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Up And Coming
Danny's Peace Party II
TONIGHT! 8 September
North Lakeside Cultural Center Book Swap
13 September
Renegade Craft Fair
13-14 September
Schiller Elementary School Reading Garden Planting and Dedication
18 September
Macy's Day of Music
27 September
Check our Events page
for full details and other upcoming happenings! |
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Open Mic:
Mary Kathleen Kacen
Mary Kathleen Kacen, hostess of this month's North Lakeside Cultural Center Book Swap, leads a very busy life in search of the the perfect pie. We caught her long enough to ask...
How would you spend your last 24 hours if you knew the world would end in the morning?
MKK: I would like to think I would walk around the city saying nice things to people but I would probably find a couple of good books and some great pie and settle in to read and eat (without feeling guilty that there is something I should be doing).
What was your dream job when you were 5?
MKK: I wanted to be the lady behind the counter at the candy store figuring I could have any candy whenever I wanted.
If you could have dinner with 3 people (real or fictional), who would you invite and what would you eat?
MKK: Prof. James Redfield and Prof. JZ Smith from the University of Chicago and Siranoush Hovhannisyan, a collegue from Armenia. We would have an Armenian "khorovats" (meat cooked over an open fire)with salads, fruits, bread and wine. We would talk about mythology and hospitality in ancient and modern times. I would probably make cherry pie or peach cobbler.
What was your favorite childhood toy or game?
MKK: Tricycles and bicycles and roller skates.
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
MKK: To fly (like Superman).
What secret obsession do you have that no one knew about before this interview?
MKK: Great pie. When I am traveling around the US, I look to eat at places that have pie. There just aren't that many places that serve pie anymore and especially not great pie. My favorite pies are fruit, not to sweet, with a thin, flaky crust. Sometimes a good fruit cobbler with a biscuit topping will work too. I used to think the country was divided into pie regions and cobbler regions but now I am beginning to think that they are both endangered.
What makes you laugh uncontrollably?
MKK: When I am with friends and something unpredictable and goofy happens. When I am by myself, I can always count on a Terry Pratchett book to make me laugh.
What book are you reading right now?
MKK: I have 3 books going. My bus book (a paperback) is Ursula Le Guin's "Changing Planes." My non-fiction reading is "The Economic Naturalist: In Search of Explanations for Everyday Enigmas" by Robert H. Frank. And my nighttime book is Donna Leon's "The Girl of His Dreams." But I usually read 3-4 books a week, especially mystery stories.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
MKK: Mint chocolate chip.
What is playing on your iPod these days?
MKK: The cast album from "Wicked."
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Thank You!
A special thanks to our neighbors at Ed Debevic's and Gino's East.
These fine establishments supported Open Books in August by offering
food galore for our volunteer orientations! If you're ever roaming
about our neighborhood with a growl in your belly, stop by Ed's or
Gino's!
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Book Pickups!
Book pickups are back and are better than ever! If you have books but lack transportation, muscles, time or energy to bring them to us, let Open Books do the heavy lifting.
For more information and to schedule a pickup, visit us at www.open-books.org/donate.php.
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Dime At A Time
In the market for great food...and literacy? Bring your own bag to a Chicago Whole Foods store from September 1 - October 31 and they'll donate 10¢ to Open Books as part of their Dime At A Time program!
Participating Stores:
Whole Foods Market
30 W. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60654
Whole Foods Market
3640 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60613
Whole Foods Market
1000 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Whole Foods Market
1101 S. Canal St.
Suite 107
Chicago, IL 60607
Whole Foods Market
3300 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
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It's Back to School time at Open Books! This issue of our newsletter is chock full of ways YOU can make a positive impact on a child's academic success this coming school year. Help a student start the year out on the right foot by encouraging them to become a lover of reading and writing. Want to enjoy the city while the weather is still nice? There are loads of fun Open Books events to attend. Read on for more details!
Today is National Literacy Day!
Celebrate with us TONIGHT at
Danny's Peace Party II!
We had so much fun the first time we decided to do it again! The
Peace Party is a monthly charity event at Bucktown's favorite bar,
Danny's Tavern, and 50% of tonight's proceeds will benefit Open Books and
partner Chicago Hopes. Reconnect with other
volunteers, see old friends from past events, and meet cool new people who
care about Chicago and the cause of literacy. There's never been an easier way to support Open
Books -- just tell your friends, extend the weekend with us, and place
your order at the bar!
Monday, September 8, 2008
9 pm - 2 am
Danny's Tavern
1951 W. Dickens Ave.
El: Blue Line to Damen
Bus: 50 Damen, 73 Armitage
No Cover Charge
21+ EVENT |
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One Weekend - Two Great Events
The weekend of September 13th and 14th provides two exciting ways to get involved and support our mission in a fun way.
1: North Lakeside Cultural Center Book Swap
Have too many books cluttering your shelves? Still always looking for a
new book to read and enjoy? Join us at the North Lakeside Cultural
Center for an Open Book Swap! Bring any sellable books in good
condition, including fiction, nonfiction, craft books, cookbooks,
children's books, and more.* Donate them to the event and then leave
with as many books as you've brought! See what your neighbors are
reading, discover new authors, bring a few, take a few. Find out more
about Open Books and our important mission to raise awareness about
illiteracy and to spread the love of reading in Chicago.
September 13
10 am - 2 pm
North Lakeside Cultural Center
6219 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60660
FREE! Open Books will be accepting free will donations.
2: Renegade Craft Fair
300 DIY artists and crafters will proudly sell their unique and funky creations at this 2-day fair. Live bands will perform each night and you can support Open Books by purchasing our recycled book crafts, candles, envelopes and birdhouses!
September 13 and 14
12 noon - 10 pm
Division St. between Damen & Hermitage in Wicker Park
FREE!
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Reading Buddies: We're Baaack!
 And we're having big fun already!
(We have the photos to prove it!)
Open Books Buddies weekly reading mentors are still needed, especially for sites in North Lawndale and Auburn-Gresham. The latest details are on our Volunteer page. Please sign up and/or help us spread the word to friends with daytime availability or South/West side connections. Thanks!
Very big thanks to everyone who is already signed up to be a Buddy! You are in for fun!
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Out Of The Box:
Three Fabulous Finds
In the process of sorting thousands upon thousands of books, there are always a few that stand out. Here are our three favorites for the month.
1. LSD: The Problem-Solving Psychedelic
 Some books find their ways into our hearts and souls. And some, like this one, positively beg to be labeled FOR EXTERIOR USE ONLY. "More exciting than the gaudiest psychedelic trip!" promises the back cover. But though we were entranced by the swirly rainbow letters in the title, we ultimately were unable to get past the blurb promising "BREAKTHROUGH - In understanding and faith, in an era when the fabric of society looks increasingly threadbare!" It is all too much excitement for us, we fear.
2. The Wonder Of Amish Medicines
 Having read this book thoroughly, we are indeed suffused with wonder, and not only for the medicines it contains.We can see the logic in putting aloe vera on burns, and we are willing to accept that vinegar is good for itches. But it is when the writing soars to more universal planes that we see the true wonder of the text: for example, "The Amish people are admired for their simple lifestyle, though unlike what many may think, living is not a simple task." Merely pondering that gives us a headache. How fortunate, then, that we have a remedy suggestion (sage tea) close at hand.
3. So Good With FRUIT
 Another month, another questionable cookbook! And what could be more appropriate for fall than a selection of recipes "accented with fruit" and accompanied by perky hints like "Choose apples for their best use," "Use Fruit Cup Tower as a guide to succulent fruit combinations," and "Appetizers made with fruit will also star as dinner-beginners"? So good indeed. FRUIT.
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