Chess Tournament & Prosthetics for Palestine Fundraiser
About half a year ago, we (Shiying and Carson) started @notachessclub as a way to build community around our love for chess. As our chess club community continues to convene and grow, we would like to exercise it for further good.
As a result of Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza, there is an exponentially growing demand of amputees for prosthetics limbs. Prosthetics for Palestine is a grassroots effort that serves this need. The effort is led by a dedicated volunteer community made of Prosthetists & Orthotists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Physicians, and more, who are committed to providing prosthetic limbs to Palestinians who need them.
Join us on November 8th (Saturday evening) at Nabala Cafe (4660 N Broadway, Chicago, IL, 60640) for a single elimination, knockout style chess tournament as we raise funds for Prosthetics for Palestine. The event will start at 6, with the first round of the tournament starting at 7.
Spectators and all skill levels are welcome. If you would like to participate in the tournament, please fill out the form (link in bio) to reserve your spot. Depending on how many people are interested, we may ultimately cap the number of players, so please sign up as soon as possible!
Attendance and participation in the event is free in order to ensure accessibility for all, although a donation is suggested. Please make donations directly using the Betterworld page linked in our bio so that we can track our total raised. We will have a QR code linking to the fundraising page at the event, so you’ll be able to make a donation then as well.
The winner will be awarded a prize!
Knitting Night for Mutual Aid
Join us Wednesday, November 12th for a knitting night! We're knitting items to donate to 19th District Mutual Aid Migrant Support @19districtaid this winter.
Come work on your project or start a new one, and if you don't knit, you can still join us to support the cafe and cause! Purchase high needs items like underwear, bras, socks, winter coats, sweatpants, and pads. If you can't make it on Wednesday, a donation bin is located at Nabala Cafe for future drop offs.
Hope to see you there!
Conversational Arabic Session
Come learn Arabic with us! The focus will be on Falasteeni greetings & introductory phrases 🇵🇸🫱🏽🫲🏼
- all ages & all levels welcome, slow paced session 🐢
~ Registration required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfb-lB1OCjm2EkW-8TQDmKtEOcYb-Z__qBrgHU7Q-kZhFRVlA/viewform ~
Event Timing: Saturday Nov. 15th, 7 PM
Event Address: Nabala Cafe
4660N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
Cover fee: $20 adults, $10 kids (paid upon arrival)
**Zunnar serves as a cultural and educational hub dedicated to safeguarding Palestinian heritage by showcasing it through various means. Founded & led by Yasmin Sheikh Amin, a Palestinian Educator & Multidisciplinary Artist Based in Ramallah & Detroit. The term “Zunnar” refers to a belt that is typically worn with traditional Palestinian attire (thobes) and is often crafted from an assortment of woven fabrics.**
See you in the learning circle💓
Songs for Falasteen: Interactive & Educational Workshop
Join us for an interactive educational workshop to learn a Palestinian song!
We’ll learn it’s tale 📖 it’s lyrics 🎶 and it’s rhythm 🥁 so bring your beautiful brains, vocal chords, and percussive instruments to learn “yamma mweil el hawa” together 💓
(You may bring other instruments if you are able to assist yourself with learning!)
- All level & all ages welcome, slow paced session 🐌
!no prior experience needed!
- you can join to sing ONLY or to play percussion ONLY, you don’t have to necessarily do both!
*Limited instruments will be provided, if you own a hand drum of any kind feel free to bring it with you!*
Event Timing: Sunday Nov. 16th, 7 PM
Event Address: Nabala Cafe
4660 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
Cover fee: $20 adults, $10 kids (paid upon arrival)
*Zunnar serves as a cultural and educational hub dedicated to safeguarding Palestinian heritage by showcasing it through various means. Founded & led by Yasmin Sheikh Amin, a Palestinian Educator & Multidisciplinary Artist Based in Ramallah & Detroit. The term “Zunnar” refers to a belt that is typically worn with traditional Palestinian attire (thobes) and is often crafted from an assortment of woven fabrics.*
See you in the music circle💓
🖼️ painting by the legendary Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour
Nabala Cafe Connect 4 Tournament
We're excited to announce our first ever Connect 4 tournament! Come compete to win a Nabala Cafe gift card.
The rules are simple--tournament style elimination, best 3 out of 5 to move on to the next round. Winner gets a $10 Nabala Cafe gift card.
We'll hold 4 qualifying rounds starting at 7pm on 11/17, 12/3, 12/11, and 12/17. The top 2 of each qualifying round will advance to the championship for a chance to win a $50 Nabala Cafe gift card.
Sign ups here: https://forms.gle/RYrsiU6qgYSwUL4H6
Rules:
- Standard Connect 4 rules
- Best 3 out of 5 tournament bracket style elimination
- Top 2 in each qualifying round advance to championship round
- Winner of each qualifying round wins $10 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round winner wins $50 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round date TBD
Revolutionary Engineers Book Talk
📚☕ Book Talk at Nabala Café
Join us for an evening of tea, conversation, and ideas.
Northwestern professor Sepehr Vakil (@docvakil) sits down with Rami Abushhab (@ramiabushab) — Chicago-based actor and comedian — to discuss Sepehr’s new book Revolutionary Engineers: a powerful political and pedagogical history of student protest and revolution in Iran, and what these movements reveal about the role of higher education in moments of global conflict— from the 1970s to today’s debates about free speech, technology, and ethics.
📅 Wednesday, Nov 19
⏰ 6 PM – snacks & tea | 6:30 PM – conversation begins
📍 Nabala Café – 4660 N Broadway, Chicago
✨ Free and open to all — but RSVP required to reserve a spot! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolutionary-engineers-tickets-1935014994939?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnl-1HyjECSKx8UeQKx-XA6xXnwQ1MgwI9tLPQ5ZWp3L5u7QqqLkI5Yfyh7dA_aem_bFL2aLGcYmYfO9LDNkFcCQ
Come early, grab chai, stay for community.
#RevolutionaryEngineers #BookTalk #ChicagoEvents #NabalaCafe #SepehrVakil #RamiAbushhab #StudentProtest #FreeSpeech #GlobalConflict #TechAndEthics #HigherEd #IranianStudies #ChicagoArts
Tatreez Pop Up Shop for Gaza
Come thru to my pop up tatreez shop on November 22nd from 4pm-7pm at Nabala Cafe. I'll be selling new handmade works of mine (and maybe some old) for a few hours. Various price points and various types of wall art will be available. As always, every penny in sales will be sent to G4Z4. Hoping to make enough to also do a mini distribution of produce there.
Qowara / Vase | قوارة pattern from @tirazain.initiative
Resharing because I missed a crucial detail.
Nabala Cafe Connect 4 Tournament
We're excited to announce our first ever Connect 4 tournament! Come compete to win a Nabala Cafe gift card.
The rules are simple--tournament style elimination, best 3 out of 5 to move on to the next round. Winner gets a $10 Nabala Cafe gift card.
We'll hold 4 qualifying rounds starting at 7pm on 11/17, 12/3, 12/11, and 12/17. The top 2 of each qualifying round will advance to the championship for a chance to win a $50 Nabala Cafe gift card.
Sign ups here: https://forms.gle/RYrsiU6qgYSwUL4H6
Rules:
- Standard Connect 4 rules
- Best 3 out of 5 tournament bracket style elimination
- Top 2 in each qualifying round advance to championship round
- Winner of each qualifying round wins $10 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round winner wins $50 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round date TBD
Nabala Cafe Connect 4 Tournament
We're excited to announce our first ever Connect 4 tournament! Come compete to win a Nabala Cafe gift card.
The rules are simple--tournament style elimination, best 3 out of 5 to move on to the next round. Winner gets a $10 Nabala Cafe gift card.
We'll hold 4 qualifying rounds starting at 7pm on 11/17, 12/3, 12/11, and 12/17. The top 2 of each qualifying round will advance to the championship for a chance to win a $50 Nabala Cafe gift card.
Sign ups here: https://forms.gle/RYrsiU6qgYSwUL4H6
Rules:
- Standard Connect 4 rules
- Best 3 out of 5 tournament bracket style elimination
- Top 2 in each qualifying round advance to championship round
- Winner of each qualifying round wins $10 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round winner wins $50 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round date TBD
Nabala Cafe Connect 4 Tournament
We're excited to announce our first ever Connect 4 tournament! Come compete to win a Nabala Cafe gift card.
The rules are simple--tournament style elimination, best 3 out of 5 to move on to the next round. Winner gets a $10 Nabala Cafe gift card.
We'll hold 4 qualifying rounds starting at 7pm on 11/17, 12/3, 12/11, and 12/17. The top 2 of each qualifying round will advance to the championship for a chance to win a $50 Nabala Cafe gift card.
Sign ups here: https://forms.gle/RYrsiU6qgYSwUL4H6
Rules:
- Standard Connect 4 rules
- Best 3 out of 5 tournament bracket style elimination
- Top 2 in each qualifying round advance to championship round
- Winner of each qualifying round wins $10 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round winner wins $50 Nabala Cafe gift card
- Championship round date TBD
Radical Writers Cafe
In times like these, we need powerful radical voices to offer insights on a way forward. Join with other like-minded folks for our radical writers’ cafe. We’ll be doing a prompted writing session together, discussing our ideas, and offering each other feedback if desired.
Writers of all levels are encouraged to come participate. Bring your notebook, laptop, or whatever you like to write on.
Wednesday, Nov 5
7p-9p
Nabala Cafe (4660 N Broadway)
Live Music w/Martin Anderson
Check out Martin’s music here: https://xn--martnanderson-zib.hearnow.com/
PAL Dabke Workshop
We invite you to join our dabke workshop at Nabala cafe!
Class participants will learn traditional Palestinian Dabke presented by Mohammad Darawsha, who is an esteemed Dabke Instructor with the Wishah Popular dabke troupe from Ramallah 🇵🇸
All levels will be able to enjoy and learn from this workshop! Register now, spots are limited!
👉🏽Register: Bit.ly/NabalaDabke
🔔Registration confirmation will be sent after payment.
❤️All proceeds from Dabke Class will directly go to the instructor!
Percussion Workshop
THURSDAY not WEDNESDAY
A beginner workshop into percussion & rhythm, using the Tableh & Daff. You will be able to learn how to hold the forementioned instruments, the various sounds that exist in those instruments, and basic Arabic rhythms.
*Limited instruments will be provided, if you own a hand drum of any kind feel free to bring it with you!*
Event Timing: Oct. 23rd, 7 PM
Event Address: Nabala Cafe
4660 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
Cover fee: $20 (paid upon arrival)
**Zunnar serves as a cultural and educational hub dedicated to safeguarding Palestinian heritage by showcasing it through various means. Founded & led by Yasmin Sheikh Amin, a Palestinian Educator & Multidisciplinary Artist Based in Ramallah & Detroit. The term “Zunnar” refers to a belt that is typically worn with traditional Palestinian attire (thobes) and is often crafted from an assortment of woven fabrics.**
See you soon!
Under the Olive Tree: Interactive Educational Workshop
October holds great importance for communities in Palestine as it marks the season for producing liquid gold—olive oil! Join us for an interactive educational workshop to learn about the olive harvest season in Palestine, & sing its’ folkloric songs!
*You don’t need to be a singer to participate; our focus is on singing for the purpose of learning and discovery, rather than achieving perfection*
Event Timing: Oct. 22nd, 7 PM
Event Address: Nabala Cafe
4660 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
Cover fee: $20 (paid upon arrival)
**Zunnar serves as a cultural and educational hub dedicated to safeguarding Palestinian heritage by showcasing it through various means. Founded & led by Yasmin Sheikh Amin, a Palestinian Educator & Multidisciplinary Artist Based in Ramallah & Detroit. The term “Zunnar” refers to a belt that is typically worn with traditional Palestinian attire (thobes) and is often crafted from an assortment of woven fabrics.**
Broken Plates: Open Mic
OPEN MIC!!!! at the beautiful @nabalacafe on OCTOBER 11TH! ill be hosting for the evening, cant wait to emSEE you there. sign up link HERE: https://forms.gle/Yj8Gtsk8xhmHxNvZ8
First Generation Funny: A Stand Up Comedy Show
First-gen stories. Huge laughs. A night that celebrates culture, comedy, and community.
Join us for First Generation Funny at Nabala Cafe on Thursday, October 9th!
Doors open: 7:30PM
Show starts: 8:00PM
A night of stand-up where first-gen comedians share their funniest and most unfiltered stories about culture, identity, and what it's like growing up between worlds.
Intimate space. Limited seats-grab yours early!
Nabala Cafe - 4660 N Broadway, Chicago IL
