The Association of Writers and Writing Programs - acronymed AWP because writing is hard - is holding its annual conference in Chicago from Wednesday through Saturday. The conference, a schmoozefest for writers and representatives of writing programs, has been sold out for a month, and friends' couches all over the city are near capacity. more ›

Step 1: Go to Stephen Elliott's talk at 826 Chicago (a.k.a. the writing center inside The Boring Store in Wicker Park). more ›

Maurice Sendak first picked Spike Jonze to direct Where The Wild Things Are after seeing Being John Malkovich, a movie Jonze directed a decade ago. Needless to say, the process it’s taken to transform Sendak’s beloved childrens book into a live action feature film has been long and tiring. And that’s just for the fans. We’ve threatened to eat our parents because of it. But, the wait will soon be over, and for Chicagoist, it already is. more ›

Bloodhsot has hijacked this year's Hideout Block Party to throw their 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q! Bands playing include the reunited Blacks, Bobby Bare Jr., Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, The Deadstring Brothers, Alejandro Escovedo, and The Waco Brothers. And, as is tradition with the hideout Block Parties, the party also acts as a fundraiser and this year it benefits Rock For Kids and 826 Chicago. more ›