AROUND TOWN: Chicago Literary Hall of Fame cocktail party, interview

Robert Charles and I love how the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame celebrates our town’s many diverse writers and writing. For the past few years, we’ve hosted an annual cocktail party to introduce the organization to new people, and to make a bit of cheddar along the way. Donald G. Evans, the founding executive director of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame really helped to turn the idea of the cocktail party into reality and the talented mixologist Ryan Prindle teaches all of the guests how to make three or four different drinks at each event. We started, online and during the pandemic, with “Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.” The title and the use of puns – Don’s fun idea – stuck. Subsequent parties have included “The Martini Chronicles” and “The House on Margarita Street.” Earlier this year, we celebrated “The Great Gimlet” at the Colvin House on Sheridan Road here in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Writer and scholar Michelle E. Moore provided some intriguing insights into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s connections to Chicago. As part of the pre-party publicity, Don penned a lovely interview with Robert and me, for which we’re grateful. Don is a kind and generous man. If you’d like to be added to the invitation list for next year’s party, please just let me or Don know. (Photo by Laurie Proffitt)