Chicago Alternative Comics Expo
@cakechicago.bsky.social
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a celebration of independent comics! 🍰
www.cakechicago.com/
www.cakechicago.com/
Applications for CAKE 2026 open December 1st!
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) returns May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago’s Mayfair neighborhood. We can’t wait to see you there!
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) returns May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago’s Mayfair neighborhood. We can’t wait to see you there!
November 22, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Applications for CAKE 2026 open December 1st!
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) returns May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago’s Mayfair neighborhood. We can’t wait to see you there!
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) returns May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago’s Mayfair neighborhood. We can’t wait to see you there!
CAKE is open!! Day two!! Join us at the Irish American Heritage Center from 11am - 5pm
4626 N Knox Avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood 🍰🍰🍰
4626 N Knox Avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood 🍰🍰🍰
June 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM
CAKE is open!! Day two!! Join us at the Irish American Heritage Center from 11am - 5pm
4626 N Knox Avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood 🍰🍰🍰
4626 N Knox Avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood 🍰🍰🍰
Biking to CAKE??
The IAHC has bike racks located BEHIND the building, on Kilpatrick Avenue!
The IAHC has bike racks located BEHIND the building, on Kilpatrick Avenue!
June 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Biking to CAKE??
The IAHC has bike racks located BEHIND the building, on Kilpatrick Avenue!
The IAHC has bike racks located BEHIND the building, on Kilpatrick Avenue!
Animation, readings, and more – oh my! Plan your CAKE calendar using the link in our bio. Read full descriptions, get to know the presenters, and get pumped! 🎉
June 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Animation, readings, and more – oh my! Plan your CAKE calendar using the link in our bio. Read full descriptions, get to know the presenters, and get pumped! 🎉
FREE consultations available! Sign up to get personalized help from an @printninja expert on Saturday :sunglasses: Click the link in the bio to snag your spot!
June 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
FREE consultations available! Sign up to get personalized help from an @printninja expert on Saturday :sunglasses: Click the link in the bio to snag your spot!
If our last programming post wasn’t enough of a teaser, we’ve got more! Learn something new with expert instructors for FREE at CAKE this weekend 🌟 Click that bio link for all the details!
June 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
If our last programming post wasn’t enough of a teaser, we’ve got more! Learn something new with expert instructors for FREE at CAKE this weekend 🌟 Click that bio link for all the details!
If our last programming post wasn’t enough of a teaser, we’ve got more! Learn something new with expert instructors for FREE at CAKE this weekend 🌟 Click that bio link for all the details!
June 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
If our last programming post wasn’t enough of a teaser, we’ve got more! Learn something new with expert instructors for FREE at CAKE this weekend 🌟 Click that bio link for all the details!
Things are heating up in Chicago, and with CAKE! We’ve got something for everyone in our program lineup, and we’re kicking things off with our Special Guest programs 🔥 Use the link in our bio to get the full descriptions!
June 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Things are heating up in Chicago, and with CAKE! We’ve got something for everyone in our program lineup, and we’re kicking things off with our Special Guest programs 🔥 Use the link in our bio to get the full descriptions!
Things are heating up in Chicago, and with CAKE! We’ve got something for everyone in our program lineup, and we’re kicking things off with our Special Guest programs 🔥 Use the link in our bio to get the full descriptions!
June 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Things are heating up in Chicago, and with CAKE! We’ve got something for everyone in our program lineup, and we’re kicking things off with our Special Guest programs 🔥 Use the link in our bio to get the full descriptions!
Sunday night close out CAKE weekend with a reading and afterparty hosted by Bianca Xunise with music by Mercurio! Readings by Jonni Peppers-Go Lions @punkratkid.bsky.social, Eddy Atoms, Koreangry, @bethhetland.bsky.social, and @sagecoffey.bsky.social (who made this poster!) 7PM 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave
June 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Sunday night close out CAKE weekend with a reading and afterparty hosted by Bianca Xunise with music by Mercurio! Readings by Jonni Peppers-Go Lions @punkratkid.bsky.social, Eddy Atoms, Koreangry, @bethhetland.bsky.social, and @sagecoffey.bsky.social (who made this poster!) 7PM 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave
Saturday we've got a release party and reading for @maxhuffman.bsky.social's new book from CRAM, Them Shaped Clouds! Readings by Andrew Alexander, Molly Colleen O'Connell, @atpratt.bsky.social, Steve Schaberg, Sam Szabo, Harrison Wyrk and Nell McKeon. 8PM 3326 S. Halsted
June 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Saturday we've got a release party and reading for @maxhuffman.bsky.social's new book from CRAM, Them Shaped Clouds! Readings by Andrew Alexander, Molly Colleen O'Connell, @atpratt.bsky.social, Steve Schaberg, Sam Szabo, Harrison Wyrk and Nell McKeon. 8PM 3326 S. Halsted
The fun doesn't stop when the show ends! Check out out After-CAKE events! Saturday 6/26 at Tangible Books hosted by Max Huffman and CRAM Books and Sunday 6/29 at The Native hosted by Bianca Xunise!
June 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The fun doesn't stop when the show ends! Check out out After-CAKE events! Saturday 6/26 at Tangible Books hosted by Max Huffman and CRAM Books and Sunday 6/29 at The Native hosted by Bianca Xunise!
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest KOREANGRY!
Eunsoo Jeong is an LA-based artist & creator of Koreangry. Based on her daily struggles as a Korean-American, Koreangry illustrates the artist's life through an asian gumby lookalike, with a hint of humor and empathy in a handmade world.
koreangry.com
Eunsoo Jeong is an LA-based artist & creator of Koreangry. Based on her daily struggles as a Korean-American, Koreangry illustrates the artist's life through an asian gumby lookalike, with a hint of humor and empathy in a handmade world.
koreangry.com
June 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest KOREANGRY!
Eunsoo Jeong is an LA-based artist & creator of Koreangry. Based on her daily struggles as a Korean-American, Koreangry illustrates the artist's life through an asian gumby lookalike, with a hint of humor and empathy in a handmade world.
koreangry.com
Eunsoo Jeong is an LA-based artist & creator of Koreangry. Based on her daily struggles as a Korean-American, Koreangry illustrates the artist's life through an asian gumby lookalike, with a hint of humor and empathy in a handmade world.
koreangry.com
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest Malachi Ward!
Malachi Ward @malachiward.bsky.social makes comics like Black Hammer, Ancestor, and Expansion. He draws covers for Star Trek, illustrations for The New Yorker and draws backgrounds for Green Street, Netflix, and Titmouse. malachiwardportfolio.com
Malachi Ward @malachiward.bsky.social makes comics like Black Hammer, Ancestor, and Expansion. He draws covers for Star Trek, illustrations for The New Yorker and draws backgrounds for Green Street, Netflix, and Titmouse. malachiwardportfolio.com
June 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest Malachi Ward!
Malachi Ward @malachiward.bsky.social makes comics like Black Hammer, Ancestor, and Expansion. He draws covers for Star Trek, illustrations for The New Yorker and draws backgrounds for Green Street, Netflix, and Titmouse. malachiwardportfolio.com
Malachi Ward @malachiward.bsky.social makes comics like Black Hammer, Ancestor, and Expansion. He draws covers for Star Trek, illustrations for The New Yorker and draws backgrounds for Green Street, Netflix, and Titmouse. malachiwardportfolio.com
we’ve been made aware of a scam email that went out to a number of our contacts, please do not engage with this, we will never sell your data or provide it to a third party.
June 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
we’ve been made aware of a scam email that went out to a number of our contacts, please do not engage with this, we will never sell your data or provide it to a third party.
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest, Geneva Bowers!
@gdbee.bsky.social
Geneva is a Hugo Award–winning illustrator whose work focuses on magic realism and nostalgia. She aims to make people smile while showing a piece of how beautiful life can be.
genevab.com
@gdbee.bsky.social
Geneva is a Hugo Award–winning illustrator whose work focuses on magic realism and nostalgia. She aims to make people smile while showing a piece of how beautiful life can be.
genevab.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest, Geneva Bowers!
@gdbee.bsky.social
Geneva is a Hugo Award–winning illustrator whose work focuses on magic realism and nostalgia. She aims to make people smile while showing a piece of how beautiful life can be.
genevab.com
@gdbee.bsky.social
Geneva is a Hugo Award–winning illustrator whose work focuses on magic realism and nostalgia. She aims to make people smile while showing a piece of how beautiful life can be.
genevab.com
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest, Caroline Hu! (@hudrewthis.bsky.social)
Caroline Hu is a cartoonist, science communicator,
and biology professor based in Boston.
hudrewthis.com
Caroline Hu is a cartoonist, science communicator,
and biology professor based in Boston.
hudrewthis.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 Special Guest, Caroline Hu! (@hudrewthis.bsky.social)
Caroline Hu is a cartoonist, science communicator,
and biology professor based in Boston.
hudrewthis.com
Caroline Hu is a cartoonist, science communicator,
and biology professor based in Boston.
hudrewthis.com
Introducing CAKE 2025 SPECIAL GUEST Angie Hewitt!
Angie Hewitt’s work is inspired by mystery, memory and the otherworldly. Focusing on the many odd things in daily life, she hopes to bring attention to some often overlooked moments with her art, and zines.
@angiee.bsky.social
angie-hewitt.com
Angie Hewitt’s work is inspired by mystery, memory and the otherworldly. Focusing on the many odd things in daily life, she hopes to bring attention to some often overlooked moments with her art, and zines.
@angiee.bsky.social
angie-hewitt.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 SPECIAL GUEST Angie Hewitt!
Angie Hewitt’s work is inspired by mystery, memory and the otherworldly. Focusing on the many odd things in daily life, she hopes to bring attention to some often overlooked moments with her art, and zines.
@angiee.bsky.social
angie-hewitt.com
Angie Hewitt’s work is inspired by mystery, memory and the otherworldly. Focusing on the many odd things in daily life, she hopes to bring attention to some often overlooked moments with her art, and zines.
@angiee.bsky.social
angie-hewitt.com
Introducing CAKE 2025 SPECIAL GUEST Max Huffman!
Max Huffman is a cartoonist and doorstop from North Carolina whose debut graphic novel, Dogtangle, will be published in fall 2025 by Fantagraphics Books. He lives in Bridgeport with his cat Bonky.
@maxhuffman.bsky.social
maxhuffman.com
Max Huffman is a cartoonist and doorstop from North Carolina whose debut graphic novel, Dogtangle, will be published in fall 2025 by Fantagraphics Books. He lives in Bridgeport with his cat Bonky.
@maxhuffman.bsky.social
maxhuffman.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Introducing CAKE 2025 SPECIAL GUEST Max Huffman!
Max Huffman is a cartoonist and doorstop from North Carolina whose debut graphic novel, Dogtangle, will be published in fall 2025 by Fantagraphics Books. He lives in Bridgeport with his cat Bonky.
@maxhuffman.bsky.social
maxhuffman.com
Max Huffman is a cartoonist and doorstop from North Carolina whose debut graphic novel, Dogtangle, will be published in fall 2025 by Fantagraphics Books. He lives in Bridgeport with his cat Bonky.
@maxhuffman.bsky.social
maxhuffman.com
BEHOLD! The CAKE 2025 Poster by Mike Centeno!
Mike is a Chicago-based cartoonist and illustrator born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Find more of his work including issues of his comic series Futile, at mikecenteno.com
Stay tuned as we introduce our special guests, and we'll see you in June!
Mike is a Chicago-based cartoonist and illustrator born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Find more of his work including issues of his comic series Futile, at mikecenteno.com
Stay tuned as we introduce our special guests, and we'll see you in June!
May 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
BEHOLD! The CAKE 2025 Poster by Mike Centeno!
Mike is a Chicago-based cartoonist and illustrator born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Find more of his work including issues of his comic series Futile, at mikecenteno.com
Stay tuned as we introduce our special guests, and we'll see you in June!
Mike is a Chicago-based cartoonist and illustrator born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Find more of his work including issues of his comic series Futile, at mikecenteno.com
Stay tuned as we introduce our special guests, and we'll see you in June!
We’re very excited to announce this year’s Cupcake Award Winner: @milimonster.bsky.social! The jury had a hard time selecting just one winner out of this year’s stellar applicant pool, and want to shout out some additional honorable mentions. Thank you to our jury, and congratulations Mili! 🧁
May 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We’re very excited to announce this year’s Cupcake Award Winner: @milimonster.bsky.social! The jury had a hard time selecting just one winner out of this year’s stellar applicant pool, and want to shout out some additional honorable mentions. Thank you to our jury, and congratulations Mili! 🧁
We’re very excited to announce this year’s Cupcake Award Mentor is @pidgecomics.bsky.social!
Pidge is an artist, educator and creator of the Ignatz nominated comic Infinite Wheatpaste!
The award winner will officially be announced next week - stay tuned! 👀
Pidge is an artist, educator and creator of the Ignatz nominated comic Infinite Wheatpaste!
The award winner will officially be announced next week - stay tuned! 👀
May 2, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We’re very excited to announce this year’s Cupcake Award Mentor is @pidgecomics.bsky.social!
Pidge is an artist, educator and creator of the Ignatz nominated comic Infinite Wheatpaste!
The award winner will officially be announced next week - stay tuned! 👀
Pidge is an artist, educator and creator of the Ignatz nominated comic Infinite Wheatpaste!
The award winner will officially be announced next week - stay tuned! 👀
Wow!! What a turnout at our Art Auction! Thank you to Revolution Brewing, DJ Lil Debbie, readers @potatofuzz.bsky.social & Molly Colleen O Connell, and all of our donors and attendees! Another great CAKE Art Auction for the books!
April 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Wow!! What a turnout at our Art Auction! Thank you to Revolution Brewing, DJ Lil Debbie, readers @potatofuzz.bsky.social & Molly Colleen O Connell, and all of our donors and attendees! Another great CAKE Art Auction for the books!
If you missed the CAKE Art Auction, you unfortunately also missed ….THE GARF HOLE
April 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
If you missed the CAKE Art Auction, you unfortunately also missed ….THE GARF HOLE
A great reading by Molly Colleen O’Connell at our Art Auction
April 12, 2025 at 1:45 AM
A great reading by Molly Colleen O’Connell at our Art Auction