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 …

The Chicago First Time Home Buyers Meetup is founded and organized by Jim Barclay, a Chicago area Realtor with The Real Estate Group. Our goal is to inform and educate Chicagoans who are interested in achieving the goal of home ownership. We are dedicated to serving the needs of aspiring home owners across all income levels and throughout the Chicago neighborhoods. Jim will host regular workshops that will cover the home buying process from start to finish, various financing options available …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 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.

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 …

First and foremost: We are not a critique group. We are not a workshop group. We are a group of writers who get together to...just write. This is a group that meets to WRITE, to socialize, and to offer encouragement and inspiration to others as we practice our craft. We're focused on the process, not the product.  Writing can be a solitary activity...but it doesn't have to be. This is a group where the focus is actually on DOING the work as opposed to critiquing already finished works. I found s …

What would happen if you took a culinary club full of fun foodies and added gourmet reading and travel? Join us for exciting culinary and literary adventures here in Chicago and around the world!  If you enjoy eating, reading, writing, cooking, dining out, reviewing great restaurants and immersing yourself in fascinating new cultures and cuisines, Litereati is for you. Whether you're a professional chef, a food blogger or just someone who enjoys good food and good books shared with friends, you' …

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.

Busy adults looking to meet people in the city with similar interests to talk about.  Nurses, Doctors, Massage Therapist, Physical Therapists, Healthcare office managers, insurance billers, ect. or just anyone interested in wellness and health.  Or anyone that would like to learn.  Come meet up, talk, and share who you are and what you like.  Everyone is welcome both Male and Female.

How many times have you had difficulty making a decision because one part of you wanted one thing, but another part of you wanted something else? “A part of me wants to…another part doesn’t.” Conflicting inner 'parts' of ourselves are one of the main obstacles to inner peace and personal power: • Parts of us who want to do new things are blocked by parts who are afraid to take risks. • Parts of us who want to get things done are stumped by parts who procrastinate. • Parts of us who want to be …

The Singer's Salon is an opportunity to sing for your peers and others, in a safe and nurturing setting. It is a place to refine your performance skills, try out new material, or just get more comfortable in front of an audience.

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 …

I'm a 27 year-old New York transplant (born here, nice to be back) looking for some cool comrades of any age to share/workshop with in a relaxed setting (my apt. has killer views!) with the record player turning and the libations flowing. I'm a published poet working on my second chapbook and I'm heavily influenced by Patti Smith, old-school punk rock, the beauty in the gritty and vinyls. If you like that kind of stuff--awesome. If not--awesome. I'd also like to do a poetry "book club," where we …

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!

Hey you sassy, creative, dynamic Chicago woman! Yeah, you. This group is a place for you to share, develop, test, express your ideas, projects and creativity. A group who will support you in your daring efforts big and small. A forum for feedback, ideas and inspiration. Maybe you write, sing, dance, act, make films, bake cakes, teach workshops, paint, sculpt, take photos, knit, build things, design, volunteer for amazing organizations... whatever the format you use your wild feminine energy to …

This is a group for people who are working on writing a novel, short story, and poem. We'll get together once a week at different locations in Chicago, depending on what's most convenient and give each other constructive criticism and ideas on our literary pieces. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

" We are an urban melting pot of comedians, improvisers of color, musicians, diverse actors, poets, storytellers and professionals who love art, comedy, culture, storytelling, conversation and people. We use our art, conversation, point of view, to "REACH" and have an impact on our community and the world around us. We are a funny, serious, risky, ecelectic and prolific group . Meet up with us to network, improvise, share industry news, perform build business and play!"

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!

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.

Meeting to discuss our own poetry. Working out chinks in the armor, making improvements, listening for sounds, searching for themes and generally becoming more self-aware as a writer, as well as learning to become better self-critics. And of course a good place to chat with other poets and find community, and lay it on thick with pet peeves regarding the state of poetry. We would also go to occasional readings and maybe if everyone is up to it to an Open Mic as well. We will begin by meeting o …

You've seen the ladies of SNL do it. You've seen Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham do it. Now, with the support of your fellow Chicago commediennes, you can do it too! Share sketch ideas, read a script you've been working on, or meet the other half of your comedy writing dream team. Essay, fiction, and web writers welcome. Even if you don't have any material to test out on this friendly female audience (yet), you'll get inspired just hanging out with some fellow Chicago funny ladies. Join the discuss …

The Word of Mouth Marketing Association is the official trade association dedicated to word of mouth and social media marketing. Founded in 2004, WOMMA is the leader in ethical word of mouth marketing practices through its education such as WOMMA Summit, professional development opportunities, and knowledge sharing with top industry marketers. WOMMA’s membership is made up of the most innovative companies committed to progressing the word of mouth marketing industry through advocacy, education, …

Calling all inspired memoir writers who need a community of writers to put their inspiration into action. Procrastination can be our enemy. Often we need deadlines to kick us into gear to put the pen to paper. All levels are welcome from novice memoirists to published authors. The only requirement is to actually turn in work and respectfully comment on each other's manuscripts.

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.

Feeling stuck, in a rut? Has life become dull or purposeless? Need a boost to your creativity? Just want to unearth your creativity? Join me for The Artist's Way. Based on Julia Cameron's book of the same title, we will create a very safe, nurturing community in which to discover and/or rejuvenate your creative self.