Friday Is “Buy Indie Day”

Tomorrow, Friday, May 1st, 2009, is Buy Indie Day across America.  Celebrate and support your local, independent bookstore by purchasing a paperback book, a hardcover, an audiobook – whatever. Buy Indie Day is a project of IndieBound, “a community-oriented movement…that brings together booksellers, readers, indie retailers, local business alliances, and anyone else with a passionate belief that healthy [...]

Harry Potter: The Exhibition Premieres In Chicago Tomorrow

Are you a fan of the Harry Potter movies? Ever wished you could jump through the screen into Hagrid’s hut, toss a quaffle, meet Dobby the house elf or Acromantula the spider face to face? Or maybe you’re not a fan of Harry, but you want to work in film and would like a chance [...]

Los Angeles Times Book Prizes

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE IS: Nation by Terry Pratchett Mau thought he was paddling his dugout canoe home to his small island to be greeted by the elders eager to celebrate his “passage into manhood.” But a tidal wave ravages his island, located somewhere in the South Pacific, and Mau returns home only [...]

Speak Out Against Abuse!

APRIL 2009 is SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS & PREVENTION MONTH Sexual assault scars the lives of millions in this country. Speak out against abuse!! Visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) for more information on reporting a crime, recovery, effects of sexual assault and reducing your risk. Join us in the Loft on Wednesday, April 29, [...]

Friday Night Gaming & Poetry Slam in the Loft!

Do you write poetry? Lyrics? Are you into gaming? Stop by the Loft tomorrow, April 24th, for Friday night gaming (PS2, Wii, Xbox 360), online word games, and poetry performances! Celebrate National Poetry Month by bringing your poems and lyrics to read out loud. Pizza will be served. 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Teens only.

A little bit Wicked

Did you absolutely loooooove Wicked? Have you seen it more than once? Kristin Chenoweth, the woman who made the role of Glinda what it is today, has written about her experience as part of the Wicked phenomenon, as well as the rest of her colorful life in her new book, “ A Little Bit Wicked.” Chenoweth has a great sense of humor that [...]

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

Lucy is graduating from college soon and wonders aloud what it will be like in this journal.  The title comes from her love of French milk which is sold in glass bottles and is full-fat not skim.  The drawings in the story are vivid accounts of her time in Paris during January with her mother. [...]

Happy Birthday, Will Shakespeare!

  April 23rd is Shakespeare’s birthday and The Loft is celebrating The Bard’s 445th with this great list of books! Here you’ll find modern novel re-tellings of Shakespeare plays, stories inspired by the great scribe’s life (and the lives of his characters), Manga adaptations, as well as gripping non-fiction titles that explore his creative genius, biography, and thematic [...]

Poetry this weekend

Come listen to the winning poems from the Jo-Anne Hirshfield Memorial Poetry Contest this Sunday, April 19, at 2 pm., in the community room. Poet Janet Wong will introduce the award-winning poets and she will read some of her own poetry as well. Stop by the Loft and check out her collection of poems about driving: [...]

Early Dismissal Wednesday: The Naming of Cats

The Naming Of Cats by T. S. Eliot The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn’t just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there’s the name that the family [...]