Many thanks to our Chicago friends for this post.

This week Chicago celebrates the Midwest’s largest literary event of the year. The Chicago Tribune Printer’s Row Literary Festival features author readings, signings, book launches, panel discussions,live music, poetry readings, plays, wine tastings and children’s events all in the heart of America’s second city.

The annual festival, which draws over 125,000 booklovers each June, also has a terrific booksale. More than 200 booksellers from around North America offer antiquarian, secondhand, new and specialty books.

This year’s author line-up includes such luminaries as Sebastian Junger, Audrey Niffenegger, Jennifer Egan, Colson Whitehead,Michael Harvey, Sara Paretsky and the irrepressible Christopher Hitchens.

The festival runs for 2 days from June 12 to 13 and centers on Dearborn and Polk Streets.