This isn't for April fools!

At Date and Dash events, ladies sit at the tables, and guys move from one woman to the next as soon as a whistle blows.

After each "date," participants circle "yes" or "no" on their cards to indicate if they'd be interested in seeing their "date" again.

A few days later, participants receive an e-mail connecting them with their "yes" matches...

Spaces are limited, so sign up today! Pre-registration is required. Go to www.dateanddash.com

Start time: Saturday, April 03, 2010 At 05:30 PM
Url: http://www.dateanddash.com

DesiLit book club is a local group that formed in 2005. We bring together individuals who enjoy reading and discussing books written by South Asian authors and/or about the South Asian experience.

This month they will meet and discuss Transmission by Hari Kunzru

Start time: Monday, April 05, 2010 At 07:30 PM
Url: http://www.desilit.org/

This month we meet and discuss American Eve

In celebration of our Book Club, enjoy 50% off wine and beer all day!

Start time: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 At 07:00 PM

The Book Cellar and The Theatre Building are bursting with pride and excitement in anticipation of this reading from young adult fiction pillars JOHN GREEN! and David Levithan. That's right. DAVID LEVITHAN! The authors of: Boy Meets Boy ! Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist! Paper Towns ! An Abundance of Katherines! and, now with their forces joined together, ... Will Grayson, Will Grayson !

Start time: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 At 07:00 PM
Contact Info : EVENT LOCATION: The Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657, not far from the Belmont stop on the Red and Brown "El" lines. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE at THE BOOK CELLAR: 4736 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625-2089. The ticket cost is $25 and includes a copy of the new book, which will be available for pick-up at the event. Other titles of both authors will be available at the event for purchase. Authors will sign books after the reading/presentation. Tickets are non-refundable once purchased. Will-call will be available at the event for attendees who are unable to come into the Book Cellar to purchase their tickets.
Url: http://theatrebuildingchicago.org/,

A celebration of the masculine side of reading, because darnit, guys love reading too. This doesn't mean it's a men's club - ladies might have a different kind of book event experience. It'll be fun!

Three testosterone filled authors join us with their books:
Peter Schilling with The End of Baseball:The year is 1944. Bill Veeck has assembled a major league baseball dream team of Negro League all-stars. Is America ready for the greatest baseball team in history?
Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson
and Brian Gruley brings three of his passions to his award winning mystery Starvation Lake: newspapers, hockey, and small towns. Hosted by James Finn Garner (Politically Correct Bedtime Stories)

Start time: Thursday, April 08, 2010 At 07:00 PM

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

We apologize to those looking forward to 2nd City/3rd Person this week. But no worries, Costello and crew will be back next month!

2nd City / 3rd Person reading series continues! Each month, a different Chicago street is spotlighted and explored by local writers, using the waning art of third person exclusively.

Hosted by Chicago's own Brian Costello, author of The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs, available from the great local press featherproof books.

Readers to be announced.

Start time: Saturday, April 10, 2010 At 07:00 PM

The Gapers Block Book Club is the official reading group of Gapers Block, a Chicago-based webzine. We are dedicated to reading fiction by Chicago-area authors and nonfiction works about our city.

This month: Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir VanKatesh

Start time: Monday, April 12, 2010 At 07:30 PM
Email : bookclub@gapersblock.com.
Url: http://www.gapersblock.com/bookclub/

Join us for a night of poetry! The readers are:
Kathleen Rooney, poet, essayist, author of Live Nude Girl and the book of essays For You, For You, I am Trilling these Songs
Kate Dougherty's writing is published or forthcoming in Columbia Poetry Review; Court Green; Action, Yes; and If Poetry Journal.
Robert McDonald's writing has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Stagebill, and the Chicago Reader, along with several very highbrow-type literary journals.
Richard Fox has contributed work to many literary journals. In 2000, he was the recipient of a full fellowship for poetry from the Illinois Arts Council. Swagger & Remorse, his first book of poetry, was published in December, 2007
Laura Van Prooyen’s poems have appeared in Another Chicago Magazine, Cimarron Review, and 32 Poems among others. Her first book of poetry, Inkblot and Altar, is forthcoming from Pecan Grove Press.

Start time: Thursday, April 15, 2010 At 07:00 PM

Legendary Chicago newsman and author Rick Kogan teams up with the phenomenal photographer Charles Osgood to create a "a series of books that combine spectacular photography with exceptional writing. There are so many fine photographers and writers in this area whose talents have yet to be fully tapped, so many amazing stories yet to be discovered and told. We want to bring you those artists and those tales, and in so doing illuminate this place we all call home."

This is sure to be a fascinating event, celebrating the complexity of this great city we live in.

(The Book Cellar is honored to be included in this volume of the continuing mosaic portrait of Chicago)

Start time: Friday, April 16, 2010 At 07:00 PM
Url: http://www.sidewalksbookcompany.com/about.html

The Book Cellar and Auditorium Theater host New York Times Bestselling Author David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day Soon, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames).

This event will be a big one, held at the
AUDITORIUM THEATER
50 E. Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60605

Ticket prices range from $35 to $50. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.ticketmaster.com, call 800-982-2787, or visit the Auditorium Theater Box Office.

Start time: Saturday, April 17, 2010 At 08:00 PM
Url: http://auditoriumtheatre.org/wb/

Seth Stevenson and Penguin present travel as it should be, a journey free of airlines.

In Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World, Stevenson explores the international landscape without being up in the air, and discovers a world by boat, train, bicycle, and car that many of us have forgotten.

Not only has Seth Stevenson been previously featured in Best American Travel writing, he's also written for Slate, Rolling Stone, and Newsweek.

Join us Sunday, April 18th at 3:00, meet the author, and hear him read from his newest travelogue.






Start time: Sunday, April 18, 2010 At 03:00 PM

Chicago’s popular charitable reading series (raffle benefits Howard Brown Center), returns! Show up early to make sure you get a seat!

Comedian Cameron Esposito
Activist and founder of Lifelube.org Jim Pickett
Comedian and Second City Training Center instructor Bryan Bowden
StoryStudio instructor Rebecca Rine-Stone
Science fiction author Bill Shunn

For video clips and more information, check out the fun new blog, http://essayfiesta.com/

Start time: Monday, April 19, 2010 At 07:00 PM
Url: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/Essay-Fiesta/168837787537?ref=search&sid=48611715.4170967663..1

Every month we feature a variety of Chicago area writers with books covering a range of tastes and flavors that reflect the multifaceted, multicultural, multiple choice city we live in and love.

In honor of National poetry month, this April we welcome local poets: Aaron Flanagan, Chris Green, Cid Salach, Michael Robins, Tommy Anthony, and James Shea.

Start time: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 At 07:00 PM

All-star Chicago author Michael Harvey ( The Fifth Floor, The Chicago Way) presents his new thriller, Third Rail.

Event Location: The Hidden Shamrock. 2723 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614.

Start time: Thursday, April 22, 2010 At 06:00 PM

Tim Levy is an experienced writer/producer/director with deep roots extending into the diverse worlds of business, environmentalism, comedy, spirituality, television and the world of children....areas that he finds can overlap in unexpected ways. The Life Summit is a culmination of his experience and his enlightenment, linking soaring spirit with grounded business strategies.


Start time: Thursday, April 22, 2010 At 07:00 PM
Url: http://thelifesummit.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-detachment-finding-new-lover.html

Tim Johnston reads from and discusses his short story collection Irish Girl, winner of the 2009 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. The title story was included in the David Sedaris compiled anthology Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules.

Start time: Friday, April 23, 2010 At 07:00 PM

The Kates took the name of their first home--Kate the Great's Book Emporium--and moved to The Book Cellar where they continue to boast uproarious solo performance pieces, side-splitting monologues, and absurdly entertaining characters.

If you are looking for an intimate night of comedic storytelling, different from anything you'll see at a typical comedy club or late night bar, the hilarious Kates are for you!

Make sure to get here early! This event fills up fast!

Start time: Saturday, April 24, 2010 At 07:00 PM

The Salon is dedicated to classical literature. We read fiction, essays, plays, anything that is at least 30 years old and still in print (with a few exceptions).

This month: Chicago Public Library's One Book, One Chicago selection, Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Start time: Monday, April 26, 2010 At 07:00 PM

Join us as acclaimed journalist and best-selling author Jonathan Eig reads from and discusses his latest book, Get Capone!: The Secret Plot that Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster.

Based on never-before-seen government documents and newly discovered letters written by Al Capone himself, GET CAPONE presents America’s greatest gangster as you’ve never seen him before.

Start time: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 At 07:00 PM

Our reading list includes old classics, nearly forgotten favorites, and the best of the new YA offerings. We alternate new and old books as well as target ages for a good mix.

This month: Ash by Melina Lo

Start time: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 At 08:00 PM

Book Cellar favorite Elizabeth Berg, New York Times Best Selling author, joins us with her new book (her twenty-second) The Last Time I Saw You

Start time: Thursday, April 29, 2010 At 07:00 PM

Come celebrate the second issue of Conclave: A Journal of Character at the Book Cellar On April 30th at 7:30pm.

Local writers and performers will begin presenting at 8, including music by the talented Molly Robinson.

Published by the Chicago based Wolfsword Press, Conclave is an annual print journal of character focused writing and photography.

So, please, come for the launch party, eat and drink, and enjoy the company of some interesting characters.

Start time: Friday, April 30, 2010 At 07:00 PM
Url: http://www.conclavejournal.com