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.

Take a Family Vacation with Two Cookie Minimum June 3

Summer is here, school is out and its time for a Family Vacation. For Two Cookie Minimum’s June reading, regular patrons of the series were asked to invite their friends to take the stage in what we are calling a Family Vacation. Join us on Tuesday June, 3 at the Hungry Brain 2319 W. Belmont Ave.

Vacationers include:

Mason Johnson (author of Sad Robot Stories on CCLaP)

Alex Nall (cartoonist with work in Newcity’s Linework)
Christine Petrowich (writer and student)
Huey Amaru (poet)

John Porcellino (from Beloit Wisconsin, comic artist of long running King Cat Comics which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year

plus
Allyson Frazier, who will be signing original composition accompanied by live drawings by Alex Nall.  

Hosted by Johnny Misfit. The show begins at 9pm.

We'll make sure to pack the FREE cookies, make sure to make the trip.

See you then!
(Flyer created by Allyson Frazier)

Cookies and KALE? No, Cookies and CAKE!

Back for their third year, Two Cookie Minimum celebrates the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (affectionately known as CAKE) with a fundraiser:

 Cookies and Cake III!

Even though we won't be on our normal 2nd Tuesday of the month, Two Cookie is back Wednesday May 7, with a lineup of local comics, artists and illustrators to share the  top notch visual work, some of the best in the city (no lie) to celebrate CAKE! 

Performers include:

• David Alvarado, comic artist who publishes Dirty Hands and whose work has been seen in Newcity’s Linework and as a cover artist.

• Danielle Chenette, Chicago artist and illustrator
  

• Alex Dahm, queer comix artist

• Isabella Rotman  cartoonist and printmaker by way of Maine who released such titles as Animal Sex and You’re so Sexy When You Aren’t Transmitting STDs.

• Kevin Budnik, illustratior/cartoonist, with the collection Dust Motes out on Yeti Press.

 

Hosted by Johnny Misfit.

At the Hungry Brain 2319 W. Belmont at 9pm, 21+.

A $5 donation is asked, proceeds go to CAKE!

Per usual, there will be free cookies, but for the occasion we'll have a cake too.

Flyer by artist Dean Johnson. Gotta love his depiction of Shipwreck from GI JOE in a compromising situation

DWA COOKIE MINIMUM, Kwiecień 1-e

Two Cookie Minimum is taking April 1st to celebrate local Polish Writers. Chicago bills itself as one of the largest Polish cities outside of Poland.

FACT: Polish is also the third largest speaking language in Chicago behind English and Spanish (says Wikipedia). 

Since its so predominant, lets hear from those voices.
Readers include:
Kate Sierzputowski, co-founder of INSIDE\WITHIN,
Daniela Olszewska, author of Citizen J (Curbside Splendor),
Joshua Piotrowski (Gas Mask Horse), zinester and musician,
Alison Grabowski, student in Columbia College's Creative Writing department,
Adam Lizakowski, Director of the Polish Arts and Poetry Association in America (he will be reading in both Polish and English!) ,
Karolina Stepek graudate student from Columbia College's Creative Writing (she was born in Poland!), and
JoAnne Gazarek Bloom (writer of Images of America, BRIDGEPORT on Arcadia Publishing).

Hosted by John Wawrzaszek (Johnny Misfit). The show begins at 9pm at the Hungry Brain 2319 W. Belmont Ave. 
And as always, there will be free cookies.

Chicago Polonia!