A few weeks ago, I celebrated the launch of my book Secret Chicago with a book launch party! It’s my first book and I worked on it for over a year, so I was thrilled to share this milestone with family, friends, and readers.
I hosted the Secret Chicago book launch party at a secret spot right out of the book. The Drifter is a speakeasy hidden behind a secret door beneath the Green Door Tavern. The space actually operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition!
I was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support at the party. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up. Thank you!
I hosted the Secret Chicago book launch party at a secret spot right out of the book. The Drifter is a speakeasy hidden behind a secret door beneath the Green Door Tavern. The space actually operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition!I was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support at the party. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up. Thank you!
It was such a treat to connect with readers and hear their feedback on Secret Chicago. I signed books for three hours straight and sold out of all the books I brought!
The Drifter is known for its unique entertainment, from sword swallowers to burlesque dancers. Thanks to hula hoop artist Samantha Siren who lit up the room with her performance!
We sipped on cocktails from the Drifter’s renowned bar program. I’m sure it was a huge improvement over whatever was served in the space during Prohibition! Thanks to Stolen Spirits for their support.
The adorable Secret Chicago cookies by BAKE were a hit. The bakery is a neighborhood favorite, and their patio is a Wicker Park secret worth checking out.
I closed out the party with a quick reading from Secret Chicago and a raffle of prizes from the book. Attendees went away with some incredible prizes like free tours, Schuba’s concert tickets, and a stay at the InterContinental hotel!
Thank you so, so much to my family and friends who drove in from Ohio and to everyone who attended the party. It meant so much to celebrate with you! If you haven’t checked out the book please do, and if you have I’d SO appreciate a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Finally, thanks to Jim Vondruska for these fantastic photos and to my cousin Mark Beltavski for capturing the party with this video!
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
