First, apologies for the content brownout on Zulkey.com lately. I've been out of town and working on several deadlines but I know you understand, right? That's why I love you, for your understanding nature. Things will calm down in about a month.

I do want to let you know about two fun events I'm going to be at in the next month. First, tomorrow night, along with friends of the site Megan Stielstra and Sarah Terez Rosenblum, I will be reading from one of my favorite kids' books at the Women and Children First bookstore in Chicago. (Don't worry, it is not The Giving Tree or anything similarly macabre or martyr-like.) If you live in the Andersonville/Edgewater neighborhood or have always wanted to check out one of those bookstores that may or may not have inspired the Women & Women First sketches on Portlandia, you should come by 5233 N. Clark at 7:30 PM. More details here.

Secondly, just a reminder/save the date that Funny Ha-Ha will be returning Friday, May 16 at the Hideout. In case you're not familiar, Funny Ha-Ha is a reading where all the pieces are funny, so no stuffy stuff. The Hideout is basically Chicago's coolest bar so coming to this event will amp up your street cred in ways you never imagined. Plus it ends in time for you to go out and have some dinner! You're welcome. Check out this lineup, full of new faces and some friendly returning ones, too: