(Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

We’re excited to bring five new writers to The Frunchroom on January 21st at O’Rourke’s Office. As always, we like to feature a vibrant mix of writers, performers and storytellers.

If you were at our last event in September, you may remember Lolly Bowean was scheduled to read but was unable to make it due to a work conflict (breaking news waits for no one). But her piece is so good, I didn’t want to pass on having her so we’re trying again this month.

Lolly is a general assignment reporter from the Chicago Tribune who has a particular focus on urban affairs, youth culture, housing, minority communities and relations and, specifically, African-Americans in Chicago.

During her tenure, she has written about the death of Nelson Mandela, how violence is lived in troubled neighborhoods, and the 2008 election and inauguration of President Barack Obama. She also covered Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the last gathering of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Before joining the Tribune, Bowean covered suburban crime, government and environmental issues for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. She has written for the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.

For The Frunchroom, Lolly – a resident of West Chatham – will talk about her experiences biking around the South Side.