Chicago's first nonprofit literacy bookstore! We accept donated books (50,000+ in stock) and sell them to support our literacy programs. Authors, storytimes, book discussions! Please join this group to stay informed on what's coming up in the Open Books store!

Hello and welcome to Critique This, a Meetup group for serious writers with serious goals. If you're looking for encouragement, direction, interesting discussions and writing support, you've found it! When a writers' group really works, it can be the highlight of your week. I belonged to another writers' group for five years. Having others read and critique my work has contributed more to my growth as an author than any class or workshop. Reading and critiquing others' work, and the camaraderie …

Inspired by Kinna Reads' Africa Reading Challenge, I decided to create an offline space to share my newfound appreciation for African literature. If you are interested in reading books from the African diaspora (with emphasis on authors from Africa and the Caribbean), join us! Check us out on Tumblr: http://CHI-ReadingAfrica.tumblr.com & on GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/87568-chicago-reading-africa

This a book club based around the Persephone Books series from the UK (for more info: http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/). If you're not familiar with Persephone Books, they are fiction and non-fiction books written by forgotten female authors of the twentieth century and they are amazing! If you are into feminism, literature, history and/or anglophilia, you should join us! PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the club will probably require a small investment in purchasing the books each month (they are …

Meet with writers and poets who are motivated to publish their own work or who just enjoy writing for themselves. Share your own work and listen to others. Meet with local authors who can share their experiences with being published. Gain some valuable feedback of your work. Make some new friends who might help to inspire you to accomplish your goals and keep you writing on.

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 …

Love good wine, reading books, & discussing ideas with other friendly people? Then come join us at our monthly discussions while enjoying wine at House Red! The goal is to have fun discussing & sharing our thoughts & ideas on the literature we've read over glasses of wine. The group is new (Spring 2012) & was started with a small group that met at a wine bar. We're growing now & would like to welcome new members. I've noticed many groups are women only; we aren't gender restrictive, but you must …

We all have those books we love and want to share with others. We all have those books we have heard about but just haven't gotten around to reading. Meet other locals to discuss the books and authors related to the Queer Experience. Actually we will read anything that strikes our collective fancy. This meetup is for ANYONE who is interested in learning more about GLBTQ authors and books, and about queer themes in mainstream literature. We will also share tips about where to find/buy queer boo …

Taught by Bob and Cheryl Moeller, married for 32 years with 6 kids, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, and one grandson. www.forkeepsministries.com. A group of Christian Singles together to learn about what the Bible has to say about Christian relationships whether you are single or single again. Singles attend that are unattached or attached (dating, courting, engaged).  Topics may vary but are always from God's Word (The Bible). It usually begins with a dinner at a restaurant where you can g …

In this group, we discuss where the church is or should be going in the 21st century. We will explore numerous authors, worship expressions, and ideas for the church. We will read and discuss one book per month from authors in the Emergent Church movement. If you are interested in learning and sharing input on what you think the church should be, then come join us! All faith backgrounds are welcome!

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!

You're invited to join like minds in preserving what our founding fathers established in the Constitution. If you're unsettled, uneasy or just disgusted with the direction our country is headed...we're here for you. 9/12 stands for the day after Sept. 11, 2001 when we as a country came together putting aside our political affiliations for the betterment of the United States of America. It also represents the following... THE 9 PRINCIPLES 1. America is good. 2. I believe in God and He is the c …

We meet twice a month to discuss designated during the taping of Insight Radio.  (If you have not listened, here is the last show:  Insight Radio is looking for guests for our next show on current events.  Here are recent shows: Guest: Fran Hawthorne, Author of Ethical Chic: The Inside Story of the Companies We Think We Love. Award-winning journalist Fran Hawthorne has been a writer or editor at Fortune, BusinessWeek, Institutional Investor, Crane's and other publications. She is the author of …

ADHD is as prevalent among grown-ups as children - and it's just as essential to manage the condition with a range of behavioral, organizational and other techniques. This is a support group for adults with ADD/ADHD and people who suspect they might have ADHD due to issues with procrastination, organization and time management. We usually meet 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month to discuss challenges and share information and experiences in a supportive environment. …

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 …

A group for writers in Lake Conty, IL. Write-Ins held on various days at various times and locations. This is not a critique circle, just a group for people with an interest in or passion for writing to get together and write.  All levels welcome from newbies to published authors.

The Chicago Tao Cultivators seeks to explore the ironic, absurb and penetratingly insightful gentle "way" of wisdom - and hopefully in the process reach the end of logic and enjoy a really good laugh. Taoism can signify an unknowable and emphemeral cosmology - the "Void" - out of which every experience and being is born. But it can also reflect the smaller notion of understanding one's own nature as captured by the concept of "the uncarved block." Seemingly both simple and enigmatic, the writing …

A book club for mystery lovers! We will read new authors as well as the classics. Explore what makes a great mystery. Socialize and have fun.

Join us as we explore the question of the century - "Where Is Your Village?" We'll share how we can surthrive here in The Age of Climate Crisis...live the beautiful life, the conservation lifestyle...give our whole selves to the people and places you love most...and forge a new way forward, past the tipping point of "400 ppm ghg." Don't know what that means? Come discover its critical importance to your life. BIG™ is an award-winning economic development organization based in West Woodlawn …

Mystery, Thriller, Romantic Suspense and Dark Fiction Conference. The Coolest Crime Scene Happens Every February in Chicago - Plead Guilty and Be There. For writers - February in Chicago is the hottest time of the year! Agents, publishers, Master Classes, forensic professionals, weapons experts, essential panels, presentations, and elbows to rub--the perfect antidote for whatever ails writers at every level. Love is Murder--be freezin' for a reason and come ready to advance your career and …

A Meditation Group based on the Kriya Yoga Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, and inspired by the core spirituality found at the heart of all faith traditions. Our meditation group is for those seeking... -To learn how to meditate, using ancient, proven techniques -To share spiritual fellowship, friendship and support with others -To have a deeper understanding of the universal science of yoga -Greater energy, health, success and poise in …

Welcome to the Wauconda Area Library! The library serves the communities of Wauconda, Island Lake, and portions of Lakemoor, Volo, Port Barrington, and Lake Barrington. The purpose of the Wauconda Area Library Meetup group is to provide and promote a variety of library resources and services in response to the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs. We offer a variety of programs each season that promote face-to-face community experiences. Wauconda is a growing town with ne …

Are you ready to have some fun? This group is for women interested in getting out of the house and getting together to participate in a number of activities including karaoke nights, dance classes, dinners and movies, comedy shows, plays or concerts, shopping trips, fitness classes; you name it!  The opportunities are limitless to the journeys we can unlock and discover as a positive group of freespirited, diverse women. If you are looking for fun and adventure, let the good times roll. Members …

The Evanston Writers Group is an eclectic mix of writers, ranging from beginners to long time professionals, and reflect all ages, genders and backgrounds. We have members who publish literary fiction, creative non-fiction, children's literature, romance, hard-boiled crime, memoir, travel, poetry, humor and assorted forms of the unclassifiable. Because we are fearless and a little nuts, we open our minds to anyone and any thing. We'll bend and stretch ourselves like soft licorice to dig your s …

“You are one connection away from being able to change your life.” Think about that. Whatever it is you want in life, someone has or will be able to get for you. Knowledge, power, love, “stuff”… someone has it. You just have to figure out how you can help them get what they want in return for getting what you want. And that's what this Meetup.com group is about - Networking with others and seeing how we can help each other out. Key Concept Networking is simply that... a Business Networking …

SSS is an energetic group of fun, self-aware women and men aged approximately 25-40 from Chicago and the Suburbs who love life, enjoy meeting and connecting with people and embrace personal growth. Our group mission is to create a community of young, energetic minds for fun, friendship, travel, sports, volunteering, learning and adventure. Please note: this is not a "dating" group, though many amazing and powerful connections have been made through our community - girl friendships, guy friendsh …

This web site exists to interest people in visiting and attending the Bible study and worship meetings of the church of Christ in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. We are a local congregation of God's people, just like those you read about in the New Testament. We are simply Christians not affiliated with any man-made denomination. We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and seek to follow it as our only authority in religion. We accept Jesus Christ as our crucified and risen Lord, and we pro …

Anyone can join, whether or not you're a vegan, vegetarian, animal welfare activist, green environmentalist, intellectual, or nerd.  All you need is an interest in what we do. You can see our calendar for animal welfare / animal rights relevant events and nerdy and veg*n stuff: http://www.meetup.com/vegNerds/#calendar We get together for a variety of events. They can be for social, ethical, and / or intellectual purposes. We encourage all members to suggest event ideas, on the Message board, o …