Back in the middle of July (July 12 if you want to be precise), we were going to check off "Go to the Taste of Chicago" from our #EpEx14 list. However, that item unfortunately could not get checked off the list due to some bad storms that rolled through Chicago the morning of the 12th and caused some flooding in Grant Park where the Taste of Chicago was being held. So instead of just drawing a line through the item, we decided to replace it with another Chicago event that we we're really passionate and excited about...
Complete the Chicago Bookstore Day Puzzle ✓
I discovered Chicago Bookstore Day thanks to Chicago Magazine's twitter the day before it all started. If you all couldn't already tell, I love books. Reading is my favorite hobby, I only read actual paper copy books, and I am a huge supporter of independent bookstores. So, of course I had to go to at least one of the bookstores on Chicago Bookstore Day. Lucky for me, Powell's Bookstore is located in University Village (UIC), and we were taking the CTA Blue Line to the Taste of Chicago. So, Caleb and I went a few stops further than needed and stopped off at Powell's. While we were browsing, we found out that the Taste of Chicago was closed for the whole day. |
We were a little bummed that we weren't going to get to eat some of the best food in the city and also couldn't mark off an #EpEx14 item! We made our purchase at Powell's in support of the Bookstore Day, which upped our spirits quite a bit from all the goodies we got! We received the Chicago Independent Bookstore Day "starter kit," which came with 5 free books and a few pieces to an exclusive puzzle designed for the day by artist Lilli Carré! That really lifted our spirits for the day, and on our train ride back, we found out that another one of the bookstores on the list was right off a stop we were going to go by. So, we hopped off the train, bought another book from City Lit Books, and got some more puzzle pieces + a stamp in a our cute little bookstore passport. From that moment we were hooked and decided we would replace the Taste of Chicago with completing the puzzle. The next day we went to the city for brunch and tackled Unbridged Bookstore and Women and Children First.
The following weekend Caleb and I hit up Open Books and Sandmeyer Bookstore on Saturday and Seminary Co-Op and 57th St. Books on Sunday. We saved The Book Cellar for last so that we could celebrate this fun little journey with a glass of wine! Our date night this past Friday was just that and it was one for the books!
The following weekend Caleb and I hit up Open Books and Sandmeyer Bookstore on Saturday and Seminary Co-Op and 57th St. Books on Sunday. We saved The Book Cellar for last so that we could celebrate this fun little journey with a glass of wine! Our date night this past Friday was just that and it was one for the books!
Chicago Independent Bookstore Participants 1. Powell's Bookstore - 1218 S Halsted St (University Village) 2. City Lit Books - 2523 N Kedzie Blvd (Logan Square) 3. Unabridged Bookstore - 3251 N Broadway St. (Lakeview) 4. Women and Children First - 5233 N Clark St (Andersonville) 5. Open Books - 213 W Institute Pl (River North) 6. Sandmeyer's Bookstore - 714 S Dearborn St (Printer's Row) 7. Seminary Co-Op - 5751 S Woodlawn Ave (Hyde Park) 8. 57th St. Books - 1301 E 57th St (Hyde Park) 9. The Book Cellar - 4736 N Lincoln Ave (Lincoln Square) |
Not only did we walk away with so many different books to fill up our bookcases, but we got to explore so many different neighborhoods in Chicago that we've never been to! Hyde Park is gorgeous, Lincoln Square is so fun, and Printers Row pretty much had everything I need in life (bookstore and a wine shop!) We tried some awesome restaurants due to being down in these neighborhoods and were able to really open our eyes to more areas of the city. To me, that was the best part of the whole thing.
From what it sounded like at the stores, the idea was a real success and there is talk of doing it again next year with maybe even more stores! I highly encourage everyone (but especially if you love to read) to participate! Look for Chicago independent Bookstore Day next July!
Happy Tuesday!