Who: Paul Buhle
What: Open House & discussion
Where: Alternative Press Center, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave. 2nd floor
When: Sunday, July 12, 5:30-7pm

The venerable Alternative Press Center, publisher of the Alternative Press Index, has recently relocated to Chicago (!), and is already busy hosting a variety of events in conjunction with the upcoming American Library Association conference.  First up is an open house at the Alternative Press Center on Milwaukee Ave. featuring Paul Buhle, who will discuss the history of alternative media as well as his recent work in graphic adaptations of left history.  Buhle has published a variety of books and essays dealing with United States labor history & political history, including graphic histories of Students for a Democratic Society and the IWW.  His most recent work, with Harvey Pekar, is a fantastic graphic adaptation of Studs Terkel’s Working.  Buhle’s books and other merchandise will be available courtesy of Quimby’s.   Hang out for some drinks & snacks and welcome the Alternative Press Center to Chicago!

Who: Alternative Press Center/ALA’s Alternative Media Task Force
What: Alternative Media Reception
Where: Experimental Station, 6100 S Blackstone Ave
When: Monday, July 13th, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Monday, head down to Experimental Station in Hyde Park for the Alternative Media Reception, celebrating the 40th Anniversaries of both the ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table and the Alternative Press Center.  There’s an all you can eat buffet with vegetarian/vegan options for $20, and you can also peruse books, zines, and other materials from progressive publishers in Chicago and all over North America.  Drinks & musical entertainment from Brian Sandstrom and Friends make it a party!

The ALA conference is ongoing from Saturday, July 11th to Tuesday, July 14th at McCormick Place, and APC will have a booth showcasing the variety of publications featured in the Index.  If you’re ALA-ing, be sure to stop by to browse and chat.