PalanerFinds what's on in Chicago
Sign in

Smerconish Mingle Meetup | October 25th 4-6pm CST
TalkFree

Smerconish Mingle Meetup | October 25th 4-6pm CST

Hosted by Smerconish Mingle Meetup Chicago

Sunday 25 October 2026, 16:00

Venue time (Chicago)

Barcocina West Town · Directions

Sunday 25 October 2026, 16:00Venue time (Chicago)
Barcocina West TownDirections
FreeTickets sold by meetup.com
Book · Freevia meetup.com
Add to calendar

Downloads an .ics file · Times are in America/Chicago · Google Calendar

Hey, how's it going? Smerconish Mingle Meetup | October 25th 4-6pm CST looks like it should be pretty interesting. Want me to help you organise around it?

Event details

Tickets sold by meetup.com

Add to calendar · Downloads an .ics file · Times are in America/Chicago · Google Calendar

I'm a big fan of Michael Smerconish, the political commentator known for his balanced, centrist perspective. You might know him from SiriusXM, his podcast, or his Saturday morning show on CNN. His SiriusXM show opens with Stealers Wheel’s “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right…”—a perfect nod to his middle-ground philosophy.

Michael often talks about how political polarization has grown as people stop mingling across lines. Too many of us retreat into echo chambers online instead of connecting through community activities—like bowling leagues, softball teams, or local clubs. He encourages listeners to get out, meet new people, and engage in friendly debate, open conversation, and active listening. The goal isn’t to win an argument, but to genuinely understand one another and enjoy the process of exchanging ideas.

With that spirit in mind, join me for a Mingle Meet-Up on Sunday, October 25 at Barcocina at their West Town Location starting at 4:00 PM CST.

While politics might come up, the real goal is simple: bring together a diverse group of people to relax, connect, and enjoy good company. Whether you agree or disagree, this is a space for open-minded discussion, sharing perspectives, and listening with respect.

If you’re new to Michael’s work, check out his website, sign up for his daily newsletter, or tune into his show.

And for the backstory on this whole “Mingle” idea, here’s the short film that started it all:

🎥 The Mingle Movie

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right… stuck in the middle with you.

Ask Palaner

Going to Smerconish Mingle Meetup? Ask me anything about it.

I read the organiser's pages and answer in a few seconds.

Answers are AI-generated · Privacy

Answers are AI-generated · Privacy