RIVER NORTH — The next great gathering of American artists and writers may not happen in a Bohemian loft or cafe, but rather at a beacon of American capitalism near you: McDonald's.
Nearly 30 artists will perform at the "McPoems" reading 7 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, 600 N. Clark St., which may not have enough space for its poetry visitors.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 360 people had RSVP'd on Facebook for the rare event. The restaurant's seating capacity is 333, and the second floor has room for 165 people.
David Matthews previews the seemingly odd event:
Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, 600 N. Clark St. (Flickr/ Señor Codo)
The event is the first of its kind in Chicago, but started in Los Angeles by Marcel Alcalá, a California native and 2012 School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate. Alcalá cooked up "McPoems" after he moved back west after college, writing many poems but finding the literary scene of Los Angeles too stuffy and pretentious for outsiders.
"I didn’t want to go to a poetry reading because I felt more vulnerable, and those things depressed me in a way," Alcalá said. "I thought, well, McDonald’s is a perfect place because it is a family place. It has that conversation about capitalism and the American way."
The series comes to Chicago after prior "McPoems" events in Los Angeles and suburban Highland Park. Artists of all stripes, mostly Alcalá's friends, perform, with poetry, performance art, and a viola show all on the menu Wednesday.
"I’m hoping that through these events that they kind of build up a network of thinkers and writers and artists," Alcalá said.
WATCH: A Whistler's Performance at 'McPoems' Last Year in California
The sentiment invokes images of great literary hangouts between the likes of Fitzgerald and Hemingway, but at a playpen instead of a Paris cafe. Though Alcalá and his friends aren't best-sellers, Alcalá's flight was covered by an arts grant, and he will host his own show Saturday at The Hills Esthetic Center, a Near West Side gallery.
Another artist performing, Zak Stone, has contributed to publications including Playboy and The Atlantic. He's also flying in from L.A. to read at McDonald's.
"it’s all very effortless and [do-it-yourself]. It’s not pretentious," Stone said. "It's a novel atmosphere."
Marilyn Wright, the franchisee who owns Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, did not return a message seeking comment, but Alcalá said he has prior approval from management to host the event at the River North restaurant.
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