I wanted to alert you to a perfect Cubs Christmas present idea. It's a book called "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting til Next Year," and it comes out on December 14th.This book is a collection of some pretty incredible essays about the Cubs, including contributions from Rick Kogan (Chicago Tribune & WGN), Dave Hoekstra (Chicago Sun Times), author Sara Paretsky (the V.I. Warshawski books), NPR's Scott Simon, author James Finn Garner (Politically Correct Fairy Tales), WXRT's Lin Brehmer, WSCR's Mike Murphy, and even one from your humble Just One Bad Century editor-in-chief, Rick Kaempfer.
You can get the book through the publisher at Can't Miss Press. They are taking pre-orders now! Or you can stop by one of the book signing events listed below. Note: I will be there on December 14th at Sheffield's. Please stop by, I'd love to meet you.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008, 10 a.m. - noon: FIRST OFFICIAL BOOK SIGNING, ORIGINAL BILLY GOAT TAVERN & GRILL (430 N. Michigan Ave., Lower Level, Chicago, IL 60611, 312.222-1525): What a perfect place to start. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin called the Billy Goat "a national institution." It's our favorite subterranean saloon and eatery. From table to table and across every barstool, there's an echo of "wait till next year." It's a mantra all diehard Cub fans know by heart. Sammy Sianis, who owns the Billy Goat, knows it well, too. His uncle, the orginal owner, was famous for trying to bring a goat into Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series. The Cubs haven't been back to the Fall Classic since and the longer they go without a title (it's at 100 years and counting) the more the legendary Curse of the Billy Goat grows. Judy Royko, widow of legendary columnist Mike Royko, will be on hand to sign books. All book buyers will get a complimentary cheeseburger from the Billy Goat. Books and burgers - does it get any better than that?
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008, 7-10 p.m.: BOOK RELEASE PARTY,
SHEFFIELD’S (3258 N. SHEFFIELD AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60657, 773.281.4989): Help us celebrate the official release. There will be a free appetizer buffet, beer and drink specials, and contributor Dave Hoekstra will spin his eclectic Cubs music collection as guest DJ. Other contributors such as Sara Paretsky, James Finn Garner,Don De Grazia, Jonathan Eig, Stuart Shea, Rick Kaempfer, Ric Hess, Christine Sneed, Julia Borcherts, Mary Beth Hoerner, Robert Goldsborough, Donald Evans and Randy Richardson will also be there to sign copies of the book. At 8:30, publisher George Rawlinson will lead a toast and there will be s special guest appearances and comments by Pat Brickhouse, Shawon-O-Meter creator Dave Cihla and others.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008, 7-9 p.m.: SUBURBAN BOOK RELEASE PARTY, ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE (219 E. CHICAGO ST., ELGIN, IL 60120, 847.468.8810)
