National Poetry Month is coming to a close, but there are still some choice events left for the poetry enthusiast to enjoy. On Wednesday, April 25: Gregg Shapiro will read from his latest chap book, and will be joined by writers David Trinidad and Eva Marguerite Olsgard at Women & Children First Bookstore. more ›

If you’re feeling glum, alone and, well, um, old, this Valentine’s Day, you probably have only yourself and your own pickiness to blame says Lori Gottlieb, author of Marry Him: The Case of Settling for Mr. Good Enough. Before we ruin all the book’s secrets by giving away her words of wisdom, we’ll start by explaining where the title came from, which Gottlieb admits to not even liking because of the confusion it causes. She surveyed both men and women and asked if they would be satisfied with a partner who had 80 percent of the qualities of their ideal guy or gal. The majority of single women who responded said getting 80 percent of what they wanted in a partner would be "settling." The majority of single men said finding a woman with 80 percent of what they wanted would be "a catch." “People hear about settling and they think about lowering their standards,” said Gottlieb when we spoke with her last week. “But it’s really about raising your standards.” more ›

If you're Facebook friends with at least one person of the gay persuasion, you probably already know this, but for the rest of you: Comedienne/gay icon/talk show host Chelsea Handler will be on hand at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark, for a book signing this Sunday, April 11 from 5-6:15 p.m. more ›

Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln Avenue, 7 p.m., free more ›

Considering the number of feminist-geared works that consistently rank high on the ALA's annual most-challenged book list, what better timing than Banned Books Week could there be for Chicago's very own feminist bookstore, Women & Children First, to mark their 30th anniversary? more ›