This is a chance for artists of all sorts in the West Suburbs of Chicago -- whether your medium is expressed visually, verbally, sonically, or some combination -- to cross-pollinate, gather ideas and energy, and find inspiration, consolation and encouragement. The hope is to gather regularly as a group, creating opportunities to organize smaller klatches, as well as opportunities to find like spirit and lasting artistic relationships. We may even be able to organize readings, performances and sh …

CWN is a group of serious writers who are committed to furthering their work through a workshop-style critique process. We meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Please be sure to read CWN's Critique Guidelines under the Pages tab before you submit your first piece for critique.

Writers of a variety of forms, small workshop, once a month, Monday's at 6:30, monthly

Writers space, individual studio spaces with Internet access , writers and creatives in a collaborative space, On the new Bloomingdale bike trail at Kimball. Auto parking lot and bike racks. This is new so I'm looking for input.

We are about inspiring, empowering, and helping screenwriters and filmmakers reach their goals and be more successful. We're on a mission to bring more production, from start to finish, to Chicago. We're expanding to connect to funding opportunities in Chicago and around the world. We've opened this group up to screenwriters, writers, directors, producers, filmmakers, and funding resources. Please be part of it. Reach out and make this a community to help each other.

This is group for anyone interested in screenwriting and movies. Newbies, experienced writers and everyone in between are welcome. We will meet to discuss projects we're working on and to check out and discuss movies.

We believe in the whole writing process, not just the finished product. We see writing as a tool for emotional well-being, self-discovery, self-expression and inspiration. We focus on how writing can be used for emotional well-being and how to launch a successful career as a writer. Whether you love to journal or want to take your writing to the next level, this writing circle is for you. Begin your writing journey today and join now.

We want people interested in any form of art, who want to get together with others and spend some time sharing and creating. Whether you are a painter, sculptor, writer, musician, etc. We just want a fun, free atmosphere to enhance your creativity!

Do you like conventions about Science Fiction? Fantasy? Gaming? Anime? Horror? Odd stuff in general? The Chicago Conventions group is designed to get people together at conventions and at certain other related events to meet and have fun. Check out the Calendar! Note posts will be created on the calendar about all of the conventions (that I know of) in the Chicago area. If you know of other conventions not listed, send a message to the organizer Leane with whatever details you have and it will g …

Join us at the Chicago Self-Publishing Meetup Group as we explore the dynamic world of self-publishing and indie publishing. We meet every month and we welcome anyone interested in learning about self-publishing: self-published authors who want to learn more or share their experiences writers looking for information on how to self-publish professionals who are not writers but want to publish material related to their work book designers, graphic designers, and ebook formatters publishing indust …

We are an informal group of Shakespeare lovers and "aficionados" of the bard. We welcome interpretations and discussions of the Bard. However, we are Stratfordians. Please keep this in mind when you join. Join us to discuss the brilliant bawdy Bard.

Songsalive! is a non profit organization supporting and promoting songwriters and composers worldwide. In Chicago IL, we have songwriting critique workshops with guest speakers the second Saturday of each month. We also have a songwriters showcase on the fourth Thursday of every other month.  www.songsalive.org/group/chicago for more details. Our official website is www.songsalive.org.

We're a group of people who are interested in checking out the various cultural and art offerings of Chicago, which includes concerts, art shows, visits to museums, open mike nights, and even culinary experiences. We want to make new friends and form of community of people sharing common interest in the arts. We want to explore Chicago together!

LIVE CHATROOM too!   Meet with other Blues fans in the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs once a month for blues, jazz, and other soulful music. This MeetUp is geared toward providing a touch point for Chicago area music lovers. If you are a musician trying to meet others to jam and/or gig with; or just want be informed about Performances & Events around town, you more than likely have a passion for the Blues, Jazz, and other soulful music. By creating events and supporting local artists' a …

These are the voyages of the Western Suburban Science-Fiction Book Club... Our continuing mission: to seek out the most compelling, discussion-provoking science-fiction (and occasionally, fantasy) novels and gather together to chat about them over dinner. It's a pretty good mission. Reading sci-fi suggests certain nerdish... leanings, but don't be afraid: our group is all-inclusive. Yes, I'm sure a few of us qualify as geeks, but we're all socially well-adjusted and reasonably freshly showered t …

Coffee with entrepreneurs, makers, developers, and creatives in the Chicago area. Meet other entrepreneurs and creatives, hear announcements on upcoming startup and creative events, and talk about startup and tech news. What better way could there be to start your day? Have a question? Get it answered at this meetup. Like to network? No problem here. Get caffeinated, start your day, and meet some interesting, creative, and smart people in the city.

This group started in May 2011, and we've read novels by Joyce, Malraux, Kafka, Wright, Mishima, Faulkner, Nabokov, Unamuno, Ellison, Hamsun, Woolf, Biely, Gide, and many others.  We try to have a good time discussing the books without descending to small talk, think critically without descending to pedantry, etc. Also, as the title shows, we've expanded our reading list since the group started.  We don't really want to title the group something as vague as "Chicago Literature Group," etc., and …

We hope to critique each other's drafts of all sorts in a mutually supportive and awesome environment. This group is invite-only to ensure that we stay tiny (hence the name). We meet about twice a month and share drafts to read a few days in advance. We're into all sorts of writing styles, from humorous to serious to abstract. Many of us are sex-positive feminists; if you're not down with that please don't apply.

Sacred Harp singing is a form of 'a cappella' singing that regularly takes place in communities across the United States and beyond.  It has brought people together to sing in living rooms, churches, and community centers since 1844.  It is rich in history and tradition, and it continues to be a thriving form of American shape note singing.  Its distinctive melodies and harmonies attract many singers for a lifelong journey of singing.  Sacred Harp singing made its way to Chicago thirty years ago …

Do you make comics (or want to make comics)? Webcomics, indie comics, superhero comics, mini comics, comic strips, graphic novels, zines, whatever? Do you draw, write, or both? Then this might be the meetup for you! Group critiques, workshops, work days, field trips are all things we will probably be doing, so keep an eye on upcoming meetups!

Meet others who are interested in drawing or painting the figure. We'll try to host a variety of figure drawing sessions, including different venues, different times, and different types of modeling. We now seem to have 3 different groups that are working out. All are on Saturdays currently. We need to try some weekday evenings next, probably Wednesday or Thursday. I'm thinking of trying something new... "do it yourself" hosting. Basically anyone who has any space they can offer, even if it can …

Shalom and Welcome The Shiviti Drum Circle is a non-denominational monthly Jewish spiritual musical event. ALL ARE WELCOME. This is a facilitated participatory musical event which has been meeting on the 2nd Sunday of each month for almost 7 years now. Each gathering is always a Unique Experience! Sometimes more spiritual, Sometimes more fun. Sometimes more energetic, Sometimes more laid back. Sometimes indoors, Sometimes outdoors. Sometimes you will learn, Sometimes we will learn from you …

LIVE CHAT too!  I am passionate about art and some friends and I are looking to learn more about it. We are going to check out all of the great art galleries at least once a month in River North, the West Loop, Wicker Park, and anywhere else. This Meetup Group is welcome and open to all who are residents of and visitors to Chicago. Our purpose is to meet with others who have an interest in and take enjoyment in appreciating art. The benefits are to enjoy and learn more about art, art galleries, …

We decided to start this group to create an opportunity to meet new, creative people, plus help out a very deserving non-profit organization by volunteering to help- Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center.  CUARC is totally run by volunteers. Some come once, some once in awhile, and some help out once a week or more. This meet-up population will be focused on coming together and sharing our talents in a positive way--whether that be painting (artful, or home-improvement), gardening, organizing a fund …

Augmented Reality - What is it? Who's working on it? How can you use it? I hope this group can be a meeting place and discussion ground for everyone interested in Augmented Reality (AR); designers, developers, entrepreneurs, writers, students, journalists, and anyone who's interested in AR.

Are you a music fan?  Are you intrigued by your music idols, curious about how they got to where they are, and what inspires and makes them tick?  Are you a former groupie, feeling nostalgic? If so, meet up at our next Rock and Roll Book Gig, where we'll read the memoirs of our favorite musicians and rap about them at a local tavern.  Hell, if they're on tour, maybe we'll catch their next show! Become a fan, suggest some artists, and let’s get rockin’.

A group dedicated to the wine lovers of the Chicago West Suburbs. We are mothers, fathers, sons & daughters, writers, teachers, bartenders & accountants. We. Love. Wine. Paso Robles, Sonoma, Williamette. We crave it, sip it, chug it, love, love, love it! And now we have a group, a wine lovers not-so-anonymous, don't hide your passion for the grape-celebrate it!

CMS Association Mission: "Shine the spotlight on the world's leading CMSs and the people who use them." Content Management Professionals Unite! The CMS Association is a unifying organization of professionals at all experience levels, here to help foster technology and business practices for all. Content Creators: Writers, Designers, Podcasters, Videographers & Audio Pros! Content Curators & Aggregators Content Strategists & Content Marketers Developers & Integrators Entrepreneurs & Business Le …