Our January 10th Story Slam is "Good Times/Bad Times!"

Updated: 12/31/2016 - Seats have sold out. A few SRO remain. Thanks!

The 2017 West Chester Story Slam season kicks off on Tuesday, January 10th with the theme "Good Times/Bad Times!" What type of stories are we looking for with this theme?

Tell us a happy story marred by a tragedy or a tragic story with a redemptive ending. Tell us about the time you attended a Led Zeppelin concert or the time you thought you were dropped into a Dickens novel ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,") but unlike Dickens, keep your story to five minutes! Tell us about "Good Times/Bad Times!" Click on the rules page to review our guidelines.

Our Story Slams take place on the second Tuesday of the month at Side Bar & Restaurant in West Chester, PA. All events begin at 8pm. Story Slam tickets are $10 each. At this time, we have some seats remaining for the January 10th event, and we also have limited Standing Room Only Tickets.

2017 Story Slam Dates and Themes Announced!

Emcee Mikey Gleason at the Grand Slam

What story will you tell? What story will your friends tell?

The 2017 West Chester Story Slam season (our 8th season!) will kick off on Tuesday, January 10th with the theme "Good Times/Bad Times!" Tell us a happy story marred by a tragedy or a tragic story with a redemptive ending. Tell us about the time you attended a Led Zeppelin concert or the time you thought you were dropped into a Dickens novel ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,") but unlike Dickens, keep your story to five minutes! Click on the rules page to review our guidelines.

Our Story Slams take place on the second Tuesday of the month at Side Bar & Restaurant in West Chester, PA. All events begin at 8pm. Story Slam tickets are $10 each and available now for the January 10th event. Tickets for each month's Slam go on sale the day after the previous month’s event.

Here are the dates and themes for the 2017 season.

January 10th - Good Times/Bad Times

February 14th - Heartburn

March 14th - Working Stiff

April 11th - Rebellion

May 9th - Luck!

June 13th - Foreign Soil

July 11th - Nature's Call

August 8th - Identity Crisis

September 12th - School days

October 10th - Close Calls!

November 14th- 2017 GRAND SLAM - Theme TBD

Aaron Mills wins the 2016 West Chester Story Slam Grand Slam!

Aaron Mills won our 2016 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM with his story of making a promise to a first grade class that he would raise the chicks they had hatched from eggs. Aaron will have his name engraved on the Storyteller's Cup. Thanks to Side Bar and Restaurant, Levante Brewing Company, and the Classic Diner for donating prizes to the winner tonight.

Aaron edged out the other awesome storytellers. We heard great stories about the "promises" made to loved ones throughout the years. We had a packed house at the Chester County Historical Society and enjoyed the after-party at Side Bar. Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and the audience who cheered the competitors on.

You can watch Aaron's winning story below or click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel to watch all the stories told on the night. 

We will announce the 2017 West Chester Story Slam schedule and themes by December 1. The best way to keep up to date and insure you have advance notice about upcoming events is to join our Newsletter List by clicking HERE.

The 2016 GRAND SLAM is November 1st! Order Tickets Today!

The 2016 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM will be held on Tuesday, November 1st, 8pm,  and the theme is "Promises!" Once again, we are thrilled that the event will be held at the Chester County Historical Society in downtown West Chester.

All the winners of West Chester Story Slam from the 2016 season have been invited to attend. Our expected lineup of storytellers for the GRAND SLAM are: Rich Eagles, Aaron Mills, Cynthia Angst, Steve Clark, Melinda Davis, Peter Cunniffe, Dara Zuckernick, Diane Yannick, Jane Butler, Tom Bottiger, David Winston and Nick Kupsey.

We do expect tickets for this event to sell out and we will NOT have tickets available at the door. Please order your tickets by clicking HERE.

Our "WTF?" Story Slam Ends in a Tie! GRAND SLAM Tickets on Sale Now!

Co-winners David Smith and Nick Kupsey jokingly pose with the winning pint glass!

Nick Kupsey and David Smith were the co-winners of our October Story Slam, which was themed "WTF?" Nick told the hilarious story of learning the urban legend for twenty years about his brother. David told the funny story of his first day as a newsroom videographer and how he found himself shooting the most unusual and embarrassing emergency situation.

We heard ten fun stories that left the storytellers thinking WTF! Thanks to all our storytellers, the judges and the rowdy audience - perhaps the rowdiest - for cheering all our storytellers on tonight.

You can watch the two winning stories below or check out all the stories on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Nick and Dave join our other winning storytellers on Tuesday, November 1st, 8pm, for the 2016 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM! The theme is Promises! This event will be held at the Chester County Historical Society and tickets are on sale now. We expect this event to sell out and we will not have tickets at the door so please order now by clicking HERE.

Tom Bottiger wins our "Risk" Story Slam!

Tom Bottiger took home the prized pint glass tonight with his story of wearing a unique Halloween costume for a party at a legendary local bar. The theme of the night was Risk! Tom's win earned him a slot in the 2016 West Chester Story Slam Grand Slam, which will take place at the Chester County Historical Society on Tuesday, November 1st.

Our Risk stories tonight brought tears of laughter and and made us cringe. We heard about visiting a biker bar in South Carolina, escapades in France, sneaking into a World Series Game, getting away with daytime drinking as a kid, traveling through Russia, experiencing the joy of witnessing a brother's pain, jumping off of buildings that are too high to impress a girl, and having a bathing suit stolen while in a shower.

Our next Story Slam is themed "WTF?" and will be held on Tuesday, October 11th. Tickets can be ordered by clicking HERE. 

Check out Tom's winning story below. You can watch other stories told on the night by clicking over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Diane and Jane win our "Lost" Story Slam!

Diane Yannick and Jane Butler pose with the prized pint glass!

Diane Yannick and Jane Butler are co-winners of our August Story Slam! Diane told the chilling story about losing her innocence in grade school. Jane told the story of growing up on a massive nature preserve in the Hudson Valley. They have both earned slots in the Grand Slam which is being held on November 1st!

Our "Lost" Story Slam was pretty intense. We heard stories about caring for dying loved ones and friends, and for other people we've lost. We heard about getting lost in North Philly and being lost in Big Ugly Creek, West Virginia. We heard about the frustration of losing board games and being lost at sea.

Thanks to all our storytellers, the judges and the enthusiastic crowd!

You can watch the two winning stories below. Caution: Diane's story has sexually explicit content. Watch all the stories from the night on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Tickets for the September 13th Story Slam, themed "Risk," are available now on our Tickets page.

Our "Lost" Story Slam is August 9th!

July 19th Update: Seats for the August 9th Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. We have some Standing Room Only tickets available as of this writing. Check our Tickets page.

On Tuesday, August 9th, we're listening to stories on the theme of "Lost!" We want to hear stories about being lost geographically, metaphorically, and other ways also! Have you been lost on the Appalachian Trail? Lost while hitchhiking in a foreign country? Have you been lost in life - perhaps after a divorce or the loss of a job? Have you ever gotten lost and then stumbled onto something amazing?

Join us Tuesday, August 9th at Side Bar and Restaurant at 8pm for our "Lost" Story Slam!

For inspiration, here is one of our favorite stories about getting lost!

Dara Zuckernick wins our "Joy" Story Slam!

Dara Zuckernick won our "Joy" Story Slam with her personal tale of different hairstyles and the moment that led her to keep her hair short. Dara won our prized pint glass and earned a slot in our Grand Slam, which will take place November 1st.

Our "Joy" Story Slam had moments of hilarity and moments of touching remembrances. We heard about having to say no to one very dangerous job, and being very happy afterwards. We heard about going from being homeless to achieving a travel dream. We listened to stories about lost loved ones and joyful remembrances. We heard about the joy of marriage and the joy of divorce, from two different storytellers of course.

Thanks to all our storytellers tonight, particularly to those first-timers who took to the mic. Big thanks to our judges and everyone who came out and cheered on tonight's stories!

Our next Story Slam is scheduled for August 9th and the theme is "Lost." Order your tickets by clicking HERE. 

Check out Dara's winning story below. To watch other stories told at the "Joy" Story Slam, click on through to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Our "Joy" Story Slam is July 12th!

Our July 12th Story Slam is themed "Joy!" Our Story Slam takes place at Side Bar and Restaurant in downtown West Chester. We start telling stories at 8pm, but come early for the best seats and to grab some food and pint. Pick up your tickets by clicking HERE!

What type of stories fit the theme of "Joy?" We want to hear about the most intensely happy moment in your life. Tell us about how escaping from a difficult situation brought you personal joy. Without pain, there can not be Joy. Did you struggle to achieve a life goal? What is one thing in your life that made you elated? Did you escape a bad marriage only to find love later in life? Perhaps you quit a horrible job to start your own business? Where do you find joy? Do you have a special happy place? Maybe you have a story about your friend named Joy? Perhaps you have a story about dealing with bipolar disorder, and weave between depression and joy. Tell us about your search for joy, and how you discovered happiness, 

If you are new to Story Slam and are thinking of telling a story, you can check out the rules page and listen to our podcast or watch stories on our YouTube channel.

Remember, our Story Slams often sell out so please order your tickets early. Click HERE to get your tickets! We'll see you July 12th! 

Peter Cunniffe Wins our "Betrayal" Slam!

Peter Cunniffe poses with emcee Mikey Gleason and the prized pint glass!

Peter Cunniffe told the story of how he grew to love his family dog and how one horrible event left Peter feeling as though he betrayed the pet. His powerful story gave Peter the win for our "Betrayed" Story Slam, and Peter took home the prized pint glass and has earned a slot in the November 1st Grand Slam. (Peter happens to be the 2015 Delco Grand Slam champion.)

We heard a wide variety of Betrayal stories, some hilarious while others were really touching. We heard about fibbing to our children about holidays and the betrayal of being abused by a stepmother. We listened to a tale about spouses running from wild dogs and being chased by an alligator. We heard about college jobs with a shady moving company and the television role of a lifetime and how both led to a moment of betrayal. We heard about having the cops surround an innocent person's house and pranking a kid in grade school only to be repaid years later.

Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and all who came out to cheer on the stories. Our next Story Slam is themed "Joy" and will be held on the second floor of Side Bar and Restaurant on Tuesday, July 12th at 8pm. Order your tickets by clicking HERE.

Watch Pete's winning story below. To watch other stories told from the Betrayal Story Slam, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our June 14th Story Slam is Themed "Betrayal!"

Our June 14th Story Slam is themed "Betrayal," and will be held on the second floor of Side Bar and Restaurant at 8pm. Seats are moving quickly. To order your tickets, click HERE.

What kind of stories fall under the theme of "Betrayal?"

We want to hear stories about being betrayed or perhaps betraying others. Indeed, we've all felt betrayed when others have made tough decisions. Have you been betrayed by someone you love? Maybe by your boss or your employer? Have you ever been paranoid - thinking you had been betrayed - only to realize that you were imagining things? Have you ever had a really tough decision to make and left someone else feeling betrayed? Betrayal happens at times when the goals of two parties diverge and the parties need to split up. Tell us about the time your betrayed someone - how you may have struggled with the choice - or maybe you just said "f*ck it?" Remember - while we often think "betrayal" is reserved for our most intimate relationships, it can often happen when a stranger asks for advice and we steer them the wrong way. There are many levels of betrayal!

Come out June 14th to hear stories on "Betrayal." Don't hesitate to reserve your space. To order tickets, click HERE.

Want some inspiration? Here is Kevin Ginsberg's classic story about betraying some women who were counting on him to get to a theater.

Melinda Davis Wins our "Broke" Story Slam

Melinda Davis won our "Broke" Story Slam with her hilarious story of getting a flat tire in the Nevada desert. In addition to winning the prized pint glass, Melinda earned a spot on the West Chester Story Slam Grand Slam, which will be held on November 1.

Thanks to all our storytellers who stepped to the mic to tell stories about broken cars, broken spirits, and broken dreams.  We even heard a theatrical story about literally "breaking a leg." Thanks to our judges, and the whole packed audience who cheered on tonight's competition.

Our next Story Slam is Tuesday, June 14th and the theme is "Betrayal!" Tickets are on sale now. To order your tickets, click HERE.

Melinda's winning story can be seen below. Other stories from the night are posted on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel. Save the date of June 14th!

Center Stage: Adventures in Nature is Cancelled

SAD NEWS. CENTER STAGE: ADVENTURES IN NATURE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Those who purchased tickets will be given a refund by Natural Lands Trust. Thanks to those who submitted stories and those who planned on attending.

Late Night Story Slam ends in a Tie!

Congratulations to Nick and Terry, winners of our second annual Late Night Story Slam! Our annual Late Night Story Slam featured stories on the theme of "The Fast Lane!" Let's just say we're glad the recording equipment was turned off for this one. We heard some amazing and often hilarious stories about sexual obsession, alcohol, gender identity, a vasectomy, swingers, Southern Comfort, defecation, running from cops, stealing milk crates, and sitting in the back seat of a car with stoned rednecks cruising a causeway.

We can't tell you anymore, since the first rule of Late Night Story Slam is we don't talk about the stories told at Late Night Story Slam! Anyway, thanks to everyone who told their stories and those who listened and laughed!

Our May 10th Story Slam is "Broke!"

Join us on Tuesday, May 10th for our "Broke" Story Slam! Stories get started at 8pm on the second floor of Side Bar and Restaurant, in West Chester. What does the theme Broke refer to>

We want to hear stories about being "broke" financially, being "broke" spiritually, or being "broke" physically. Perhaps you have endured living in poverty or visited someone who was doing so. Did you spend a period of time being homeless? Living out of your car? These difficulties can lead to being broke spiritually, but you may have endured a rough relationship that nearly broke you, or perhaps you were in the wrong job and felt drained and questioning life. Physically speaking, you may have broken a limb or ribs while skiing or skateboarding or riding your bike.

At our May 10th Story Slam, storytellers will "go for broke" with their stories. If you would like to tell a story, sign up once you arrive. We put the names in the hat and start telling stories at 8pm. The winner received a prized pint glass and earns a slot to return in November's West Chester Story Slam Grand Slam, which is November 1.

Seats are over half gone as of April 27th so order your tickets directly from our TICKETS page.

Steve Wins our "Satisfaction" Story Slam!

Steve won our "Satisfaction" Story Slam with his tale of driving Uber through the streets of Philadelphia and connecting with passengers. Steve won the prized pint glass and a slot in our Grand Slam, which will be held on Tuesday, November 1st.

We heard several "satisfying" stories tonight. We heard about a psychic who predicted horrible things. We heard about how a bully in middle school ended up dying tragically as an adult. We heard about a flirtatious encounter that became a date and then faded quickly. We heard about the satisfaction of a hot shower after struggling to repair the plumbing.

We have another Story Slam this month! LATE NIGHT STORY SLAM will be Thursday, April 28th at 10pm! At Late Night Story Slam, we hear the wild stories you would not want recorded on YouTube. Come out and tell your favorite story about being young and wild, tell us your most debauched sex tale or your story of drinking too much or too many drugs. No recording is allowed and this event is 21 and over. Order LATE NIGHT STORY SLAM tickets HERE.

Our next West Chester Story Slam will be May 10th and the theme is BROKE! Order your tickets from our TICKETS page.

Here is Steve's winning story. To see some other stories from our Story Slam, check out the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Late Night Story Slam returns on April 28th!

What happens Late Night stays at Late Night!

At Late Night Story Slam, we want to hear raucous stories – the stories you want to confess but don’t want recorded for YouTube or podcast. You know, those stories you don’t want your kids to hear. The stories you wouldn’t want your mom to hear. The winner of Late Night Story Slam does not earn a slot in the Grand Slam but will win a special prize.

Tell us about your high point or your low point. We want to know about the best/worst night of partying you ever had, your sexual escapades, or the time you quit your job to follow Phish or the Grateful Dead.  Many of these stories will contain explicit sexual language and drug references - no recording is allowed. Only those who attend live will hear these stories.

If you attended last year's Late Night Story Slam, you know that these stories are often outrageous, hilarious, and often creepy. If you have always wanted to tell that story of your strangest sexual encounter, or that weekend college mushroom trip, or that alcoholic bender, this is the place.

Theme: The Fast Lane!

NOTE: This event is 21 and over. No recording allowed.

Thursday, April 28th at 10pm. Side Bar & Restaurant.

This event sold out last year and we expect it will sell out again. Order your tickets soon.

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Our April 12th Story Slam is "Satisfaction!"

I can't get no Satisfaction!

Our April 12th Story Slam is themed "Satisfaction!" Join us as we listen to stories about people who are striving to be satisfied, have achieved satisfaction, or have nearly died trying to achieve it. We want to hear about those attempts to get that momentary, often fleeting, sense of satisfaction.

Our "Satisfaction" Story Slam will be held at 8pm on Tuesday, April 12th on the second floor of SideBar and Restaurant. Most people arrive early for dinner and drinks. If you have a story, sign in upon arrival and we pick names out of a hat. You can read the rules and watch videos to get a sense of the stories we listen to! Tickets are moving quickly, so order yours from our Tickets page.

Cynthia Angst Wins Our "Panicked" Story Slam!

Cynthia Angst won our "Panicked" Story Slam with her tale of surviving a haunted house while in college. Cynthia was our 2015 Grand Slam winner, so tonight's win means she will return to the Grand Slam stage in November to defend her title as Best Storyteller in West Chester!

Our "Panicked" Story Slam was filled with stories of losing children, getting caught in foot races, and more. We heard about the complicated choice between grad school and girlfriend, we heard a story about climbing a Guatamalan volcano, and we listened to the story of how one man's panic can be another man's catch.

Our next West Chester Story Slam is Tuesday, April 12th and the theme is "Satisfaction." Order your tickets by clicking HERE.

Our one night Late Night Story Slam returns on Thursday, April 28th at 10 pm and the theme is "Fast Lane." Late Night Story Slam is your chance to tell raucous stories. No recording takes place. Late Night Story Slam tickets can be ordered HERE.

Also - scroll down to read details about Center Stage: Adventures in Nature, which takes place at ChesLen Preserve on Saturday, May 21st in the afternoon. Submit your story for this event now!

Below you can watch video of Cynthia's winning story, and all our stories from the night are on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.