Gretchen Kalwinski

Triquarterly Blogging

Gretchen — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:39:42 +0000

Now that I’ve settled into a new, full-time copywriting job, I thought it was high time to get more involved with my graduate program; (I’m in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Northwestern University). To that end, I recently started contributing to the blog associated with their literary magazine, Triquarterly Online. I’ll focus my posts around print and online literary magazines and they’ll be housed here.

I will be posting one blog entry each week, and it’ll go up on Mondays. I’ve done four posts so far–about NanoWrimo, the Baffler’s resurgence, online writing tools, and the Occupy, Writers movement. So far, what I like about this gig is that it’s forcing me to keep up with the stuff I’m interested in; i.e., literary and publishing news, and the fiction, poetry, and criticism being published in literary mags. And, having a weekly deadline helps keep me focused on reading the news I’m actually interested in, rather than, say, refreshing Gawker.com twenty times a day or searching incessantly for the perfect winter boot that is simultaneously stylish, warm, and has excellent, ice-grabbing traction. But if anyone’s got a lead on that, do let me know.

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity

Gretchen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:29:14 +0000

“That’s the kind of thought that could lead a person to start drinking gin at 9 in the morning.” A poignant & thought-provoking talk on genius and Socratic “daemons” living in artists’ walls to help them with their work. Yeah, Gilbert wrote Eat, Pray, Love. This still rocks.

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

www.ted.com

TED Talks Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

Mandy Aftel’s perfumery class in Big Sur

Gretchen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:40:39 +0000

The novel I’m working on as my thesis for Northwestern is very focused on aroma, olfaction, and natural botanical perfumery. In my research, I’ve come across the wonderful Aftelier Perfumes by Mandy Aftel, a preeminent natural botanical perfumer. I’ve been reading her book Essence and Alchemy, and am enamored of the way she thinks about scent and perfume. I just stumbled across this post about the public class she’ll be offering at the fantastic Esalen in Big Sur, and realized, come hell or high water, I’ve got to go. I visited Esalen for it’s hot springs when I lived in San Francisco, and the place is spectacular; hot springs and a simple natural setting on the gorgeous California cliffs. Bonus that it’s in January; not a bad time to leave Chicago for Big Sur…

Our Faces on Rob Elder’s book “It Was Over When”

Gretchen — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:53:54 +0000

Chicago journalist Rob Elder wrote a book on breakups and since my husband Rob Funderburk and I knew the designer, we got to be “models” for the funny, irreverent, photo-booth book cover. Check out the third photo down and you’ll see my face got the “slash” treatment, but Rob-sans-eyeglasses can be pretty well made out. The book is getting swell coverage so far: check ABC Chicago, The Star, or check it out on Amazon. I have to say, though I had nothing to do with the book content, my 18-year old self would have been extremely impressed to be involved in a project praised by Kevin Smith. Ha!

Reader at WBEZ Event: “Don’t Call Me Joe”

Gretchen — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:26:41 +0000

I’ll be reading tonight with several other writers at the largest traditional coffee “cupping” event to happen in Chicago (conducted by Intelligentsia). Don’t know what cupping is? Neither did I, so I pasted some info from the WBEZ site below, or you can click here for more info. The piece I’ll be reading–and am still working on, oops–is an essay of my 20-year old coffee addiction, begun inelegantly with Mountain Dew, continuing with a brief, ugly Mini-Thin period in college, and now centered around my much more moderate, one-Americano-before-noon stasis.

CHICAGO (March 15, 2011) –Chicago Public Media (WBEZ 91.5 FM) continues its live event series, the Off-Air Series, with an exclusive chance to participate in a new culinary conversation and learn just how little is actually known about tasting and brewing coffee. Designed to be the largest ‘traditional coffee cupping’ (aka tasting) ever held in Chicago, Don’t Call Me Joe, in collaboration with Chicago’s own Intelligentsia Coffee, will be held at Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph Street, on Saturday, April 9 at 7:00pm. The event has limited seating and is almost sold-out, but there will be a wait list at the door.

Cupping is the industry standardized way of critically evaluating coffee; it is how Intelligentsia selects green coffee and is an integral part of their Direct Trade buying model. The standard procedure involves deeply sniffing the coffee, then loudly slurping so it spreads to the back of the tongue. The taster attempts to measure all aspects of the coffee’s taste including body, sweetness, acidity, flavor, and aftertaste. The amazing team of buyers, tasters and trainers from Intelligentsia Coffee, will educate about tasting terminology, coffee processing, and history, while cupping with some of Chicago’s most experienced staff: Baristas, Roasters, Green Coffee Buyers, and members of the Intelligentsia Quality Control team.

In order to ensure full immersion in this culinary realm, the Chicago-based publisher Stop Smiling Books has arranged ‘Readings on Coffee’ for the listening pleasure. Participating authors include: Kyle Beachy, Paul Durica, Fred Sasaki, Gretchen Kalwinski, Mairead Case, and Sam Weller. “The Off-Air Series is designed to extend the WBEZ listening experience out into the community and allow people to come see what they’ve been hearing, or in this case taste,” said Event Producer Breeze Richardson. “Learning a little more about coffee – where it comes from and why it tastes the way it does – helps you appreciate it more. Just like a wine tasting, Don’t Call Me Joe is an opportunity to skillfully taste coffee with the experts. And the chance to create Chicago’s largest cupping ever makes this event even better!”

Tickets to the event are nearly sold out, but there will be a waiting list at the door for those interested. More information is available at www.wbez.org/events.

Editing for the NRAEF

Gretchen — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:16:56 +0000

I’ve spent a good portion of the last 2 years working as a freelance editor for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), for some of their products/services/textbooks, including their Prostart guide, ServSave book, and Food Management Professional guide. They are now merged with their educational foundation, but when I began freelancing for them back in 2005, they were known simply as “NRA.” Funnily, many people in this industry are also affiliated with the “CIA” (Culinary Institute of America), and FBI (Food and Beverage Institute). The organization is a huge one, and because it’s politically active, is sometimes controversial, but I’ve had nothing but good experiences working with NRAEF staff over the years.

Book review for Make Magazine on “Century of Clouds”

Gretchen — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:46:21 +0000

I just penned a book review for Make Literary Magazine on Bruce Boone’s poetic/New Narrative memoir “Century of Clouds.” It was lovely to swim around in the wonderfully obtuse, digressive book for a few hours this winter and I know so much more now than I did before about the New Narrative group. Century of Clouds is a reissue and an important staple of the New Narrative writers.

Flinchy t-shirt showcasing

Gretchen — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 06:27:52 +0000

In a case of terrible timing, I was asked to wear a t-shirt this winter (5 days after the cookie-bloated Christmas holidays), for Flinchy, a t-shirt company founded by pals–the founders are Jay Ryan, Tom Stack, and Diana Sudyka. Essentially, Flinchy is a group effort to make cool t-shirt designs by local artists and designers. Here’s my shot of the gorgeous Raven Heart t-shirt, designed by Diana Sudyka, and here is Flinchy’s main site.

I Love Libraries (and you should, too)

Gretchen — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:48:28 +0000

I recently finished some freelance writing and editing for the American Library Association’s wonderful “I Love Libraries” site. If you don’t know about this resource, you should — it lists ways for everyday people (non-librarians) to get involved with advocating libraries on the local and national level. Years ago, I worked for the ALA’s Trustee division and it was a pleasure seeing volunteers who were so passionate about fighting for library funding, and ensuring that books, resources, and information would continue to be provided to their communities. Here’s an oft-trotted out quote from Carl Sagan about libraries, available on the ALA’s “Library Quotes” page: ”I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture, and our concern for the future, can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.”

Jean Shepherd Story on the Chicagoan

Gretchen — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:46:36 +0000

I wrote a new piece on Jean Shepherd, radio raconteur and famed for “A Christmas Story,” for the Chicagoan, a “new nonprofit media organization whose mission is to document the arts and culture history of Chicago and the greater Midwest with an emphasis on long-form storytelling.” Please note the beautiful illustration by Chicago artist Rob Funderburk. I’m so excited about this promising new project, and what a great excuse for me to wax poetic about my love/hate relationship with Shepherd, who was also born and raised in Hammond, IN.