Upcoming Events For Literary Folk

By Betsy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 22, 2010 5:40PM

This week's literary events aren't all readings by stuffy authors you've never heard of. Read on for details about mustaches, $1 book sales, and teen slam poets.

Monday: For African American History Month, storytellers Linda Braggs and Velma Gladney have been working with the Chicago Public Library to share their soulful and artistic stories. This is the last week you can catch them. Gladney will also be performing Tuesday and Thursday.
Linda Braggs at the Logan Square Branch, 3030 W Fullerton Avenue, 10:30 a.m., free
Velma Gladney at the Albany Park Branch, 5150 N Kimball Avenue, 11 a.m., free

Tuesday: The Moth StorySLAM is like an open mic night, but for true stories. Storytellers are allowed five minutes without notes or cheat sheets. This month’s theme is “Love Hurts.” Door open two hours in advance, and we recommend getting there early. We know from personal experience that tickets do sell out in advance, so get there early.
Marytrs’, 3855 N Lincoln Avenue, 8 p.m., $7, 21+

Wednesday: If you're into local food and sustainable farming, come to a discussion with author Terra Brockman and Judith Dunbar-Hines, director of culinary arts and events for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs. They will talk about the challenges, opportunities, and importance of local food production and consumption. Brockman will be signing books afterward and Chicago's Downtown Farmstand will stay open until 8 p.m.
Chicago's Downtown Farmstand, 66 E Randolph St., 6 p.m., free with RSVP

Thursday: Judges will award the 'stache sash to the best mustache at 826CHI's closing Hair-emonies. For the past five weeks, participants in the 2010 Moustache-A-thon have been growing and shaping their staches towards their goal of raising $15,000 for 826CHI literacy programs. Check the Moustache-A-Thon site for photos of both the prosthetic and organic competitors.
Sheffield's, 3258 N Sheffield Ave, 7 p.m., free

Weekend: Open Books, a literacy organization with a bookstore full of entirely donated books, is having an open boxes sale. This Saturday and Sunday, come browse and buy more than 10,000 books for cheap: $1 for paperbacks, $2 for hardcovers, and $25 for a tote bag full. Sale is cash only.
Open Books, 213 W Institute Pl., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m, free

Ongoing: The first rounds for the Louder Than a Bomb teen poetry slam start today. About 500 Chicagoland high school students will be competing for the chance to go to Los Angeles and compete in a nationwide slam. We hear judging is pretty subjective, and some of the best poems don't make it past the first few rounds. So see the good stuff this week.
Check schedule for venues and times, $3 students/$5 adults