diverse group of writers capturing the joys, regrets, friendships, philosophies, and adventures experienced through neighborhood poker. Contributors include Bill Zehme, Chris Ware, Nick Tosches, James Porter, Neal Pollack, Richard Meltzer, Heather McAdams, Jason Lutes, Ruth Lopez, David Greenberger, Carrie Golus & Patrick Welch, Robert Elder, Nolan Dalla, Gentleman John Battles and a couple of dozen others.
 
The book release event will feature readings from the book by JAKE AUSTEN (Roctober, Chic-A-Go-Go), DAN KELLY (Baffler, mrdankelly.com), STARLEE KINE (This American Life) and YUVAL TAYLOR (The Future of Jazz). Enjoy live music by one man band extraordinaire BUD MELVIN. Plus an open-to-everyone nickel-ante poker table and a Kenny Rogers Karaoke Kontest!

Arthur EdwardsThursday, September 25 at 7:00pmArthur Edwards, formerly of the rock band The Refreshments will be reading from his new novel, Stuck Outside of Phoenix.

Perpetual Motion Roadshow
Tuesday, September 23 at 8:00

The first of three, this installment will feature: rapper More or Les, zinester Jessica Disobedience, novelist Wred Fright, and vidz by all day breakfast.

Chicago Authors NightFriday, September 26 at 8:00pmReadings and performances from local authors Charles Shaw, Paul McComas and Darren Callahan.