No Kidding! in Chicago

Welcome to the Chicago branch (the largest branch ever!) of No Kidding!, an organization for adults who are not parents. If you want to learn more or start a chapter in your area, visit Chapter One at http://www.nokidding.net.

We provide a place where people can talk about anything but diapers and preschools, and do cool activities. Membership is free, and just involves joining an e-mail list. Members organize events on their own, so if you think there's an activity other childfree people would enjoy, propose one!

To join No Kidding! Chicago, contact Jen at goddess1903@yahoo.com . If you have a question, comment, or contribution for this web page, feel free to contact me or visit my home page.

Events Being Planned:

Upcoming Events:

• BBQ Dinner in Darien: Diane & Paul invite you to a barbeque dinner at The Patio in Darien on Saturday, February 21 at 6 pm. It's a sit-down restaurant with counter service, so it will be easy for everyone to pay for their own dinners.
• Dinner in West Loop: Peggy and Bob invite you to Nuevo Latino dinner at Carnivale on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm. If you want to meet more childfree couples and singles in 2009, please come! RSVP to Peggy by 2/12.
• Lakeshore Walking Club: Peggy has restarted her city walking club along the lakeshore. Walkers meet at 6 pm every Wednesday at North Avenue Beach (north side of boat house near the bike racks) for a 5 mile round-trip walk to the totem pole at Addison St. Contact Peggy if you would like to join the group.

• A couple of books about being childfree are available for your reading pleasure. Details are available on the e-mail list: basically, just contact the last person who had the book, and notify the list when you're ready to pass it on.

If you would like to attend an event, please join our e-mail list first. You will then be able to see the last minute discussions and be able to tell the organizer that you wish to attend. Membership is free and easy to obtain - to join, just contact Jen at goddess1903@yahoo.com.

Looking for some other activities in the Chicago area? Check out the JDFUN pages at http://www.jdfun.com, run by our own Jonathan.

Here's a sampling of what we've done:

• Movie and dessert
• Apple picking
• Wine bars aplenty
• A variety of lunch, dinner, and coffee outings
• Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill
• Kayaking and a potluck
• Singles Group - Bowling
• Garden Party in Gurnee
• JDFUN dinner parties
• Blue Man Group/Buca di Beppo
• Neo-Futurist theater followed by "indoor voice" desserts
• Motorcycle trips
• Tony 'N' Tina's Wedding - we have photos from Carin and photos from Roy!
• Ravinia - Russian Rhapsody (2000), Tony Bennett (2001), Beethoven's 9th and wine tasting (2002), Aretha Franklin (2004), Los Lonely Boys (2005)
• Grant Park Symphony
• Annual Kankakee River Canoe Trip - see the 2000 photos!
• A Day at the Races - picnic and race viewing at Arlington Racecourse
• A Night Racing - go-kart racing at Chicago Indoor Racing in Buffalo Grove - we got to wear racing suits and everything!
• Halloween Hayrides and Parties - good food, good company, and goofy costumes - see the 2003 pictures here (grouchocam, NK Halloween Party 2003, and NKHalloween2)!
• Corn Maze
• Scavenger Hunt
• Annual Cookie Exchange - lots of delicious cookies, plus good conversation
• Murder Mystery Dinner - our own Pat S. solved the mystery!
• Milwaukee Road Trip
• Garden cleanup at St. Patrick's Residence
• Game afternoons and evenings
• Bike Rides/Walks/Hikes/Picnics at Waterfall Glen, North Shore Bike Trail, Botanic Gardens, Fox River in Geneva, Starving Rock State Park, among other locations
• Graceland Cemetery Tour - see some pictures
• Chihuly at the Park (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago) - followed by tapas at Emilio's in Hillside
• Crazy Bowling
• Ladies' Lunch
• Raucous goodbye parties for people moving out of town!
• Dave & Busters
• Movies at Yorktown Premium Cinema - no one under 21 allowed!
• Bike the Drive
• Horseback riding in Wisconsin
• Salon NK - discussions of issues related to living childfree...and unrelated topics too
• Super Bowl party at Walter Payton's Roundhouse - See the photos!

To join No Kidding! Chicago, contact Jen at goddess1903@yahoo.com . If you have a question, comment, or contribution for this web page, feel free to contact me or visit my home page.