Upcoming events — and more!

I’ve been terrible at keeping things updated here; its been a busy month. But I can report that, based on the turnout at Soup & Bread on February 7, we are BACK. With eight amazing cooks contributing soup to the cause, we raised about $1200 in donations for Soup for Sustenance at Stone Temple Baptist Church (as I’ve learned Soup for the Soul has rebranded). It was such a joyous evening — we were all buzzing for days afterward, and just as we started to come down when we hosted our second Soup & Thread sewing bee at the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange. This, too, was a blast — and we’re honestly in awe of the stitching skills folks are bringing to the table for these. It’s humbling and inspiring in equal measure.

And then the month got away from me and here it is March 1 and we’ve got two more events just around the corner!

First up, on March 6, is Soup & Bread at the Hideout. Our guest cooks include Ann Cibulskis, Mary Black, Nick DiSabato, Jen McConnell, Sasha Warren, John McKevitt (repping his famous Wisconsin beer-cheese soup) and Kimski chef Won Kim. And this month’s very special guest DJ is Pravda Records CEO Kenn Goodman.

As ever, bread is donated by Middlebrow and Publican Quality Bread. And as ever Soup & Bread is family friendly. Pay-what-you-can donations benefit Woodlawn’s Market Box program, a mutual aid project that sources produce from small local farmers and delivers it to predominantly Black and low-income families across the South Side.

And then, just three days later, on March 9, Soup & Thread hits the North Side, popping up from noon to 3 pm at Cary’s Lounge, 2251 W. Devon. Come bring all your craftiness to bear on helping us stitch together a giant soup-themed tablecloth! These events are so chill and fun. They’re free, they’re family friendly, and no sewing experience is necessary. We provide all materials, and a light snack of — of course — soup and bread, courtesy of our friends at Urban Canopy and Middlebrow. If you feel like RSVP’ing you can do so on Facebook — or just show up!

We’re looking forward to eating and sewing with you this March.

PS: I was lucky enough to be a guest on City Dreams, a Lumpen Radio show hosted by journalist Annie Howard, in January. Listen in here for a fun conversation with me, Annie, and Pilsen Community Books co-owner Mandy Medley, as we tackle the thorny question, “Just what the heck is ‘community’ anyway?”