How Do You Spell Whistler?
This could be you. Photo courtesy of The Whistler. Everyone has a spelling bee story. Perhaps, like your dear writer, your third grade self knew you would not be able to spell n-e-i-g-h-b-o-r-h-o-o-d and requested a bathroom break at just the right time. Maybe, like other Chicagoist staffers, you missed toboggan, dyeing or colossal. Or maybe you never made it past the first round. Well it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all in the past. You have been handed a second chance to prove it to the world that you do NOT suck as spelling. The Whistler is hosting its first annual spelling bee on March 2. So you have just enough time to start studying your Dictionary.com app before bed every night. And for the record, the words have been meticulously culled from “dictionaries, current popular fiction, sci-fi conventions, lists of ingredients, how-to manuals, bus stops, closing credits, Facebook posts” and the like. The Whistler has a long list of words that need spelling and are looking for people who can get the job done.
There’s no need to sign up beforehand. Contestants will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis on the night of the event. So although the spelling bee starts at 8 p.m., it might be wise to show up an hour early or so to gain one of the highly sought after 40 spots. Or, you could just watch and laugh and joke about the contestants with funny people and hosts Seth Dodson and Kellen Alexander, from 1, 2, 3 Fag!. And whether you plan on competing or not, we highly recommend putting Spellbound on your Netflix queue to get mentally and physically prepared.
The First Annual Whistler Spelling Bee, 8 p.m. March 2, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., free, 21+ (Registration begins at 7 p.m.)