Help a writer feel at home in Chicago

June 18, 2007 10:53 AM

The Writer's Chicago: Please help me get the most out of my month long stay in the windy city.

I've recently been granted a writing residency in Chicago for the month of July. I will be staying approximately here I've only been to Chicago once or twice in my life! I'm sure the center that granted my residency will give me some direction, but I'd love to get some personal recommendations from Chicago Mefites about the area.

Things I'm looking for:

- Terrific not-to-miss book stores, preferably with a substantial poetry selection

- Quiet, atmospheric coffee shops or cafes (within walking distance) where I could bring a laptop and write

- Great (and/or) healthy lunch spots that I can frequent

- Any reading series that features poets and runs during the month of July

- Features of this particular neighborhood I should know about/take advantage of during my time in the city

Any general tips a short term resident should know about Chicago are certainly welcome as well. Thanks for your time!


PS: If there are any Chicago dwelling mefi-writers that are interested in meeting up next month, email is in the profile.

posted by theantikitty to travel & transportation (23 comments total)

Hannah's Bretzel in the loop for the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life.
posted by corpse at 11:07 AM on June 18, 2007

Seminary Co-op books, at the University of Chicago campus, cannot be missed.
posted by jayder at 11:11 AM on June 18, 2007

Here's Seminary Co-Op's website.
posted by jayder at 11:13 AM on June 18, 2007

Myopic for the bookstore. Check out Art of Play for events.

Also, Chicagoist.
posted by spec80 at 11:14 AM on June 18, 2007

Intelligentsia has a place in the loop, but I've only been to the one listed on Broadway (popular coffee hangout).

I second Myopic for books, and would add several used bookstores but I only know them by general location rather than name. So I'll recommend Women and Children First as a great independant bookstore.

I think a better site than Chicagoist would be Gapersblock, since MeFi's own me3dia is one of the main folks there. Also, there's a Book Club section that will keep you abreast of writerly events.

There's tons to keep you busy here. Oh, also make sure to stop in the Harold Washington Library. It's pretty neat. If you want more, my email is in the profile. There's tons of coffeeshops on the north side, but I don't have time to dig up a list right now.
posted by bibbit at 11:24 AM on June 18, 2007

Do you like comics? Quimby's is one of the best spots in the country.
posted by klangklangston at 11:30 AM on June 18, 2007

IANAChicagoan, but I visit there occasionally. Myopic Bookstore has a reading series, listings here. This site, which I just googled up, seems to have a lot of listings. Also, the free weekly Chicago Reader web site has readings listed. It seems as if the Poetry Foundation, with all their money, should have something worthwhile going on, too (goes only through June right now).

The problem with websites' event calendars is that a lot of them are not well maintained, like the Poetry Center of Chicago's page. I'm guessing it might be worth a call to them, and maybe also the Chicago Poetry Project folks as well.
posted by aught at 11:36 AM on June 18, 2007

food: try the pick me up cafe (near belmont, I think. ask google). vegan cheesecake. mhmmm. I think myopic is the best bookstore in town.

nugget of wisdom: I like the chicago water taxi that goes from the wrigley building via la salle street to madison street. it beats the bus hands down and costs $2 per ride. the architectural cruise (the one offered by the conservatory) is said to be awesome but you need a reservation, the lines are insane.

I would suggest checking the chicago, chicago public radio and similar pools on flickr. you might just run into a pic and wonder where it is...

and meetup.com !
posted by krautland at 11:37 AM on June 18, 2007

I forgot something important: congratulations.
posted by krautland at 11:38 AM on June 18, 2007

I meant to mention that if you're up for a field trip to Milwaukee, Woodland Pattern bookstore/gallery is interesting (closed Mondays).
posted by aught at 11:43 AM on June 18, 2007

You can hook up with other writers thru Story Studio Chicago. Also: The Books Section of TimeOut Chicago lists events. You'll also be super-duper close to The Chicago Cultural Center, which always hosts cool things.
posted by pfafflin at 11:47 AM on June 18, 2007

Art Institute is I believe free Thurs and Fri nights 5-8. You can easily take the 151 or 156 down to lincoln park and visit the zoo and the plant garden place for free.

Lavaza is good coffee in the downtown area. Check out the other "what should I do in Chicago" threads. They're a few previously.
posted by ejaned8 at 11:55 AM on June 18, 2007

The Loop is pretty dead at night and on weekends. Get on the CTA and go to different neighborhoods. Andersonville is an old Swedish neighborhood up north (I grew up a few blocks away from there). Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville are very nice for visitors. Wicker Park is cool, but getting more and more mainstream and gentrified. Check out Printer's Row (where I live now) which is an easy walk south on Dearborn. There's an old converted train station from around the time of the Civil War there.

Google farmer's market and chicago, because there's one every Tuesday and Thursday in two different Loop plazas.

Summerdance (Thurs-Sun around 6-9pm) is free outdoor live music/dancing that's in Grant Park on Michigan just south of the Art Institute. Everything from Hip Hop to Klezmer and waltz.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 12:16 PM on June 18, 2007

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm ready to dig through them all. And thanks, Krautland, for the congrats.

Aught: The Poetry Center of Chicago is bringing me to the city, so I hope they would inform me of any spectacular events they have planned.

Also, I have free admission to the Art Museum the whole month, so I'm all over that!

I know there are even more Chicago citizens out there! Please, keep them coming.
posted by theantikitty at 1:31 PM on June 18, 2007

(Thanks for the shoutout, bibbit!)

The Newberry Library is a good place to visit; as for book/writerly events, I'd recommend Golden Rule Jones and Literago for event info (besides Gapers Block, of course).

The aforementioned Myopic Books has a monthly poetry reading series that's well worth checking out, too.
posted by me3dia at 1:49 PM on June 18, 2007

Off topic, so I apologize, but I'm not gonna start a meta:
When you get here, organize a meetup! You can get lots of ideas there.
posted by rbs at 2:36 PM on June 18, 2007

WHAT??!? No one here has mentioned the Green Mill Poetry Slam? It's every Sunday night ...
posted by lester at 2:39 PM on June 18, 2007

Barbara's on Halstad is fabulous and has good readings.

Enjoy the city. A city depends on whom you know and what you do, but I've met more fun intellectuals in Chicago than anywhere else. And the food is great.

By the way, try the Kelmscott Gallery on North Lincoln (Ravenswood). It's one of my favourite places in the city.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 2:52 PM on June 18, 2007

Walking distance (if you like to walk) and not to be missed (as good as the Green Mill, which is also not to be missed)

Not walking distance (but right off the Morse Ave. L stop); this sounds like your ticket to me. In the heart of Rogers Park, where all good hippies go to die.

Free concerts all summer at Millenium Park. Just walk due east.

If you don't know your compas directions, learn them, because that's how we navigate in Chicago.
posted by nax at 3:56 PM on June 18, 2007

Krautland mentioned the architechtural boat tour and funny enough, I just took it on Saturday.

It was really fantastic. Since we went, I keep finding more people who have taken it and loved it. Plus, you have the chance of smelling the chocolate breeze wafting from Blommer's while you are on the tour, and that is definitely a bonus.
posted by pinky at 6:25 PM on June 18, 2007

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. I think rbs' meetup idea is a splendid one! It would be my first. I think I'm feeling a little Chicago-ish already!
posted by theantikitty at 3:49 PM on June 19, 2007

Ok, as usual I'm a bit late, but I happened upon this press release, which is a treasure trove of info about literary events in the Chicago area in July, so I thought I'd post it:

Here.

Actually, any of these events would be a great excuse for a meetup....
posted by carrienation at 8:03 AM on June 25, 2007

Well I hope that you haven't missed the Hyde Park/University of Chicago area. It's not only got the Seminary Co-op, but also Powell's and O'Gara and Wilson---two of the best (selection-wise) and cheapest bookstores in the City. Nice selection of "academic" titles that are a little harder to find in most Chicago used bookstores.

Hope your month in Chicago has been going well!
posted by washburn at 10:44 PM on July 19, 2007