'Secret Chicago' author to discuss unique Chicago sites during online book chat Wednesday
Can a Cleveland transplant teach Chicagoans about surprising aspects of the Windy City? Writer and photographer Jessica Mlinaric thinks so with her new book “Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.”
“When I moved here, I was so excited to be in a new place and experience all that Chicago had to offer,” Mlinaric said. “If I would go for walks, or runs, or bike rides, I would be curious about certain things that I saw along the way.”
In the decade that Mlinaric has lived in Chicago, she did research for herself and started a blog to document her observations. She later started writing for publications like Chicagoist, Chicago Magazine and Third Coast Review.
“Having fresh eyes really sparked my curiosity about a lot of places that maybe just blended in if you were used to seeing them all the time,” Mlinaric said. “It's that sense of travel and that sense of discovery and learning new things about places in your own backyard.”
In writing “Secret Chicago,” Mlinaric did lots of research in libraries. She also reached out to historical societies and community leaders for the inside scoop.
“I also got a lot of ideas just asking strangers at parties,” Mlinaric said. “Even bartenders, because they hold a lot of neighborhood secrets.”
Mlinaric wrote about 90 different sites in “Secret Chicago.” She photographed them all, too.
As a music fan, Mlinaric was surprised to learn that gospel music was invented at the Chicago synagogues-turned-churches Pilgrim Baptist Church and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. She also was unnerved to discover the remains of a nuclear reactor buried in a forest preserve in Palos Heights.
“One of my favorite stories is that there is a grave that is located in a defunct junkyard on the Southeast side of the city, and the person who is buried there is a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo,” Mlinaric said. “To me, it's so crazy - so unbelievable.”
Mlinaric was all set to promote her book on a tour of area libraries before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Though most of her appearances are now canceled or postponed, the Deerfield Public Library has invited Mlinaric to do an online book chat from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6. It's free and open to the public, but those interested must register in advance.
Mlinaric plans to use a lot of her photography to illustrate her visual book chat. She even hopes to work in some trivia questions via the chat feature.
“If the format works out well, I would love to continue doing that virtually to inspire people and to get some ideas about the Chicagoland area,” said Mlinaric, hoping that her book “can still give a sense of discovery and inspiration even though your ability to travel is limited right now.”
Virtual book talk with Jessica Mlinaric
Who: Mlinaric is the author of “Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure”
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6
What: An online event hosted by the Deerfield Public Library
Admission: Free and open to the public, but registration is required at deerfield.libnet.info/events.