Quimby’s Bookstore Podcast

This episode of the Quimby's Bookstore Podcast features a discussion with authors Adam Levin and Tim Kinsella.

Adam Levin is the author of Hot Pink (McSweeney's), a collection of short stories. His book The Instructions (also published by McSweeneey's) is a hefty book about a ten-year-old super-kid who might be the Messiah. Adam teaches writing.

Tim Kinsella is the author of The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self-Defense (Featherproof Press). He too, teaches, as well as bartends, and you may already be familiar with his music, Tim having been in such bands as Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc.

Adam was celebrating the release of and reading from Hot Pink. He selected Tim as a companion reader for the event.

This interview was conducted in the basement of Quimby's.

The basement of Quimby's, in spite of what you may think, is mostly storage. Mostly.

Well, and also we have some monsters down there too.

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 Enhanced Podcast [00:36:23m]: Download | Hits (Loading)

This is the sixth episode of the Quimby's Bookstore Podcast, which features an interview with the charismatic, funny and thoughtful Caseen Gaines, the author of Inside Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Untold, Unauthorized, and Unpredictable Story of a Pop Phenomenon.

Between 1986 and 1991, nearly ten million people a week watched Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the critically acclaimed and widely successful children’s program broadcast on CBS. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the show, the complete behind-the-scenes story is being told for the first time by those who experienced it. Complete with an episode guide, biographical information about the cast and key members of the show’s creative team, never-before-told anecdotes, and previously unpublished photos, Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse takes the first in-depth look behind the program TV Guide recently cited as one of the top ten cult classics of all time.

Here's a picture of Caseen at Quimby's!

...And of course... You can buy the book at Quimby's or order it from Quimby's here!

Links as discussed in this episode:

website for the book: insidetheplayhouse.com

author website: caseengaines.com

Pee-Wee Gets an I-Pad: funnyordie.com/videos/f7a03edbd7/pee-wee-gets-an-ipad

John Paragon as Mr. Excitement: youtube.com/watch?v=6YNApqIbu9w

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 Enhanced Podcast [00:59:16m]: Download | Hits (Loading)

This is the fifth episode of the Quimby's Bookstore Podcast, and we talk to Dave Roche and Cassie J. Sneider. They did an event together at Quimby's Bookstore when Cassie was touring with her book Fine, Fine Music.

Cassie J. Sneider writes witty essays about growing up with an appreciation for classic rock like Aerosmith, Beverly Hills 90210, a pug she inherited, and various other topics. She describes her work as being "sort of like an X rated Judy Bloom." Her work is pretty awesome and hilarious. Also, she has lots of tattoos. Dave Roche is author of On Subbing and the zines About My Dissapperarance and Curse Journal, among others. He writes about things like his struggle with Crohn's Disease and being a substitute teacher. He is witty, charming and calls Bingo in footie pajamas.

The books and zines we talk about in the podcast are available at Quimby's Bookstore at 1854 W. North Ave, in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood and on the web at quimbys.com.

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 Enhanced Podcast [00:29:34m]: Download | Hits (Loading)

This episode features a discussion with Jon Kristiansen and Tara G. Warrior talking about their book Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries (Bazillion Points Publishers). Jon started Slayer Mag in Norway in 1985 and put out 20 issues over the span of 25 years. The zine covered a variety of extreme metal bands, including Emperor, Slayer, Kreator, Nihilist, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Cathedral, Entombed, Morbid, Napalm Death, and more. The Onion AV club called Slayer zine founder Jon Kristiansen “one of the best primary sources for facts and stories about Mayhem, Varg, and what really happened back in the day." The Chicago Reader called this book "a chronicle of death and black metal at their births but also a personal coming-of-age story." It's an awesome 744 page hardcover with tons of pictures and reproduction pages from every issue, and there's even material from the precursor Live Wire zine. It's also part memoir. Co-editor Tara interviewed Jon all about his experiences with the zine, and then together they decided what to include.

Yes, we have it at Quimby's. It is $39.95.

Jon and Tara were at Quimby's for a Chicago release event for the book on 6/8/11. But we conducted this interview in our dark and creepy basement beforehand.

Quimby's Bookstore is at 1854 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. Or find us on the web at quimbys.com.

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 Enhanced Podcast [00:50:06m]: Download | Hits (Loading)

Welcome to the third Quimby's Bookstore Podcast! Editor Ryan Standfest discusses BLACK EYE 1: Graphic Transmissions to Cause Ocular Hypertension,” an anthology that collects original narrative comics, art and essays by 41 international artists and writers, all focused on the expression of black, dark or absurdist humor. (And yes, we carry it at Quimby's.)

With comics and art by Stéphane Blanquet, Ivan Brunetti, Lilli Carré, Max Clotfelter, Al Columbia, Ludovic Debeurme, Olivier Deprez, Nikki DeSautelle, Brecht Evens, Andy Gabrysiak, Robert Goodin, Dav Guedin, Gnot Guedin, Glenn Head, Danny Hellman, Paul Hornschemeier, Ian Huebert, Kaz, Michael Kupperman, Mats!?, Fanny Michaëlis, James Moore, Tom Neely, Mark Newgarden, Paul Nudd, Onsmith, Emelie Östergren, Paul Paetzel, David Paleo, Martin Rowson, Olivier Schrauwen, Stephen Schudlich, Robert Sikoryak, Ryan Standfest, Brecht Vandenbroucke, Wouter Vanhaelemeesch and Jon Vermilyea. Original essays by Jeet Heer (on S. Clay Wilson), Bob Levin (on “The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist”), Ken Parille (on Steve Ditko) and Ryan Standfest (on Al Feldstein and EC). Also includes the text “100 Good Reasons to Kill Myself Right Now,” by Roland Topor, translated into English for the first time by Edward Gauvin.

For more info about Rotland Press and Comic Works see rotlandpress.wordpress.com

Quimby's Bookstore 1854 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 quimbys.com

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 Enhanced Podcast [00:26:29m]: Download | Hits (Loading)

Welcome to the 2nd Quimby's podcast! This is an interview with the authors of The Beat Cop’s Guide to Chicago Eats, Sgt. David J. Haynes of the Chicago Police Department and his partner-in-crime, blogger Christopher Garlington. They were at Quimby's for a release event on June 14th, 2011.

Peppered with outrageous stories from working cops, Chicago cop lore, and recipes, The Beat Cop’s Guide To Chicago Eats takes you on a gustatory journey through all five Chicago areas, including some of the toughest neighborhoods in the nation.

Sgt. David J. Biscuit Haynes has spent the past 15 years dodging bullets and chasing down gang bangers on the city’s West Side, running Chicago’s first ever Homeland Security Task Force, and supervising squads in the 19th District at Belmont and Western.  Christopher “The Bull” Garlington is a blogger and author, known for his blog Death by Children.com. His writing has appeared in the Chicago Trib, Another Realm, Bathhouse, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature and more. Together they have hosted the radio program The Dave & Chris Show! since 2007, which you can find on blogtalkradio.com, during which they cultivate and maintain a long-standing argument about pretty much everything, broadcast live from places like cigar stores and bars. From politics and video games to the importance of cool nicknames and secret societies, they cover it. The Beat Cop's Guide to Chicago Eats book retails at $15.95 and includes $34 in coupons. It’s like being buddies with your alderman. You can get it at quimbys.com or by coming into our store at 1854 W. North Ave, Chicago.

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Welcome to the first Quimby's Bookstore podcast. We are located at 1854 W. North Ave, Chicago. On the web you can find us at quimbys.com

Margaret Hicks discussed her book Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History (History Press) at Quimby's Bookstore on 5/28/11.

Chicago has developed an international reputation for split sides and slapped knees. The “Chicago Style of Comedy” evolved from nineteenth-century vaudeville, through the rebellious comics of the 50’s, and into the improvisation and sketch as well as stand-up that is ushering in a new millennium. Drawing on material both hilarious and profound, Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History touches on what makes Chicago different from other cities and how that difference produced some of the greatest minds comedy will ever know: Amos and Andy, Jack Benny, Lenny Bruce, Del Close, John Belushi, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and so many, many more.

Margaret Hicks is a professional tour guide in Chicago, who has been giving walking tours in the loop (like her tour of Old Town offered through the famous Second City Comedy Club) since she completed the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s docent program in 2004. She maintains her own website at chicagoelevated.com and has had years of experience in the Chicago comedy scene working at improv theaters and stand-up clubs.

For more information about events at Quimby's Bookstore, see quimbys.com.

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