Printers Row Book Fair Part 2
06/09/2009 10:31 AM
At the Printers Row Book Fair. /Chicago Journal file art.
My friend Marilyn noticed it
first--as we were walking down Dearborn during the Printers Row Book Fair (I
will never call it the Tribune Lit Fest or whatever) and listening to the
relentless French music emanating out of Fountain Park (which she loved, by the
way). “The atmosphere this time is
just the way it was before the Tribune took over,” she said, pointing out that
the fair was so relaxed, so simple, so non-corporate and down to earth and not
so sterile (especially the port-a-potties) this year.
We started wondering why. Was it simply the drizzle? Were the cloying moisture and cool temperatures keeping people away--and keeping others who were there more relaxed and live and let live, like a Left Bank Saturday afternoon in Paris in the Springtime?
Our biggest speculation was that the Tribune was getting ready to dump the fair next year, possibly inching toward the idea of giving it back to the Near South Planning Board, who did it all the years when it was a true neighborhood-fest-meets-the-rest-of-the-book-world sort of thing. Maybe they were buttering up the Near South Planning Board--because they gave them two fabulous booth locations--one at Polk and Plymouth at one of the main entries to the fest--and a second one at Harrison and Dearborn, another busy entry, where they could interface with the public, entice people to take trolley tours of the neighborhood and buy a t-shirt, etc. In fact, in some ways, NSPB had a more solid presence than the Tribune this year, the blue Tribune banners on each booth notwithstanding.
Whatever it was, the 2009 fair had a great charm. People went to parties at their friends’ homes on Printers Row and Dearborn Park with more of a spring in their steps (I went to Pat Miller’s on Saturday afternoon and Nina Corwin’s on Saturday night), they stood in line to get authors’ signatures on bestselling books and chat them up a little. I got Molly O’Neill’s inscription on her “American Food Writing” and Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout’s on “Olive Kitteridge.” And in the not such bestsellers category, I got Ulrich Danckers and Jane Meredith on their heavy coffee table book, “Early Chicago”--which goes up to 1835--and Elise Paschen’s--the poet and daughter of famous ballerina Maria Tallchief--on her latest collection, “Bestiary.
I also got six free tastes of wine from Jewel and two complimentary wine-carrying bags; a Lit Fest t-shirt for $2; another free red Book TV tote to add to my collection; and a taste of wild mushroom dip made by Illinois foragers who wrote a book about their favorite foraged fungus. I saw some cute cats and dogs who were up for adoption during the fair; got free brochures from University Center and C-Span and the Chicago Public Library (Summer Reads for Adults); a free issue of the Tribune’s June 3 Good Eating section; two community service and government guides from Alderman Fioretti’s booth; a drawing of Abraham Lincoln reading a book that is supposed to be colored by a child; and 16 free bookmarks, including one with the Braille alphabet that my friend and fellow South Looper Beth Finke--who is blind--was giving out at her memoir writing workshop.
I sure had fun running back and forth from home for two days: learning, getting, seeing and doing.
We are no longer accepting new comments on ChicagoJournal.com
By bonnie mcgrath from south loop
Posted: 06/13/2009 6:14 PM
for the record, i am NOT the south loop board member who wrote the comment below.... i never mix business with pleasure.
By SLN Board Member from South Loop
Posted: 06/13/2009 1:33 PM
Thanks Sarah and Danny for your vote of confidence regarding the South Loop Neighbors organization running Book Fair next year. As a board member, I find the idea intriguing, although a bit intimidating. Remember, SLN is the org that last year couldn't manage to mount its long-popular Loft Walk, due to lack of organizational muscle (which includes lack of community support). Speaking of which, are you two currently paid SLN members? I'm guessing the answer is no. Join Now. (Say "we" later.)
By bonnie mcgrath from south loop
Posted: 06/12/2009 1:10 PM
but, helen, you still paid $5 for YOUR shirt.. although i will admit you got the goodwill of two free gift givings thrown into your bargain....
By Helen from South Loop
Posted: 06/12/2009 10:07 AM
Hey, that $2 t-shirt also sold 3-for-$5, which is what I got (and gave two to friends). What a deal. Regarding the festival name as it relates to t-shirts: The name change enabled Hackney's to print up fun t-shirts that said "Get Lit" on the front, which I thought was quite amusing. And I bought one of those t-shirts too -- for only $5.
By Sarah and Danny from Printers Row
Posted: 06/10/2009 3:35 PM
I was told the Planning Board sold the rights for the festival. Why do they deserve it back? They are doing exactly what they want to do, letting their developer group leaders, give tours of their own projects. Self interests. Let the South Loop Neighbors run the book fair, we can do better. We do all the volunteering and they used to get the money. Can you tell me who the Planning Board represents?
By Beth from Printers Row
Posted: 06/10/2009 7:15 AM
The irrepressible Ulrich Sandmeyer (he and his wife Ellen own Sandmeyer’s Bookstore) reasoned that younger people might respond better to a “Lit Fest” than a “Book Fair” and if the name change brought more young people to literature, heck, a name change was worth a try. I learn a lot from my visits with Ulrich at his bookstore—his open-mindedness can be contagious. After talking with Ulrich, I happily called it “Lit Fest” the entire weekend. Glad you liked the bookmark, Bonnie!
By bonnie mcgrath from south loop
Posted: 06/09/2009 5:55 PM
you know, that does make sense... maybe that's what we were feeling...the trib losing interest in its own backyard--in exchange for greener pastures.... good!!
By Dan from Oak Park
Posted: 06/09/2009 4:05 PM
Heard someone say, and I can't remember who it was, that the Trib renamed the book fair this year because they want to roll the event out in other cities where they have papers. That seem possible? Dan
By Julia from ravenswood
Posted: 06/09/2009 11:08 AM
A t-shirt for $2? What--was it made out of tissue paper? Sounds like it was a fun weekend!