A Chicago Fear Experiment.
Late last year, I participated in Potluck 2.0 and quickly realized that I was unaware of an incredible underground Chicago scene. Potluck is a speaker series (see: Ignite) where people from very diverse backgrounds speak undisturbed for 6 minutes. After presenting about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, I listened to a group of amazing and eclectic poets, actors, writers, and comedians tell creative and unfiltered stories. I was blown away. And they referred to a Chicago scene that I had honestly had never heard of: live magazines, books & beer, design based speaker series, and much more.
When friends in other cities ask me about Chicago, I evangelize the beach, our college football Saturdays, how nice people are, and of course, our summers – none of which is novel. When asked about trying new things like Yoga or Farmers Markets, I say that I can’t touch my toes and can barely cook but that I experiment with Chicago by regularly attending start-up events and trying new restaurants. Being with such diverse group of people at Potluck made me realize that I had never left my comfort zone. Even when I worked in finance previously, I would volunteer on junior boards composed of other young finance professionals. My exploring of Chicago was tied to my profession and my palette.
So I want to continue expanding my status quo. Saya, the co-host of Potluck, shared a list of events and activities that are underground to me. My experiment is to attend one new event each month. The list is below. Who’s with me?
Get Mortified http://www.getmortified.com/
Dollar Store http://www.dollarstoreshow.com/index.html
Write Club https://www.facebook.com/#!/WRITECLUBRules
2nd Fridays http://www.chicagoartsdistrict.org
Salonathon https://www.facebook.com/Salonathon
Essay Fiesta http://essayfiesta.com/
Reading Under the Influence http://readingundertheinfluence.com/
Paper Machete http://thepapermacheteshow.com/
Tuesday Funk http://www.tuesdayfunk.org/
Drinking and Writing Theater http://drinkingandwriting.com/
Interview Show
Funny Ha Ha http://www.zulkey.com/funnyhaha.php
Story Lab http://storylabchicago.com/
Ignite http://www.ignitechi.org/
Pecha Kucha http://www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/Chicago
P. Fanatics http://www.pissfanatics.net/
This Much is True http://www.thismuchistruechicago.com/
The Moth http://themoth.org/events
The Encyclopedia Show http://www.encyclopediashow.com/EncyclopediaShow/Home.html
Here’s The Story http://heresthestory.org/
Story Club http://www.storyclubchicago.com/
Grown Folk Stories http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grown-Folks-Stories/120392737992152#!/pages/Grown-Folks-Stories/120392737992152?sk=wall
Windy City Story Slam https://windycitystoryslams.wordpress.com/about/
Real Talk Live http://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Talk-Live/135852693139029