Letter Writers Alliance

Come See Us at Pieritz Bros.

Pieritz Bros. is one of my favorite places in Chicago. I love taking the Green Line to the Ridgeland Stop and seeing the flower pots painted like pencils flanking the front door. I love all of the old typewriters and other office equipment squirreled around the merchandise. I love the merchandise: Le Pens in all colors, Rhodia notebooks, typewriter ribbons, stock certificates, fountain pens and all other manner of office supplies.

When Carolee came to visit, Kathy and I took her on an excursion here and John was happy to talk to us for an hour about old stock and pens and typewriters. He also graciously allowed us to set up a time for letter writing social right in the store! Please join us on Saturday, April 6th for letter writing. We'll have free stationery and typewriters out for you to use. The social is from 1PM - 4PM. Pieritz Bros. is at 401 S Blvd # 4  Oak Park, IL 60302. It's also, like I mentioned above, right off the Green Line at Ridgeland. Pull out your pocket money because there just might be some older stock for sale from the vaults!

Letter Writing Social at Forest Park Library

Come one, come all to our next letter writing social. It's at the Forest Park Public Library on Saturday, August 11th from 1 - 3PM. I know you have important rhythmic gymnastics finals to watch that then, but record it instead and come on by the library for some letters. To sweeten the deal, we'll provided free stationery printed on paper from Appleton Coated and we'll have everyone's favorite mail-art supply- washi tape! We recieved a kind donation of it from Le Paper Cafe in Texas. Still not convinced? How about this drool-worthy photo?

YEAH! Taperific! As always, the typewriters will be there for you to use. The event is free of charge and you don't have to be member to attend. Please come on out and write some letters!

L.W.A. Postcard Swap Social, San Francisco

Kathy and I are headed out to the lovely city of San Francisco for Renegade Craft Fair on the 21st and 22nd. Instead of a regular letter-writing social, we're going to do something a little different- a postcard swap. See, San Francisco is a city full of opportunities for letter writers. Between Snail Mail Social and Correspondence Co-Op, letters are being written all over the Bay Area. What we want to have a little time with members to say hi and meet in person. It's always nice to put a face to an address. To keep it mail-oriented, we ask that attendees bring 5 - 10 postcards to swap, or more. Of course, we'll have cards to swap as well.

Our little swap is going to be held at RARE DEVICE from 5 to 7pm on Friday July 20th! They were awesome hosts last year and were kind enough to ask us back. They do have a new location; please meet us there at 600 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA 94117.

Hope to see you there!

Chicago L.W.A. Social on June 24th

Just a little announcement that we'll be getting together at the READ/WRITE Library once again for an afternoon of letter writing and postal chit-chat. Maybe this time, we'll make some cookies. We'll bring our typewriters and free stationery. You should bring yourself, and a friend, and your stamps and address book. It's a lovely place to write and hang-out. We'd love to see you there!

Where: READ/WRITE Library - 914 N. California - Walton Entrance - Chicago, IL 60622

When: 2PM - 5PM

Remember, all you members out there, to let us know of any other socials going on so we can add them to our calendar!

 

FREE TYPEWRITER!*

*kinda, read on!

So Kathy and I are getting ready for Mini Maker Faire in Urbana, IL on April 14th. The fair is being held in an old post office; how could we refuse the chance to have a social in a post office!? We'll be there representing the Alliance of course and will have our sundry goods for sale as well as a free stationery for writing letters on at the fair and typewriters for you to try out. It's a combination letter-writing social and fair for us.

Our paper and envelopes for this social have been generously donated by Conqueror by Appleton Coated. Aren't you guys just the luckiest? No office copy paper stationery for you- oh no! This is some premium stuff. It's smooth, it's thick and it's got a watermark. They also sent along some fun cards printed on their wares as well. Perhaps we'll have everyone at the social sign a thank you note for them.

What's more, we are offering up a typewriter for some lucky person to take home at the end of the fair. What typewriter? How about this typewriter!

The rules are simple. You get one free entry with purchase of L.W.A. membership. If you're already a member, just show your member card and you'll get a free ticket. You can also purchase additional chances to win for $2 each. The biggest rule is that you must be present at the time of the drawing (3:45PM CST) to win and it has to go home with you.

See you all at Mini Maker and good luck!

 

Atlas Obscura + Letter Writing Social

Hear ye! Hear ye! On the 28th of April there will be a very special letter writing social at the Read/Write Library from 2PM-5PM. It's extra special because this is Atlas Obscura Day! What's Atlas Obscura Day, you ask? And what's Atlas Obscura? Well, Atlas Obscura is a "compendium of the world's wonders, curiousities and esoterica" and Atlas Obscura Day is when we all try to get out and explore them.

This social will be a bit different than usual. For starters, we're going to ask you to R.S.V.P. on the official Atlas Obscura Day site. A ticket will be $5; some of which will go to support Atlas Obscura and some of which will get you an Atlas Obscura Day L.W.A. membership which comes with a badge, limited edition membership card, and special artistamp.

Current members are welcome to R.S.V.P. if they wish to receive the limited edition card and artistamp. We've limited the number of tickets to 20 people because Read/Write is only so big. If you don't R.S.V.P., you can still come. We're not gonna turn you away though we may have to seat people on the floor to write letters. You have to R.S.V.P. if you want the special edition goodies though.

As always, we'll have stationery and envelopes as well as typewriters for you to use. We'll bring in scraps and rubber stamps for mail art and have vintage postage for sale. Bring your address book and favorite pen. Everyone is welcome, but children do need to be accompained by an adult. I'm really excited about participating in Atlas Obscura Day and I hope to see you there!

First Letter Socials of 2012

{photo from our last social at the Read/Write Library}

Hello! Hello! Your attention please! Kathy and I are holding the Letter Writers Alliance first social of 2012 at the newly opened BINTH in Forest Park on Sunday, February 12th from 3PM-6PM. BINTH is located at 7507 West Madison Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130; the last stop on the Forest Park section of the Blue Line. This will be our first venture into the suburbs and we hope that our regulars and some new folks will make it a point to join us for some last minute love letter writing, or card making or just good ol' plain letters. As always, we'll have memberships and stamps for sale. We may even bring a pigeon or two. The stationery and supplies are complimentary and you're welcome to bring your own as well.

If you can't wait til Sunday {and are a jet setter or flying super hero}, there is also another Snail Mail Social at Arch Drafting Supply on Saturday, the 11th from 1-4PM. The Snail Mail Social was also featured in Uppercase Magazine. Huzzah to the promotion of letter writing!

Hope to see you soon at one or, if you're crazy, both of these great events! -Donovan

P.S. Last reminder, today is the next to last day before the postmarked due date of our 2000th Member Cover Contest. Be sure to send your entries before the 31st of January. Winners and prizes will be announced on Valentine's Day.

Letter Social at Read/Write Library

Get together with us this weekend for our last letter social for 2011. Here is all the info:

Saturday, Dec. 10th, 3pm - 5pm
Read/Write Library
914 N. California
Chicago, IL 60622

We started doing letter socials this February and are so pleased at the reaction we've had from them. Not only have we hosted several successful letter socials, we've also inspired others to host socials themselves! If you can't make it to this social, check out the article Donovan wrote about how to host your own social.

We always have so much fun at our socials and love meeting all of you letter lovers. Hope to see you there!

-Kathy

Upcoming & Ongoing Socials

Yes, yes, yes! Come and write! The Hideout is at 1354 W. Wabansia in Chicago. I even suspect that an electric typewriter will make an appearance.

And if you're in California, consider joining up with Write to Delight. They meet the second Thursdays of the month. Their next meeting is the 10th! Remember kids, invovlement earns Inklings. Want some? You've got to come out and play!

Location Change: Imbibe & Scribe

Attention, attention! September's letter writing social, Imbibe & Scribe, is in a different location this month. Please join us on Thursday the 8th from 7 to 9pm at the Blind Robin (853 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622). Come for a drink and write a letter with us. Here is what we will have that evening for your pleasure...

Free stuff:
• Stationery
• Envelopes
• Pens
• Glue, rubber stamps, and other mail art supplies

Stuff for sale:
• Various postage
• LWA memberships
• Member pouches
• Member bags

We'll give you another reminder about this meet as the day nears, but consider yourself warned about this month's different location!