The March Chat Room was a great success! We had 50-60 kids come out. The place was bustling with activity and chatter, just how we like it.

The entertainment for the evening was a variety of performances from regular Chat Room attendees. Jachin Wilson played guitar solo, Steven Palermo played guitar and sung, and Carina Botterbusch played the piano and sung as well. We had a few solo acts by Jess Ilko and Kaira Rosario, and I ended the night by playing a few songs.

This month we served espresso drinks again. We appreciated the donation of wings and 70 cupcakes by my good friend Brian Ford and his wife Kim. The Chat Room had suffered in advertisement and donations, but seems to be getting a second wind. I hope momentum picks up and enthusiasm is in the air at future Chat Rooms! Stay tuned for upcoming entertainment.

Once a month, teens and young adults crowd into the old Lightner Elementary School on Webster Avenue for a night they don’t soon forget.

The Chat Room coffee house is held on the second Friday of every month for teens and young adults (typically ages 13-25). The old gym is transformed with lighting and decorated for a holiday or seasonal theme. Round tables with chairs are set up, each seating only 4-5 to encourage kids to spread out and mingle.

Throughout the week, the building is home to a daycare (The Early Learning Center) and hasn’t been refurnished since the 1970s. But this doesn’t stop anyone from having a blast. The Chat Room features a wide variety of entertainment, including bands, swing dancing, game nights, and karaoke.

The best part about the event is that everything is free. The Chat Room is sponsored by Community Cornerstone Church, who feels that kids need a safe and fun place to go, and that they shouldn’t have to pay for it. Those involved with the Chat Room try to provide kids with the maximum amount of fun, and many of those kids claim it is the highlight of their month.

WHAT: The Chat Room Coffeehouse
WHERE: 101 Webster Ave.
WHEN: 7-10pm every second Friday of the month (next one will be held on March 14)
WHO: teens and young adults ages 13-25

Come on out and bring a bunch of friends!