Hey there, A+ member! I hope you’re hanging in there today. So, you’ve been asking for live events and in-person meetups, so we are trying it! (Again!) First, I’m excited, but also, I have to lay out some expectations! Each of these is hosted by a writer or staff member, so obviously, we can only hold events in places where we actually live (at least for now), and for these events, I was delighted to include some maybe unexpected destinations — Orlando! Pittsburgh! Columbus! We did our best to gather accessibility info about each event ahead of time (although you’ll notice mine is a bit farther out and I’m surveying y’all first to see what we wanna do) and to give you all the info you will need up front to decide whether an event is a good fit for you. We’re starting small and getting our footing with in-person A+ events after, well, you know, really not having them because of the ongoing pandemic. We’re looking at this as a learning experience and experiment and I hope you will, too!
This is an updated post to remind you to get signed up if you’ve been on the fence! We need head counts! Love you and hope you’ll join us :)
COVID Precautions
As far as COVID precautions go, multiple of these events are indoors, so that is something to be aware of. For the indoor events, masks are highly encouraged when not eating and drinking, and I am also asking you all to NOT COME to the event, even if you signed up, if it comes to pass that you have a COVID exposure or reason to think you might have been exposed prior to the event taking place. We keep each other safe, folks, and I want us to all be mindful of our most vulnerable community members when meeting up! That said, we cannot control what staff or other patrons of these establishments might do when it comes to masking, so that is something to be aware of as you plan whether to attend. The events in Columbus and Chicago are indoors, but the event in Orlando is outdoors, and there should be flexibility when it comes to the amount to which you’d like to social distance, there, too. Also, if only outdoor events work for you, do know that I hope to plan some summertime events that will be all outdoors once the weather is more appropriate in more places.
Now that The Business has been taken care of, let’s look at our event offerings!
Sign-Up’s Will close Wednesday March 22nd at 9am PST. Sign up before then!
QTPOC Member Bouquet-Making with Culture Editor Shelli Nicole, Chicago, IL
Shelli Nicole here and I am VV excited to tell you about this Chicago event for our QTPOC A+ members!
To me, the signs of spring are fresh flowers and a brand new playlist. Adding songs to a playlist that’s just for me while it plays through the house and I arrange a simple bouquet to put on my table. I thought it would be really fun to invite you into this part of my world and make mixtapes and bouquets together!
You’ll design your own simple bouquet from some beautiful greenery and florals, provided by an amazing local florist, then you’ll design and decorate your mixtape cover and CD (just for looks cos who has a CD burner, the actual playlist will be a scannable code) complete with tracklist and whatever else you want to put on it!
You can make the mixtape and bouquet for yourself, your bestie, your hunny, WHOEVER! Just bring your imagination and the vibe you’re looking for when the songs are played, and lets hang out and have a sweet and simple spring time <3 – Shelli Nicole
Date: Monday, March 27th, 2023
Time: 7-9pm CST
Location: All Together Now, 2119 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Participant Limit: 20 people. (No plus 1’s. If you and a partner or friend are both A+ members and want to do this, you’ll need to sign up individually so we have an accurate attendance count and roster.)
Accessibility Notes: The location is on the first floor. There will be eight seats at a communal table, 5 window stools, 5 seats at the bar, and 8 seats at tables that are half banquette, half chair. All restrooms are accessible.
Restroom Notes: There are restrooms available and all restrooms are gender neutral and accessible.
Other Notes: This event is JUST for QTPOC A+ members. Thank you in advance for being respectful of the space! The restaurant is normally closed on this day, but they are offering non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks for purchase for the event. There will not be food.
Cost: Free plus whatever drinks you may want to purchase.
Speed-ish Friend-or-More Dating with Autostraddle Writer, shea, Columbus, OH
Join me at my favorite place in Columbus, the most wonderful Black and queer-owned coffee shop, for an afternoon of speedish friend-or-more dating! The first hour will be a warm-up with mingling, raffles, and good music. At 2 PM, we’ll start speedish friend-or-more dating with meaningful conversation prompts generated specifically for this event. In the last hour, I’ll have some cool-down tunes, treats, and maybe even a game for everyone! – shea
Date: Saturday, March 25th, 2023
Time: 1-4pm EST
Location: The “Meeting Room” at Parable Coffee, 149 S High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Parking / Transportation:
Parking: On-street metered parking is available on High Street (and adjacent streets). There is one known disabled parking spot at the corner of High and State Street. Attendees may also park in the Columbus Commons Main Garage garage located on Rich Street. It is approximately two blocks from the shop. Parable Coffee offers discount validation coupons for the garage that attendees can collect before returning to their cars.
Bus: On the 1, 2, and 5 COTA Bus lines. Within 1-2 blocks from the closest stop on High Street (depending on direction).
Participant Limit: 25 people. (No plus 1’s. If you and a partner or friend are both A+ members and want to do this, you’ll need to sign up individually so we have an accurate attendance count and roster.)
Accessibility Notes: The location is on the ground floor and there are no stairs to get inside. The chairs and seating are sturdy and comfortable for fat / larger folks. There is an accessible stall in both bathrooms.
Restroom Notes: The two bathrooms are gendered, but the owners welcome folks to use whichever bathroom works for them. Both bathrooms have an accessible stall.
Other Notes: Parable Coffee operates on a gratuity-free, pay-what-you-can model. The coffee is amazing and they believe that cost should never be a barrier to experiencing it. The prices on the menu may seem steep but they include gratuity so their employees can earn a living wage and there’s always the option to pay less/more if you’d like.
Cost: Free plus whatever drinks or food you may want to purchase.
Crafts ‘n’ Conversations with Autostraddle Writer, Em, Orlando, FL
Join your fellow A+ members for a mellow afternoon of collaging, coloring books, question games, and queer joy. Feel free to bring your own (small) crafts like that scarf you’re knitting or that sketch you’re drawing! I will have a variety of small crafts and games to share in, too! – Em
Date: SUNDAY, March 26th, 2023
Time: 1-4pm EST
Location: Stardust Video and Coffee
Parking / Transportation: There is a parking lot!
Participant Limit: 10 people. (No plus 1’s. If you and a partner or friend are both A+ members and want to do this, you’ll need to sign up individually so we have an accurate attendance count and roster.)
Accessibility Notes: The location is relatively flat with no stairs.
Restroom Notes: There are single use stalls.
Other Notes: Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya and Kristen Arnett will be there!
Cost: Free plus any beverages or snacks you want to buy.
Totally TBD Event, late April 2023, with me, Nico, in Pittsburgh, PA
Ah, Pittsburgh, land of stairs and bridges and really old buildings, coffee shops that close in the early afternoon and weird business hours on Sundays — not to mention people who definitely have opinions about where in the city they want to meet up and how many rivers they will cross!
So, I’m really between three options:
A) We relive A League of Their Own and meet up at Arsenal Bowl for an afternoon or evening of bowling!
Accessibility and Bathrooms: location involves stairs and offers only gendered bathrooms which are past the most bizarre locker room I’ve ever seen (carpeted walls).
B) We have a big ‘ol queer potluck in one of Pittsburgh’s parks. (Maybe Riverview Park in the North Side?)
Accessibility and Bathrooms: Pittsburgh parks generally have bathrooms, but it’s a toss up. I’ll make sure there are nearby restrooms in close proximity to the meetup location if we DO go though.
Weather Notes: It’s April so it might be cold.
C) We see if we can have a meetup at Harold’s Haunt (witchy they-bar in Millvale, also has ample non-alcoholic options)!
Accessibility and Bathrooms: Pretty accessible / ground floor / some typical Pittsburgh narrowness at times, ample outdoor space, an explicitly queer and trans space.
Weather Notes: It’s April so while I would want to plan to use the outdoor space, we may need to have a “rain date.”
And rather than just DECIDE for you, I’m asking you all to vote since I can’t do an event until April anyway! Also, I’m asking you to give me your email so that I can notify you all when the votes come in and we collectively decide what we’re doing. FYI because there are accessibility issues with Arsenal Bowl, if there is even one person who wants to come who can’t do that option, we’re not gonna do it, so please do speak up if it doesn’t work for you!
Pittsburgh-area members, vote here!
Got questions about these events? Feel free to ask them in the comments! Thank you so much for being an A+ member and keeping us here!
This is so cool ! Go forth Straddlers !
Woot woot! So happy the Chicago event is QTPOC only! Hopefully there’s a decent showing of the 30+ crowd.
Early 30’s here and about to sign up for the Chicago event!
plus!!! i love qtpoc only events for AS!!!