Megan Stielstra's Blog

Hello and happy chilly weather. Here I am in my glorious apartment wearing a wooly hat and thick socks. Our place is “all utilities included,” which, in Chicago, translates to “You can’t control your own heart,” Gosh Durnit (I get to say Gosh Durnit ‘cause I live with a Texan). Anyhow, I have three readings coming up in the next couple weeks and would love to see you. Share some laughs. My dad is in town from Kodiak Island, Alaska, and everyone should buy him a beer and say, “Darc, tell me about Kodiak Island, Alaska,” because he likes beer and, with or without the beer, is the greatest storyteller I’ve ever met.

Ask him about the bear.

Seriously.

(added later: it was just pointed out to me that I wrote the word "heart" where I'd meant to put "heat." Whereas normally, I correct my spellings as to look more intelligent and whatnot, I kind of like this one as is. Because, well, you really CAN'T control your own heart)

Friday, November 4
It’s back to THE DOLLAR STORE for their First Anniversary! For those of you unfamiliar with The Dollar Store, it works like this: the wonderful Jonathon Messinger of Time Out Chicago goes to a Dollar Store and buys the craziest stuff he can find. He then gives these items to local writers/performers, and we’ve got a month to put together a story. November fourth is a sort of Best-of night, so I’ll give another go to last summer’s Gold Plastic Bling/ Marijuana Leaf story, also called Megan’s Date with Tone Loc. (“OHMIGOD did you really go on a date with Tone Loc?”)

Here’s the info:
9:30 pm, $7
The Hideout
www.hideoutchicago.com

Featuring the Unassailably Cool:
THE2NDHAND's right hand, Jeb Gleason-Allured
Professional Sleepwalker, Megan Stielstra
Partly Dave Co-Host/Conspirator, Christopher Piatt
Photographer/Provocateur, Nathan Keay
Slam Poet Heroine, Lisa Buscani

Not to Mention Music (with at least one song inspired by a dollar store time) by:
The Grackles
Pearly Sweets

Sunday, November 6
Serendipity Theatre presents the next installment of The Sampler—one DJ. Two bands. Three stories. A whole lotta lovin'—hosted by Adam Belcuore (Goodman Theatre) & Matt Miller (TP&R Casting). Serendipity are the folks who put on 2d Story over at the Webster Wine Bar, and I can’t wait to jump on stage for them again. At the last Sampler, The Low Down Brass Band helped me out with a story about New Orleans. This time around, my good friend Jeremy Zeman is joining me along with a wireless microphone and a little Bon Jovi (“OHMIGOD are you dating Bon Jovi?”)

Here’s the info:
7:30, $10
The Hideout (yes! Two Hideout shows in one weekend!)
www.hideoutchicago.com

7:30 Doors Open, DJ WHITE RUSSIAN spinning
8:00 Musical performance by CLEARLY & THE MAINSTREAM
8:30 Reading by ELIZABETH CRANE, author of All This Heavenly Glory
8:50 Story by LAUREN PESCA, Artistic Director, Serendipity Theatre Company
9:15 Story by MEGAN STIELSTRA, Editor Sleepwalk Magazine
9:40 Musical performance by THE LOW DOWN BRASS BAND (back by popular demand!)

Saturday, November 12
Local Whirring Whiz and my co-editor at Sleepwalk, Joe Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned) is releasing his new short story collection, Bluebirds Used to Croon in the Choir, and I’m lucky enough to read with him. About birds.

“Meg, you want to read at Quimby’s on the 12th?”
“Sure, Joe!”
“Cool. You got to pick a bird.”
“I’ve got to what?”
“Pick a bird. We’re all reading about birds.”

The aforementioned “We all” are Joe, Anne E. Moore, Susannah Felts and Jonathan Messinger. I'm assuming Joe's bird is a Bluebird. Mine is a Tree Swallow. Someone is also doing a duck, I think.

The info:
8:00, fancy-free
Quimby’s
1854 W. North Avenue