Adult Book Fair by Inbound Brewing Company
August 5, 2025
As a kid, I loved the book fair. It was a highlight of the entire school year. Why the world decided we needed to grow out of these is anyone’s guess, but grown-ups deserve book fairs too! So when I saw an advertisement for the Adult Book Fair by Inbound Brewing Company at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, obviously, I had to go. Ten dollars for entry with a drink ticket included? I wasn’t about to say no to that.
Parking was a bit interesting, but there were a lot of places as long as you don’t mind walking a ways. In fact, be prepared to spend a lot of time on your feet. The lines were long, there was a lot of walking from booth to booth, and there wasn’t really anywhere to sit down. That said, don’t be deterred by the long lines. When we first saw the line to get in going the length of a few blocks, we seriously considered whether it was worth it. But the line moved fast, and we probably only waited about 20 minutes to get in.
The beer line was a different matter, but the drink was included, so it would have been a waste to pass it up. We got in line right away and probably waited for about an hour. Be strategic with this and bring friends. We ended up getting to all of the booths along the outside wall while we stood in line, with one person holding our place while one checked out the displays and then switching off.
Drink in hand, the rest of the fair was well worth it. There were an abundance of independent authors selling copies of their books, candles themed after popular characters, bookshelf displays, shirts, tumblers, and so much more.
It was crowded, but people were friendly. and the entire energy of the place was positive and excited.
I love supporting independent authors and artisans, and this is a great place to do it.
Book Girls’ in Chicago
May 18, 2025
As someone who works at Barnes & Noble, why would I fly to another state and take two train rides just to go to another Barnes & Noble? It wasn’t just because seeing a bookstore inside of the beautiful Historic Noel State Bank was an experience we decided, as book lovers, we must have in our life story. It was also because it was an excuse to go away and have a girls’ book trip.
It started when my friend sent me a video of the inside of Barnes & Noble with the gorgeous ceiling and architecture. It spiraled into a long weekend trip going to independent bookstores and seeing some of the other sites Chicago had to offer. Here are a few places we got to experience.
Staying and Traveling in Chicago
We flew into Midway and ended up staying at a hotel about ten minutes from the airport with a free shuttle that was always running. If you are on a budget, this is what I recommend. The further into downtown you get, the more expensive the hotels are.
Uber and Lyft were rather expensive, so we settled on getting around by train. It worked out perfectly. When we decided to leave, we just took the shuttle back to the airport and got a day pass for the train into downtown. The train system looked intimidating at first, but once we downloaded the Chicago Transit app and got the map figured out, it was easy, convenient, and only cost about $10 for the day for both of us.
Definitely wear shoes you can walk in. We spent a lot of time on our feet once we got into downtown. If you are just going to the Barnes and Noble, the station is right across the street, but if you want to discover other stores and sites, you should probably be prepared to do some walking.
Barnes & Noble – Historic Noel State Bank
Just seeing a bookstore inside this building was worth going to see. The architecture and glass ceiling were stunning, and the store itself was well stocked and organized. The staff were super friendly and helpful with finding a few books my friend was looking for. The store is two levels and appears to be bigger than it actually is. They have a great selection of new and popular titles, but I think I expected it to be a lot larger than it turned out to be.
All in all, it was worth going to see and made the trip completely worth the plane ride.
Independent Bookstores
We did some research while we were there and found a few independent bookstores we thought about seeing. The best choice we made, though, was asking a local for a list of their favorites. We walked away with a list of several bookstores and an idea of what to expect from each one. Due to proximity, we got to two more after we left Barnes & Noble: Myopic Books and Open Books on Logan Square.
Myopic Books does not allow pictures or videos to be taken inside their store, but I’ll do my best to describe the unique atmosphere. The shelves, stairs, and some of the floors were comprised of unfinished wood, and the shelves were jam-packed with books. The place was busy when we were there, and the walkways and aisles between the shelves were a bit cramped, some of them only allowing a person or two at a time. The place felt a bit tight and overwhelming, but that could have been because there were so many people there. The concept of the store had a rustic and unfinished feel to it, and we could have spent hours going through the shelves to see everything they had to offer.
Open Books was a bit of a walk from where we were, but it gave us a chance to stop for coffee on the way. This store had great space, two levels, and the prices were wonderful. It was well stocked, and the best surprise was the tall bookshelf ladder that afforded me a Belle moment (the restraint to start singing a Disney song was almost painful). The staff was friendly, and there was plenty of variety in the options of books. I would definitely recommend making the effort to stop by this one.
The next day, at high recommendation from our local source, we stopped by Exile in Bookville. We were warned beforehand that the owners do not separate the fiction section by genre. This makes you really comb the shelves, but it encouraged me to pick up books I wouldn’t otherwise have found. This is not a secondhand store, so the prices are publishers’ prices, and the books are new. The space is on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building, with large windows that allow for a lot of light and a peaceful atmosphere. Due to how they organize the store, some might find it overwhelming, especially if you have a strong preference for only one or two genres. But if you have plenty of time and are willing to venture outside your comfort zone and really browse through the shelves, it’s a great spot to visit.
We spent a good amount of time in the store just combing through the shelves and enjoying the space. This store was definitely worth the walk we had to take to get to it, and since we had to pass the Chicago Institute of Art, there was plenty to look at on the way.
The Gilt Library Bar
I wish I had found this place sooner. The Gilt Library Bar is a restaurant with an old speakeasy vibe and delicious food. They have limited reservations, and the earliest I could get a week in advance was at 11:00 pm. So, get your reservations early, although I was told by a staff member that just walking in and putting your name on the list was the best way to get a table.
The atmosphere was beautiful with an old antique style and intimate vibe. The lights were low, and the decor was beautiful. The Library Bar was downstairs, but unfortunately, it was closed for a private event when we were there, so we didn’t get to see it. I asked a staff member and was told that the downstairs was darker and had more of the speakeasy vibe than the upstairs did.
The place is known for its martinis and old fashioneds. I ordered an espresso martini with absolutely zero regrets. It was absolutely perfect and everything I hoped it would be. We had Burrata for an appetizer and the Creamy Ricotta Penne for dinner. The Burrata was easily the absolute best I have ever had. The ingredients tasted fresh and well-seasoned. I could have had that alone for my meal and been perfectly content. The penne was delicious and well cooked, and the portions were the perfect size. We left content, but not overfull.
If you are in Chicago, I cannot recommend this place enough. The experience of dinner here was definitely worth staying up until 11:00 and the Lyft ride.
In Summary
Everyone should take a book trip from time to time. Chicago has a lot to offer, and there was so much we didn’t get a chance to see, but that’s just an excuse to go back!
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
April 28, 2025
For this being my first event experience blog, I am so happy it was this. Edgar Allan Poe holds a special place in my heart, so when the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy came to town and a friend sent me the information, I jumped online to get my ticket.
The four-person show featured a dramatic retelling of four popular short stories by Poe as well as four delicious cocktails created to theme each one. You received a cocktail for each story. For this performance, we were regaled with the mad and morbid renderings of The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, The Raven (of course), and The Mask of the Red Death.
The corresponding cocktails included “The Pale Blue Eye,” a blue vodka drink with lemon; The Cat’s Meow (referred to as Edgar’s Twisted Brandy Milk Punch on their website), which is a bourbon, brandy, and cream drink; The Nevermore, made with an orange peach blossom vodka and lime juice with spices ; and “Cocktail of Red Death,” made with 100-proof vodka, cherry, and fruit juice.
The retellings were performed with an enthralling energy and skill that had me drawn in to each one. They all captured the macabre and madness one would expect of a performance centered on Poe’s work, and yet the actors also delivered a humor and their own brief commentary that added to the entertainment of the show and kept the audience laughing. It was a great time to dress up with friends and see a wonderful performance of my favorite classic author’s works.
This was a fun event, and if you are an Edgar Allan Poe fan, you will love it. Definitely eat first, though. There is no food provided, and four alcoholic beverages are served, so I would definitely recommend getting dinner first. It is a 21+ event, so if you are not of drinking age, I’m sorry, this one isn’t for you. I also did not see an option to substitute the drinks for nonalcoholic beverages. Though if you are not a drinker, you will still get a lot out of the brilliant performances.
It appears that the show travels to different cities, and they are only there for two nights with limited tickets available. So, keep an eye out for their locations and times!