Events

Skepchicamp Venue Help!

Skepchicamp needs help again! This time we’re not asking for money. We’re asking for space.

Back in November, we booked space at Drinking Skepchickally Chicago’s favorite pub – Galway Arms. When we viewed the space, we were told that we could have it on March 6 from noon until 10:30pm.

Yesterday I received an email confirming that we have the space from noon until 6pm. After explaining to them that this wouldn’t work, they offered us the room from 9am – 7pm. This “compromise” gives us three options:

  1. Cut speakers from the roster while asking everyone involved to rearrange their weekend and travel schedules
  2. Cut talks to 10 minutes while asking everyone involved to rearrange their weekend and travel schedules
  3. Find a new venue

With 39 days to go until our event, we’ve decided to go with option 3.

So now we need help. We have a couple of leads but could use a few more. Unfortunately, Chicago is light on free and inexpensive venues, but inexpensive space is what we need. And it needs to be in the city. And it needs to be accessible by CTA. And it needs to have reasonable parking. And we need the space for the entire afternoon and into the evening. And we need the venue to accommodate 60 or so bodies. And we’d really like to have internet access for simulcasting. And we need to keep it around $1600 for space and catering. No problem, right?

If you have any ideas for great venues, preferably ones with good food and booze, maybe your favorite pub with a party room or your favorite Chicago Public Library that doesn’t cost $1000, please let me know. You can leave a comment here or email elyse[at]skepchicamp.com.

Please be our hero! Your help will be generously rewarded!

Elyse

Elyse MoFo Anders is the bad ass behind forming the Women Thinking, inc and the superhero who launched the Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated campaign as well as podcaster emeritus, writer, slacktivist extraordinaire, cancer survivor and sometimes runs marathons for charity. You probably think she's awesome so you follow her on twitter.

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11 Comments

  1. While I live near Milwaukee I do have a few “connections” in Chicago, while It’s a long shot, I’ll make some calls and hope for the best. I just hope someone comes through with something

  2. Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap is near the CTA, IIRC. It’s next to the U of Chicago campus and has great food, beer, space and any reference book you might need in the highly competitive world of spelling. Woodlawn Tap (Jimmy’s)
    1172 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615-5115
    773-643-5516

  3. OOOH!! How about we do Skepchicamp flash mobs where we show up in some public location, speaker does the talk, then we all move on to somewhere else. We’ll all carry chairs and AV equipment with us as we go!

  4. If you haven’t gotten something try local non-profits. They might not have the space but they will know where they cheap space is!

  5. How about New Orleans? It’s been around 70 degrees here. You could hold the ‘camp outside in Audubon Park or City Park under the beautiful live oak trees.

    I know; not helping.

  6. Try contacting Toastmaster Clubs near you. I know from years serving as an officer of my club, Toastmasters know EVERY possible venue in your area. :D

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