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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Weird Science
DESCRIPTION:What if you could shrink yourself down to the size of a bug? Build your own droid? Travel through space with nothing but science to keep you alive? Or use quantum physics to outsmart an eavesdropper? We’re exploring the science behind it all and having a little fun along the way. Join us for Get Lit: Weird Science\, a night of trivia\, hands-on activities\, and experiments inspired by the strangest\, silliest\, and most spectacular science found in books\, movies\, and our wildest imaginations. \n\n\nTest your science and sci-fi smarts\, create your own binary-code bracelet\, get quantum-entangled\, explore the future of robotics\, and discover the chemistry behind what’s in your glass. Explore the chemistry behind what’s in your glass with beer\, wine\, and our specialty cocktail\, THE GOO. Prefer to skip the booze? Non-alcoholic options will be available\, too. \nIn partnership with Argonne National Laboratory\, discover how real scientists are turning seemingly impossible ideas into reality. \nWhether you’re a science nerd\, a sci-fi superfan\, or just curious about the wonderfully weird world around us\, Get Lit is the place to get curious\, get creative\, and get a little weird. \n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-weird-science-2/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Food and Drink
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Weird Science
DESCRIPTION:What if you could shrink yourself down to the size of a bug? Build your own droid? Travel through space with nothing but science to keep you alive? Or use quantum physics to outsmart an eavesdropper? We’re exploring the science behind it all and having a little fun along the way. Join us for Get Lit: Weird Science\, a night of trivia\, hands-on activities\, and experiments inspired by the strangest\, silliest\, and most spectacular science found in books\, movies\, and our wildest imaginations. \n\n\nTest your science and sci-fi smarts\, create your own binary-code bracelet\, get quantum-entangled\, explore the future of robotics\, and discover the chemistry behind what’s in your glass. Explore the chemistry behind what’s in your glass with beer\, wine\, and our specialty cocktail\, THE GOO. Prefer to skip the booze? Non-alcoholic options will be available\, too. \nIn partnership with Argonne National Laboratory\, discover how real scientists are turning seemingly impossible ideas into reality. \nWhether you’re a science nerd\, a sci-fi superfan\, or just curious about the wonderfully weird world around us\, Get Lit is the place to get curious\, get creative\, and get a little weird. \n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-weird-science/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions and Gallery Events,Food and Drink
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261103T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261103T190000
DTSTAMP:20260928T194612Z
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SUMMARY:Author Talk: “Turning Pages” by Roberta Rubin
DESCRIPTION:Longtime independent bookstore owner and AWM Founding Board Member Roberta Rubin stops by to discuss her new memoir Turning Pages: The Life and Times of a Bookseller. For more than thirty years\, Rubin owned and ran The Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka\, Illinois—one of the nation’s most admired independent bookstores. In this warm and inspiring memoir\, she reflects on the journey that transformed a neighborhood shop into a nationally respected cultural destination and a beloved cornerstone of community life. \nRubin will be interviewed by writer Richard Reeder. Books will be available for purchase and Rubin will sign them following the program. \nMore about Turning Pages: \nA leader in independent bookselling\, Rubin championed emerging and established writers\, cultivated generations of passionate readers\, and steered her bookstore through every challenge the shifting literary landscape presented—from big-box competition to the rise of online retail. Her story is filled with engaging anecdotes about the authors\, publishers\, colleagues\, and customers who shaped her world\, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the relationships and determination that sustained an independent bookstore through decades of change. \nBoth a deeply personal account of a life devoted to books and a source of inspiration for booksellers and independent shop owners\, this memoir reflects the same energy\, warmth\, grit\, and unwavering commitment to books that defined her oversight of the store. It testifies to the power of independent retailers to build community\, spark curiosity\, and bring people together—and to Rubin’s ongoing advocacy for the enduring value of bookstores and the written word. \nROBERTA RUBIN owned and ran The Book Stall at Chestnut Court for more than three decades\, turning it into one of the most influential independent bookstores in the country. The store\, in Winnetka\, Illinois\, won accolades including Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year in 2012. Rubin helped chart a course for indie bookstores to survive and thrive against the rise of big chain bookstores and Amazon\, emphasizing author visits\, community outreach and personalized service. She is also a member of the founding board of the American Writers Museum\, where a room is named in her honor. She currently lives in Evanston\, Illinois. \nRICHARD REEDER was born and raised in Chicago and continues to live in the Chicago area with his wife Anne. Educated in the Chicago public schools\, he has two degrees from Roosevelt University. His multifaceted career included working as a caseworker\, elementary school teacher\, employment counselor\, research assistant\, and as an executive in both government and social service and educational organizations. Richard remains active as a consultant\, writer\, and adult education facilitator and instructor.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/author-talk-turning-pages-by-roberta-rubin/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261020T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261020T193000
DTSTAMP:20260903T195140Z
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Witch Please
DESCRIPTION:Grab your broomstick and get ready for a night of magic\, mischief\, and mayhem at Get Lit: Witch Please! From wicked spellcasters and mysterious enchantresses to misunderstood outsiders and powerful women\, witches have cast a long shadow over American stories and popular culture. \nPut your knowledge to the test with witchy trivia\, show off your best magical look in our costume contest\, get creative with spellbinding crafts\, and dive into the folklore\, literature\, and legends behind some of fiction’s most iconic witches. And\, of course\, no witch’s night out would be complete without a little something brewing in the cauldron. Enjoy beer\, wine\, and our specialty cocktail\, THE CAULDRON. Non-alcoholic options will be available\, too. \nWhether you’re a seasoned spellcaster or just witch-curious\, Get Lit: Witch Please promises a wickedly fun night of stories\, games\, drinks\, and a little bit of magic. \nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-witch-please/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Food and Drink
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T200000
DTSTAMP:20260915T203245Z
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SUMMARY:Live Reading: “Cold Was the Ground”
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the American Writers Museum for a special live reading of a new play in production from Painted Pistachio Productions\, Cold Was the Ground. Enjoy a full staged reading with the cast (80 mins)\, followed by a discussion and Q&A with playwright Doug DuBrin\, director Eileen Tull\, and Dr. Andrew Johnston\, VP of Museum Experience at the Adler Planetarium. \nAbout Cold Was the Ground: \nThe play’s title is derived from the seminal early 20th-century blues artist Blind Willie Johnson’s tune “Dark Was the Night\, Cold Was the Ground.” The song itself is one of the numerous cultural ambassadors from Earth to the cosmos engraved on both Voyager spacecrafts’ Golden Record. \nIn the play\, a boy\, Tanner\, shortly after enduring extraordinary trauma\, starts to mumble seeming gibberish in his sleep and elsewhere. His single\, similarly traumatized father\, Sean\, frantically\, gradually\, begins to decipher that the “gibberish” has a legitimate source: The Golden Record of the Voyager II. What follows is the untangling of the mystery. \nCAST: \nSean: Stef Brundage\nTanner: Aurie Henry\nDr. Roy: Rory Jobst\nMonica: Amanda Winston\nChad: Jonathan Crabtree \nAssistant Director: Jo Hoagland
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/live-reading-cold-was-the-ground/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music, Film, and Theater
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261008T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261008T133000
DTSTAMP:20260915T203507Z
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SUMMARY:Micheal O’Siadhail – Poetry Reading with Q&A
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special afternoon poetry reading and Q&A with acclaimed Irish poet Micheal O’Siadhail\, who will read from and discuss his latest collection The Essential Poems. O’Siadhail will be joined in conversation by Parneshia Jones\, Director for Northwestern University Press. \nBooks will be available for purchase and O’Siadhail will sign them following the program. Light snacks and refreshments will also be available. \nWith an illustrious literary career that has spanned over fifty years\, renowned poet Micheal O’Siadhail has cemented his place on the international stage. From his debut collection\, The Leap Year (1978)\, to his latest collection\, Desire (2023)\, O’Siadhail captures evolving struggles with love\, faith\, and humanity. Here\, spanning the entirety of his outstanding career\, is the essence of his masterful body of work. \nThe Essential Poems voyages through traditional and innovative poetic forms\, investigating love and passion\, joy and loss\, world-shaping events and personal experiences. O’Siadhail sounds the depths of meaning and evokes wonder\, surprise\, anguish\, and delight. A lyrical meditation on the relationships between humanity and nature\, despair and faith\, and the richness of courage in the acts of healing completes what proves to be this unforgettable and necessary collection of the inimitable Irish poet.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/micheal-osiadhail-poetry-reading-with-qa/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions and Gallery Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260923T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260923T190000
DTSTAMP:20260724T162837Z
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SUMMARY:Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (IN PERSON)
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an illuminating conversation at the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors sit down to discuss Grande’s new book Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget\, an ambitious memoir in essays that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. Books will be available for purchase and Grande will sign them following the program. \nThis is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed\, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. \n  \nMore about Migrant Heart: \nWhat is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure? \nReyna Grande has spent her career capturing the raw reality of life across borders. In this intricate and deeply intimate memoir-in-essays\, the author of the landmark memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home again turns her gaze inward to explore the scars left by migration and the ongoing work of stitching herself back together. \nWith her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty\, Grande interrogates how living between two nations\, two languages\, and two identities has shaped the woman\, mother\, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala\, Mexico\, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance\, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival. \nWhether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden\, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us\, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? \nMigrant Heart is a powerful testament to Grande’s role as a storyteller and cultural witness. It expands our understanding of life in the United States and the complex people who cross and live within its borders. It is an essential read for the seekers\, the dreamers\, and anyone who believes in the enduring\, transformative power of finding one’s voice. \nPraise for Migrant Heart: \n“Migrant Heart is the exact book I needed during this tumultuous time. These essays should be taught across the country. Reyna’s stories of surviving and thriving as a Brown woman in the United States are seamlessly told through her sharp\, vibrant prose. This is a book I will return to again and again.” —Erika L. Sánchez\, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom \n“With heart and verve\, and her own particular candor\, so warm like a sun\, Reyna Grande writes about writing\, memory\, the Ayotzinapa 43\, the cruelties of the border\, menopause\, slug sex\, and queen bees. I love Reyna’s way of seeing the world. These essays are heart-big.” —Ingrid Rojas Contreras\, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Man Who Could Move Clouds \n“Migrant Heart is deep\, gorgeous\, and full of unexpected chambers that will by turns unsettle you\, infuriate you\, comfort you\, and\, if you let them\, heal you. And while much darkness lies in many of these essays—of human nature\, of life\, of our nation—ultimately\, they are illuminated with love.” —Xóchitl González\, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming \n \nREYNA GRANDE (left) is an award-winning author whose work powerfully illuminates the complexities of immigration\, family separation\, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Born in Mexico\, Grande embarked on a perilous journey to the U.S. at age nine to reunite with her parents—a defining experience that fuels her writing. Breaking generational barriers\, she became the first in her family to graduate from college\, earning a BA from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA from Antioch University. \nHer diverse body of work includes her celebrated memoirs\, The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home\, and the novels Across a Hundred Mountains\, Dancing with Butterflies\, and the historical epic A Ballad of Love and Glory. She amplifies undocumented voices as co-editor of Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Immigration\, Survival\, and New Beginnings. She has earned numerous accolades\, such as the American Book Award\, the Premio Aztlan Literary Award\, the Luis Leal Award\, and the Hummingbird Award in Literary Arts. Her most recent book\, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget\, was published in English and Spanish in May 2026. \nERIKA L. SÁNCHEZ (right) is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her debut poetry collection\, Lessons on Expulsion\, was a finalist for the PEN America Open Book Award. Her debut young adult novel\, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was a #1 New York Times bestseller\, a National Book Awards finalist\, and Tomás Rivera Award winner. Time has recognized it as one of the best YA novels of all time. It is now is being made into a MGM Orion film directed by America Ferrera. She is an executive producer on the project. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter has also been adapted to the theater at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago\, Seattle Rep Theater\, Greenway Court Theater in Los Angeles\, and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Also\, her novel has been banned across the country due to its “controversial” themes. Most recently\, Sánchez published a critically acclaimed memoir-in-essays titled Crying in the Bathroom with Viking Books. It won the Chicago Review of Books Nonfiction award and has been optioned for television. Sánchez was a Fulbright Scholar\, a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent fellow from the Poetry Foundation\, a Princeton Arts Fellow\, a recipient of the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation\, and a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in poetry. Sánchez earned a BA from UIC and an MFA from the University of New Mexico. Her books have been translated and published in Korea\, Taiwan\, the United Kingdom\, Brazil\, France\, Mexico\, Poland\, Turkey\, and Italy. She’s appeared on WGN\, PBS\, NPR\, Good Morning America\, Telemundo\, Univision\, and MSNBC. Erika holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from New School University. She lives in Chicago with her family.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/author-talk-migrant-heart-by-reyna-grande-in-person/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Member Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260923T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260923T190000
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SUMMARY:Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (ONLINE)
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an illuminating conversation streamed live from the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors sit down to discuss Grande’s new book Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget\, an ambitious memoir in essays that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. \nThis is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event\, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to attend the program in person at the AWM\, get your tickets here. \nMore about Migrant Heart: \nWhat is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure? \nReyna Grande has spent her career capturing the raw reality of life across borders. In this intricate and deeply intimate memoir-in-essays\, the author of the landmark memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home again turns her gaze inward to explore the scars left by migration and the ongoing work of stitching herself back together. \nWith her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty\, Grande interrogates how living between two nations\, two languages\, and two identities has shaped the woman\, mother\, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala\, Mexico\, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance\, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival. \nWhether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden\, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us\, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? \nMigrant Heart is a powerful testament to Grande’s role as a storyteller and cultural witness. It expands our understanding of life in the United States and the complex people who cross and live within its borders. It is an essential read for the seekers\, the dreamers\, and anyone who believes in the enduring\, transformative power of finding one’s voice. \n\n\n\n\nPraise for Migrant Heart:\n\n\n\n“Migrant Heart is the exact book I needed during this tumultuous time. These essays should be taught across the country. Reyna’s stories of surviving and thriving as a Brown woman in the United States are seamlessly told through her sharp\, vibrant prose. This is a book I will return to again and again.” —Erika L. Sánchez\, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom \n“With heart and verve\, and her own particular candor\, so warm like a sun\, Reyna Grande writes about writing\, memory\, the Ayotzinapa 43\, the cruelties of the border\, menopause\, slug sex\, and queen bees. I love Reyna’s way of seeing the world. These essays are heart-big.” —Ingrid Rojas Contreras\, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Man Who Could Move Clouds \n“Migrant Heart is deep\, gorgeous\, and full of unexpected chambers that will by turns unsettle you\, infuriate you\, comfort you\, and\, if you let them\, heal you. And while much darkness lies in many of these essays—of human nature\, of life\, of our nation—ultimately\, they are illuminated with love.” —Xóchitl González\, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming \n\n\n\nREYNA GRANDE is an award-winning author whose work powerfully illuminates the complexities of immigration\, family separation\, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Born in Mexico\, Grande embarked on a perilous journey to the U.S. at age nine to reunite with her parents—a defining experience that fuels her writing. Breaking generational barriers\, she became the first in her family to graduate from college\, earning a BA from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA from Antioch University.\n\n\n\nHer diverse body of work includes her celebrated memoirs\, The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home\, and the novels Across a Hundred Mountains\, Dancing with Butterflies\, and the historical epic A Ballad of Love and Glory. She amplifies undocumented voices as co-editor of Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Immigration\, Survival\, and New Beginnings. She has earned numerous accolades\, such as the American Book Award\, the Premio Aztlan Literary Award\, the Luis Leal Award\, and the Hummingbird Award in Literary Arts. Her most recent book\, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget\, was published in English and Spanish in May 2026. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nERIKA L. SÁNCHEZ is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her debut poetry collection\, Lessons on Expulsion\, was a finalist for the PEN America Open Book Award. Her debut young adult novel\, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was a #1 New York Times bestseller\, a National Book Awards finalist\, and Tomás Rivera Award winner. Time has recognized it as one of the best YA novels of all time. It is now is being made into a MGM Orion film directed by America Ferrera. She is an executive producer on the project. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter has also been adapted to the theater at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago\, Seattle Rep Theater\, Greenway Court Theater in Los Angeles\, and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Also\, her novel has been banned across the country due to its “controversial” themes. Most recently\, Sánchez published a critically acclaimed memoir-in-essays titled Crying in the Bathroom with Viking Books. It won the Chicago Review of Books Nonfiction award and has been optioned for television. Sánchez was a Fulbright Scholar\, a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent fellow from the Poetry Foundation\, a Princeton Arts Fellow\, a recipient of the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation\, and a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in poetry. Sánchez earned a BA from UIC and an MFA from the University of New Mexico. Her books have been translated and published in Korea\, Taiwan\, the United Kingdom\, Brazil\, France\, Mexico\, Poland\, Turkey\, and Italy. She’s appeared on WGN\, PBS\, NPR\, Good Morning America\, Telemundo\, Univision\, and MSNBC. Erika holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from New School University. She lives in Chicago with her family.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/author-talk-migrant-heart-by-reyna-grande-online/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Member Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260812T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260812T160000
DTSTAMP:20260612T203531Z
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SUMMARY:Summer Writing IInstitue for Teachers(Online)
DESCRIPTION:2026 Summer Writing Institute\n\n\n\n\nJoin us for a professional development session co-presented by Teach Tank. This professional development session will include brand-new creative writing exercises designed to spark stimulating conversations with a focus on making new connections and learning from one another. \nIf you have attended any of our previous writing institutes\, this workshop is an entirely new session that will ignite your passion for writing and get you excited to get in front of the classroom again. Just like remixing a song\, we want to help shake up your curriculum for a fresh way to connect with students. \nYou’ll engage with materials from the museum’s latest temporary exhibit\, American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, the museum’s largest special exhibit and program series to date. You’ll learn how to better integrate the museum’s many online resources\, remixing them within your own writing curriculum. In fact\, you’re encouraged to bring your curriculum with you to swap ideas with your peers and make notes on how to refresh it! \nThis is a day for educators to feel seen\, heard\, and valued. What challenges are you facing as an educator in 2026? Chances are good you’re not alone. Is AI the enemy\, or is it not enough classroom time to devote to writing instruction? We’ll talk about ways to integrate writing instruction in your classroom and share ideas to strengthen everyone’s curriculum and instruction. \nLunch will be provided. Please inform us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions during the checkout process. \nIllinois Teachers will earn 6 CPDUs. If you are a teacher at a CIS partner school and would like to attend\, please reach out to your CIS specialist for more details. \nFor any questions\, reach out to the AWM Education Team at education@americanwritersmuseum.org.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/summer-writing-iinstitue-for-teachersonline/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshops and Classes
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T193000
DTSTAMP:20260527T170801Z
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Summer Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:Your classic book fair\, reimagined for a night out. Find your next favorite read at this pop-up fair with drinks and after-hours access. \nSip\, shop\, and explore the American Writers Museum’s galleries while enjoying a lively atmosphere featuring music\, themed drinks\, and interactive activities. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect beach read\, building your to-be-read stack\, or just looking for a unique night out\, make Get Lit: Summer Book Fair part of your story! \nFeatured vendors and non-profit partners to be announced! Submit your business or organization to general@americanwritersmuseum.org to be considered. \n\nGet Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month\, the AWM serves drinks\, games\, special experiences\, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program\, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-summer-book-fair/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Food and Drink
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260708T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260708T193000
DTSTAMP:20260601T033759Z
CREATED:20260601T033759Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260601T033759Z
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: The Great American Heist
DESCRIPTION:Join your fellow investigators for a mystery 250 years in the making! A special artifact from the museum’s pop-up Declarations exhibit has been stolen and it’s up to you to find it. Work solo or team up with fellow sleuths to decipher clues\, interrogate your fellow Americans\, and piece together the truth behind this crime of patriotic passion. \nWhile you investigate\, enjoy beer\, wine\, and the night’s specialty cocktail\, The Amendment\, a whiskey and brandy-based drink that will have you waving Old Glory! Non-alcoholic version are also available. \nThe night will kick off promptly at 5:00pm with a reading of the Declaration of Independence as part of Sharing the Spirit of America: A Statewide & National Reading of the Declaration of Independence\, with people in communities across America taking part. \nCostumes are encouraged! Think powdered wigs\, waistcoats\, breeches\, or your boldest red\, white\, and blue look. Grab your friends\, make your declaration\, and join us for a night of literary mischief! \nGet Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month\, the AWM serves drinks\, games\, special experiences\, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program\, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-the-great-american-heist/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Food and Drink
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260707T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260707T160000
DTSTAMP:20260527T171209Z
CREATED:20260527T171209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T171209Z
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SUMMARY:Summer Writing Institute for Teachers
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a professional development session co-presented by Teach Tank. This professional development session will include brand-new creative writing exercises designed to spark stimulating conversations with a focus on making new connections and learning from one another. \nIf you have attended any of our previous writing institutes\, this workshop is an entirely new session that will ignite your passion for writing and get you excited to get in front of the classroom again. Just like remixing a song\, we want to help shake up your curriculum for a fresh way to connect with students. \nYou’ll engage with materials from the museum’s latest temporary exhibit\, American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, the museum’s largest special exhibit and program series to date. You’ll learn how to better integrate the museum’s many online resources\, remixing them within your own writing curriculum. In fact\, you’re encouraged to bring your curriculum with you to swap ideas with your peers and make notes on how to refresh it! \nThis is a day for educators to feel seen\, heard\, and valued. What challenges are you facing as an educator in 2026? Chances are good you’re not alone. Is AI the enemy\, or is it not enough classroom time to devote to writing instruction? We’ll talk about ways to integrate writing instruction in your classroom and share ideas to strengthen everyone’s curriculum and instruction. \nLunch will be provided. Please inform us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions during the checkout process. \nIllinois Teachers will earn 6 CPDUs. If you are a teacher at a CIS partner school and would like to attend\, please reach out to your CIS specialist for more details. \nFor any questions\, reach out to the AWM Education Team at education@americanwritersmuseum.org.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/summer-writing-institute-for-teachers/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshops and Classes
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260607T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260607T170000
DTSTAMP:20260514T152635Z
CREATED:20260504T145951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T152635Z
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SUMMARY:American Writers Festival Day 2 -- Harold Washington Library Center
DESCRIPTION:American Writers Festival – Day 2\n\nThe American Writers Festival is back and bigger than ever. Two days\, two locations. One free literary event in Chicago! \nThe American Writers Festival is a free literary event co-presented by the American Writers Museum and Chicago Public Library. It features in depth conversations with diverse writers from across genres and backgrounds\, all to celebrate the power of the written word. Featured speakers include Lauren Groff\, Reza Aslan\, Tananarive Due\, John Fugelsang\, Maggie Smith\, Mayda del Valle\, Bill Kurtis\, Jen Hatmaker\, and more. See the full lineup here and the program schedule here! \nThis year\, we have expanded to two days and two locations. \nJune 6\, 2026: American Writers Museum \nJune 7\, 2026: Harold Washington Library Center \nWith a range of topics discussed and genres represented\, the American Writers Festival celebrates the past\, promotes the present\, and inspires the future of American writing. Children’s storytimes\, photo booths\, literary crafts and mini writing workshops get adults and kids into the written word\, with books for sale and authors signing them! \nThe American Writers Museum will offer free admission on June 6 and will be closed on June 7. The Harold Washington Library Center is always free. \nVISIT THE AMERICAN WRITERS FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-writers-festival-day-2-harold-washington-library-center/
LOCATION:Harold Washington Library Center\, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium\, 400 S. State St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T170000
DTSTAMP:20260504T150015Z
CREATED:20260504T150015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T150015Z
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SUMMARY:American Writers Festival Day 1 - American Writers Museum
DESCRIPTION:American Writers Festival – Day 1\n\nThe American Writers Festival is back and bigger than ever. Two days\, two locations. One free literary event in Chicago! \nThe American Writers Festival is a free literary event co-presented by the American Writers Museum and Chicago Public Library. It features in depth conversations with diverse writers from across genres and backgrounds\, all to celebrate the power of the written word. Featured speakers include Lauren Groff\, Reza Aslan\, Tananarive Due\, John Fugelsang\, Maggie Smith\, Mayda del Valle\, Bill Kurtis\, Jen Hatmaker\, and more. See the full lineup here and the program schedule here! \nThis year\, we have expanded to two days and two locations. \nJune 6\, 2026: American Writers Museum \nJune 7\, 2026: Harold Washington Library Center \nWith a range of topics discussed and genres represented\, the American Writers Festival celebrates the past\, promotes the present\, and inspires the future of American writing. Children’s storytimes\, photo booths\, literary crafts and mini writing workshops get adults and kids into the written word\, with books for sale and authors signing them! \nThe American Writers Museum will offer free admission on June 6 and will be closed on June 7. The Harold Washington Library Center is always free. \nVISIT THE AMERICAN WRITERS FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-writers-festival-day-1-american-writers-museum/2026-06-06/2/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T170000
DTSTAMP:20260504T150015Z
CREATED:20260504T150015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T150015Z
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SUMMARY:American Writers Festival Day 1 - American Writers Museum
DESCRIPTION:American Writers Festival – Day 1\n\nThe American Writers Festival is back and bigger than ever. Two days\, two locations. One free literary event in Chicago! \nThe American Writers Festival is a free literary event co-presented by the American Writers Museum and Chicago Public Library. It features in depth conversations with diverse writers from across genres and backgrounds\, all to celebrate the power of the written word. Featured speakers include Lauren Groff\, Reza Aslan\, Tananarive Due\, John Fugelsang\, Maggie Smith\, Mayda del Valle\, Bill Kurtis\, Jen Hatmaker\, and more. See the full lineup here and the program schedule here! \nThis year\, we have expanded to two days and two locations. \nJune 6\, 2026: American Writers Museum \nJune 7\, 2026: Harold Washington Library Center \nWith a range of topics discussed and genres represented\, the American Writers Festival celebrates the past\, promotes the present\, and inspires the future of American writing. Children’s storytimes\, photo booths\, literary crafts and mini writing workshops get adults and kids into the written word\, with books for sale and authors signing them! \nThe American Writers Museum will offer free admission on June 6 and will be closed on June 7. The Harold Washington Library Center is always free. \nVISIT THE AMERICAN WRITERS FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-writers-festival-day-1-american-writers-museum/2026-06-06/1/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260512T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260512T193000
DTSTAMP:20260320T192332Z
CREATED:20260320T192332Z
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Art of the Cocktail
DESCRIPTION:Raise a glass and grab your sketchbook for Get Lit: The Art of Cocktails. \nAuthor and illustrator Sarah Becan (Let’s Make Bread!\, Let’s Make Dumplings!) visits Get Lit to share a live demonstration of her favorite cocktail recipes from her newest book\, Let’s Make Cocktails!\, followed by a hands-on drawing session learning to illustrate the same cocktail in her unique\, playful style. Throughout the night\, enjoy interactive stations\, sketch challenges\, and fun games that let you sip\, sketch\, and mingle with fellow cocktail and art lovers. Books will be available for purchase at the event. \nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-art-of-the-cocktail/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T190000
DTSTAMP:20260313T165805Z
CREATED:20260313T165805Z
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SUMMARY:Author Talk: “Parks and Rec” by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (IN PERSON)
DESCRIPTION:Pop culture historian and bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (Seinfeldia\, When Women Invented Television) visits the AWM to discuss her new book about the making of a beloved television show. Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America tells the definitive story of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation\, with exclusive interview content from its cast\, crew\, and creators\, as well as an introduction by Nick Offerman. \nBooks will be available for purchase and Keishin Armstrong will sign them following the program. \nThis is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed\, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. \nMore about Parks and Rec: \nMore than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered\, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It’s beloved for its jokes\, characters\, and expressions—the show even created a now widely observed holiday\, Galentine’s Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the definitive history of the show\, which is as full of humor\, optimism\, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. \nThrough new and exclusive interviews\, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis\, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office’s success and Obama-inspired optimism\, how producers assembled one of TV’s most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season\, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic\, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run\, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. \nFor fans of the show\, readers who enjoy behind-the-scenes stories\, and everyone who loves a nostalgic deep-dive\, Parks and Rec is an exploration of its legacy as an enduringly lovable modern comedy classic full of optimism and heart. Lovingly told and deeply researched\, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what’s important in life: friends\, waffles\, and work. \nPraise for Parks and Rec: \n“A magnificent job of chronicling the unlikely beginnings of the show—the way that Greg Daniels and Mike Schur conceived of the premise and the world\, and then the rag-tag way they put the cast together…You’ll be treated within to all manner of winning anecdotes about the adorable and talented team of champions that made up our cast.”\n—Nick Offerman\, excerpted from the foreword to Parks and Rec \n“Making Parks and Rec was fun\, pure fun\, achieved through joyous collaboration with an incredible collection of writers and actors and creative people. I miss it every day\, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s book is as close as I (or anyone) can get to actually being there\, working and laughing and making something we all loved so much.”\n—Michael Schur\, co-creator of Parks and Recreation \n“Sweet as a plate of JJ’s waffles\, Parks and Rec is a thoughtful celebration of the underdog sitcom that\, for seven seasons\, put an optimistic lens on liberal democracy and small-town life. Full of behind-the-scenes stories from the show’s writers\, cast and crew\, Parks traces the NBC sitcom’s transformation from mid-season misfire to witty\, romantic television classic. A perfect gift for members of the Leslie Knope-o-verse—or anyone searching for a little sunlight in a dark time.”\n—Emily Nussbaum\, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Cue the Sun! \nNew York Times bestselling author JENNIFER KEISHIN ARMSTRONG has written nine books\, including Seinfeldia\, Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted\, Sex and the City and Us\, and When Women Invented Television. She is the cofounder of the “Ministry of Pop Culture” Substack and a former local newspaper reporter. She lives in New Paltz\, New York. She is also the co-host of the American Writers Museum podcast Dead Writer Drama.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/author-talk-parks-and-rec-by-jennifer-keishin-armstrong-in-person/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T190000
DTSTAMP:20260313T164951Z
CREATED:20260313T164951Z
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SUMMARY:Author Talk: “Parks and Rec” by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (ONLINE)
DESCRIPTION:Pop culture historian and bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (Seinfeldia\, When Women Invented Television) visits the AWM to discuss her new book about the making of a beloved television show. Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America tells the definitive story of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation\, with exclusive interview content from its cast\, crew\, and creators\, as well as an introduction by Nick Offerman. \nThis is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event\, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to attend the program in person at the AWM\, get your tickets here. \nMore about Parks and Rec: \nMore than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered\, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It’s beloved for its jokes\, characters\, and expressions—the show even created a now widely observed holiday\, Galentine’s Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the definitive history of the show\, which is as full of humor\, optimism\, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. \nThrough new and exclusive interviews\, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis\, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office’s success and Obama-inspired optimism\, how producers assembled one of TV’s most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season\, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic\, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run\, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. \nFor fans of the show\, readers who enjoy behind-the-scenes stories\, and everyone who loves a nostalgic deep-dive\, Parks and Rec is an exploration of its legacy as an enduringly lovable modern comedy classic full of optimism and heart. Lovingly told and deeply researched\, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what’s important in life: friends\, waffles\, and work. \nPraise for Parks and Rec: \n“A magnificent job of chronicling the unlikely beginnings of the show—the way that Greg Daniels and Mike Schur conceived of the premise and the world\, and then the rag-tag way they put the cast together…You’ll be treated within to all manner of winning anecdotes about the adorable and talented team of champions that made up our cast.”\n—Nick Offerman\, excerpted from the foreword to Parks and Rec \n“Making Parks and Rec was fun\, pure fun\, achieved through joyous collaboration with an incredible collection of writers and actors and creative people. I miss it every day\, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s book is as close as I (or anyone) can get to actually being there\, working and laughing and making something we all loved so much.”\n—Michael Schur\, co-creator of Parks and Recreation \n“Sweet as a plate of JJ’s waffles\, Parks and Rec is a thoughtful celebration of the underdog sitcom that\, for seven seasons\, put an optimistic lens on liberal democracy and small-town life. Full of behind-the-scenes stories from the show’s writers\, cast and crew\, Parks traces the NBC sitcom’s transformation from mid-season misfire to witty\, romantic television classic. A perfect gift for members of the Leslie Knope-o-verse—or anyone searching for a little sunlight in a dark time.”\n—Emily Nussbaum\, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Cue the Sun! \nNew York Times bestselling author JENNIFER KEISHIN ARMSTRONG has written nine books\, including Seinfeldia\, Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted\, Sex and the City and Us\, and When Women Invented Television. She is the cofounder of the “Ministry of Pop Culture” Substack and a former local newspaper reporter. She lives in New Paltz\, New York. She is also the co-host of the American Writers Museum podcast Dead Writer Drama.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/author-talk-parks-and-rec-by-jennifer-keishin-armstrong-online/
LOCATION:Virtual\, Chicago\, IL\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Events
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SUMMARY:Water to Water: Gaza Renga – Marilyn Hacker & Deema Shehabi (IN PERSON)
DESCRIPTION:Award-winning poets Marilyn Hacker and Deema K. Shehabi visit the American Writers Museum to read from their powerful new book Water to Water: Gaza Renga\, a poetry collaboration in the call-and-response form of Renga during the conflict in Gaza. The pair will have a conversation on their writing journey and share how the collaboration came to be. Books will be available for purchase and the poets will sign them following the program. \nThis is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed\, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \nMore about Water to Water: \nFrom the publisher: “In 2009\, prompted by the Israeli siege of Gaza\, poets Marilyn Hacker and Deema Shehabi started a correspondence. It took the form of responding to each other’s poems. They resumed their poetic dialogue by email after Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. \nTheir project involved an alternate call and response between them in the tradition of the Japanese renga form\, each poet picking up a word\, phrase\, or image from the poem preceding. The result is a fascinating poetic conversation. The two poetic voices are beautifully meshed together\, so that it actually reads as one long poem. \nThe poetry is very rich in imagery\, and these images stay with you\, as do feelings the poems generate\, for example\, of unrest\, of being in exile. Television and social media show you the pictures in the streets\, this poetry takes you into the homes and minds of people. You can read it very much between the lines\, and therefore it seems to speak to people about their own experiences. \nWater to Water: Gaza Renga is a dignified celebration of humanity in and among atrocities. Although triggered by events in Gaza\, it weaves in other conflicts past and present.” \nPraise for Water to Water: \n“[A] stunning sequence of renga… We celebrate these two voices\, bleeding in and out of each other\, quicksilver\, mercurial\, eloquent in song and silence\, even as they celebrate the human spirit in a ruptured world.”\n—Mimi Khalvati \n“This book’s revolutionary form is most revolutionary of all in making serious political engagement and sophisticated poetic pleasure inseparable.”\n—Fiona Sampson\, Professor of Poetry\, University of Roehampton \n \nMARILYN HACKER (left) is the author of twenty-one books of poems\, including three collaborative books\, and twenty-two collections of translations from the French. Over the course of her career\, she has received numerous honors\, including the National Book Award\, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation\, the PEN/Voelcker Award\, the Argana International Poetry Prize\, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation\, the Ingram Merrill Foundation\, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets\, editor of the Kenyon Review\, and editor of the French literary journal Siècle 21. She lives between Paris and New York. \nDEEMA K. SHEHABI (right) is a Palestinian American poet and editor. She is the author of Thirteen Departures from the Moon and the co-editor (with Beau Beausoleil) of Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here\, for which she received NCBR’s recognition award. She is also the winner of the Nazim Hikmet Poetry Prize in 2018 and a recipient of Best of the Net nomination in 2021 as well as several Pushcart Prize nominations. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals and her work has been translated into Arabic\, French\, and Farsi.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/water-to-water-gaza-renga-marilyn-hacker-deema-shehabi-in-person/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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SUMMARY:Water to Water: Gaza Renga – Marilyn Hacker & Deema Shehabi (ONLINE)
DESCRIPTION:Award-winning poets Marilyn Hacker and Deema K. Shehabi visit the American Writers Museum to read from their powerful new book Water to Water: Gaza Renga\, a poetry collaboration in the call-and-response form of Renga during the conflict in Gaza. The pair will have a conversation on their writing journey and share how the collaboration came to be. \nThis is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event\, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to attend the program in person at the AWM\, get your tickets here. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \nMore about Water to Water: \nFrom the publisher: “In 2009\, prompted by the Israeli siege of Gaza\, poets Marilyn Hacker and Deema Shehabi started a correspondence. It took the form of responding to each other’s poems. They resumed their poetic dialogue by email after Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. \nTheir project involved an alternate call and response between them in the tradition of the Japanese renga form\, each poet picking up a word\, phrase\, or image from the poem preceding. The result is a fascinating poetic conversation. The two poetic voices are beautifully meshed together\, so that it actually reads as one long poem. \nThe poetry is very rich in imagery\, and these images stay with you\, as do feelings the poems generate\, for example\, of unrest\, of being in exile. Television and social media show you the pictures in the streets\, this poetry takes you into the homes and minds of people. You can read it very much between the lines\, and therefore it seems to speak to people about their own experiences. \nWater to Water: Gaza Renga is a dignified celebration of humanity in and among atrocities. Although triggered by events in Gaza\, it weaves in other conflicts past and present.” \nPraise for Water to Water: \n“[A] stunning sequence of renga… We celebrate these two voices\, bleeding in and out of each other\, quicksilver\, mercurial\, eloquent in song and silence\, even as they celebrate the human spirit in a ruptured world.”\n—Mimi Khalvati \n“This book’s revolutionary form is most revolutionary of all in making serious political engagement and sophisticated poetic pleasure inseparable.”\n—Fiona Sampson\, Professor of Poetry\, University of Roehampton \n \nMARILYN HACKER (left) is the author of twenty-one books of poems\, including three collaborative books\, and twenty-two collections of translations from the French. Over the course of her career\, she has received numerous honors\, including the National Book Award\, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation\, the PEN/Voelcker Award\, the Argana International Poetry Prize\, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation\, the Ingram Merrill Foundation\, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets\, editor of the Kenyon Review\, and editor of the French literary journal Siècle 21. She lives between Paris and New York. \nDEEMA K. SHEHABI (right) is a Palestinian American poet and editor. She is the author of Thirteen Departures from the Moon and the co-editor (with Beau Beausoleil) of Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here\, for which she received NCBR’s recognition award. She is also the winner of the Nazim Hikmet Poetry Prize in 2018 and a recipient of Best of the Net nomination in 2021 as well as several Pushcart Prize nominations. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals and her work has been translated into Arabic\, French\, and Farsi.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/water-to-water-gaza-renga-marilyn-hacker-deema-shehabi-online/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Events
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DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260414T193000
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes
DESCRIPTION:Step back into the glittering\, shadowy world of the Roaring Twenties at Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes\, an evening of clandestine charm\, jazz-age flair\, and unfiltered artistic expression.\n\n\n\n\nShare an original piece of poetry or song during our open mic. Don’t have anything to share? We’ll have pieces from notable American poets and songwriters that you can select.\nStop by the Blackout Poetry Bar to create a unique blackout poetry inspired by works of the 1920s.\nUncover the Secret Password hidden in clues around the museum to earn a special prize.\nEnjoy beer\, wine\, and the night’s specialty cocktail\, the Giggle Water. Non-alcoholic options are available as well.\n\nSlip through our secret door\, raise a glass\, and lose yourself in a night where every whispered word keeps the spirit of the speakeasy alive. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter. \nGet Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month\, the AWM serves drinks\, games\, special experiences\, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program\, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-speakeasy-rhymes/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260312T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260312T200000
DTSTAMP:20260123T225223Z
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SUMMARY:American Prophets Workshop: Writing Religion with Andrew Krivák By American Writers Museum Follow
DESCRIPTION:A generative\, first-person writing workshop about religion\, spirituality\, and faith with National Book Award finalist Andrew Krivák (The Sojourn\, The Bear). Co-presented by StoryStudio Chicago. \nThis is the second writing workshop presented in conjunction with American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \nMore about the workshop from Andrew Krivák: \nThis workshop is intended for students who are interested in writing longer form narratives from the first-person point of view. The “I” at the center of any writing poses a perspective that is all at once imaginatively powerful and narratively problematic\, uniquely insightful and necessarily unreliable. \nWhat I hope to suggest in the two hours we’ll be together is that writing in the first-person point of view is primarily—and most interestingly—a means toward salvation\, which is to say\, a kind of healing (from the Greek sozo). Thus\, we’ll consider the question of not simply why do writers write in the first-person but why do you want to write in the first-person? Students ought to be working on\, or have in mind\, a piece of writing they want to tell in the first-person. The workshop aspect of the two hours will consist of drafting and honing first paragraphs. \nI would also like to ask students to have read\, or be familiar with\, one of four novels: A River Runs Through It\, by Norman Maclean; Austerlitz\, by W.G. Sebald; Gilead\, by Marilynne Robinson; and Lost Children Archive\, by Valeria Luiselli. Of course\, any favorite novel in the first-person brought up in the discussion will be welcome. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nANDREW KRIVÁK is the author of five novels\, two chapbooks of poetry\, and two works of nonfiction. His 2011 debut novel\, The Sojourn\, was a National Book Award finalist and winner of both the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for fiction and the inaugural Chautauqua Prize. He followed The Sojourn with The Signal Flame\, set in fictional Dardan\, Pennsylvania. His third novel\, The Bear\, received the Banff Mountain Book Prize for fiction\, the Massachusetts Book Award\, and was a four-year National Endowment for the Arts Big Read title. Like the Appearance of Horses\, released in 2023\, returned to the characters and landscape of Dardan\, Pennsylvania and was a Library Journal selection for “Best Literary Fiction of 2023.” His fifth novel\, Mule Boy\, will be released February 24\, 2026. \nAs a poet\, Andrew has published the short collections Islands\, and Ghosts of the Monadnock Wolves\, and in 2025 received the Moth Poetry Prize. He is also author of the memoir A Long Retreat: In Search of a Religious Life\, and editor of The Letters of William Carlos Williams to Edgar Irving Williams\, 1902-1912\, which won the Louis Martz Prize for scholarly research on William Carlos Williams. He holds a BA from St. John’s College\, Annapolis; an MFA in poetry from Columbia University; an MA in philosophy from Fordham; and a PhD in literary modernism from Rutgers. \nCurrently\, Andrew is a discussion facilitator with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Family Connections Center\, and a Visiting Lecturer on English at Harvard. He lives with his wife and three children in Somerville\, Massachusetts\, and Jaffrey\, New Hampshire. \nStoryStudio Chicago is a nonprofit literary arts organization focused on building a writing community. They offer more than 200 online and in-person creative writing classes and events each year\, which include everything from single-session classes focused on one aspect of craft to multi-session weekly classes to full year-long programs. They nurture writers of all ages and all skill levels\, and their programming covers all genres\, from short stories and novels\, to creative nonfiction like memoirs and essays to poetry\, screenwriting\, satire\, and just about anything you can imagine.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-prophets-workshop-writing-religion-with-andrew-krivak-by-american-writers-museum-follow/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshops and Classes
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DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260310T193000
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:The best night of the year is back: Grown-Up Book Fair! With books for sale\, games to play\, and drinks to drink… cheers!\n\n\n\nIndulge your literary impulses at Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair! Mix and mingle with fellow bookworms\, share your favorite titles\, and discover new ones. From cozy mysteries to epic adventures\, there’s something for every reader to discover and enjoy! Vendors and tabling partners to be announced! \nInterested in joining us? Email general@americanwritersmuseum.org to pitch your bookstore or literary non-profit to join in the fun! \nGet Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month\, the AWM serves drinks\, games\, special experiences\, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program\, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-grown-up-book-fair/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260210T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260210T193000
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SUMMARY:Get Lit: Rom Com Night
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate all things charming\, hilarious\, and heart-fluttering at Get Lit: Rom-Com Night as we bring the world of romantic comedies to life. \n\nTest your knowledge of rom-com films in our Meet Cute Trivia Challenge.\nMeet with our friends from the Last Chapter Book Shop\, Chicago’s first & only romance bookstore.\nUnwrap your next read at the Blind Date with a Book station.\nDesign your own tote bag with your favorite rom-com quotes and drawings.\nGet a custom poem from our friends at Poems While You Wait inspired by your favorite stories of love.\nEnjoy beer\, wine\, and the night’s specialty cocktail\, THE FIRST KISS. Non-alcoholic options are available as well.\n\nWhether you’re coming with a partner\, your best friends\, or treating yourself to a cozy night out\, this joyful evening promises nostalgia\, laughter\, and plenty of classic rom-com sparkle. \n\n\n\n\nThis is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter. \nGet Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month\, the AWM serves drinks\, games\, special experiences\, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program\, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/get-lit-rom-com-night/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260129T190000
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SUMMARY:The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde (ONLINE)
DESCRIPTION:Join us online for a discussion with Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad about her new book The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Black\, queer\, feminist\, Buddhist: The Fire Inside casts a fresh new light on the radical literary legacies of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. \nThis is an online-only program with the American Writers Museum. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \n \nMore about The Fire Inside: \nThe Fire Inside explores the writings of Audre Lorde and James Baldwin through a Dharmic lens\, revealing for the first time how two of America’s greatest literary voices reflect—and expand—Buddhism’s most timeless truths toward justice and liberation. \nDr. Rima Vesely-Flad dives deeply into a dharma of liberation as lived by Baldwin and Lorde\, offering timely lessons to help us each meet this moment. She explores the writers’ enduring legacies to show that liberation depends not only on organizing and mass movements\, but the generative power of inner well-being\, authenticity\, art\, and embodiment. Each chapter shares how looking inward is the way forward\, examining Baldwin and Lorde through key Buddhist principles. \nThis book offers space for emerging conversations within spiritual communities—ones that don’t shy away from difficult or uncomfortable truths; that center—and celebrate—Black\, queer\, radical thought; and that embrace the ways our inner lives\, creative fire\, sensuality\, and expressions of love can ignite and sustain revolutionary liberation. \nPraise for The Fire Inside: \n“I have followed and admired Rima Vesely-Flad’s work for years. She is tapping resources that all of us can access for greater hope and change.” —MICHELLE ALEXANDER\, author of The New Jim Crow \n“This groundbreaking work is a gift of love reminding us of how Black liberation struggle\, like the dharma itself\, has always been about everyone getting free.” —LAMA ROD OWENS\, author of Love and Rage and The New Saints \n“This is a read not to miss… I find my own embers of wellness\, justice\, and harmony stoked with her joy of expression from the heart and mind on behalf of us all.” —LARRY WARD\, Buddhist teacher\, author\, and cofounder of The Lotus Institute \n“This book is a fire that both illuminates and refines\, a call to engage with the truth of our times while drawing strength from ancestral wisdom.” —RUTH KING\, author of Mindful of Race \nAbout the author: \nDR. RIMA VESELY-FLAD is the Visiting Professor of Buddhism and Black Studies at Union Theological Seminary. She is the author of Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation (NYU Press\, 2022) and Racial Purity and Dangerous Bodies: Moral Pollution\, Black Lives\, and the Struggle for Justice (Fortress Press\, 2017).
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/the-fire-inside-the-dharma-of-james-baldwin-and-audre-lorde-online/
LOCATION:Virtual\, Chicago\, IL\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music, Film, and Theater,Talks and Gatherings
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SUMMARY:American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the Early Woman’s Rights Movement
DESCRIPTION:American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the Early Woman’s Rights Movement\n\nScholars Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson join us online to discuss their book Your Daughters Will Prophesy: Religion and Rhetoric in the Nineteenth-Century Woman’s Movement. Their work explores how nineteenth-century women used the Bible to claim their voice on the moral questions of their day. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \nMore about Your Daughters Will Prophesy: \nCaught between their identity as Christians and social norms that silenced them\, American women used scripture to claim moral and then rhetorical agency. They reinterpreted familiar biblical passages\, recovered previously ignored stories about women\, and contested passages used to circumscribe women’s activities. By strategically adopting a rhetorical posture of dissent\, these women became prophetic voices in American society. \nIn Your Daughters Will Prophesy\, Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson analyze the argumentative resources four women—Jarena Lee\, Sarah Moore Grimké\, Lucretia Coffin Mott\, and Frances Willard—used to counter gendered restrictions and gain access to platform and pulpit\, catalyzing what became known as the woman’s movement. \nPraise for Your Daughters Will Prophesy: \n“In this well-written and accessible book\, Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson reveal how four of the most influential nineteenth-century US women wrestled with scripture and the Christian tradition to justify their public speaking and activism.” —Kristy Maddux\, University of Maryland\, author of Practicing Citizenship: Women’s Rhetoric at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair \n“Most people—inside and outside of academia—would not consider the possibility that activists might look to scripture to make the case for women’s rights. Your Daughters Will Prophesy counters this assumption with a detailed history of the ways in which nineteenth-century female reformers used the Bible as a rhetorical resource.” —Patricia Davis\, Northeastern University\, author of Laying Claim: African American Cultural Memory and Southern Identity \nAbout the authors: \nLISA MARIE GRING-PEMBLE is an associate professor at George Mason University. She is author of Grim Fairy Tales: The Rhetorical Construction of American Welfare Policy\, and her writing has appeared in journals\, including the Quarterly Journal of Speech and Rhetoric and Public Affairs. \nMARTHA WATSON is author and editor of several books\, including Lives of Their Own: Rhetorical Dimensions in Autobiographies of Women Activists. She is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-prophets-religion-rhetoric-in-the-early-womans-rights-movement/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T190000
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SUMMARY:Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (IN PERSON)
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a conversation with Emmy Award-winning journalist Mary Ann Ahern of Chicago’s NBC 5 about covering religion\, writing about Chicago’s Pope\, and shaping the public’s perception and practice of faith. \nMary Ann Ahern joined NBC 5 News in March 1989 and was named the station’s Political Reporter in 2006. Most recently\, Ahern was front-and-center at the Vatican for NBC 5 Chicago’s extensive on-site coverage of one of the year’s biggest international stories when Chicago native\, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost\, became Pope Leo XIV. For her standout work at the Vatican\, Ahern earned a pair 2025 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards. \nThis is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed\, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/religion-and-journalism-in-chicago-with-mary-ann-ahern-in-person/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260105T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260105T140000
DTSTAMP:20251120T033848Z
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SUMMARY:Winter Writing Institute (online)
DESCRIPTION:Winter Writing Institute (Online)\n\nJoin us for an online professional development session co-presented by Teach Tank. This session will support educators in using writing as a healing practice\, facilitating complex conversations through writing experiences\, and developing culturally responsive writing strategies that can be used across grade levels and content areas. Free\, registration required. \nIllinois Teachers will earn 4 CPDUs. \nFor any questions\, reach out to the AWM Education Team at education@americanwritersmuseum.org.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/winter-writing-institute-online/
LOCATION:Virtual\, Chicago\, IL\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251110T190000
DTSTAMP:20250905T184707Z
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SUMMARY:American Prophets: Religion in the Lands that Became America (IN PERSON)
DESCRIPTION:Scholar Thomas A. Tweed visits the American Writers Museum to discuss his new book Religion in the Lands that Became America. A sweeping retelling of American religious history\, Tweed shows how religion has enhanced and hindered human flourishing from the Ice Age to the Information Age. Tweed is joined in conversation by fellow Indigenous Studies scholar John N. Low. Books will be available for purchase and Tweed will sign them following the program. \nThis is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed\, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s forthcoming special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, opening November 2025. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/american-prophets-religion-in-the-lands-that-became-america-in-person/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N. Michigan Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251010T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251010T193000
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SUMMARY:Horror Writing and Religion – An American Prophets Program
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a panel discussion about religion\, spirituality\, and horror writing! \nLeading writers of horror and suspense discuss their use of religion in their work\, from magic and voodoo in Tananarive Due’s The Good House\, to historical cults in Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country. What frightens us so deeply about religion\, and how do different kinds of writing explore the topic? This discussion will be moderated by author Juan Martinez. \nThis program takes place at the University of Chicago Divinity School\, 1025 E 58th St\, Chicago\, IL 60637. Books will be available for purchase and the authors will sign them following the program. \nThis program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s forthcoming special exhibit American Prophets: Writers\, Religion\, and Culture\, opening November 2025. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. \n\n\n\n\nAbout the authors: \nTANANARIVE DUE is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years\, Due has won an American Book Award\, an NAACP Image Award\, and a British Fantasy Award\, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include The Reformatory (winner of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize\, Chautauqua Prize\, Bram Stoker Award\, Shirley Jackson Award\, World Fantasy Award\, and a New York Times Notable Book)\, The Wishing Pool and Other Stories\, Ghost Summer: Stories\, My Soul to Keep\, and The Good House. She and her late mother\, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due\, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. \nShe was an executive producer on Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. She and her husband/collaborator\, Steven Barnes\, wrote “A Small Town” for Season 2 of Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone on Paramount Plus\, and two segments of Shudder’s anthology film Horror Noire. They also co-wrote their Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper\, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast\, “Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!” She and her husband live with their son\, Jason. \nJUAN MARTINEZ is a writer and an associate professor of English at Northwestern University. He is the author of the horror novel Extended Stay (University of Arizona Press / Camino del Sol\, 2023) and of the story collection Best Worst American (Small Beer Press\, 2017). He is also the fiction editor for Jackleg Press. Juan lives with his family near Chicago.
URL:https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/event/horror-writing-and-religion-an-american-prophets-program/
LOCATION:University of Chicago Divinity School\, 1025 E 58th Street\, Chicago\, IL\, 60637\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks and Gatherings
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