Claire Zulkey's lineup for tomorrow's Funny Ha-Ha at Hideout is particularly strong. more ›

The Paper Machete, the popular and long running literary salon, moves to Horseshoe on June 18. more ›

So you have a grrrreat idea for a book. Now what? Why not pitch it American Idol style in front of a panel of mean and judgmental judges? In fact, you can do just that in Naperville on Thursday at a Pitchapalooza event. But hopefully the judges will only be a little mean and not so judgmental. more ›

Although Seller’s writing style is simple and her book is easy to read, she doesn’t simplify any of its complexities. She continuously explores the relationships between her family, marriage and her neurological condition. Do her childhood experiences explain why she has trouble recognizing people’s faces, even those of close friends and family? Or is her brain’s mixed-up wiring completely unrelated to what might be wrong with her parents? Is her desire for a perfect family the reason why she entered into an imperfect marriage? more ›

Tonight’s Essay Fiesta has arrived just in time for Howard Brown’s Lifeline Appeal. Since the reading series started one year ago, Essay Fiesta has been raising funds for Howard Brown Health Center, which provides health and social services for the LGBT community in Chicago. But earlier this month, Howard Brown CEO Jamal Edwards explained the center must raise $500,000 in 50 days in order to keep their doors open. more ›

In an interview with The Rumpus Sedaris said, “Being poor is a wonderful motivation to be creative, sort of a perennial carrot on a stick, but not an actual carrot because easy access to free food would only defeat the lucky stroke that is poverty.” See? Funny and smart. more ›

What happens when you blend celebrities with Anton Chekhov, one of the pioneers of the short story? Celebrity Chekhov happens. Ben Greenman, editor of The New Yorker’s Goings On About Town section and published author of a variety of fiction, journalism, humor pieces and essays, took about two dozen Chekhov short stories and mixed in contemporary celebrities like Britney Spears, Conan O'Brien, Jay-Z and Alec Baldwin. Celebrity Chekhov aims to critique our celebrity-obsessed culture while paying homage to great literature. Greenman will be in town tomorrow night to read from Celebrity Chekhov, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book. more ›

• Tonight: The Essay Fiesta reading series will be featuring a lot of comedians this month. Robert Buscemi, Kelsie Huff, Bryan Bowden and Adam Guerino will join novelist and essayist Mary T. Wagner and creative writing instructor Janna Sobel at 7 p.m. at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Entrance is free, and raffle proceeds go to benefit the Howard Brown Health Center.

Wednesday, October 15, 6 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium, Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave. more ›

The extra big coffee isn't able to cure our case of the Mondays, but tonight's MAKE Magazine release party might just be the thing to help you ease into the week. Tonight's party at The Hideout celebrates the release of Issue #6 of the bi-annual Chicago-based literary mag, and they kickoff the week in style. more ›