Beverly Art Walk Week is already in full swing thanks to the Studio Tour & Terrain Fest on Sunday.

Next up is The Frunchroom tonight at Beverly Arts Center in advance of Saturday’s Beverly Art Walk celebrating its fifth anniversary. It’s all brought to you by The Beverly Area Arts Alliance.

Here are tonight’s storytellers and links to their bios.

Patricia Frazier
Chicago’s National Youth Poet Laureate

Rayshauna Gray
Writer, researcher, historienne

Claire Hartfield
Author and education leader

Rebeca Nieves Huffman
Proud Beverly boricua

LaShawn Williams
The wittiest woman you know

What’s the time? And where?
730pm. But show up to the Beverly Arts Center (2407 W. 111th St.) by 7-715pm to guarantee yourself a seat, chat with friends, get a drink from the bar, check out the art (see below) and settle in. We usually close the balcony at BAC to keep things a bit more intimate and cozy unless the crowd size demands it. 

Wait, there’s art?
Come early, grab a drink and enjoy a sneak peek of Diego Ivan Martirena’s photographs (Maplewood Photography) in advance of the Art Walk. His work will be on display in the BAC lobby and the Simmerling Gallery. (Beverly Area Arts Alliance co-founder Sal Campbell is pictured above in a photograph by Diego).

Where do I park?
Beverly Arts Center has parking just west of the building and another lot on the south. Note that there is still construction around the BAC, which makes it a little tough to get into the parking lot off Campbell. (You can do it, I believe in you.)

How do I get there via transit?
Take the Metra Rock Island Line which departs from the LaSalle Street Station in the Loop. Get off at 111th Street. Head west up the hill for about three blocks. The BAC is the big red building on the corner.

Where can I eat?
Places nearby include Manzo’s Burgers and Waldo Cooney’s Pizza on 111th Street and Americanos, Open Outcry Brewing and Horse Thief Hollow on Western Avenue.

You mentioned drinks?
Beer, wine and liquor will be available at the cash bar before and during the show. The post-Frunchroom festivities will continue at Open Outcry Brewing.

What are the stories like?
Some are sincere, some are tongue-in-cheek. One may be a call-to-action, another might make you think. One might be historical, one might make you remember a place you haven’t been since childhood. Basically, like having a conversation with someone you haven’t seen in a while. This review from South Side Weekly really captures what we’re about.

Who’s helping you with this?
I’m producing this in partnership with The Beverly Area Arts Alliance (or The Alliance, for short).

A big thanks to Monica Wilczak, Sal Campbell, David Barsotti, Jane Zia, Chris Wilczak, Lizzy Benner, Chris Castaneda, Corinne Rose and Cicely Harris who’ve given this event material, financial and moral support. And a huge thanks to Beverly Arts Center for sponsoring the show.

See you there!

The Frunchroom is presented by The Beverly Area Arts Alliance and sponsored by Beverly Arts Center.