On August 15, Roscoe Village will transform into a romance reader's paradise, with a curated vendor walk featuring local businesses.
It's called Romancing Roscoe and is being organized by Amanda Anderson, owner of The Last Chapter Book Shop, Chicago's only romance book store.
"I think that through these last three years, I have seen that it is truly just a sense of community that romance is, and bringing readership together," Anderson said. "I wanted a place to celebrate that."
Anderson said The Last Chapter celebrates Bookstore Romance Day every August 15 but wanted to do something extra special this year to celebrate The Last Chapter's five years in business.
"I kind of just had this idea of how cool would it be to make it an entire community event with getting local businesses involved," she said.
And that's how Romancing Roscoe came to be. Anderson said the one-day block party brings together several local vendors, artists and authors to Roscoe Street.
Amanda Anderson
"Everybody who wants to participate will get a Candyland-style map, and all the different businesses on the block will have their 'stamp stop,'" she said. "If everyone stops at every single business and gets a stamp, they'll have a chance to interact with authors and vendors."
She said those who complete the entire map will be entered for a chance to win a raffle basket.
Some of the vendors include permanent jewelry, candles, ice cream and face painting.
Anderson said she hopes the event makes the community feel loved and appreciated
"We want to be the place they think of when they think of wanting romance books, and that we can just continue to provide a sense of community to not only romance readers, but also to our Chicagoland area," she said.
Romancing Roscoe takes place on August 15 on Roscoe Street from Damen Avenue to Leavitt Street. Entry is free.
