Running Tour of The Chicago Taxi Wars of the 1920s with Anne Morrissy

Join Read & Run Chicago and author Anne Morrisy for a 5-mile running route inspired by her gripping account of the 1920s Chicago taxi wars, a lesser-acknowledged historical period that had lasting impacts on Chicago business, labor relations, and the way we traverse the Windy City. Along this route, we'll stop at various sites relevant to the three major players in this drama: Yellow Cab, the Hotel La Salle and Checker Taxi. After the route, enjoy an intimate discussion with Anne, book sales and signing, plus snacks and drinks.

No prior reading required, but if you'd like to learn more, purchase at the event or order online through our Bookshop.org link.

Here's what else you need to know:

MEET: Doors open at at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel's Stagg Court (12 S Michigan) at 10:45am on Saturday, January 25. You'll check-in, write a name tag, and mingle with other readers & runners. Our program will begin promptly at 11:00am and the route will take off by 11:10am. Any late arrivals after 11:10am should wait at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel until the group returns.

TRANSPORTATION:

The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is offering event attendees valet parking for a discounted flat rate of $22. If you plan to drive to the event and would like take advantage of this offer, please indicate at check out. If you take this option, you'll enter through the side door off Madison Street.

There are a variety of public transportation options to arrive at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel: Metra and South Shore Line both have nearby stations, and the CTA Brown, Pink, Orange, Green, and Purple lines all stop at nearby Adams/Wabash station. Alternativily, numerous CTA bus lines go down Michigan Avenue.

The nearest Divvy station is located across the street in Millennium Park.

ROUTE: We will run an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), ~5-mile route with several stops. Not planning to run? Cyclists, rollers, rollerblades, scooters, and more welcome (take care of your own safety, please!).

END: After the 5-mile guided run, we'll return to the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel's Stagg Court (12 S Michigan) for a discussion with Anne, plus book sales and signing, snacks and drinks.

NOTE: If you are planning to join only for the discussion portion, please plan to arrive at Stagg Court by 12:45pm.

All registered readers & runners will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

About Anne Morrissy: Anne Morrissy is a nonfiction writer with a passion for narrative history. Since 2021, she has served as the editor of At The Lake Magazine in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Her writing has appeared in the Wisconsin Magazine of History, American Spirit Magazine, and many other local and regional publications. She is the author of Running the Reds: The First 100 Years of the Water Safety Patrol, 1920-2020. A graduate of Kenyon College, she splits her time between Chicago and Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold an alternative version of the event indoors beginning at 11am. You will be notified via email no later than 9am on Saturday, January 25 if there are any changes to the event as listed here.

Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 60 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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