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What Was Queer Lakeview Like In The 1980s?
To understand more the real-life parallels between Makkai’s novel and 1980s Lakeview, Read & Run Chicago hosted three LGBTQ elders after our Book Club Run of The Great Believers in January 2025 in partnership with Gerber/Hart Library & Archives, the largest LGBTQ archives in the Midwest and a resource for Rebecca Makkai.
Three Readers & Runners Reflect on Their Quinceañeras
Do you remember your quinceañera? We asked this question to readers & runners at our October 2024 Book Club Run of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, a three-mile loop around Cicero, Illinois, inspired by Erika L. Sánchez’s award-winning young adult novel. Here’s what three runners have to say.
A Guide to Donating (Money) To A New-To-You Nonprofit
Guide Kaylee Tock rounded up some best practices for deciding where to spend your advocacy dollars.
The Real-Life Activists That Helped Inspire The Great Believers
Meet the real-life activists that shaped the fictional story in Rebecca Makkai’s The Great Believers.
We Spoke to Ann Napolitano. Here’s What We Learned.
In June 2024, we hosted a virtual Q&A with NYT Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano. Here’s what we learned about her.
Newberry Library Digital Collections Related to The Girls in 3-B
Here are some of the digital collections guide Quinn Sluzenski referenced while researching for the running tour of The Girls in 3-B.
Running Through Stories In Lemont
Read & Run Chicago’s partnership with Lemont Downtown took us to trails throughout the city to bring local author Pat Camalliere’s historical mystery series to life.
Chelsey Stone: From Read & Run Chicago Guide to Read & Run on the Road Organizer
Learn more about Chelsey Stone’s Read & Run on the Road events in San Diego and Los Angeles this spring and summer!
Introducing Read & Run Tours’s Read & Run on the Road Program
Learn more about Read & Run on the Road program, the newest program of Read & Run Tours!
When Winter Does Not Seem That Bad After All
Read & Run Chicago Ryan Ricker on how we can all appreciate winter a little more.
2023 Holiday Gift Guide for the Chicagoans in Your life
There are countless books set in Chicago that will teach us about the food, history, and culture of the city we love. Here’s our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide for the Chicagoan in your life.
Trail Runs Inspired by Chicago Transit Hikes
Read & Run Chicago hosts author Lindsday Welbers for trail runs around the Chicagoland area inspired by her book, Chicago Transit Hikes!
Run a Self-Guided Route: Gaybash by David Jay Collins
After reading the book, lace up your shoes and head to the Addison Red Line Statio~3.2-mile route inspired by David Jay Collins’s Gaybash.
Run a Self-Guided Route: The Battle of Lincoln Park by Daniel Kay Hertz
Bring Daniel Kay Hertz’s The Battle of Lincoln Park to life on this 4-mile self-guided route hitting all of the most important historical locations in the making of one of Chicago’s wealthiest neighborhoods.
Where to Learn More About Chicago’s Japanese-American History
Naomi Hirahara’s novel Clark and Division has a storyline leaning on heavily researched information about what it was like for Japanese-Americans relocated to Chicago during World War II. Here are resources to help you learn more about this time period.
Run a Self-Guided Route: Temper by Layne Fargo
Bring this feminist thriller to life on a ~4-mile self-guided route passing by some of the real-life places frequented by Temper’s characters.
Best Chicagoland Trails to Explore This Winter, According to Nature Experts
Local nature experts weigh in on the best Chicagoland trails to explore this winter.
Fitness and Friendship: How Four Women Maintain Their Love of Fitness and Support Each Other
Read & Run Chicago’s February 2023 reader(s) and runner(s) of the month are an inspiring example of maintaining a love of friendship and fitness.



