original artists

That strange little stretch of the calendar between summer and autumn has always been one of my favorite times of the year. You can still get a warm afternoon, but suddenly there are cooler nights, football starts creeping back into conversations, pumpkin everything begins showing up and people start thinking about flannel again.

Tomorrow, Saturday, August 29, we're bringing the Fright Market back to Camp Lake Zurich at Phase Three Brewing for its second year, and we've made this one bigger, weirder and considerably darker.

Five years ago, the Streetz Artz Alliance and Soundgrowler Brewing Co. brought together comic artists, collectors, cosplayers and local makers for a different kind of pop culture event in Tinley Park. On Saturday, Aug. 22, the market returns for its fifth year with its largest mix yet of comics, original art, collectibles, gaming, cosplay, handmade goods and convention-inspired creations.

If you're planning on joining us this Sunday for the very first Crafted at the Oak: Metal, Magic & Mystery Market at Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, there are a couple of things I want you to know before we get into everything you're going to find.

August is one of my favorite times of the year. Summer is still going strong, the breweries are full of life, artists are bringing some of their best new work, and we get to start sneaking in a little bit of fall and Halloween fun before the season officially arrives.

On Saturday, August 8, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Streetz Artz Alliance returns to Maplewood Public House, 486 Pennsylvania Ave. in downtown Glen Ellyn, for the second Prism Market. After the success of our inaugural event in June, Maplewood and I agreed that moving the market to a Saturday afternoon would give even more families and shoppers the chance to spend the day with us.

Collectors know that the thrill isn't just about finding something rare—it's about the hunt. Whether it's discovering a first-print comic book, uncovering a long-sought vinyl record, completing a trading card deck, or meeting the artist behind a favorite illustration, every collection has a story.

Whether you're searching for a rare comic book, flipping through crates of vinyl, chasing that elusive trading card, or discovering original artwork from local creators, the hunt begins Saturday, August 1, as the second annual Comics, Cards & Vinyl Market returns to Noon Whistle Brewing from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.