Zora’s Place

TOMORROW: Our founder is leading a special election-themed Family Storytime in partnership with League of Women Voters of IL 🗳️

Join us for a reading of L’Oreal’s new book, Violet Goes Voting, plus grown-ups can check their voter registration and make sure they’re Election Day ready.

Learn more and register at the 🔗 in bi0!

It’s officially and we’re celebrating with a cozy fall lineup! 🎃📚

This month at Zora’s Place:

10/10: Special election-themed storytime featuring our founder, L'Oreal Thompson Payton, author of Violet Goes Voting

10/21: Wednesday Night Write-In for all the writers

10/30: Drag Queen Bingo: Halloween Edition with Eve The Bunny!! ✌🏾️🧡🐰

10/31: Fall Fest at The Aux featuring trick-or-treating, a Halloween-themed storytime & so much more!

Register at the 🔗 in bi0!

September is our birthday month! 🎂💜

We turn ONE on September 20, and we’re celebrating all month long with stories, conversation, community and, of course, books.

Here’s what’s happening at Zora’s Place this September:

📚 SAT. 9/12 — Family Storytime
Bring your little readers and join us for our monthly morning of stories, imagination and community.

🌸 SUN. 9/13 — Black Women in Bloom: Chicago Book Launch with CAREFREE 
An afternoon celebrating Black women, blooming and the beauty of finding ourselves in nature and in community.

🐝 TUES. 9/15 — One of One: A Beyoncé Love Letter Experience
An intimate evening of conversation and reflection celebrating Beyoncé’s cultural legacy with Antonia Jade King, author of Beyoncé: One of One, in conversation with Britt Julious and Francesca Royster.

🎂 SUN. 9/20 — Zora’s Place One-Year Anniversary Open House
Join us from 1–3 PM for cake, music, memories from Year One and a toast to everything we’re dreaming up for Year Two.

Come celebrate with us—and bring a friend! Registration and ticket links for all September events are at the link in bio.

is it still kinda chic to do this trend? 👀

Since opening last September (hard to believe we’re coming up one year!), we’ve had the pleasure of hosting numerous community events, author talks, book signings and more all in the name of Black feminism, Black families, Black (woman-owned) businesses and Black joy!

We love it here 🥰

Than you, Ashley Cobb, for gracing us with your wisdom, your presence and your fashion!

Signed copies of Pleasure, Please! are available in store. You can also catch Ashley at Let’s Talk About S*x Conference later today.

We’re closing out summer in style with a jam-packed August! 📆

8/7: Author talk with Ashley Cobb

8/8: Family storytime

8/9: Book Lover Day

8/11: Build Your Own Liberation Library with Teach Tank

8/14: Author talk with Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor in conversation with natalie y. moore presented by Shorefront

8/22: Evanston Family Fest

8/29: Black Bookstore Day

8/30: Pop-up at Soul Good Coffee

Which event are you coming to? Let us know in the comments!

We’re so excited to welcome back Sandra Jackson-Opoku to celebrate the launch of Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils…the second installment in her Savvy Summers mystery series.

Did you know Sandra was the first author we hosted at Zora’s Place last year? We can’t believe our one-year anniversary is coming up so soon!

Get your ticket to this author talk (and more) on our Eventbrite page or visit the 🔗 in bi0!

Drag Queen Storytime is coming to Zora’s Place! 💃🏾📚✨

Join us next Saturday, June 13 at 11:30 am for a magical morning of stories, songs, dancing and fun with the fabulous Eve the Bunny ()! 🐰🥰

At Zora’s Place, we believe every child (and adult!) deserves to see a world full of imagination, creativity and joy—and we’re thrilled to welcome families of ALL backgrounds for this special celebration of reading and self-expression.

🌈 All ages welcome
📍Zora’s Place (2223 Washington St., Evanston, IL)
🗓️Saturday, June 13
⏰ 11:30am - 12:15 pm

Spaced is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot at the l🔗nk in bi0!

We’re so excited to for our very first Independent Bookstore Day is next Saturday, April 25!! 🥳🎉📚

In case you’re unfamiliar, IBD is basically the Super Bowl for independent bookstores! Think of it as Small Business Saturday, but indie bookstores. 🥰

We’ve got some goodies in store for you, so be sure to watch this page. In the meantime, tag a friend you want to come with you! 🛍️

Got plans for this Saturday? Now you do!

We’re celebrating National Poetry Month with a special Family Storytime featuring , Chicago poet, activist and author.

She’ll be sharing her latest book, My Brown Boy, an affirming picture book that celebrates the brilliance and power of brown and Black boys to achieve their dreams.

RSVP (for FREE!) at the link in bio! 📚