Literago: Chicago

Every so often, I review my browsing history and start to feel a bit jaded. I mean, surely there’s more to life than secret retail sales, snarky blogs, and open bars… right? (I don’t know where you’re getting these crackpot ideas from, Luce. -ed.) Fortunately, the folks at Literago have come along to buoy my spirits and spread the word about literary happenings in the Windy City area. I think it’s a genius idea – a bit like Myopenbar, but for bookish types, and/or those of us who would like to meet and perhaps even date bookish types. Chicago gets a bad rap at times for its elusive cultural scene — it’s all there, across music, art, fashion, and yes, literature, but connecting to events and people can get a bit frustrating. One pervasive problem has been divisions between neighborhoods and cliques throughout the city – for example, folks in Andersonville may have a tough time hearing about a reading or a workshop in Pilsen. Literago fills the gaps by providing a home on the interweb for literary events, including an editorially reviewed calendar and corresponding weekly newsletter. The site is not just a clearing-house of activities, however, as you can also find essays (“Bulletins”, on topics such as Punk Planet and McSweeney’s) on the state of literature in Chicago and beyond. Finally, if you really want to dig in, there’s a comprehensive list of local resources such as publications, publishers, venues, and other websites. The Chicago literary community owes co-founders Gretchen and Eugenia a big high-five. Awesome stuff.