Lake Claremont Press's Chicago

Our little Twitter post on Jason Rothstein's fabulous new blog, Carless in Chicago, was our most re-Tweeted ever. Go see why it's an essential check-in point for those sans auto in Chi-Town while you await the release of his new book Carless in Chicago later this summer.

Labels: Carless in Chicago, Jason Rothstein

Labels: Anbritt Stengele, Baseball, Sports Traveler Chicago

LCP author events, now on a Google calendar accessible from anywhere.

Labels: Author Events

At Des Plaines History Center's monthly Coffee Talk, author David Witter will discuss the history, stories, and colorful characters behind some of the oldest businesses, restaurants, and landmarks in the Chicago area. His book, Oldest Chicago will be available later this summer from Lake Claremont Press. The presentation includes photos, readings, and a Power Point Program.

Labels: David Witter, Oldest Chicago

Two Lake Claremont Press books have been honored with 2009 book awards: Finding Your Chicago Irish, by Sharon Shea Bossard, and I Am a Teamster: A Short, Fiery Story of Regina V. Polk, Her Hats, Her Pets, Sweet Love, and the Modern-Day Labor Movement, by Terry Spencer Hesser.

Bossard’s Finding Your Chicago Irish is proudly displaying two award labels these days: One for being a finalist in the regional non-fiction category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, which recognizes independent publishers and authors worldwide. The other for first place in the non-fiction instructional category of the 2009 IWPA's (Illinois Women’s Press Association) Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest. The IWPA, an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, is an organization of communication professionals who work to maintain and improve mass communication standards in Illinois and to share and exchange ideas.

Spencer’s I Am a Teamster: A Short, Fiery Story of Regina V. Polk, Her Hats, Her Pets, Sweet Love, and the Modern-Day Labor Movement earned a finalist award in the regional non-niction category of the 2009 Indie Excellence® Awards. The competition is judged by an independent panel of publishing experts, and the awards are based on overall excellence of design, promotional text, and content.

Congratulations to Sharon Shea Bossard and Terry Spencer Hesser! Thanks for helping us celebrate Chicago’s distinct history, traditions, and community, and for letting the rest of the world know about it too!

Labels: Book Awards, Finding Your Chicago Irish, I Am a Teamster, Sharon Shea Bossard, Terry Spencer Hesser

Janice Metzger, author of our upcoming book (July), What Would Jane Say? City-Building Women and a Tale of Two Chicagos, will be discussing the missing voices in urban planning (100 years ago in the time of the Burnham Plan) and now, on WBEZ's Worldview next Tuesday, June 23.

Labels: Daniel Burnham, Jane Addams, Janice Metzger, Planning, What Would Jane Say?

Whether you're visiting the Chicago Blues Festival for the first time or the 20th time, Today's Chicago Blues can be a valuable guide. Not only is an entire chapter devoted to the history and traditions of the festival, but the guidebook also contains mini biographies of more than 80 Chicago area blues musicians. And, if you're heading out to the clubs after the festival, Today's Chicago Blues can help.

This year's festival, though shortened from four to three days, offers an excellent range of blues styles, from the 94-year-old Delta blues guitarist David "Honeyboy" Edwards to the contemporary soul sensation Bettye LaVette. You can find a schedule and my picks to the festival at my blog, Today's Chicago Blues.

Labels: Blues, Fests, Today's Chicago Blues

For its 15th year running, Lake Claremont Press will be at the Printers Row Book Fair, or, as it is now known, the [Chicago Tribune's] Printers Row Lit Fest. The Lit Fest is Saturday & Sunday, June 6 and 7, from 10am to 6pm. We'll be at Booth DD3—that’s on the south end of Dearborn, near Polk, on the west side of the booth.

All of our books are discounted, as always, plus take advantage of a special sale: buy two books, get one book free; buy three, get two; buy four, get three; and so on! Come out and see us, and pick up titles like Rule 53, For Members Only, A Chicago Tavern, Graveyards of Chicago, The Chicago River, The Cook’s Guide to Chicago, and more at bargain prices!

We will not have author signings at our table this year, but look for some of our authors at other booths.

Wish us good weather luck and pay our table a visit...

Labels: A Chicago Tavern, Chicago River, Cook's Guide, For Members Only, Graveyards of Chicago, Printers Row Book Fair, Rule 53

It’s time for our second “Publishers Buffet” of 2009! Would you like to join us?

DATE: Wednesday, June 3

TIME: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. [Come when you can!]

LOCATION: 1026 W. Van Buren, Second Floor

YOUR MISSION #1:

Easy: Help us stick award labels on cases of books and address labels on oodles of padded mailers.

YOUR MISSION #2:

Easy: Provide feedback on Lake Claremont Press’s books of the last 15 years. What did you like/dislike? What do you want to read more of?

FOOD & DRINK: Yes, pizza, beer, and soft drinks.

GIFTS: Yes, 2 free books of your choice.

PRIZES: Yes, raffle prizes.

ENTERTAINMENT: LCP authors on hand to discuss and delight: Ted Okuda, Mark Yurkiw, and maybe more.

RSVP: Mandatory. For yourself, your friend(s), your kid(s) over 12. Space is limited to the first 12 respondents. RSVP to sharon@lakeclaremont.com by June 1.

SURPRISES?: Maybe. Last time massage therapist, Catey Grass, gave volunteers chair massages! Thanks, Catey! Contact her for a massage appointment of your own: (773) 316-2654, cateygrass@gmail.com.

Labels: Publishers Buffet

From our friends at the South Loop Neighbors Organization: Wednesday, May 20th, 7 p.m. at Jazz Showcase in Dearborn Station Free to South Loop Neighbors Members / $10 for General Public

As most South Loop residents know, Printer's Row boasts a long history in Chicago. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the area was home to Chicago's vibrant printing and publishing industry and was named for these origins. Today, buildings are still known by their original publishing house names and many even have the original signage. Dearborn Station, located at the southern end of Printer's Row, was the city's main passenger train hub and remains a landmark of the neighborhood. In the 1970s, old printing plants were converted to loft housing and the original residents of Printers Row were artists, photographers, and writers, for the most part. Today, even though the area has grown and developed, the neighborhood still is home to a literary community that includes many writers, several old-fashioned bookstores, and even a contemporary publishing house.   Please join us as South Loop Neighbors connects with its literary history by showcasing its current literary community. Six South Loop writers will read from their work and discuss their relationship with the neighborhood. Sandmeyer's Bookstore, a Printer's Row institution for more than 20 years, will sell books by these local writers, and the writers will be  available for book signing and chat. Plus, Sharon Woodhouse, founder of Lake Claremont Press, will speak about her work at the South Loop's contemporary publishing house. All this will take place at Jazz Showcase in historic Dearborn Station.   Admission is $10 for the general public and free to South Loop Neighbor members. You may join SLN at the door or online in advance of the event ($35 for individuals; $55 for households): Click to join SLN at our website.   Reserve your tickets now: Whether you are a member reserving a free ticket or a non-member reserving a $10 ticket, Click here to RSVP and hold your place at the event.

Labels: Literary Events, Literary History, South Loop

We overprinted our great guidebook A Field Guide to Gay & Lesbian Chicago for the presumed Gay Games crowd in 2006 and have been donating the excess recently so that folks can enjoy the terrific information and writing (by authors Kathie Bergquist and Robert McDonald) while it's still current. The excess cases went to theater groups, church Pride Month committees, businesses, social clubs, gala fundraiser goodie bags, suburban social service organizations, and recognized institutions like Big Chicks, Columbia College, the Center on Halsted, Howard Brown, and the Chicago History Museum. If you'd like a free copy of this book, one of these groups probably has a copy available for you.

Labels: A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago

Thanks to the many individuals and organizations who helped us find happy homes for our remaining copies of the 4th edition of A Native's Guide to Chicago. It sure beat selling them to the remainders dealer for 10 cents each and having them mildew on discount shelves somewhere before being tossed into a recycling heap! About 50 cases of this book went to all corners of the city and suburbs...to public and Catholic grade schools and high schools, universities, businesses, churches, libraries, museums, theater companies, and social service agencies, including: Association of Horizon, Blue Island Library, Bridgeport Catholic, Chicago Writers Association, Friends of the Chicago River, Granat Industries, Hard Rock Hotel employees, Horrorbles, Kelly High School, Kidworks Theatre, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois, UIC Department of Dentistry, Roosevelt University, West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and several more.

Labels: Native's Guide to Chicago