Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages (part 6)

Week 2 of this series of Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages brings the 6th installment. They've all been great haven't they? This one comes from regular patron, past reader, and talented cartoonist Alex Nall. As soon as Alex began coming to the series, his penchant for drawing came to the forefront of our conversations. Each Two Cookie reading he attends, Alex makes sure to draw cartoons, images, caricatures and and doodles of the goings-on that night. We've worked together to put out a collection of his work, Cookie Crumbs, which we handed out at the January 2014 reading. I want to thank Alex for all his contributions and in making Two Cookie visually appealing to all. 

                                        You'll notice, the couch is from the stage at the Hungry Brain.

If you didn't laugh at Alex drawing a nude photo of me, then not sure what will make you.
Check back in this week for more of these.

Best,
Johnny Misfit

What the meaning of all this? During July's Two Cookie Minimum reading, which was the series' 4 year anniversary, attendees and readers were given the prompt, "When I think of Two Cookie Minimum..." These are those responses.

Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages (part 5)

To close the week, here's Part 5 in the series of Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages. Its yet another anonymous submission. UHHHH YEAHHH!

                                                                   Whoooahhh!  We Bite!

What does this even mean? Good question. As host and perpetual child, I, Johnny Misfit, not only go by that stage name, but wear the same Misfit's t-shirt each month. Short back story, the Misfits are my favorite band and I got this nickname in college. Fast forward, I got a Misfits shirt from my friend Adam Bones (not all my friends have such cool stage names). On the back of that shirt is the message, "20 Years of Terror". In a way, its kinda fitting for an anniversary message. I mean, the Misfits' shirt marks 20 years of the bands existence while these posts mark the reading's 4 years of existence.

Check back next week when I pick back up posting new messages. The posts will go up until next month's Two Cookie reading on August 5th.Hope you've enjoyed the first week.

Best,
Johnny Misfit

What the meaning of all this? During July's Two Cookie Minimum reading, which was the series' 4 year anniversary, attendees and readers were given the prompt, "When I think of Two Cookie Minimum..." These are those responses.

Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages (Part 4)

Here is Part 4 in the series of Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages. Its from an anonymous submission (if this was you, see below*).

                                                                 I doubt two is his limit.

If any one has attended the reading and signed the mailing list, they may notice that there is an image of Cookie Monster right above where you sign up. With a reading series titled as such, makes sense that someone would eventually mention this childhood icon. 

There's more of these to come so check back over the next few weeks for new posts.
Hope you enjoy them.

Best,
Johnny Misfit

What the meaning of all this? During July's Two Cookie Minimum reading, which was the series' 4 year anniversary, attendees and readers were given the prompt, "When I think of Two Cookie Minimum..." These are those responses.

* Is this your submission and you want me to credit your creativity? Send an email to twocookieminimum@gmail.com Subject Credit is Due and we'll Make It So. 

Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages (Part 3)

Today is Part 3 in the series of Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages. This note is an anonymous submission. Its pretty awesome message being that this person noted the most obvious thing about the reading: the free cookies. 

Each month, I make sure to honor the namesake Two Cookie Minimum by providing free cookies to the audience. This tradition grew out of the humble beginnings when the series was hosted at Fritz Pastry. Initially I wanted to make sure people supported the bakery so I named the reading as such to prompt sales of cookies. When I moved the series to the Hungry Brain, I felt cookies had to move too. Now each month there are free cookies (always vegan unless a patron brings in some cookies as a good samaritan) and sometimes they're homemade.What might be considered a gimmick is fine with me, b/c its a very tasty one.

This drawing reminds me of an episode of Full House where Uncle Jesse is volunteering at Michelle's school and for snack time he hands out out animal crackers, "you get an elephant, you get something with its head cut off". 

There's more messages to come so check back over the next few weeks for new posts.
Hope you enjoy them.

Best,
Johnny Misfit

What the meaning of all this? During July's Two Cookie Minimum reading, which was the series' 4 year anniversary, attendees and readers were given the prompt, "When I think of Two Cookie Minimum...". These are those responses.

Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages (Part 2)

Here's Part 2 in the series of Two Cookie Minimum Anniversary Messages. The message is an anonymous submission. In it, the sentiment goes to show why the series has lasted for 4 years. Its also a testament to the Chicago literary community, of those who supports live readings all year long (especially during this past winter). Thanks to anyone who's attended Two Cookie, your support is greatly appreciated.

                                                    Polar Vortex or not, this person rules!

(ADDENDUM: I found out this message was written by Andrew Inchiosa, a grad student at UofC with a focus on literature, makes sense that this message tells such a good story). 

There's more of these to come so check back over the next few weeks for new posts.
Hope you enjoy them.

Best,
Johnny Misfit


What the meaning of all this? During July's Two Cookie Minimum reading, which was the series' 4 year anniversary, attendees and readers were given the prompt, "When I think of Two Cookie Minimum...". These are those responses.

Two Cookie Mimimum Anniversary Messages (part 1)

Earlier this month Two Cookie Minimum celebrated a 4 Year Anniversary. It was a great time with a lot going on.

Here's a brief recap:
Shadow Puppet Show; Fictional story about Aliens in Rehab; Comic about love, family and picking Blackberries; A live Junk Drawer Game Show (along with prizes!); Comic about the funny side of being a parent; plus 2 large homemade cookies (like those cookie cakes you can get at the Jewels).

On top of all that, I handed out small slips of paper that asked attendees and readers the question:
When I think of Two Cookie Minimum...

There are about a dozen replies that range from comics, to thoughts, to one-liners. Each weekday starting today until the next month's reading (which is on Tuesday August 5) I will post one on here. This was to be anonymous, but some where signed and others I stylistically knew who wrote them. If you wrote one and want credit for your contribution, send me an email (twocookieminimum@gmail.com, subject Credit is Due).

To start, here is a comical message I think sums up the series well.

                                         We've got cookies + a hungry brain. Makes sense to me.

The message is a special one, for it comes from Leslie Perrine, a comics artist and children's book writer who read at the first Two Cookie reading back in 2010. Leslie has read at more of our readings, been in attendance many times, and now leaves this nice message.

So there's 15 more of these to come. Hope you enjoy them. Be in touch if you have a message of your own that you're dying to share. Thanks again to all those who have supported the series over the last 4 years. Here's to another one.
Best,
Johnny Misfit

Two Cookie 4 Year Anniversary (our 40th Show)!

Two Cookie Minimum celebrates its 4-year anniversary on Tuesday, July 1. The series has aimed to bring together authors, self-publishers, comics artists, musicians, and various visual forms. True to form, the anniversary reading will host a variety of talent for this special occasion.

Performers Include:

Writer Kevin Kern, two separate comics readings from illustrator and children’s book publisher Leslie Perrine, and comics artist and teacher Keiler Roberts, Junk Drawer zine publisher Eric Bartholomew with an interactive Odds and Ends game, plus sister duo Jill Summers and Susie Kirkwood with a shadow puppet show.

Back in 2010, Two Cookie Minimum held its first reading at Fritz Pastry. Since then, the series has held 39 shows featuring more than 200 readers (including a few out of town guests). Two Cookie Minimum has hosted fundraisers for local organizations, partnered with other reading series and literary magazines, hosted theme nights, and even co-hosted an off-site reading in Los Angeles. In 2013, we released Cookie Crumbs, in collaboration with cartoonist Alex Nall, a sketchbook of drawings depicting the readings. We’ve been recognized in various articles on Gapers Block, Time Out Chicago, Newcity,  and Chicago Literati.

The night will be hosted by reading curator Johnny Misfit. The show begins at 9pm at our lovely home, Chicago’s most comfortable bar with a killer jukebox, the Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont. And as we’ve done for years, there will be free cookies.