The Empty Bottle kicks off the first meeting of Books, Booze & Brunch this Sunday with a discussion of Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary. more ›

For last night's installment of the Whistler's monthly Book Club series, head bartender Paul McGee selected 10 recipes from renowned cocktail expert and historian David Wondrich's latest tome, Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl. While the evening's libations almost without exception registered as delightful, the age-old perils of punch-drinking were nonetheless made manifest by what we understood to be a first (and probably last) for the Logan Square cocktail bar: a Jell-O shot on the menu - and a muscular one even by the standards of the category. Which is certainly not to say we didn't excavate every last crumb of the thing. Dangers indeed. more ›

Thanks to our friends over at Gapers Block Book Club for sharing Dan Copulsky's "literary things to do in Chicago" map. This little tour highlights literary sites and other bookish places such as libraries and special collections, bookstores, literary nonprofits, a historic landmark, and museums. It's terrifically organized with little blurbs about each location. Red icons are bookstore, blue icons are libraries, green icons are everything else. You download a printable copy as well. Copulsky is also accepting PayPal donations to help distribute more hard copies. more ›

Oprah's made another book club pick and, again, it's Jonathan Franzen and his new novel, Freedom. Of course, most know of the previous kerfuffle between Franzen and Oprah: in 2001, Oprah picked the writer's novel The Corrections as her book club pick but Franzen later expressed queasiness about the selection which got his appearance on the Big O's show - which had already filmed - canceled. Franzen later apologized about his comments but the damage was done. Still, according to a trio of booksellers who spoke to the AP (the announcement won't be officially made until tomorrow) Oprah has mended that fence enough to once again endorse Franzen's work. Reviews and sales of the book are already stellar and this will only help. more ›

We are one of the few women left in Chicago – and, seemingly, America – that have not fallen under the mighty spell of Oprah Winfrey. Our coworker even snuck a pint-sized black & white TV into her office and watches it religiously; still we have not found ourselves in her thrall. We just can’t work up the enthusiasm for her superwoman, “Secret”-esque lifestyle. And what’s with all the ads in her magazine featuring thin, attractive white women? Mixed messages much? more ›

Look, we here at Chicagoist want to make sure you have all the latest news so you’re not waiting on the edge of your seat for important information. We know how vital it is to be up to date for our readers, especially when you’ve been waiting, waiting so long to finally hear what Oprah’s next Book Club book will be. more ›

That tangle of threads is the “Taxonomy of the Chicago Art Community,” an ambitious project hatched by the Bad At Sports podcasters to connect local and out-of-town artists, institutions, and media producers. Last weekend we dropped by the BAS All-Media Pancake Breakfast and Tea at the ThreeWalls gallery where we meeted 'n greeted and added a few strings to the tapestry. “Taxonomy” works along the six degrees of separation principle: we’re all connected if... more ›

Jane Hamilton’s new book, “When Madeline Was Young,” begins with the unfortunate knowledge that there is no more waiting, the other shoe has definitely dropped. more ›

Elizabeth Berg is a true Chicago treasure. Originally from Minnesota, but now settled here, she has written over sixteen books, is listed by current best-selling authors as one of their “favorite” writers, and of course, the ultimate for any novelist (or no), her novel “Open House” was one of Oprah’s Book Club books. Now, we’re kidding of course, it’s not the ultimate, but it sure doesn’t hurt, and we won’t knock anyone or anything that’s getting people to read. So, here’s a quick shout out to Oprah, book clubs and those McDonalds paper-tray-placemat things. more ›

James Frey discovered the glare of the Oprah’s Book Club spotlight isn’t always wine and roses. But Elie Wiesel and his haunting memoir Night, which Oprah selected for the next Book Club reading, isn’t likely to see the same fate. Wiesel's chilling account of life in a Nazi concentration camp and subsequent aftermath has stood up to 50 years of scrutiny. And anyone who suggests the Nobel Peace Prize winner embellished his story risks becoming... more ›