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All Hail the Queen

  • Special Event

The McNary Experience, led by vocalist and SitStayRead Board Co-President, Qiana McNary, is a Chicago-based band of highly skilled and talented professionals that plays a wide variety of music old school to new school, jazz, and funk. The McNary Experience band is comprised of bass guitar, keys, drums, lead guitar, and two background vocalists who bring new soul sounds to all who listen.

This benefit concert is an ode to Aretha Franklin a few weeks before her birthday. Proceeds benefit Chicago nonprofit SitStayRead’s canine-assisted literacy enrichment programs for K-2nd graders at CPS schools on Chicago’s west and south sides.

Student and General Admission tickets go on sale January 1, 2026. Contact SitStayRead Executive Director Deirdre Harrison for sponsorship opportunities.

Poster for "All Hail the Queen," an Aretha Franklin tribute concert on February 28 at 2715 Hurd St, Evanston, IL, featuring a female singer and event details.

Poster for "All Hail the Queen," a tribute to Aretha Franklin, featuring a singer smiling at a microphone and event details in bold text.

More Upcoming Events

Don’t miss out on all of the upcoming fun!

Oct17Sat
  • Dog friendly, Free, Meetup
Event flyer for SitStayReaders featuring “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson; event on Saturday, October 17, 1-3 PM at Café Jon, Chicago, with free sign-up link.

SitStayReaders Book Club Fall In Person Meeting

Join us for a thoughtful and though-provoking in-person discussion of The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson! All are welcome.   Follow this link to register for free   About the SitStayReaders The SitStayReaders Book Club is a new way to build community, listen, and learn from one

  • 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
  • Café Jon and Galleria
  • 2002 W 18th Street
    Chicago, IL 60608
  • Book Club - SitStayReaders, Reading Event, Special Event, Volunteer Event
Oct20Tue
  • Free, Ticketed
A person seated at a desk, working on a laptop with a cup beside them, surrounded by bookshelves filled with books.

SitStayRead at Chicago Public Library – Book Club Celebration + Resource Fair

Gather up your book club and come down to Harold Washington Library Center’s Winter Garden for a celebration of reading and the joy of discussing books with others! We’ll have refreshments, activities, and some fun surprises just for book club members. Learn more about SitStayRead at the Resource Fair

  • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Chicago Public Library – Book Club Celebration + Resource Fair
  • 400 S. State Street
    Chicago, IL 60605
  • Chicago Public Library, Special Event
Nov1Sun
  • Free
Event flyer for Día de Muertos de las Mascotas on Sunday, November 1 at Smack Dab, Chicago, featuring a suggested donation benefiting Sit Stay Read.

Honoring Our Animals: How Preparing for Good-Bye Celebrates Their Life

Join Erin Daly, Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula, for an afternoon of community, compassion, and honoring the animals in our lives. Ofrenda, Refreshments Sunday, November 1 4-6pm The event is free with a suggested $15 Donation benefitting SitStayRead

  • 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
  • Smack Dab
  • 6730 N Clark St
    Chicago, IL 60626
  • Special Event, Volunteer Event

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