Despite torrential rains, Chicagoans turned out en masse on Saturday for the first annual Chicago Independent Bookstore Day and according to all accounts it was a great success. Record Store Day is firmly entrenched in Chicago and hopefully this will join it in celebrating and keeping alive independent purveyors of the creative arts. Bookstore Day was the brainchild of Stefan Moorehead, manager/buyer at Lakeview’s Unabridged Bookstore, who said he was inspired by a similar event in California.
A total of nine stores across the city took part, teaming up to coordinate author readings, raffles, discounts, free stuff and a host of other goodies. Most touted was the chance to collect puzzle pieces from each store that, when put together, form an exclusive print from Chicago artist Lilli Carré. Pretty awesome if you ask me. I wish I had been there for it. Ah, Chicago.
Stores taking part included:
- The Book Cellar (Lincoln Square)
- 57th Street Books and Seminary Coop (Hyde Park)
- Sandmeyer’s (Printer’s Row)
- Unabridged Books (Lakeview)
- Open Books (River North)
- City Lit Books (Logan Square)
- Powell’s Bookstore (University Village)
- Women & Children First (Andersonville)
If you live in Chicago and buy books please consider giving your business to one of these, or other, independent stores. Cheers.
For more on the event:
Words will keep us together 