In the fall of 2008, just a few months after the massive flood that devastated our arts campus, Iowa City received a singular honor and a great boost to morale: we were named a UNESCO City of Literature\u2014only the third metropolis (after Edinburgh and Melbourne) to receive that coveted designation, and now one of twenty Cities of Literature spread across the globe (and still the only one in the Western Hemisphere). Not only the University of Iowa\u2019s renowned literary programs (the Writers Workshop, the International Writing Program, the Center for the Book, etc.), but also the thriving life of letters outside the university were crucial factors in the designation.<\/p>\n
The headquarters for \u201cIowa City\u2014 UNESCO City of Literature<\/a>\u201d can be found right across from the Hotel Vetro, in the Iowa City Public Library. As you walk around downtown, simply look down to see evidence of the integral part literature plays in our way of life: as you stroll along the Iowa Avenue<\/a> and Northside Marketplace<\/a> Literary Walks, you will be treading upon quotations from many of the literary figures past and present who have resided in our town.<\/p>\n Needless to say, we have bookstores. The most celebrated is Prairie Lights<\/a>, 15 S. Dubuque St. (Today\u2019s trivia question: what books did President Obama purchase at the store in 2010<\/a>?) For a house full of used books, visit The Haunted Bookshop<\/a>, 219 N. Gilbert St.<\/p>\n Walk farther north on Clinton Street to see Dey House, home of the famed Writers Workshop<\/a> (507 N. Clinton St.) and\u00a0 Shambaugh House, home of the International Writing Program<\/a> (430 N. Clinton St.).<\/p>\n To literally drink in the literary atmosphere, relax with a beverage of your choice at Dave\u2019s Fox Head Tavern, 402 E. Market St.\u2014a venerable writers\u2019 hangout mentioned recently in HBO\u2019s Girls<\/em> during the lead character\u2019s brief stint at the Writers\u2019 Workshop.<\/p>\n And of course there are libraries!<\/p>\n –Tim Shipe In the fall of 2008, just a few months after the massive flood that devastated our arts campus, Iowa City received a singular honor and a great boost to morale: we were named a UNESCO City of Literature\u2014only the third metropolis (after Edinburgh and Melbourne) to receive that coveted designation, and now one of twenty… <\/p>\n
\nCurator, International Dada Archive
\nLiaison for Arts and Literature
\nUniversity of Iowa Libraries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"