Literature/Music

Classical music by Eastern European composers will be performed by the Symphony Sounds String Quartet in their second concert for the season in Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave., Sun., July 13, at 11 a.m.

Twenty semi-finalists will compete for a $500 prize in front of a voting audience during the Guild Literary Complex's 21st Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award (GBOMA) Wed., July 23, 7 p.m., at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St. Deadline for submissions is June 30. 

Though Scott Jacobs newest book is entitled Famous Ski Hills in Wisconsin: (And Other Delusions of Grandeur), he admits it is not about Wisconsin or skiing but rather... growing up. 

To what extent are the Grasinski girls typical of being an ethnic in America? Joanna Wojdon will focus on that and other questions during an English speaking book discussion group in the Polish Museum of American (PMA), Sabina P. Logisz Great Hall, 984 N. Milwaukee Ave., on Apr. 15, at 6 p.m.

Dear (this year’s) Chicago winter,

It has been an especially brutal winter here in Chicago, and I have seen many of my Facebook friends threatening to move somewhere warmer within the next year. I would like to speak in defense of winter, because it cannot speak for itself and no one else is going to at this point. Here are a few reasons why I enjoy winter:

Theresa Schwegel, a Ukrainian Village resident, began a pre-launch of The Good Boy with a book review by Rick Kogan and a guest slot on WGN's After Hours with Rick Kogan. After the official launch in the suburbs, she had a book signing in Barnes and Noble at DePaul on Nov. 7. 

The Polish Triangle will be the scene for another fun evening Tues., Aug. 13, between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Triangle will feature Multi Kulti music and skits from kids from the Adventure Stage.

"It's some of the most authentic music I've heard," says L.A. Music Awards' Al Bowman about Patti Rains, 27-year resident of Wicker Park. Patti Rain & Friends will perform in Wicker Park’s Schiller Grove, 1425 N. Damen, this Sunday, July 21 from noon until 2 p.m.