Buy the Book Locally ...and Meet the Author!
Running organization
with routes inspired by books
West Loop
Saturday, March 9, 2024
9am
LEARN MORE HERE
Harold Washington Library Panel
Unleash Your Creativity:
Finding Inspiration in Archives Research
Harold Washington Library, Chicago
Thursday, February 1, 2024
6 - 7pm
Author’s Room 7th Floor
Free and Open to the Public, but must register in advance
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
Oak Park
LIVE EVENT
Monday, January 8, 2024
1:15pm presentation
178 Forest Ave
Oak Park, IL 60301
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
for more information, please visit website
Holiday Book Signing
Wednesday, December 13
12 - 2pm
Outside the Museum Shop
The Museum is open and free to the public this day.
For more information, please visit chicagohistory.org
West Loop: Then and Now has connections to the “City on Fire” exhibit
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October 14 - 15, 2023
1- 3pm both days
Meet Connie Fairbanks at Montauk Sofa
1229 W Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60622
Mary Bartelme West Loop Farmer’s Market
Saturday, October 7
9:30am - 11am
Look for me at the Mary Bartleme park table
Montauk Sofa
in conjunction with Open House Chicago
Saturday, October 14
1 – 3pm
Sunday, October 15
1 – 3pm
Independant Bookstore Day
LIVE EVENT
Saturday, April 29, 2023
10:30am to 11:30am CST
Meet the author, Connie Fairbanks
LIVE EVENT
Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:00-8:00pm CST
Connie Fairbanks in conversation with Susan Imus
Our very own Connie Fairbanks will be talking with Susan Imus about Fairbanks’ book, Chicago’s West Loop, Then and Now: People, Businesses, and Buildings. There will be a short interview, questions, and book signing on Thursday, April 13 from 7 - 8pm at Madison Street Books at 1127 W. Madison Street.
Come meet your neighbors and learn more about your historic neighborhood. More info about the book below.
The Green Street Farmer's Market
LIVE EVENT
Saturday, May 6, 2023
9:00-11:00am CST
Connie Fairbanks book signing
Connie Fairbanks will be signing copies of her new book, Chicago's West Loop, Then and Now, on the Opening Day of The Green Street Farmer's Market - West Loop. She will be sitting with other volunteers and members of The Mary Bartelme Advisory Park Committee from 9 - 11 am, and signing her new book.
Come meet your neighbors and learn more about your historic neighborhood.
Silent Auction and Cocktail Hour
March 25, 2023
6 - 7pm
Auction item is signed Chicago's West Loop, Then and Now book and Lunch with the Author at Macello Restaurant.
Donated by Connie Fairbanks and Kirk Twiss, long time supporters and subscribers at Timeline Theatre.
Chicago’s West Loop Then and Now
ONLINE EVENT
Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 7:00pm CST
The transformation of Chicago’s West Loop over time has been nothing less than captivating. Vacant parking lots, once home to Vaudeville acts, became glossy 19-story apartments. Empty buildings that once housed cutlery stores, meat packing rooms, printing companies, and multi-level office buildings have been demolished- common brick by common brick. Some of these bakery supply buildings (or other businesses) have been re-purposed into opulent condos, luxury sofa stores, or restaurants with owner-chefs calling upstairs home.
What once was a manufacturing and wholesale warehouse area in the late 1890s to the 1950s, a fashionable place to live on Ashland Avenue for the “movers and shakers “of Chicago, and later Skid Row on Madison Street, is again where people want to live, work, and play.
Author Connie Fairbanks developed a special love of history reading the We Were There books, which led to her fascination with the history of Chicago’s West Loop. She is the author of the 2007 cookbook, Scratch That: Seasonal Menus and Perfect Pairs.
Purchase Chicago’s West Loop Then and Now here.
$12 per person / $10 for members
Purchase Tickets
Old St. Patrick’s Church Encore Group
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Presentation and book signing
Chicago History Museum
Member’s Only Event
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 6:00 pm
Author Talk | Chicago’s West Loop: Then and Now
Delve into the history of Chicago’s West Loop with local author and
historian Connie Fairbanks in conversation with WTTW host Geoffrey Baer as they discuss Fairbanks’s new book, Chicago’s West Loop: Then and Now (2022).
What once was a manufacturing and wholesale warehouse area from the late 1890s to the 1950s, a fashionable place to live on Ashland Avenue for the “movers and shakers “of Chicago, and later Skid Row on Madison Street is again where we want to live, work, and play.
Hear engaging and timeless stories by Fairbanks in a new 246-page book complete with a collection of more than 150 photos that capture the essence of this area’s transformation and brings you back in time in this most dynamic part of the city.
We highly encourage you to visit the CHM Store to purchase your own copy of Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now.
Connie Fairbanks will be available to sign copies at the event.
This event is FREE and exclusive to members.RSVP is required.
Chicago History Museum and
University of Illinois at Chicago Metro History Fair
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Connie Fairbanks will be a judge at this event (more details to follow)