Things I Like - Books

I mentioned the upcoming Printers Row Lit Fest a couple weeks ago – well, it’s almost here! Saturday and Sunday, June 6th & 7th mark the 25th annual installment of what has become the Midwest’s largest literary event. It’s all free and it’s mostly outdoors (see the site below for a map and schedule of events).

The Fest (which previously went by the name of the Printer’s Row Book Fair) was founded in 1985 to attract visitors to the recently gentrified Printer’s Row neighborhood. It was purchased by the Chicago Tribune in 2002, at which point it had become a major fair, attracting booksellers from across the country and presenting over 100 free literary programs.

Today, the renamed Printer’s Row Lit Fest has over 200 booksellers; a Kids Corner with storytelling, sing-alongs and special activities; poetry readings; author presentations (this year’s big names include Neil Gaiman, Elmore Leonard and David Eggars); cooking demos and wine tastings.

I’m truly not sure what has me more excited – the chance to troll through thousands of books, listen in on a talk by Neil Gaiman or catch a cooking demo by Chicago’s Gale Gand, regularly named one of the best pastry chefs in America.

Let’s just say I’m really looking forward to the weekend!

Printers Row Lit Fest