Milwaukee

In the lovely city of Milwaukee lies an amazing feminist bookstore called Broad Vocabulary. I had the pleasure of visiting the store this summer, on a fundraising trip for Bitch. It was truly one of my highlights: I love bookstores, I love feminist bookstores, and I especially love feminist radical bookstores like Broad Vocabulary. 

I guess I can't say I was too surprised when I heard the news yesterday that they might be closing -- feminist bookstores (and independent bookstores more generally) are closing left and right these days, the most recent one being Word Is Out in Colorado. 

The Milwaukee Zine Fest is this weekend, Friday through Sunday, July 18-20. Workshops, films, tables of zines and other printed matter. 

It's free! 

Friday night: BBQ, baseball, kickball, and music

Saturday and Sunday: Zine fair, dialogues, and workshops, plus more music at night

Bitch (and Make/Shift!) will be represented by the wonderful Joy Zuccarello, so please visit her table and attend the discussion she's facilitating about feminism on Sunday from 1-1:45. 

I am in love with Milwaukee. 

I'm posting updates to my Midwestern trip as they're finalized. Here's what's happening in Milwaukee. More on other cities to come soon!  

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If you live in Milwaukee, please come out for these events – and spread the word!

Bitchcraft, a weekend of music, arts, crafts, and words will take place Saturday, May 17–Sunday, May 18. All events are free—donations are very much encouraged (and appreciated!) and benefit the nonprofit project you know and love as B-Word/Bitch.

Bitchcraft kicks off Saturday, May 17, 5–8 p.m., at Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St., with performances by singer-songwriters Heidi Spencer and Stephanie Rearick; a sneak preview of "Devotion to Thread," an exhibit curated by Faythe Levine; and some brief comments from me about what we're up to at Bitch! 

Part two of Bitchcraft takes place Sunday, May 18, 4–5:30 pm. I'll facilitate a special session of the Femiknits discussion group—open to non-knitters!—at Broad Vocabulary Bookstore, 2241 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Our discussion will focus on the ways in which feminism can be re-imagined in our communities. Even if you don't knit, please come and share your ideas, stories, and struggles.