Hello COVID-cautious cuties,

My name is Anna, and I'm the founder of Parallel Play Chicago. This year we launched Dilly Dally: a mask-required quarterly mixer series for COVID-cautious queers (and allies). Each mixer is a little different, with activities ranging from karaoke, bingo, variety shows, beach meet-ups, open mics, clothing swaps, and even "speed friend-ing." Given the ongoing need for safe spaces, especially during these very isolating times for the COVID-cautious, we have designed the Dilly Dally event series to foster connection and build networks of care within our community.

Our mission: Parallel Play aims to foster community among COVID-cautious people in Chicago by creating safe, accessible, and creative spaces. Our intentional community works to center the liberation of LGBTQIA+, immunocompromised or disabled individuals, and BIPOC through mutual aid, supply drives, and collaborative arts partnerships. 

Thanks so much for your interest in joining the Parallel Play community! Below is information on our upcoming events and ways to support. Please fill out our “contact us” form or email parallelplaychi@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved or volunteer!

Upcoming Events Schedule:

1. Queer Crafting Potluck Picnic - Saturday, July 20th, 2-5 pm @ Comfort Station (wheelchair accessible) in Logan Square, Co-hosted by Artistic Alphabet Mafia and Craft of Color
   
   SOLD OUT! We could use a few volunteers to check folks in, hand out masks, and sell Dilly Dally shirts! If you missed your chance to RSVP and you're interested in attending as a volunteer please email or DM us.
   
   

2. Beach Babe Dilly Dally - Sunday, August 11th, 5-9 pm @ Montrose Beach, Co-hosted by They Beach and Gender Fucked Productions: A free, accessible queer beach meet-up event with a variety show, yard games, country line dancing lessons, and dance party by DJ Dickey Black at dusk
   
   We are seeking collaborators, organizers, and volunteers for BBDD! The weekly virtual meetings for the organizers are on Wednesdays between 5-6 pm. DM or email us if you'd like to get involved and we will send you a calendar invite!
   
   

3. Dragalicious Dilly Dally - Saturday, August 31, 4-8 pm at El Paseo Community Garden (wheelchair accessible) in Pilsen, Co-hosted by Artistic Alphabet Mafia: A queer, food-centric outdoor event with drag performances, a plant swap, karaoke, collaborative crafting projects, food and art vendors, and many quieter, sensory-friendly garden spaces to explore
   
   

4. Parallel Play's Inaugural Annual Organizational Meeting + Celebratory Dinner - SAVE THE DATE, tentatively Sunday, September 22nd in the afternoon: Event for our community to finalize changes to our (currently very basic) by-laws. We will be building our full board of directors and creating organization structures (which include a membership tier for volunteers with voting rights to govern the board of directors) over the course of the next couple of months. This dinner will be our time to formally gather to vote on these changes and celebrate our community and its accomplishments!
   
   

5. Virtual Dilly Dally - details TBD, save the date: Friday, September 27th, 7-10 on Discord
   
   We are brainstorming ideas for our virtual event that is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Friday, September 27th. The vision is to build a discord community over the next several months and "launch" it at the virtual event, which would feature some "parallel play" via activities in concurrent discord rooms and attendees choosing what they'd like to join (watching a performance, crocheting, cooking classes, RPG games, dance party etc). If you are interested in helping facilitate/plan this event, an our first brainstorming session / virtual PP meeting is this Wednesday on Wednesday, July 17th from 7-8 pm. Please reach out if you’d like to join us!
   
   

6. Dilly Dally: October Halloween Dance Party + Variety Show - Saturday, October 26th, details TBD
   

   Venue Search for Saturday 10/26 Dilly Dally: For our Fall Dilly Dally, our goal is to be out of RAYGUN in and in a fully ADA accessible space. If you've got a connection to a venue or organization that could help with this at a low cost to Parallel Play, we would deeply appreciate being introduced! Please connect us via email: parallelplaychi@gmail.com
   
   
   With love,

   Anna De Ocampo Kain (she/they)
   Parallel Play Chicago
   Founder & Executive Director