Chicago Chess meetup @ Iguana Cafe: NM Bruce Kovalsky lecture!

I had the pleasure of lunch with Bruce a few months ago: nice fellow!  He's giving a brief lecture, followed by a session of casual play.  Details here!

Chicago Chess Meetup Group

Every Mondays at 7 p.m., the venue is Iguana Café, 517 N. Halsted.  I've been there (though not for chess): it's very nice.  The restaurant reviewers on UrbanSpoon give it a 92% rating , and the average entrée price is under $10.

For more info, join the meetup group.

Café owners tend to get annoyed with chess players who hang out all evening and only spend $2 for a cup of tea.  If too many chess players do this, the owners eventually ask the chess players to leave.  If, on the other hand, the players patronize the restaurant, the owners may start looking for ways to bring more chess players in.

Chicago Chess Meetup Group

Looking for a game in your neighborhood?  Try the Meetup Group!

Chicago Chess Meetup Group

Looks good: many of my friends are among the meetup group leaders! If you're looking for casual or serious play, check it out!

Meetup.com 'Chess' from duc nguyen on Vimeo.

Chess Meetup Tomorrow

At the Starbucks at Ohio and State, 3:00 PM. Details here. Beat the post-holiday blues: Play chess.

Reposted from The Knights of Castle Kimbark.

The Knight of the Iguana*

There’s some good news on the local chess front in the Windy City. Since my panicky post last summer about the imminent demise of the Chicago Chess Meetup Group, people have stepped up to rescue the group from extinction. Particularly active in the institution’s revival has been NM Bruce Kovalsky, who as far as I can tell moved here recently from the West Coast and has since put a lot of energy into chess organizing. First Bruce was scheduling meetups at various Starbucks on the Near North Side. Now he’s putting one together for the Iguana Café at 517 North Halsted on December 17. I’m told these get-togethers are a lot of fun. Go here for more information about the December 17 event and here to sign up for the Chicago Chess Meetup Group.

This is a good chance to get out of the house and away from the Internet, to meet some nice people, eat some good food, play some real, over-the-board chess, and support your local chess organizer.

* My apologies to those of you who are allergic to bad puns. Sometimes I just can't resist.