Myrtle Beach Condo

By Donald G. Evans

            I’ve never been to Myrtle Beach, but know plenty of people who have. In fact, for some friends the Myrtle Beach trip is a ritual, an annual excursion built around sun, water and golf. They revere Myrtle Beach and all it encompasses, like some people revere favorite sports teams or whiskeys.

FACEBOOK PAGE

            At the silent auction Saturday, you’ll have a chance to bid on a stay in a Myrtle Beach condo, donated by Rob Jackson.

            Rob is a writer and most recently the dedicated founder of The Great Lakes Cultural Review, of which I’m the Chicago editor. We had a five-city launch of the inaugural issue yesterday—Cleveland, Toronto, Buffalo, Milwaukee and at Open Books in Chicago. By all accounts, the simultaneous launch was a big success and the infant journal is alive and kicking.

            It’s a great idea and a beautiful first issue, filled with a lot of great writing, including some of our local luminaries like Stuart Dybek, Don DeGrazia, Bayo Ojikutu, Brendan Short and Jessie Morrison. Rob’s told me that he wants to bring Chicago’s great literature to other Great Lakes cities and vice-versa. I love the concept. It’s a mutual benefit for writers and readers to discover some of these great talents, and I think building content around the Great Lakes has meaning, and legs.

           

            Do yourself two favors this weekend: secure a trip to Myrtle Beach and get a copy of this new great literary journal.

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.

 

Zantho to be Served at Party

By Donald G. Evans

Wine, in its best, most precious incarnation, elevates not only dining but socialization to an art. Wine encourages fraternization, and the quality of the wine sets the tone for the quality of camaraderie.

Zantho is a very good wine. It looks, smells and tastes fantastic, and is a perfect complement to an intimate cultural gathering.

Thanks to Andy Taylor and Vin Divino, it will be the perfect complement to OUR intimate gathering tomorrow night.

“Wine has a cultural element,” said Andy, Vin Divino’s director of marketing. “There is obviously a huge food association; wine is the best beverage accompaniment.”

Zantho comes from the Burgenland region of Austria, southeast of Vienna near the Austria-Hungary border. The name and logo refer to a small lizard that lives in the vineyards in this area. Zantho produces three red wines from three different red grapes: Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt, a hybrid. It also produces a couple of whites—a sauvignon blanc, Gruner Veltliner and muskat.

The winery is a cooperative, meaning it does not own its own vineyards but sources grapes from area growers, with whom it has long-standing relationships and contracts. This allows Zantho to dictate farming methods, including a sophisticated tracking method from vine to winery, that ensure high quality. The wine is made under the watchful eye of renowned vintner Josef Umathum.

That standard of perfection is Vin Divino’s standard, period. Vin Divino has been importing wines for 19 years and in the process has established a reputation for absolute top shelf quality. Vin Divino represents about 25 wines from several countries, most prominently Italy but also Austria, Spain and Chile. It consistently turns down solicitations to represent other wines in order to maintain such a peerless selection.

“It’s critically important to select suppliers that have quality levels that are acceptable to us and more importantly the market in general,” Andy said.

Vin Divino got into the Austrian market about a decade ago. After attending Vie Vinum in Vienna, Vin Divino researched the market, forged relationships and began investigating the best of the best wine available in that region.

We’ll all get to taste the results for ourselves Saturday night. Zantho is the perfect complement to what I’m sure will be a night of generosity and fellowship. 

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.

Audentia Catering Cooking Classes!

By Hazel Afroilan

I met Joseph Bonavita about three months ago, in 

the summer and I was instantly aware of his generosity and charm.    Interestingly enough, he shared with me his passion in the culinary arts and Audentia LLC Catering and Restaurant Group, which he started with Chef Aaron Lahmon.  I was refreshed by how passionate he speaks of his work and how much dedication and time he puts into his business.

With a team of seven, Joe lives out his dream of making people happy through his food.  He says, "I believe dinner should be more than just feeding yourself; it should be a performance of mother nature's work."

Audentia, which is Latin for boldness or courage, fits right in with the kind of personality Joe gives off.  His passion for his work and the people he serves results in one-of-a-kind dishes.  

Audentia's Progressive American farm to table cuisine, coupled with driven team members are exactly what anyone needs from a simple, romantic dinner, to a grand celebration.  

Joseph Bonavita and Audentia LLC  has decided to donate cooking classes for two to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Silent Auction.  Valuing up to $800, this donation reflects just how generous and how willing they are to help. Anyone who wins this amazing treat, will be in for a memorable experience!


For more information about Audentia Catering, check out the link below:

Audentia Catering





Hazel Afroilan is a junior at DePaul University majoring in English and minoring in art history. She is currently interning at the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame and is leading the organization of this upcoming event. Afroilan is interested in creative writing, literature and the arts. Writing is something she humbly appreciates and learns from everyday and is taking advantage of the opportunity CLHOF has given her. Originally from a small suburb in Maryland, Afroilan has fallen in love with the city of Chicago and its expansive literary traditions.

Auction Catalogue

Auction Catalogue Available

The nearly complete auction listings can now be viewed at:

http://windycitywriters.com/storage/auction_book_16_page.pdf

Several great items were donated after the program went to press, and we will post information about those later today or tomorrow.

If you plan to be at the auction, look at the catalogue now so you’re ready when bidding begins. If you do not plan to be there, find somebody who is going and ask him or her to do your bidding.

An Artist's Artist

By Donald G Evans

          Let me tell you what kind of woman Elysabeth Alfano is: she battered her wrist, then threw out her back, and during the midst of these horrible setbacks to her life and livelihood, she called to ask what she could do. For me.

          My first live introduction to Elysabeth was passing. She had agreed to bring out her film crew to our first induction ceremony at Northeastern Illinois University to shoot an episode of her show Fear No Art Chicago. She was all bustle and business, nabbing Audrey Niffenegger and Sara Paretsky and Bill Savage for interviews, searching for the late-arriving Stuart Dybek, fiddling with more perfect backdrops—essentially trying to take full advantage of every single opportunity presented in this brief time before the ceremony began.

          The episode turned out absolutely fabulous. It was filled with smart, piercing commentary and weaved into and out of Chicago literature past and present. It captured the spirit of what we were trying to do, on that our first big night as a literary organization. It occurred to me then that among Elysabeth’s many, many gifts, her chief talent was an ability to realize potential. She treats every moment and especially every relationship as precious, and if occasionally she seems quick it’s a decisiveness built on the desire to create.

          Elysabeth, whether consciously or not, has spent her career redefining the word art. She started out, years ago, owning a glass art gallery in River North, then moved into textiles and fashion design, and has shown, in her many projects and collaborations since, a grand appreciation of creative endeavors of all stripes. Her writing on the Huffington Post, as well as her interviews on Fear No Art Chicago and the joyous The Dinner Party, celebrate and probe musicians, painters, actors, directors, writers, chefs, and on an on. The enormity of Elysabeth’s curiosity shows in her selection of guests that, in music, say, run the gambit from classical to folk to pop.

          Elysabeth knows a lot of people. People she’s interviewed; people she’s written about; people with whom she’s collaborated; people who know people she knows; people involved with her other projects, like the Beethoven Festival.

          When I asked Elysabeth if she might help with the silent auction, I hoped it would interest her. But I also knew that she had plenty of her own projects to tend to, and getting involved with the CLHOF was a thankless undertaking.

          She listened: another thing at which Elysabeth is especially good. In the place of a pause, you could almost hear her sleeves being rolled up.

          Elysabeth helped make contacts and put into place much of what will ensure Saturday night is special. From reaching out to Nora Dunn to calling in a favor with a wine distributor to tweeting out invitations to securing donations to making her own donations to recommending upgrades to the party details, Elysabeth’s whatever-it-takes approach got results.

          I’m in awe of Elysabeth’s combination of ability, tenaciousness and talent, and grateful for all she’s done in advance of Saturday’s event.

          At first opportunity, go find Elysabeth’s columns on Huffington Post. Google her past Fear No Art Chicago episodes. Then get yourself tickets to one of the next Dinner Parties, either Oct. 29 or Nov. 26.

          The chef on Oct. 29 is Brown Trout’s Sean Sanders, and the guests are Michelle Boone (Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs), David Manilow (Executive Director of Check Please!), and Susanna Negovan (Editor of the Sun-Times’ Daily Splash).

          FEAR NO ART CHICAGO

          I’ll be there on Nov. 26, as I don’t want to miss Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! host Peter Segal SNL alum Tim Kazurinsky, violinist Rachel Barton Pine, or the food from Nellcote’s Jared Van Camp.

          Click Here for Tickets

          Elysabeth has donated a pair of tickets to an upcoming event, but you’ll have to outbid me for those. If you fail, and you might, go anyway. 

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.

Does She Juggle, too?

By Donald G Evans

You might know Delphine Pontvieux as the author of the thriller ETA and the publisher of Miss Nyet Publishing. Or you might know her as a tri-athlete, scuba instructor, waterboarder or rock climber. Maybe you’re aware of her work as an actress in LOL, where she played Joan of Arc’s mother. You could have bumped into her in her travels as an international saleswoman and promoter in the music and entertainment industries. Perhaps you just know her as the really tall and attractive French woman.

Now, in a kick to the face to all of us trying to get one thing right, she designs jewelry.

Delphine has been kind enough to donate the CONCHO bracelet to our silent auction. It is a wraparound-style bracelet made with Latigo leather, designed to go around one’s wrist four times. The concho is an intricately-designed decorative metal piece. I’m no fashion consultant, but this is a beautiful piece and will make a nice gift. If you want to order more jewelry from Delphine, send an email to: anchorbracelets@gmail.com

This is the second straight year Delphine has made a nice donation to the event. Delphine is a very good writer, terrific friend, and tireless supporter of our literary community. I see her at a lot of the major events, and when CWA or the CLHOF puts out the call for participation, she usually answers. That kind of commitment takes time and energy, but ultimately it makes our community so much stronger.

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.

8 Eyes to Shoot Auction

By Donald G Evans

8 Eyes Photography, comprised of the husband-wife tandem of Pat and Ellen Prather, will be on hand to capture all the fun at Hilton/Asmus Contemporary. Ellen and Pat are supremely talented photographers and boundlessly kind people. They’ve shot our first two induction ceremonies (and will do so at the third), our first Fuller Award and Carl A. Kroc Award luncheon, as well as other special events at the Cliff Dwellers Club and Sanfilippo Estate. I see them here and there clicking away in support of one good cultural cause or another.

One of my favorite things to do after an event finishes is scroll through the index of 8 Eyes pictures. There, always, are the posed shots you want and need, but there, too, are surprising candid and still shots that capture the essence of the event.

I love the photos 8 Eyes took of Gene Wolfe riding the carousel, and the Robin Fisher Dancers performing their routine, and the Young Chicago Authors enacting a scene, and Marc Smith scrunching his face during a Carl Sandburg poetry recitation.

I could go on and on.

Ellen and Pat have the eyes of artists and the acumen of business people, and in the end the combination leads them to places both imagined and not.

We’re lucky to have them at Saturday night’s event.

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.

2-night getaway in Lake Geneva at Bella Vista Suites

By Randy Richardson

In advance of last year’s Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Silent Auction and Cocktail Party, I circled one listing in the auction catalog. That was a two-night stay at the Bella Vista Suites in nearby Lake Geneva, Wisc., donated by Chicago author Dan Burns (The First 60 Seconds, Sourcebooks).  I went into the auction with the mindset that I wasn’t going home empty-handed, and that even if I won nothing else, I would be high bidder on that Lake Geneva getaway package.

A little background: In high school and college, in the late 80s and early 90s, Lake Geneva was almost like a second home to me. I had two friends whose families owned cottages on the lake, and I became a regular on their guest beds and couches. Those trips to Lake Geneva, in part, inspired me to write Cheeseland, a coming-of-age novel released earlier this year by a new Chicago publisher, Eckhartz Press.

I had not been back to Lake Geneva in 20 years, so my eyes lit up when I saw the Lake Geneva getaway package in the auction catalog. The bidding for this package was, not surprisingly, competitive. I got outbid twice, and then decided to play it cool and wait until the end of the night. In the last few minutes, I placed what would be my final bid. I held my breath until the auction ended and breathed a sigh of relief and excitement when I saw that I had won.

Four months later, on a sunny, unusually warm February weekend, when temperatures hit near 60 degrees, I made the trip to Lake Geneva, along with two first-timers, my wife and 7-year-old son. We couldn’t have ordered up a better weekend getaway. The Bella Vista Suites are as charming as can be, nestled in the heart of downtown Lake Geneva and overlooking the lake itself. The room was cozy and spacious, the staff friendly and attentive. My son especially enjoyed the small swimming pool, which we had almost to ourselves.

Upon seeing that Dan Burns had once again generously donated to the CLHOF the 2-night stay at the Bella Vista Suites, you have to know what I immediately did. Yes, I’ve circled it on the auction catalog. I of course encourage others to do the same. Just know that you’re in for a bidding war, and that I don’t surrender easily.

An attorney and award-winning journalist, Randy Richardson serves as president of the nonprofit Chicago Writers Association. His essays have been published in the anthologies Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul, Humor for a Boomer’s Heart, The Big Book of Christmas Joy, and Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year, as well as in numerous print and online journals and magazines. The online publication Gapers Block named his debut novel, Lost in the Ivy, one of the notable Chicago books of 2005. His latest, Cheeseland, was praised by New York Times No. 1 Best-Selling author James Finn Garner as a “tragic tale” that “richly captures the bravado and heartbreak of damaged boys who grow up into damaged men.”

Breaker Press Helps Out with Auction Catalogue

By Donald G Evans

click here for website

Breaker Press is the little guy in the neighborhood that makes you wonder why you would ever go to a big guy.

For the second straight year, Breaker has donated printing services to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame on the occasion of our biggest fundraiser. This allows us to again put together and produce a nice commemorative program to give out on the night of the auction and to keep for our historical records.

Rich Lewendowski runs the family printing business, along with his brother Mike and their two oldest boys, the juniors Rich and Mike.

Rich’s dad Dick started the business in his two-and-a-half car garage on 21^st and Walcott 35 years ago; within a year Rich had graduated from Kelly High School and began working with the old man.

Breaker was successful enough from the start to move into a much bigger space at 2421 S. Western Ave., where they’ve been ever since. It is the second longest running business between 18^th Street and Blue Island Ave.

From a relatively modest start, Breaker has grown into a small printer capable of incredible quality on jobs of all sizes. Breaker had two offset presses, a 100+-year-old letterpress and a dark room in the original garage space. Now it’s equipped with three state-of-the-art digital presses and several offset presses, as well as that original letterpress.

Rich has worked with a large variety of people in literary circles, including novelists, poets, copywriters and publishers. In most cases, Rich probably knows more about what needs to be done than his clients, and he shares his wisdom. He told me, “Doing perfect bound books is easier than ever if you have the right equipment and right software, and we have both. It’s cheaper now to do a hundred books than ever before.”

I’ve dealt with quite a few printers over the years, for a variety of reasons, but since we started using Breaker I don’t even bother to call anybody else. Rich and his family do beautiful work, they do it quick, and it’s fun to work with them. Above all else, they’re honest. When I want something done, I call Rich or go over to his shop and say, “Here’s the result I want.” He tells me my options and always tries to save the CLHOF money. Rich says, “I don’t let my customers waste money without telling them.”

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.  

Ocean Haiku

By JoAnn Fastoff

In a quaint coastal town where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, lie spectacular scenery, canoeing, kayaking, waterfalls and…Ocean Haiku.

Ocean Haiku is a magnificent rental residence located in Jenner, California, less than two driving hours north of San Francisco. The view of the ocean cannot be measured in dollars, and the beaches, cliffs and wildlife viewing cannot be surpassed. The home offers incredible sleeping for six (but can accommodate eight). For four days and five nights you too can fall under the spell of Ocean Haiku by relaxing on the deck with a great book and a glass of Russian River Pinot, or soaking in the therapeutic hot tub overlooking the breathtaking views.

The town of Jenner is very small but loaded with charm because it is the gateway to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and home to beachcombers, fishermen, sunbathers and picnickers. Most of the homes are on the hillside overlooking the estuary. Long sandy beaches and secluded coves are features that make Sonoma Coast State Park one of California's most scenic attractions. In addition to tennis courts and a golf course nearby, stand Redwood trees, hiking and horseback riding trails. For those with a tourist bent you can enjoy shopping, art galleries, great seafood and even greater wine. Remember we’re talking Sonoma County wine!

 

Sincere thanks to our hosts, Amanda Fisk and John Andreas who once again are offering Ocean Haiku as an auction item for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s (CLHOF) 2nd Annual Silent Auction & Cocktail Party. This is not your average home away from home!

(Haiku is a Japanese word meaning amusing diversion and small poem. Ocean Haiku is certainly a diversion. And charm? Pure poetry.)

Don’t miss CLHOF special guest host - actress and comedian Nora Dunn. This is an event you won’t want to miss! For more information: www.chicagoliteraryhof.org

Ocean Haiku as an auction item is available January – April, 2013


JoAnn Fastoff was born in and lives in Chicago. She has written extensively for Chicago, Philadelphia and New York publications. In addition she has written and produced three one-act plays for Off-Off Broadway in New York, was a former publicist for Grammy award winning group “Kool and The Gang”, written three novels and interviewed over 100 celebrities including Grammy award winning bluesman B. B. King and the late award winning photographer Gordon Parks. 

Jim Beam Basket For the Writer/Drinker

By Donald G. Evans

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.

***********************

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.  

Christmas Concert at The Sanfilippo Estate

By Don Evans

The Sanfilippo Foundation has been a friend of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame almost from its inception. As a brand new organization three years ago, Sanfilippo offered us the opportunity to host our first major fundraiser at its spectacular estate and director Greg Liefel and his staff held our hands all through the details that made it a memorable and profitable evening for our organization. More recently, this past March, the Foundation open its doors for our first Fuller Award, at which Gene Wolfe and a host of world-class writer friends celebrated until the late hours, even taking a spin on the carousel.

Again this year, the Foundation has made a generous donation to the silent auction—a pair of tickets to this year’s Christmas Concert on Dec. 7, 8, and 9. The evening features organist Dave Wickerham on the Mighty Wurlitzer with special guest William Powers, an opera bass-baritone.

Tickets do not go on sale for this concert until shortly after our silent auction Oct. 13 and will, as they always do, be gone in a blink.

The Estate is not open to the general public except through pre-arranged charity events and group tours. Anybody who’s ever had the rare pleasure of visiting the Estate spends most of their time saying “Wow!” and clicking their camera. The place is ceiling to floor amazing: an unbelievable collection of musical instruments in a splendid setting that is as elegant but a lot more fun than any museum you’ve ever visited.

 The high bidder on these tickets will get full value out of their donation even before the music begins.

http://www.placedelamusique.org/events.html

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.