Just a quick reminder that two of the strangely less-known literary events of the summer are on this weekend. First off, you have the Newberry Library’s 20th Annual Book Fair:
Feed your bibliomania at the Newberry’s annual Book Fair! More than 100,000 donated books have been sorted into 50 categories for your browsing convenience. With many books priced under $2, it’s easy to replenish your home library’s holdings on subjects ranging from antiques to zoology.
Admission is free; for information call (312) 255-3510. Parking is available at 100 W. Chestnut Street for $6 for up to six hours with Newberry validation.
To make it even better, just south of the Library are the Bughouse Square Debates. Friday from 6-8 is reenactments of famous Chicago speeche, but Saturday is when the real fun begins:
Then, on Saturday, bring your loudest heckling voice for an afternoon of soapbox oratory, Bughouse music, and poetry. Prizes will be awarded to the best speakers and hecklers. Exercise your first-amendment rights and relive the exciting public debates that immortalized Washington Square Park.
Now if only we could have Debates on every Saturday; how cool would that be? I’m planning to hit both the Book Fair and the Debates this year, so I’ll report back later with the results.