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Events Tue Nov 11 2014
Two Cookie Minimum, A Treat
The Hungry Brain is closing. To those who take liquid lunches, dinner or drinks on Belmont in Roscoe Village, this will mean one thing. For those in the live lit community, it will mean another.
The Hungry Brain is an iconic bar on Belmont and Oakley that has housed the monthly reading series Two Cookie Minimum since 2011, as well as a vintage Arkanoid game in the back (for as long as anyone's been playing Arkanoid).
To mark this occasion, Two Cookie's host Johnny Misfit brought in some of the city's best live lit hosts and curators to read. Misfit, known with more glossal strain as John Wawrzazsek, roasted each reader with endearing delicacy.
After a half-hour setup, the night began with Behnam Riahi, of Reading Under the Influence, whose 1st-person deconstruction of fatherhood was appreciated for its irreverence and vulgarity.
Elizabeth Harper, of Elizabeth's Crazy Little Thing, followed, outlining in two trilogy poems her hatred for stupid people (which knows no ethical bounds; no trigger warning preceded the "just kill yourself" solution offered by Harper) and her love for a young, tattooed, GGG creative (equally touching and intense).
Leah Picket, of The Marrow, followed Harper with an engaging love letter to St. Vincent's Annie Clark, as seen through the lens of a failed, noxious relationship.
The night ended with Carly Oishi, of Miss Spoken, who spoke of her late brother and his wife's position in their family both before and after his death. The specificity of Oishi's wondering rewarded a close listen, and the audience was emotionally engaged.
There were, in fact, cookies (vegan, on paper plates); and the bartender, Dan, was given tribute for throwing the "towel over his shoulder" day in and day out.
Two Cookie's audience was typically reserved, but receptive. Turnout was good and standing room was utilized as audience-members arrived throughout.
The Hungry Brain will host one last Two Cookie Minimum Tuesday, December 2. More information about further events and the history of Two Cookie Minimum on their website.