The Cliff Dwellers

Jessica Choe and Susan Warner Concert
2025-09-24 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
A very special Classical Music Event and Dining Experience
The Cliff Dwellers presented a special performance of classical piano and clarinet, paired with delicious food offerings for each piece from our very own Chef Erick. Each course was explained by the musical artists as the performance proceeded, and the dishes were accompanied by curated wine pairings.
Member Jessica Choe, along with Susan Warner, will perform.
Our performers:
Korean American pianist Jessica Choe began her musical studies at the age of three in Seoul, Korea, where she was a winner of several national youth piano competitions. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1988, she has performed in many American concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and the Wolf Trap. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.
Susan Warner is Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra. In addition to her position at the opera house, Susan is a member of the Lyric Ensemble, a chamber ensemble comprised of Lyric Orchestra colleagues. Susan and her husband, CSO hornist David Griffin, live in Oak Park together with their children.

Club Closed after Lunch for an Exclusive Event
2025-09-25 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-04 14:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-12 14:00 - 23:00

Poetry Society Lunch
2025-09-26 12:00 - 13:30
Come by and join the group for what always promises to be a lively discussion of verse. This week, Richard Nystrom will moderated a discussion of select works by Chaucer.

Ear Taxi Festival Preview
2025-09-26 17:00 - 21:00
Ear Taxi Festival, the largest classical contemporary musical festival in the Midwest, presented a special preview event for Cliff Dwellers members. Festival artists and leadership discussed highlights of the festival, the current state of contemporary music and classical music in Chicago, and bring a special guest performance.

Oktoberfest Beer Tasting!
2025-10-01 17:30 - 18:30
The Club sampled some German style beers with Louis Glunz Brand Ambassador Nick Frieders on Wednesday, October 1, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Chef Erick will created some wonderful Oktoberfest-inspired specials and soft pretzels all week!

Honorary Member Luncheon - Victor Alejandro Sorell
2025-10-02 12:30 - 14:30
The Cliff Dwellers hosted a festive event on Thursday, October 2. They celebrated Honorary Member, public art historian Victor Alejandro Sorell with a delicious, Latin-American cuisine luncheon, music, and of course, a special award ceremony.
Buffet: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Award ceremony: 1:00 p.m.
Music by Paul Giallorenzo
Buffet lunch: $34 member/$40 non-member
Reservations required. RSVP by September 24, 2025
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or call 312-922-8080

Jazz Night
2025-10-03 17:30 - 22:30
Jazz Night returned to the Cliff Dwellers with the sparking talents of jazz vocalist Alyssa Allgood, pianist Jake Shapira, and bassist Sam Peters. Alyssa was named a “Rising Star Female Vocalist” in the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll for the second consecutive year, and was voted “Best Individual Jazz Musician” in this year’s Chicago Reader Poll. She tours nationally, and recently had her photo added to the Jazz Showcase Wall of Fame.
Questions? Comments? contact Lindsay Huge at lchuge@aol.com / 773-972-1110

Amelie - Theatre Club Outing
2025-10-09 19:00 - 21:30
SOLD OUT!
The Cliff Dwellers Theatre Club traveled to the intimate Chopin Theatre to catch the charming stage adaptation of Amelie.
We spent a little time in Paris (Monmartre, to be exact) with the Chicago premiere of Amelie, based on the 2001 movie…the delightful tale of a young woman and the fantastical world of whimsey and romance that surrounds here.
Curtain time: 7:00 p.m.
Show Tickets Only: $62
Contact Rick Frendt at
rfrendt@comcast.net / 708-359-0806

Sketch Club
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00
Drawing is good for the soul!
The Cliff Dwellers Sketchers will meet at the south entrance lobby of the Field Museum and then fan out to find artistic inspiration within the vast galleries and exhibit halls. Join the group for a morning of relaxed drawing and painting! We’ll have lunch afterwards at the Museum cafe.
All skill levels are welcome!

The Architectural Table
2025-10-14 12:00 - 13:30
The Architectural Table had an interesting discussion about the architecture and history of Printer’s Row. Future topic suggestions are always appreciated!
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

Monthly Lunch Buffet
2025-10-14 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-11 12:00 - 14:00
Great food and great company at our monthly buffet lunch served from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

New York Author Laurie Gwen Shapiro presented her new book!
2025-10-14 17:00 - 21:00
New York Author Laurie Gwen Shapiro presented her new book about Amelia Earhart, The Aviator and the Showman, on Tuesday, October 14.
In 1920, a young social worker and hobby pilot named Amelia Earhart arrived in the office of George Putnam, heir to the Putnam & Sons throne and hitmaker, on the hunt for the right woman for a secret flying mission across the Atlantic. A partnership – professional and soon otherwise – was born.
Ms. Shapiro is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist whose writings have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, New York, The Daily Beast, Laphams Quarterly, Slate, Aeon, The Forward, and the Los Angeles Review of Books.

Open House Chicago
2025-10-17 09:30 - 2025-10-18 18:00
Every October, the Chicago Architecture Center is proud to host Open House Chicago (OHC) with over 160 sites and the Cliff Dwellers Club is once again one of its sites. OHC remains one of the largest events of its kind in the world. We’ll share the Club’s mission, history and membership benefits with hundreds of attendees of this incredibly fun and rewarding event.

Poetry Society Lunch
2025-10-17 12:00 - 13:30
Marian Frendt led a lively discussion of verse. In recognition of all things spooky this month, the theme was works by none other than Edgar Allen Poe.

Open House Chicago - Thanks for the Help!
2025-10-18 09:30 - 17:00
Every October, the Chicago Architecture Center is proud to host Open House Chicago (OHC) with over 160 sites and the Cliff Dwellers Club was once again one of its sites! OHC remains one of the largest events of its kind in the world. We shared the Club’s mission, history and membership benefits with hundreds of attendees of this very popular event. Incredibly fun and rewarding.

The 119th Cliff Dwellers Annual Meeting
2025-10-20 16:30 - 21:00
The Cliff Dwellers will hold their 119th Annual Meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025. Enjoy a marvelous dinner with your Club friends and learn about key happenings from the past year, and of plans for things to come. We’ll be electing new Board members to fill expiring terms. Check your e-blast for biographies of the nominated members.
4:30 p.m. – Bar Opens
6:00 p.m. – Dinner and wine, followed by the evening’s program
Warm up your vocal chords, as we’ll sing a rousing chorus of “Zivio” to wrap up the event.
Music will be provided by Artist-in-Residence, pianist John Bitoy.
COST: $60 per person
Reservations required by Monday, October 13
reservations@cliff-chicago.org or 3112-922-8080

Pre Day-of-the Dead Celebration!
2025-10-24 17:00 - 21:00
Cliff Dwellers enjoyed fabulous cuisine celebrating the culture of Latin America, created by our exquisitely talented Chef Erick. His delicious dishes spanned various Latin regions and countries so that diners could truly experience the bold and exciting flavors of diverse Latinx cultures.
Bright colors and vibrant decorations adornined the Club while Cliff Dwellers sipped specialty cocktails, created by our gifted mixologist Elsa!
Live music was provided by Fuego de Cumbia, a Colombian traditional music group. Rooted in the rich heritage and folk traditions of Colombian Music, Fuego de Cumbia is led by three women, who bring communities together to dance in a celebration of culture and history, transcending boundaries and connecting generations. The group has performed in a number of venues throughout the region.

Ridgeway Studio Ensemble Jazz Ensemble
2025-10-29 17:00 - 21:00
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

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!

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.

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
