Victor David Giron knows the intimate relationship between drinking and writing. As co-owner of The Beauty Bar on 1444 W. Chicago Ave., Giron has herded hundreds of writers into his establishment to drink while enjoying literary readings, book launches, discussions, karaoke and fundraisers. His first novel Sophomoric Philosophy helped give birth to a vibrant small press called Curbside Splendor, whose authors have all visited The Beauty Bar to drink and promote their literature.
As a writer, publisher and publican, not to mention Chicago Writers Association board member, Victor is intimately involved in our literary community, and has worked tirelessly to support and foster good writing. And good drinking.
For the second straight year, Victor called on his friends at Jim Beam to donate a beautiful spirits basket. At last year’s silent auction, people hovered around this bidding sheet more than any other, to the point where we sort of regretted not having chained it to the table. The basket is filled with all kinds of excellent Jim Beam goodies, including special whiskey blends, cognac and tequila.
Word to the wise: don’t try to drink the whole contents of the basket yourself; call up a bunch of writer friends, who will sure to help out.
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Donald G. Evans is the founder and executive director of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. He is the author of the novel Good Money After Bad and editor of the anthology Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year. His short story collection An Off-White Christmas will be published by Simon & Schuster later this year. He is the current Senior Artist-in-Residence at Chicago's Cliff Dwellers Club and the Chicago editor of the upstart journal Great Lakes Cultural Review. He serves on the committee that selects the annual Harold Washington Literary Award recipient, as well as the Chicago Literary Advisory Council of the American Writers Museum. 
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