fireside bowl

H. Melt curates this collection of essays (mostly originally online), documenting a critical queer, nonfiction literary voice that is strongly rooted in Chicago. Themes include the need to talk more openly about race, class, and privilege, the power of community support, and the experience of living in Chicago. Builds on the work of Chicago-based queer publications like Chicago IRL, In Our Words, and others. (Adapted from Melt's introduction to the collection.)

A quarterly art and design periodical.

"From the world's largest urinal to the worst drunken story ever told, from the reformed ex-con Big Ol' Pimp to the sink pissing Pudge, Chicago's Dive Bars: Drinking and Diving in the Windy City brings you the sights, sounds and smells of over ninety of the city's deliciously divey spots. This essential nightlife guide provides the lowdown on where to find the cheapest drinks, the scariest crowds, the coolest jukeboxes and everything else that makes a dive bar dive. So, if you are sick of the tourist traps and hisper havens listed in those 'other' guide books and want to discover 'real' drinking Chicago in all its grungy glory, Chicago's Best Dive Bars brings you the whole story, straight, no chaser."

A collection of contemporary dada and surrealist poetry and fiction, mainly on pop culture.

Newsletter from punk and hardcore collective in Wrigleyville. Contains music and zine reviews, as well as report on recent activity to raise funds for a space, as well as having to change their name because of the Clubhouse record store at Metro.

The interview issue.

Interviews with Letters to Cleo, Chris Connelly, Rick Rizzo of Eleventh Dream Day, Hazel, Archers of Loaf, Cold Water Flat, Heather Grody of the Murmers, Skippy from March Records, a review of the Merchant Ivory film Jefferson in Paris, a column on what punk is, traveling in Budapest, and concert reviews of Bush and Loud Lucy. Reviews, a rundown of new releases, and the current charts, and a Full Stop comic by Jamie.<br />

A punk/emo magazine based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago