THE2NDHAND

THE OMBUDSMAN DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT

Jess Wigent & Louie Holwerk — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:22:42 -0500

A collaboration between Denver and Illinois, we do say, this piece by Wigent and Holwerk defies categorization, but it's a nasty-fine read all the same, experiential in all the right ways....

MANDY

C.L. Bledsoe — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:39:28 -0500

C.L. Bledsoe returns to our halls with this piece about the futility of the seduction of innocents.... Blank slates determine their own destiny.

Sept. 5, THE2NDHAND Mixtape: our Artwalk reading in Birmingham

THE2NDHAND events — Sat, 9 Aug 2008 18:21:35 -0500

Friday, 5 Sept 2008, 7:30 PM
@ ARTWALK, Outdoor tent on the parking lot next to What's on Second, 2nd Ave N/23rd Street, Birmingham

THE2NDHAND’s 29th issue builds on a concept we introduced to the Chicago reading/performance scene in July 2007 -- the Mixtape reading, wherein several writers cast short-short stories inspired by pop songs. The concept evolved after several incarnations of its live component to include a published series here at the2ndhand.com and, now, a broadsheet. The latest in our long-running print series will include Artwalk contest winners Nadria Tucker and Emily Self, both past contributors to THE2NDHAND and both writing from Birmingham (Tucker actually won our 2007 contest), and a contribution from Zach Plague, author of the art-school satire/adventure novel Boring boring boring..., out now from Chicago’s Featherproof Books. All three will appear at the reading Friday, Sept. 5, attendant to the great Artwalk fest in downtown Birmingham. Plague’s book will be available.

Other readers include Michael Tesney, Cassie Sneider, Todd Dills and Stanley Holditch.

THE PLATYPUS: Part 7

Zach Plague — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:32:17 -0500

In the previous installment of this serialized novel excerpt (from Plague's first, boring boring boring, the gray papers became the fake papers, and Punk was given yet another mission by Ollister. Meanwhile, the Platypus....

JESUS WALKS

Ben Tanzer — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:31:52 -0500

Jesus is a reflection of a Starbucks in an office building: from the author of "Lucky Man." We wish it was a Mixtape. . .

REQUIEM FOR BOB MERITXELL: Part 2

Jill Summers — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:30:23 -0500

Jill Summers reveals that, well, she and Bob were married. . . This series debuted performed by the writers at Ray's Tap on Kimball just South of Belmont in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.

THE PLATYPUS: Part 6

Zach Plague — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:08:35 -0500

In the previous installment, art-world czar the Platypus did not listen to any sort of music -- and he had a headache, brought on by the elusive Ollister and his gray papers. Plague will be starting his boring boring tour of his pre-Illinois home state of Texas July 24. Visit featherproof.com for more.

WING & FLY: COMMITMENTLESS AGE, a review of Victor Serge's "Unforgiving Years"

Todd Dills — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:39:40 -0500

THE2NDHAND editor Todd Dills offers this review of an important historical and stylistic link between the moderns and postmoderns. . .

REQUIEM FOR BOB MERITXELL: PART 1

Chris Bower — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:57:29 -0500

A man who hated buses died -- on a bus. He was a regular patron of Ray's Tap south of Belmont on Kimball on Chicago's northwest side, and before he died on that bus, he made an impression on us, other patrons of Ray's, a bar on it's way out of the world. Ray's Tap only has 16 seats but 19 people were there to listen to the eulogies, which means that, mathematically, some must have been standing. Ray's Tap is at 3049 N. Kimball. Ray's Tap does not open up until 10:30 at night and is only open until 2 on all days but Saturday, where it is open until 3. The next Ray's Tap reading will be July 10th at 8:30 PM. We will be investigating The History of Kimball Avenue (and why we don't not drive on Homan Avenue). Keep an eye out for several more eulogies read that day from Jill Summers, Tim Racine, Michael Duffy and Arthur Fitz-Gerald.

THE ANTIPURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: MONKEYSUIT, 2

Andrew Davis — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:01:55 -0500

"This is the last time I trade my inner child for my outer monkey..." Ceramics and comix artist Andrew Davis, based in Bloomington, Ind., continues his longtime THE2NDHAND.com visual series "The Antipurpose Driven Life."