Chicago
is all about festivals, and one of my favorites is the Printers Row Lit Fest. It’s
called Printers Row because this area used to be the printing center in the
Midwest—two blocks between Congress Parkway and Polk Street. Now the print
buildings are loft apartments, whose streets host the Lit Fest, formerly known
as Printers Row Book Fair. Since I’ve been going to the fest, it has grown in
size and changed to accommodate families with young children.
The
Printers
Row Lit Fest is this Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
until 6:00 p.m. There are booths setup along the streets for large and small
bookstores, authors’ tents, workshops, entertainment and food. I remember the
first time I went, I couldn’t get enough of the resale books, postage stamps,
old posters, and the smell of books. Old pages from books smelling up the booths
at second-hand stores—rare bookstores—and some wine tasting along the way. It’s
just a sample of what I experienced and why I return each year.
If
you happen to be in the Chicago area this weekend, I suggest you go to the
Lit Fest. You will either fall in love all over again with books or start
reading again. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Literature
and Wine,
Bea
