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 …

Inbound Marketing University is where you to go to learn why content is king and the business blog is still king of social media. You also learn from real-world case studies how to do inbound, aka content, marketing from professionals who have 'been there done that' again and again and .... Weekly training is offered up WEBINAR style until we reach critical mass. At which time, professional blogger Bill Belew, MBA marketing professor, published author and international in-demand speaker will com …

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!

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 …

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 …

Do you live in the western suburbs? Are you looking to meet some new people and discuss some interesting books? If so, this group is for you! We're hoping to meet other readers in their 20's, 30's and 40's for some lively discussion at local coffee houses or bars. The hosts of this meetup group live in Naperville and Downers Grove, so meetup spots will be in that general area. We'll plan out the first 3 books and then we're hoping new members will submit some recommendations of their own so we c …

Join us at City Lit Books where we regularly host events and discussions with local authors. Have an idea for an event? Let us know!

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 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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

¡OJO! Este grupo es para lectores comprometidos, activos, y voraces. El Círculo de Lectores Chicago fue creado para discutir libros contemporáneos populares en español. Eso significa que nos enfocamos en novelas recién publicadas (últimos dos o tres años) en español (nada de traducciones) de toda América Latina y España.  El objetivo es divertirse, leer una variedad de libros populares y utilizar el español. Nos reunimos en restaurantes conectados con el libro escogido (ambiente del libro o na …

For millennia people all over the world have argued, fought, and killed over religion, faith and worldview. It is my opinion much of this hostility is caused by misunderstanding and prejudice. In the spirit of better understanding and new friendship Interfaith Chicago will be a space to share good information, positive discussion and informal community among people of different faiths. It is not our goal to convince one another to change or to argue about who is right. While I have studied sever …

Great Support and Networking! This group was established to promote and support small business owners from all industries and disciplines. Our objective is to provide critical and timely information to participants by industry experts, educators, gov't authorities and, more importantly, small business owners themselves in a robust, comfortable and supportive environment. THIS IS YOUR GROUP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, so please show up in numbers to support your fellow small business owners. The infor …

Welcome to A Haven For Angels-- As a Medium and Intuitive I  share  with  you  the many blessings that come from communication with spirit and the angelic realms. We  have  been  given  angels  to  support  us,  to  guard  us in many  ways.  They have  always  been  with  us. The intention of A Haven For Angels is to help you become aware of the many ways angels touch your lives, to open your mind and your heart to angelic inspiration, information, and actions that can bring answers, solutions, …

Want to get out of the Rat Race? Join us as we have fun simulating buying stocks and property, making money work for us. Players realize their dreams in a favorite game of Real Estate investors,”Cashflow”, a board game created by Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. We learn something new every time we play and when we’re done, we discuss our real life investment adventures. No investment experience necessary. We welcome beginners and advanced players. A fun way to meet new people an …

This group is for Catholic women OR women that are interested in converting to Catholicism. This is NOT a Bible study. It is a book club based on current Catholic literature, and is intended to create stronger ties to our faith through modern the day Gospel of some amazing authors! If you are wanting to grow closer OR to put that needed spark back into your faith and meet other women who want to do the same, this group is for you! We will start off by reading some books from the Dynamic Catholic …

** To allow a safe environment for all members, this group is private ** Beware angels: The power of this groups energy is potent! :) **There are Member Benefits: Members receive discounted prices on all classes - Please note: For the discounted price, you must register for classes through this group. When signing up on our website you won't receive the discounted rate.*** Even if you are not in our local area you may join us for virtual tele-calls - normal long distance charges apply. All souls …