Athenaeum Book Bar to Host its “Art is Life”
Athenaeum Book Bar is excited to announce its “Art is Life” themed pop-up at Block 37 (108 N State Street, Suite 2100) August 10 through August 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The pop-up will feature a selection of more than 300 coffee table-sized books on notable artists including Picasso, Monet, and Banksy, all for under $10.
To reinforce the forthcoming Athenaeum Book Bar’s culinary and cocktail focus, the pop-up will offer two cocktails including the ‘Gold Griot’, a citrus gin-based cocktail with a nod to Basquiat, and the ‘Warhol Splash’, a whiskey cocktail with nod to Andy Warhol, each for $5. There will also be a live artist installation from The Ricardo Arts tied to the beats of DJ Aris. While walk-ins are welcome, tickets for the pop-up are encouraged and now available on Eventbrite. Pre-registration includes two complimentary cocktails.
The “Art is Life” pop-up is merely a preview for Athenaeum Book Bar’s spring 2019 debut in Fulton Market, which will introduce the progressive bookstore concept, a first in the nation, to Chicago. Athenaeum is the brainchild of author and book lover Danielle Mullen, who aims to rethink our relationship with bookstores with a comfortable mix of a great library, your favorite bar and a tech store, all in one. The 25,000-square-foot space will be complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with novels of all genres, new and old, a beautiful two-level bar, and cozy fireplaces with comfortable couches and end tables that make the space feel more like a living room than a retail store. The space will also feature state-of-the-art technology including advanced boards which allow guests to browse the full library and an app that directs servers to which book to bring over.
Athenaeum guests can enjoy the one-of-a-kind library experience by purchasing a membership to check out books or stopping in to pick up and enjoy a book, while also indulging in novel-curated cocktails and small bites. Early membership for the Athenaeum Book Bar are now available on Indiegogo at a pre-opening, discounted rate. These monthly memberships start at $25 and allow members to checkout a specified number of books via their app, and either return them to checkout more, or purchase them outright. Users are also able to pre-order drinks and appetizers, as well as reserve breakout space. VIP members will receive chip-embedded cards that allow access to the membership-only floor, which is decked out with a top-shelf whiskey bar and cigar lounge. A membership is not required for visitors to enjoy the space.
