Poetry Whores!

Chicago!  You have heard the hushed whisperings of such goings-on at your local public house, or during an afternoon tea party with one of our fine city’s most respectable families,  or perchance in a conversation between traders of commodity at the Union Station, truly a demonstration of your vast powers of auscultation!  But now, wait no longer—come see if what they say is true!

Chicago, meet your Poetry Whores! Let them whisk you away to a world of vice and verse, a world of rhyme and revelry.  Chicago’s Poetry Whores are premiere in the practice of ars poetica:  active in the local community of poets, published in the day’s most respectable journals,  in books and anthologies.  They come in all shapes and sizes, and all sexes; they will, surely satiate your search for a sestina, your voracity for a villanelle, or your lust for a limerick!  Madam Black-eyed Susan is always on-hand to help you find the right Poetry Whore for you!

 

Burlesque Dancers & More!

Between visits to the boudoir of your favorite bard, let our beauties of the burlesque regale you with their timeless art, for your pleasure. All evening, regular exhibitions of magnificent expertise are guaranteed to beguile and bemuse even those patrons of most the discerning (or old-fashioned) sensibilities.

But, there are Musicians, Vaudevillians and More! Our pianist and disc-jockey will delight the ears of our modern Victorian visitors, with the sounds of contemporary 1890s-1930s, and special guest performers, fortune tellers, and soothsayers are always on schedule. So be sure to peruse the program to plan your next visit to the Chicago Poetry Bordello!

 

Whiskey!

Only the finest libations and aperitifs are available for your enjoyment while you lounge and take in the lush environs of the Chicago Poetry Bordello, a high-end Victorian brothel from Chicago’s past. Our “Regulars” are on hand to help ease your passage back in time, and to provide you with the machine-pressed, stylish brothel tokens necessary for the purchase of private poetry readings.  Mingle with or staff, the Madam and the other regulars while you are deciding on the particular poet that suits your tastes the best! 

 

Up Coming Shows:

 

Saturday, 27 July 2013
Join us in the Upstairs Lounge at Schubas!
3159 N Southport, Chicago
to celebrate Florodora with the best poetry whores in the Midwest
Meredith Axelrod  performing 1900s favorites
burlesque, tarot & silhouettes
8pm to midnight. $5 if dressed Victorian. $10 if not.
 
 
 
Recent shows:

 

Sunday, 17 March  2013
Our friends at Pocket Guide of Hell cordially invite you to
Bathhouse John and Hinky Dink Kenna's 1908 First Ward Ball!
Dancing, drink, and political mischief!      
Music by Meredith Axelrod, John Gieger, Jamie Albert, and Spears and Gears!
Performances by the Chicago Poetry Bordello and more!
Costume contest and raffles of exciting prizes! Dance with the Everleigh Sisters!
Rig an election with Johnny Powers!
Keep the transit system in municipal hands by fighting Charles Yerkes!
 
Suggested donation at the door of only $10! At Chicago's very own Hideout!
3 hours of political mayhem, music, and fun.
 

 

A historic night of mischief and disguise awaits you. 
 
Monday, 11 February 2013 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St 
8PM to Midnight
Lundi Gras by the Chicago Poetry Bordello!
Musical Guests: Jeff Levin on piano! & the White City Rippers!
Adam Rose reading tarot! Nina Nightingale crafting silhouettes!
Burlesque Beauties: TBA
And all the best Chicago Poetry Whores!
 
 
Tuesday, 30 October 2012 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St, 8PM to Midnight

A Poetry Bordello Masquerade!  Merry happenings among the maskers!
Musical Guests: Jeff Levin on piano! & the White City Rippers!
Adam Rose reading tarot! Nina Nightingale crafting silhouettes!
Burlesque Beauty Vivien Venus!

Saturday, June 16, 2012 Ristorante Al Teatro, 1227 W 18th St, 8pm to Midnight

Chicago Poetry Bordello Presents: "Celebration of Double Screw Steamers"
It's a steamship, Silly!  Come aboard before the ship wrecks and we'll suss out the tramps!
Musical Vaudevillian Guests: Pinch & Squeal from Cleveland!
Burlesque Performer: Miss B.'s debut at the Bordello!

Wednesday, February 29 2012 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St, 8pm to Midnight

Chicago Poetry Bordello Presents: "A Leap-Year Valentine"  - Spend your Leap-Day with our Poetry Whores!
Musical Guests: Jeffrey Levin on piano, & The White City Rippers!
Burlesque Performers: Pearl Pistol and KC Mendicino!

The Chicago Reader listed this show as one of only SIX off-site events they recommend for the Associated Writers and Writers Program Conference 2012!

Friday, 21 October 2011 at Ristorante al Teatro, 1227 W 18th St, 8pm to Midnight
Libations, comestibles and poetry whores available all night!

6 August  2011 at Ristorante al Teatro, 1227 W 18th St, 8pm to Midnight
Musical Guests: Jeffrey Levin on piano, & The White City Rippers!
Burlesque Performer: Pearl Pistol

Saturday, 30 April 2011 at Ristorante al Teatro in Thalia Hall, 1227 W 18th St.
Writers dressed in Victorian-era costumes reading lovelorn poetry in a bordello-style setting.  A stage show of enough splendor to match the startling grandeur of the Thalia Hall itself — whiskey, vaudeville, dancers, fortune tellers, and of course poetry whores! — 
Musical Guest: Cabaret singer-songwriter Sabrina Chap
Burlesque Performer: Lula Houp-Garou

The Associated Press was there!  Watch their video on YouTube !