Ridgeway Studio Ensemble Jazz Ensemble
2025-10-29 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
A spectacular night of jazz awaits!
The Cliff Dwellers experienced the unique sound of the Ridgeway Studio Ensemble Jazz Quartet as they explored iconic tunes from the Great American Songbook, romantic Latin standards, and pops of Bebop and Modern Jazz.
The Quartet consisted of:
Paula Palmer: Violin
Bob Fahlstrom: Vibes/Piano
Matt Levinson: Guitar
Bob Becker: Bass

Board Meeting
2025-10-31 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-21 12:00 - 14:00

Magic Show and Halloween Party!
2025-10-31 17:00 - 21:00
The Cliff Dwellers spent Halloween evening at the Club for a night of magic and merriment! Magician Robert Charles was on hand to amaze and amuse attendees.
Members were encouraged to come in costume, and there was a prize for the best outfit!

Club Closed after Lunch for an Exclusive Event
2025-11-04 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-12 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-02 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-09 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-10 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-17 14:00 - 23:00

The Uptown, Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace - A New Book Presentation
2025-11-05 17:00 - 19:00
The beautiful old Uptown Theatre needs help! That was the message delivered at the Cliff Dwellers the evening of November 5 by Robert Loerzel, and James (Andy) Pierce, authors of a new book, “THE UPTOWN: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace.” Supported by 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay, they made the case for why this amazingly beautiful old venue deserves financial support for a desperately needed renovation.
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the historic Uptown Theatre in Chicago, a new book, The UPTOWN, was released in August of 2025. The presentation took guests back to the theater’s ballyhooed opening in 1920. It was a magical place created by Chicago architects Rapp & Rapp for Balaban & Katz, one of the nation’s leading theater chains of the time. The book follows the building through its five decades as a theater, and its four decades of darkness.

Third Annual Fall Arts Salon
2025-11-06 16:30 - 19:30
Cliff Dwellers Club Third Annual Fall Arts Salon
Thursday, November 6
Cliff Dwellers met and mingled with a curated list of people who are individual artists or representatives of arts organizations throughout the Chicago area.
Featured National Book Award winning poet
Daniel Borzutzky
Reading: 5:30 pm
Complimentary sips and bites: 4:30 to 7:30
Music by Paul Giallorenzo

New! The Writer's Club First Meeting
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00
Open to pros and anyone who just likes to dabble a bit with the written (or typed!) word.
Member Sophie Cohn is mentoring this new forum, which just met for the first time – where members have the opportunity to mingle with other Club writers, and learn from those in industries other than their own. This is an open space, where all can come and express themselves, support others, and share ideas.
Sophie Cohn is a screenwriter and director based in Chicago. She has multiple in-progress screenplays, which she hopes turn into her next film project!
Sophie writes in multiple genres, but is particularly drawn to the realm of comedy. She earned her MFA in Cinema Directing from Columbia College Chicago, and uses her film theory knowledge and production interests working at the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema as the event Programming and Outreach Associate.

Monthly Lunch Buffet
2025-11-11 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-09 12:00 - 14:00
Great food and great company at our monthly buffet lunch served from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

Sisters of Influence - a historical biography of defying expectations
2025-11-13 17:00 - 20:00
Author Andrea Friederici Ross joins the Cliff Dwellers to share the true story of Zina, Amy, and Rose Fay, three Victorian-era sisters who defied expectations to leave their mark on history. Ms. Fiederici Ross will share the siblings roles in the beginnings of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the construction of Orchestra Hall, and the founding of the Anti-Cruelty Society.
Andrea Friederici Ross has worked as the operations manager of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, assistant to the director of the Chicago Zoological Society, and at her local public school library. She’s the author of Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick, and Let the Lions Roar! The Evolution of the Brookfield Zoo.
Madison Street Books will be on site for book sales.
5:00 p.m. – Bar opens
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
COST: Members $54, non-members $60
Reservations required by Thursday, November 6.
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or 312-922-8080

Sketch Club
2025-11-15 10:00 - 11:30
Drawing is good for the soul!
The Cliff Dwellers Sketchers will be looking for artistic inspiration within the Club on Saturday, November 15. Come up to the Club lounge at 10 a.m., and join the group for a morning of relaxed drawing and painting. All skill levels are welcome!
The Club’s Saturday Buffet will start at 11:30, for anyone feeling hungry.
Planning to stay for the Saturday buffet lunch?
Please make a reservation with the club by November 7.
reservations@cliff-chicago.org, or 312-922-8080

The Cliff Dwellers Book Club - Don't Go
2025-11-15 11:00 - 13:30
Don’t Go – by Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan
The Cliff Dwellers Book Club will meet on Saturday, November 15, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sullivan Room, discussing Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt it, by Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan. Ms. Johnson is the creator of the Folded Map TM Project, which connect people who live at corresponding addresses on the North and South sides of Chicago. She is a 2025 MacArthur Fellow (colloquially known as “Genius grants”).
The book can be purchased through her website:
https://www.foldedmapproject.com
Planning to stay for the Saturday buffet lunch?
Please make a reservation with the club by November 7.
reservations@cliff-chicago.org, or 312-922-8080

Saturday Brunch!
2025-11-15 11:30 - 13:30
The Club will be open for a Saturday buffet lunch, starting at 11:30 am, with a last seating at 1:30 pm. Come enjoy a weekend meal!

Brunch is $35.
Cold items and dessert only, $20

Reservations are required. Please state full buffet or cold only

by November 7
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or
312-922-8080

Anita & Julian Graef String Performance
2025-11-19 17:00 - 21:00
Enchanted by Strings:
A music performance by
AIR Anita Graef
with Julian Graef
November 19, 2025
This concert brings us two outstanding artists.
Cellist Anita Graef, an Artist-in-Residence at the Club, has garnered praise as a musician of “superb artistry” (Pasadena Now) who plays with high energy and polish (WQXR). She has appeared both nationally and internationally in concerto, recital, and chamber music engagements.
Anita will be joined by violinist and violist, Julian Graef. Acclaimed as an artist of remarkable versatility, he has been featured in Strings Magazine, on the “Concerts from the Library of Congress” series, and in many of the world’s foremost concert halls.
This joint performance will feature works by Anton Hoffmeister, Augusta Read Thomas, Pēteris Vasks and Igor Stravinsky.
And yes, this will be one enchanting evening!
Bar opens 5 pm
Dinner 6 pm — Members $54, Non-members $60
Performance 7 pm
Reservations are required
by Wednesday, November 12
reservations@cliff-chicago.org
312-922-8080

Poetry Society Lunch
2025-11-21 12:00 - 13:30
In our next meeting, we will be discussing variations in translations of Homer’s Iliad. Please join us. No special knowledge required. Just come enjoy the company. Have fun.
If you expect to have lunch, please make a reservation at
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or
312-922-8080

Club Closed after Lunch for Thanksgiving Holiday
2025-11-26 14:00 - 23:00

Club Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday
2025-11-27 - 2025-11-28

Member's Tree Trimming Party
2025-11-29 10:30 - 12:30
Our tradition of decorating the Club on the Saturday after Thanksgiving continues! Please join us in making the space feel cheery and festive. The decorating begins at 10:00 am.
Feel free to join us after for a buffet lunch at noon (please keep in mind there will be no a la carte dining this day). We will be pouring our signature winter cocktails, so it is sure to be a jolly time!
If you cannot make it at 10:00am for decorating but want to stop by at noon, for the buffet please join us!
The cost for the buffet is $26.
Reservations only, so please reserve by Friday, November 21st.
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or 312-922-8080.

Holiday Tea and Market
2025-12-03 11:30 - 14:30
In addition to this year’s Holiday Tea there will be a Holiday Market from 11:30am – 2:30pm.
This is an opportunity to support Artists you know and love, all while picking out the best gifts for your family and friends.
The market is free to all members.
If you would like to participate in the market please contact Jackie Evans, jackie@cliff-chicago.org
Bar opens and shopping 11:30 am
Shopping closes 2:30 pm
Tea begins at 12:15 pm
Reservations are required for the 12:15 tea by November 26
$40 for members; $46 non-members

Member Talent Show
2025-12-05 17:00 - 21:00
Join us for an evening of exceptional and varied talent brought to you by your fellow members of The Cliff Dwellers Club. Singing, Dancing, Music, Magic, and Comedy!
This is a black-tie optional but strongly encouraged event!
If you have a talent you would like to showcase please reach out to Jackie, jackie@cliff-chicago.org.
Bar opens: 5 pm
Dinner: 5:45 pm
Show: 6:45 pm
Reservations are required by November 28
Dinner and performance
$56 for members; $62 non-members

The Architectural Table
2025-12-09 12:00 - 13:30
There are 77 neighborhoods in Chicago. The Architectural Table will undertake a discussion about the 78th.
Set along a half-mile of riverfront, The 78 is a remarkable 62-acre site that will fuse neighborhood retail, offices, sports and entertainment and outdoor recreational spaces into a groundbreaking new neighborhood — one that will challenge how we think about ourselves, and how the world thinks about Chicago.
You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate or talk about the majestic (and not-so-majestic!) buildings around us. We touch on a myriad of architectural aspects, and in the Cliff Dwellers tradition, guarantee that the dialogue will be lively, good-spirited, and filled with fascinating information and opinion.
All are welcome to listen in or join the conversation in what has proven to be an exciting addition to the Cliff Dwellers offerings.
Join the group in the Sullivan Room at noon on the second Tuesday of each month. Enjoy the monthly buffet and a lively discussion about the built environment. Our likely topic for the day, pending confirmation, is Printer’s Row and the South Loop.
Call or email the Club to grab a seat at the table, and let us know if you’ll be enjoying the lunch buffet:
reservations@cliff-chicago.org / 312-922-8080

Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas-Jazz Night
2025-12-11 17:30 - 22:30
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (music by the Vince Guaraldi trio) returns to the Cliff Dwellers this holiday season. Join us for a musical jazz treat, featuring Chris White on piano and Joe Policastro on bass. The much-loved score will be played in its entirety.
Bar opens: 5:30 p.m.
Music: 7-8 p.m.
Cash Bar
Cover Charge: $12 (to support the artists)
Buffet Dinner: $38 (optional)
To have dinner, please reserve ahead with the Club by December 5th:
reservations@cliff-chicago.org OR call 312-922-8080
Any additional questions? Contact Lindsay Huge: lchuge@aol.com / 773-972-1110

Children's Holiday Party
2025-12-13 12:00 - 14:00
Our annual Children’s Holiday Party is back! Featuring a child-friendly seasonal buffet, a visit from Santa, crafts, games and entertainment. It will be a magical time for children of all ages!
The party 11 am – 2 pm
Reservations are required by December 5
Member price $38

Theatre Club - Amadeus
2025-12-16 17:30 - 22:00
The Cliff Dwellers’ Theatre Club’s has procured a limited group of tickets to see the riveting, Tony-Award winning play AMADEUS at Steppenwolf Theatre, on Tuesday, December 16. Tickets to the show have been selling like hotcakes with several performances already sold out, so the buzz is already tremendous for this production!

“Vienna: a cacophony of music and intrigue. The emperor’s composer, Antonio Salieri, holds court until the flamboyant entrance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: prodigy and wild child. The two artists begin a vicious and thrilling duet, a rivalry that will define their lives and their legacies for years to come. Winner of 5 Tonys and 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus is the ultimate ode to ambition and musical genius, a brilliant requiem for a villain in history—but a hero in his own story. Vi saluto!”

We are planning to have a pre-show dinner at the Club (for those interested), and Uber-ing to the theatre and back from downtown.

Ticket only cost: $85 per person (group discount rate)
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Curtain time: 7:30 p.m.
Additional Uber cost will be determined based on how many attendees would like transport to Steppenwolf.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These tickets are limited: calling or emailing that you plan to attend commits you to the cost of the ticket.

If you’d like to attend, let us know (ASAP) whether you’ll be joining us for dinner, and whether you’d like to participate in our transportation either to or from the theatre.
