I had such a fun time at the Printers Row Lit Fest. With so much going on in the city on Sunday as well as the weekend in general, I feel like it was such a great turnout. From the different authors at different stages as well as to even some booths having author signing.. I do think that there could've been more promo for as well as a better map system. read more

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Most fabulous free event organized by the city of Chicago featuring many new and established writers . I love this literature fest and such an awesome experience for young kids and budding writers. Highly recommend! read more

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I confess I did not attend any readings or discussions this year. Walking around the booths, browsing the books was fun. There's something for everyone, FROM everyone. The C-Span trailer was cool! There were computers where you can have a link to discussions sent to your email, and a microphone and background to mimic being interviewed! And a tote/drawstring bag upon exiting. I have a THING about bags! I found a book at One of a Kind by Snoop Dogg, 'Love Dont Live Here No More' for $5. It was pretty good, and it included a CD too. It is part of a series, so I want to see if it continues. I am not a big fan of his music but hey, free music is free music. read more

Printers Row Lit Fest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVE! As much as I declutter and get rid of unnecessary crap, books will never be unnecessary crap. I have downsized a bit, gave away stuff I'd already read, but the book collection keeps creeping back up. And that's okay. Two badass chicks headed to the Printers Row Lit Fest on this day . . . two badass chicks that love books, love to read, and actually DO read the books they own. To browse books, stop for occasional beers and scope out the hot literary crowd of Chicago. Overwhelming. So much cool stuff - University of Chicago press stood out with many gorgeous, well designed books that were on interesting subjects to boot. The highlight, though, was the McSweeney's booth. These guys kick ass with sassy writing and incredibly well designed, imaginative books. Boxes of small books. Books made as decks of cards that are shuffled, dealt and read - changing the outcome of the story each time. A slipcovered journal with a bonus pocket comb. Unusual bindings, sizes and printing techniques - art books that you can read. I bought four books. Don't miss this if you love books and love to actually read them as well. Bliss. read more

What doesn't need a good rebranding every once in a while? You know, attract a younger clientele. Maybe shed some baggage associated with an old name. Or just present a different face to the world. Or, who knows, maybe even to throw off creditors (if only I could get a rebranding). One example is the venerable old (sorry, antiquarian) Printer's Row Book Fair. Now in its 25th year, it's henceforth to be known as the Printer's Row Lit Fest. Though I do have to say that it was more of a rebranding than a reinvention. Anyone who went to the Book Fair in past years would have recognized the Lit Fest. In fact, I don't think they changed a single thing except the name for 2009. Not that the new name isn't more accurate. After all, doesn't Book Fair just recall buying Clifford books in second grade (not that there's anything wrong with that)? Lit Fest is definitely a better moniker since it really is a celebration of books and authors. So much so that they should count themselves lucky people don't go around ripping the mass amounts of paper into confetti. National book superstars come into town and sit for panels at its various stages (the biggest of the bunch at the Chicago Public Library). There are autograph signings. There's even a cooking tent where cookbook authors speak and demonstrate their recipes. And it's the one time a year where, love them or hate them, the Chicagoland literati get together and discuss the craft of writing in impromptu beard-laden sessions in the chairs at the various stages. I personally even grew a beard for the event this year. Not really. Sort of. But it is good that there's a Chicago focus as the literati swarm. Contained in the dozens of tents are a virtual who's-who's of Chicago book stores offering great deals. Chicago independent authors set up booths for their new publications. Chicago publishers show off their new releases by Chicago authors in their stables (which always seem to contain a lot of Chicago history books which I don't mind one bit). It's almost, in a way, a Taste of Bookcago. Hey, maybe they can change their name to that next year. read more

Printers Row Lit Fest - As usual it rained in 2009. - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the Printer's Row Lit Fest. I am definitely a book person in addition to being an avid reader; I do not own a Kindle or any other eReader because I really do enjoy the tactile experience of reading an actual book. That said, some people might think Printer's Row is not for them. This event, however, has things for people who aren't hard-core lit nerds like me. For example: *Readings (Today I heard somebody shouting the f-bomb six times and thought, "Hmm. Sounds like a story I want to hear.") *Cooking demos *Art, ranging from photography to Japanese woodblock prints *Vintage/nostalgia items like old movie posters *Author discussions and panels, and this year that included some serious conversation about the history of Chicago's old county hospital and the lessons from it that apply to the contemporary healthcare debate *Comics and graphic novels *Cool stuff about Chicago's history and local goings-on *A competition that is like a spelling bee but is about defining words, not spelling them *Children's books both old and new, as well as Young Adult books, for those parents with little bookworms at home If you ARE a wordivore like me, my top picks include the independent publisher tent (including McSweeney's and Featherproof), the Open Books tent ($2 softcovers and $3 hardcovers with the money all going to a pro-literacy charity!), and the poetry tent. My advice, as somebody who has been a couple times now, to somebody thinking of going for the first time next year: *Don't spend all your book money at the first few stalls. Look around a bit, otherwise you will be like me and be kicking yourself halfway through because you're out of cash and/or see the same book at a different stall for a lower price. *Drink lots of water and remember that there are numerous good restaurants nearby. Don't die of heat stroke! These are authors and publishers, not doctors. *Take the CTA; parking will be difficult, especially with Dearborn closed to traffic. *Grab a free schedule and map from the library or a stand near the entrance. Formulate a game plan if you want to see certain events or something that is only open at specific times. *Check ahead of time to see if the events you want to attend require tickets. The tickets are usually free, but space is limited, so if you don't get them ahead of time, you may be out of luck. My only issue with this event? The schedule wasn't on the web site until something like a week before the event. WTF. I'm glad I live here and didn't come in from out of town as a tourist, hoping to fit it in between Millennium Park and a ride to the top of Willis Tower, because something like that can sure blow an itinerary. Overall, though? Totally awesome. Go next year. Don't forget your sunglasses. read more

Printers Row Lit Fest - You can start drooling now. - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here last year as a volunteer. The weather was super HOT, and then came the torrential downfall of rain! Luckily the organizers were prepared and brought out the tarps. There are so many books here!!! I am impressed by the size of the fair and the amount of people that came out to check things out. There are a lot of talks from authors scheduled at the Harold Washington Library. Most of the talks are free, however, you need to reserve your spot online. I hope to be able to check out this fair again this year! Oh, just a note to those that have never been, this fair does NOT serve food. If you are hungry, you may need to sit down and eat at one of the restaurants located within the fair grounds. Or, if you are thirsty and need a bottle water, stop by the 7-eleven on the corner of Dearborn and Harrison. read more

8 years ago, I was thrown out of this PUBLIC event on a PUBLIC street for taking a photograph of Julie Andrews. The security that is hired for this event are nothing but thugs. While "escorting me out" (I went peacefully), the security guards kept throwing me to the ground and yelling "STOP RESISTING". Then, when they reached the end of the fair, they made up all sorta lies to tell the police as to why I was being thrown out. When I tried to ask the cops if I could press charges, they said I'd need the guy's name and they wouldn't help me get it. The only way to get it is to talk to the office that runs the security... Which was inside the book fair where I wasn't allowed to go. I would never go to this fair again. read more

The Printers Row Book Fair is an outdoor book fair run in the Printers Row neighborhood of Chicago just off the downtown Loop. The fair was started in 1985 by a planning board of the city as an attraction to draw interest to the neighborhood for redevelopment. By 2002 it had morphed into an attractive fest, and the Chicago Tribune bought it and took over management of the fair...and renamed it the Printers Row Lit Fest. As a book fair there are scores of canopies set up with book merchants displaying their wares, alongside a number of authors and smaller publishing houses. Thousands visit the fair each year and peruse the tents...new books, used books, maps, and any number of other book related items are offered for sale. Traffic is cut off on Dearborn Street between Congress and Polk for the fair, and visitors simply walk the street viewing the vendors. Live music is also offered at places as are author signings, and the restaurants along the street remain open for business during the weekend. The other big book fair in Chicago is the Newberry Library Book Fair held each July. The only problem with Printers Row is it is outdoors and weather can be a problem...and parking is wonky. But for a summer fair, the Printers Row Book Fair is fun. read more

Review # 26 out of 365 First, it's free. Walk up, look, interact. No pressure on ticket prices. I found some great finds. I met authors that were excited to talk about their books. I can't imagine what the speakers were like because just the fest booths were awesome. Bring a backpack because real books are heavy. Bring a drink or stop by the numerous restaurants and bars that are open. There are kid booths, booths for advocacy, booths for history. We even found booths full of cheap used books for those who don't want to spend a lot of money. I highly recommend stopping by. read more

This review is late, but better late than never! This is the second or third year that I have attended the Lit Fest. NERD ALERT! Right? Try it and you might like it. It's time to get that noggin working and pick up some good books. They even had some cooking demonstrations that were enough to get my mouth watering. It is wonderful to get a chance to listen to book authors read from their work and talk about their creations. In some cases, you can even meet them and have them sign your book! If you are writer and interested in the creative process, you can even find inspiration at the fest. I know I did! Looking forward to next year... read more

Poor Printers Row Book Fair...it seems to rain at least a little bit every year. This year I went first thing Sunday morning, which was a blessing and a curse. I usually go Sunday afternoon to get the end-of-event bargains. In this case, I got in a good two hours of browsing before the skies opened up around 12:25. To me, it's a book fair with a few ancillary "literary" events which never interest me. I go for the books, and it seems that I can find more bargains here than at the individual stores. It's also good for meeting like-minded young ladies in their cute summer wear. Two general points: 1. Take cash--very few exhibitors accept credit cards; 2. Somehow, the exhibitors on Polk (the top of the 'T') seem vastly inferior to the exhibitors on Dearborn (the leg of the 'T'). Every time. Three specific points from this year: 1. There was a music performance area right next to a presentation tent (something about weight loss). The sound from each one was clearly audible from the other; if I had been interested in either event, that would have been hugely annoying. 2. Old Main Bookshoppe was tarping over their displays as the rains approached. I was standing there with a book in my hand that I was about 5 seconds away from deciding to purchase (at $20, mind you), when the proprietor rudely told me to put it back on the shelf because "We're closed." "Closed entirely? Right this second?" "Yes!" He lost the sale at that moment, but I later regretted that I didn't tell him so and give him some advice on customer service to boot. Most other tents remained open (notably Howard's, which left their tables right where they were, covering them with clear plastic, and actively inviting people to come in out of the rain), so I can't really understand why they would want to curtail their business in this manner. Booo to "Crotchety" Old Ma[i]n Bookshoppe. 3. Ghirardelli handed out two free squares to every single person that passed by their tent. That had to amount to thousands of dollars of free chocolate. Good for them. And yum. read more

This was a lot of fun, some of the best free samples, and good reprieve with the talks in the high school when it was too hot. I loved that they had some Kondo booths to show you how to fold and 'declutter' right by all those books on sale that will end up cluttering your life! The free Haagen Daz was great, it was sooo hot. I also liked the informative booths and looking through all the books. It was nice to be outside in the sun looking through books instead of in a dusty bookstore. I definitely will go again next year. The food talks were really interesting and cool, and I hope to catch more author talks next time. read more

I waited to write this review until today. It's been several weeks since we attended the Fest but I wanted it to be a celebratory review so I waited until it was the 4th of July to write my 800th review, a double celebration! The Lit Fest is a double celebration as well - books and authors. Both are intertwined and favorites of mine. I love reading and the chance to look through books to find either a bargain or a new favorite is a thrill for me. I've wanted to come to this fest for a while and we finally managed to pull it off this year. We are not taking a vacay this summer so I've been trying to make sure we do as many day trips, fests and fun local events as possible. This fit in quite nicely with that scheme. Plus the weather was very cooperative for our visit - pleasant temps and gorgeous sun. I hadn't realized how much preplanning was required if I wanted to hear authors speak, the second part of this celebration. Printers Row is not just a location, it's the literary magazine of the Chicago Tribune, the old Books supplement which used to be included for free with your Sunday paper. Now you have to subscribe separately and pay a hefty fee. I am waiting for the price to match my budget or my irritation at paying for something which I used to get for free to subside before I sign up. However, if you don't subscribe, the author aspect of the Fest is somewhat diminished as first crack at tickets are for subscribers. I didn't even know you needed tickets in advance until it was too late. Maybe next year I will have it all organized and get to hear the featured authors. In the meantime, hurray for books and fests which celebrate them! And hurray for 800 reviews! Plus, Happy Birthday America! read more

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the annual B. Family pilgrimage to the Printer's Row Book Fair. Five stars not just for tradition (the B. family loves tradition almost as much as we love the written word) but for overall adaptability of the fair and those running the booths. Last year, it poured. Rain + Books = Potential Disaster. However, the Boy Scout Booths (those who were prepared) hauled out tarps and kept on going. This year, we are dealing with the Recession (or the fear thereof). While literature is eternal, the dollar is not. This led to an increased number of sale bins and bargain discounts on books. For a dollar, you can justify owning just about anything (hello, beach reading). My family also attends the author lectures fairly regularly. Last year, I got my picture taken with Tom Daschle (thanks, Mom!) and bought several books on jurisprudence signed by the authors themselves. Not your thing? Guest authors range from heady intellectuals to writers of witty pop-fiction. This year, for instance, Jen Lancaster (author of "Bitter is the New Black") spoke. The Book Fair (sorry, I will never call it the "Lit Fest") is also a great way to get to know the various bookstores in Chicago. While you will generally get better deals at the Fair than you would at the stores themselves on a random day, the Fair enables you to get a feel for the various literary offerings throughout the city. read more

Another year, another Lit Fest! The weather was actually perfect this year -- mid 70s and sunny. So it was pretty crowded with everyone enjoying the weather. New feature for 2013 -- with the new food truck ordinance, there were about half a dozen on-site selling food, including the buzzy Tamale Spaceship. We didn't partake, but I thought that was a cool addition. Also: Judy Blume! How cool is that! Yay books :) read more

One huge used book store. It was endless it seemed! I wasn't in the mood to dig but if I was it would have been ON! My main reason for coming here was to see Neil Gaiman. The setting for that was in the Harold Washington Library which was away from the actual festival. Once inside there was a HUGE line. Come to find out - due to my obsession in getting these tickets, we didn't have to wait for the line! We walked right in and got 4th row seats! Downside, no author signings or meet and greets. But they did have pre-signed books. BUT Borders was manning that poorly. It was mass confusion and Borders employees yelling at a hundred people to make a line where there was no space to do so. And they ran out of Coraline right before I got up there. The festival got packed fast but volunteers were around for days helping everyone find out where they needed to go. I know what it is more so for next time....when I actually feel like digging through tons of old books! But thanks Lit Fest for bringing a TON of awesome authors to the Chicago area for us to see! read more

Great festival. My opinion - it's one of the best festivals in the Chicago area. While the book fair is a huge draw, for me the star of the weekend are the various workshops. To listen to some of Chicago's best writers and performance artists talk about their craft is an amazing and inspiring experience. The book fair was nice. But, since I have no room in my cramped apartment, I wasn't able to purchase any books. Instead, I did come across some books that I promptly downloaded to my e-reader (I'm a modern book nerd!) I'm looking forward to the 2016 festival next year! read more

Having just returned here to the city after living in the L.A. area for decades, I knew that one of the few things I'd miss was the L.A. Festival of Books, an extraordinary event held annually all over the UCLA (now USC) campus during the last week in April. If you DO happen to be planning a trip to L.A. and love books, try to be there for the FREE L.A. Times Festival of Books. They advertise who's gonna be there, so check out the website. Last week of April, USC campus. Also take a drive up PCH toward Monterey (visit Hearst Castle along the way) and check out the FREE Getty Museum ... the views from the exquisitely designed architecture are extraordinary. But -- thanks to Printer's Row Lit Fest -- I don't have to miss the LA Festival of Books .... because it's basically the very same thing, scaled down. Which is just fine by me, because I never got to do everything I wanted to at the L.A. Times Festival of Books anyway! The Lit Fest is better organized in that you can actually print reservations online that are then exchanged for actual tickets to the FREE events. Score! I've learned by going to these things to NOT over-plan, however, if you do have your heart set on certain events, pick wisely and get there in plenty of time to get a seat. They fill up FAST. Even with the pouring down rain at one point today, the Pitchapalooza was PACKED. I must take a moment to talk about Pitchapalooza. This opportunity was nothing short of amazing. After living in LA for decades as a writer ... I was accustomed to seeing writers being charged HUNDREDS of dollars just to pitch their wares to agents. And this was FREE! All you had to do was sign up online and they picked a random number of people by name. You then got 1 minute to pitch your book in front of the panel and the audience. What a wonderful gift that is for writers! And then, if they didn't get to your name, if you just bought their info-packed book about the business, you got a free 20 minute phone consultation where you could ask anything you wanted! That's a win-win. Wow! I got to pitch my book today and I can honestly say it was just so validating to be able to do that. Back to the review.... There are used, discount books, new books, every kind of book you can imagine. Great bargains, new writers. It's just a wonderful display of love for the written word. Some of the reviews indicate that there were no concessions - but this has changed. They offered a slice of pizza, salad and sandwiches -- each for around $3 which is really reasonable, considering. There is close-by table seating which was also nice and surprisingly, not over-packed. You can also pick up some food to bring back from some of the joints around there, like Subway, or just plan to visit the restaurants like Panera, Potbellys'; Pockets and other restaurants on surrounding streets. Starbucks is right on the corner and there is a Dunkin that I visited at 333 S. State. There's also a convenient CVS store on one corner. I do have to say that the name "Lit Fest" is probably confusing to some people. Book Fair seems more logical. I understand it used to be called a book fair ... seems to me that the word "book" should be somewhere in the title. read more

I want to tell you all about this great street festival that occurs each summer (thanks for the reminder Yelp!). I have visited this fest the past couple of years and always enjoy their offerings. They have both popular and not so easy to find books on the cheap. There are a variety of entertainment options as well! Last year my partner and I were able to see a demo from the Hearty Boys as they were promoting one of their books. Step out of your summer street festival comfort zone and come on down to Printers Row, you won't regret it! read more

What a great book fair, I can't believe I've never been. It was much bigger than I thought. There was tons of people browsing but everyone seemed friendly and courteous. You can really find GREAT deals on books and can even strike up a deal. I was most shocked at the wonderful couple that sold the letterpress type. They collect wood type from all over the country and sell it at reasonable prices only at this event once a year. They had type drawers as well and at $10-40 a drawer you can't resist. I was surprised at all the printed posters, illustration and maps they had as well. The vintage newspapers were great inspiration for any artist and designer. I highly urge any reader/artist/designer to check this fair out! read more

I came to this fest last year and loved it so much that I decided to check it out again this past weekend. I especially like seeing the literary speakers!! This year's lineup was Awesome!!! I got to hear Marcia Clark from the OJ Simpson trial speak, RL Stein the author of Goosebumps, and Ethan Hawke who is a talented actor and now wrote a graphic novel. I had also planned to see Buzz Aldrin the astronaut but had conflicting plans. Each ticket was only $3!!! Totally worth it and surprising well organized for such an affordable price. The speaking venues were clean and there were plenty of organizers around to help you find your spot. Can't wait to see who they bring next year! Also check out the outside tents with authors, book shops, and misc...you can find some deals out there. read more

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This review has been a long time coming. The Lit Fest is perhaps one of my favorite Chicago summer festivals. It's free and fun for people of all ages. The feature of this festival is not only the wealth of literature available but also for the opportunity to meet and hear local authors and poets. There are booths selling new books, local books, and antique books. There are tents with homemade leather journals. I enjoy this festival every year, and I recommend it! read more

Excellent selection of booksellers, readings and authors, yummy food and alcohol (new this year), great bands (!!!), awesome kids section. Something for all ages. We enjoyed hearing Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul and Mary do a literary version with an alternate rambling ending of "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Ages 4-40 years old all found festival fun. Really strong energy, good layout and lots of volunteers/workers around to help and advise. Easy to park at meter less than 2 blks away. We will be making this an annual event for our family! read more

Printers Row Lit Fest - Kids listening to Justin Roberts at Lit Fest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my third year to go to this festival and this one is perfect for my husband. Thankfully he got me back into reading and this festival is such a great deal for those that still love to physically turn pages. Located in the heart of south loop this festival has things to do for the kids, the fam, and bibliophiles. There are book signings, entertainment for the kids, food trucks for a quick meal, and even demonstrations (I got to take pictures of Fabio from Top Chef this year). I bought a hard cover collection of the complete Grimm stories for $8! It's also a great way to check out local writers. read more

Printers Row Lit Fest - Fabio from Top Chef - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lots of books...at a great price...author's talks... Of particular note: meeting authors was great...(kudos to Michelle Duster, author of Ida: In Her Own Words). Definitely great way to spend a Sunday. read more

I only recently heard of the Printers Row Lit Fest, and my parents and I decided to check it out. I'd never been to Printers Row, and loved the area. Lit Fest aside, it looked like a fun place to explore, with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars, and a great location in the city. The Lit Fest was awesome. There were two streets filled with covered tents selling used, rare, and antique books from all over. My Dad was especially happy to see copies of the Hardy Boys (which he read while growing up), and I found a great selection of childrens books for my classroom library. The prices were pretty good for the books- ranging from $2-10 for most used books. In addition to the books, there were tables selling prints of Chicago images, old advertisements, magazine covers, etc. I found a great print of "Boul Mich" at night that advertises taking the El. $9! It's a crowded event, but a lot of fun, and a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday in the city. There are plenty of restaurants to stop at when you get hungry- we went to Hackney's and waited a bit, but were able to find seating at the bar until our table was called. I would return again- this year I missed seeing the cooking demonstrations and some of the book talks, but could see planning to attend one in the future. read more

What better way to mark the 30th anniversary of Lit Fest, and the close of another successful year, than with a review on Yelp. This is my second year in attendance and I was fortunate to be able to partake in the events on both Saturday and Sunday. The weather cooperated, and I had fun in the days leading up to the festival plotting out my schedule of author talks, panels, and workshops. Highlights included a hands-on bookbinding workshop and the American Heritage dictionary's Define-a-Thon (at which I would have cleaned up if not for a pesky highly, technical scientific definition). In addition to the heavy hitters and literary luminaries in attendance - of which there were many- there were also ample opportunities to discover emerging authors and artists and pick up leads on what I should be adding to my to be read (TBR) list. For me, the magic is in the ability to form connections with fellow bibilophiles and with authors who might have previously seemed off limits or unapproachable. Whether in a classroom, on a panel, or in a question and answer session, it was an unforgettable experience to watch the boundaries between author and reader melt away, and to be able to listen, learn, and interact with writers such as J. Courtney Sullivan and Chris Mazza that I'd only seen from afar. Kudos to Lit Fest for creating an atmosphere where we can all share in a love of reading, and bringing such a well-curated collection of authors and personalities to our fair city. read more

Love it love it! I try to visit this book fair every year as there is always a great selection of books for ridiculously cheap prices. I would have to say my favorite vendor is the Art Institute of Chicago. They usually sell awesome coffee table books for around $5. If you plan on going, bring a backpack to carry home those heavy books! read more

$5 books and fun events. Loses a star because who in their right mind pays $8 for a packaged funnel cake. I would have splurged if they were being made fresh, but when you see them coming out of the package, that's just highway robbery! More books, less crooks! read more

This definitely is one of my favorite summer fests. I don't go every year. When I do, I leave with more than I intended to spend. It's hard not to when some of the used books booths have deals like 4 books for $5, or even old posters. It's also hard not to check out the local authors' booths too. I have yet to attend one of the ticketed events of the fest though that's always something I've been meaning to check out. This fest offers something for everyone, including kids and dogs. Even if you don't plan on getting a book, I suggest bringing a bag or two. The Chicago Tribune tent (and some other tent I can't remember) sells some of those reusable canvas totes but are kind of pricy. Why a bag(s)? Because you just never know if you'll find something good and leave with more than you expected. read more

ok... i caved this year... i didn't get a leather bound book of mechanical gears.... i did fall in love with a vintage book that traces the evolution of all the transportation systems in the states, but i couldn't afford to spill $65 buckaroos for it... i did touch it though.... i had to accept not every love can be possessed.... i did spend a satisfying $15 on 4 books, mostly a tad aged engineering and scientific books: 1) robotics, 2) automated control systems, 3) diesel engines, 4) scientific american journal of evolutionary milestones in science & engineering.... 1 regret... its not readily easy to find books in french, but i found some here! tho not really a good selection... i passed up a box of french books in hopes that i would find at least one other somewhere else... i ran out of time before i had to divert my attention elsewhere... i wish this fest was a whole week and not just the weekend i love my books... i brought them home to taunt my dad... but he swiftly stole my robotics book for indefinitely... he wins this time secondarily i was spending a day with justin robertson and the naptime players (or some silly name like that)... and BenO's best friend's 2 year old daughter Izabelle... i personally think children singers are a lil creepy unless they are actually children... and perhaps Izabelle did too... she was more interested in the bubbles and the juggler... it was a dismal day with grey rain clouds ready to purge... and they did... we were all there for maybe an hour before we had to wrap up and go... water & books don't work well together... read more

YES! LIT FEST! Where have you been all my life? A hidden gem of a summer event that I only found out through a brief glimpse of its commercial while flipping through local channels. The streets are filled with bookstores, publishers, authors, and many literary figures trying to sell their brainwares. It's well organized with clear aisles for crowd traffic, but also with gaps for people to stop and examine items for sale. In 2013, they had Art Spiegelman signing copies of Maus, but I didn't catch any well known names this year. This year, there was a bookbinding workshop that was really cool. Some presentations require tickets, so check for that online in advance if you don't just want to stroll around. In the front aisles are the big publishing companies from UChicago and Northwestern and the companies become more independent as you walk further. I found the used and antique book sellers to be the most interesting because they really love what they do and know how to find what you're looking for. This one man found me some vintage Edward Gorey books and another directed me to a series of dusty books from the early 1900s describing travels to the Orient and other places ($75/book - yikes!). Besides books, some booths also sold witty shirts and posters. For children, there are reading corners and those are set up in a lovely way, so drop the kids off there if they don't care for looking through books that may or may not smell like grandma's attic. I only took one star off for minor inconveniences. A lack of parking space is one, but you should be fine if you commute. A bigger concern is there doesn't seem to be many food options in the area and for families with children or just the overall crowd, a food truck here and there don't really provide fuel for the day. Also because of the crowds, it's hard to find an eatery on the street that has an open space for the onslaught of people. A 7-11 is nearby, so grab some water there, especially on a hot day! Note: Some sellers are CASH ONLY, so prepare to withdraw from ATMs nearby (once again, 7-11 supports a number of banks). read more

I recall the weather at this printer's row and the customer who wrote about the old main bookshoppe as being grumpy. That particular customer deliberately crossed over blockades that clearly indicated a closd booth due to the tornado warning that went off requiring all owners to head to the nearest building. This particular customer ignored any proper etiquette when rain was pouring down and damaging books that had been carefully covered. in summary--an undesirable customer with no respect for the fair. read more

As far as Chicago festivals go, it is OK and there is a lot for kids.

Still a pretty good fest, But it seems that the one's from that memorabilia shop in the NW suburbs weren't there. But nevertheless, Still a good place to find some treasures. read more

Five stars for the children's activities and entertainers. The "Not Ready for Nap Time Players" were great BOTH days we went; the song "Henrietta's Hair" particularly resonated with my five-year-old who is cultivating dreads for lack of brushing. All the staff were helpful and animated from the young incredibly knowledgeable woman at the Shed Aquarium table who told my husband all he ever wanted to know about bloodsucking lampreys - apparently a lot, probably because she was cute- to the "bouncer" at the door of the activity truck for little kids. As a librarian this event is a bit of high holy day, but truth be told I borrow books- I don't generally buy them. And since it rains almost every year, I barely browse since I prefer perusing books sans the "saran-wrap" that emerges the moment raindrops start to fall. If my kids were bigger, I'd take in some authors and poets- but for now I go and pretend I did something adult when asked on Monday. read more

I'm not going to lie, me and a book festival go together like hemophiliacs and boxing. But what I like about lit fest is there's something for everyone -- whether you're someone who likes to douche it up by letting everyone know the book was better than the movie or you're a more casual reader like me who only purchases the occasional audio book. Granted, I do regret my latest purchase (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary). Many people go to this festival because they are tired of paying top dollar for books at major retail chains or they are tired of standing in a secluded corner of one of those retail chains, taking digital photos of each page, and then regretting using Snapchat to send themselves those photos. Here you can find tons of books from local book sellers (e.g. Powell's) for less than $10, a lot had $3/book deals. A number of booths cater to specific interests. For instance, the Christian Scientist booth. They told me the way to heal is through the power of prayer. That is a really unfortunate remedy since my ailment is sore knees from excessive kneeling. I didn't waste too much time with those guys, preferring a vendor more steeped in reality, so I wandered over to the vampire and zombies book seller. One of the other neat parts about this festival is you can talk with many authors who are there promoting their work. I talked to one Swiss/American journalist who visited North Korea and wrote about what he observed. It's amazing that there are still parts of the world that exist in total isolation where only a handful of outsiders have ever dared to venture, you know, parts other than the south side of Chicago. It's not just books that are being sold either. One vendor was selling these ornate, leather-bound journals. Does anyone actually write in journals anymore? It's one of those things that had a use way back when, but now serves absolutely no meaningful purpose, like the electoral college or Canada. Also, if you brought your kids, the "Storybook Mom" was at the kids stage, strumming her guitar and singing songs about counting and monkeys jumping on the bed. It was nice to see the crowd react with warmth and enthusiasm, unlike the boos and jeers she got when she opened for Insane Clown Posse on their House of Horrors tour. So come on out to this annual festival and express your appreciation for the written word. Without it, where would we be, an oral tradition of face-to-face interactions? How idiotic! Ok, now I'm going to send a bunch of text messages, tweets, and Facebook updates, all the while walking and strenuously avoiding eye contact with other people. read more

Attended event held in the South Auditorium of Jones College Prep. Difficulty for a family member with a cane to exit North through cafeteria to next venue...North on State. Kindest staff ever, Mr. Gene Cox, teacher, Jones CP, acting as security in the school, let my mom out level exit...rather than marked exit...saving her a painful walk up and down stairs. Thank you, Mr. Cox and Jones CP for your help. read more