Sunday, May 19, 2013
We look at the local voices who have contributed recent blog posts to Patch in Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest. Find out how you can start blogging, too.
Are you interested in sharing your knowledge, community news, organization updates accomplishments, advice, photo galleries, or anything else with our Patch readers? It's free and simple to post in Patch Local Voices here: Forest Park / Oak Park-River Forest. (Posts can also be cross-published to both sites.) SEGUIN SERVICES HOLDS “DARE TO DREAM” GALA, Awards Bestowed to Community Leaders & Seguin Participants: The annual celebration highlighted the inspirational achievements by Seguin participants and the generous contributions of community volunteers and donors. Seguin was fortunate to hear from Governor Pat Quinn. "Careless Whisper" Crooner Crashes: So many celebrities crashing their cars; so little time to wag a self-righteous finger…
Friday, May 17, 2013
Looking to see a movie? Here's the latest shows at Oak Park's Lake Theater, as well as other nearby theaters.
Looking to see a movie this weekend? If you're in the Oak Park area, check out Classic Cinemas' Lake Theater. Featuring a $6 matinee for shows before 6 p.m., a collection of movies that many national theater chains are playing and the old-timey experience of going to the movies, Lake Theater offers a lot to like. Playing This Weekend (May 16-19) Star Trek Into Darkness (PG-13) is the sequel in the new series of Star Trek films, with the crew meeting an "unstoppable force of terror" on the way home. The Great Gatsby (PG-13) stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the iconic millionaire partyboy in the roaring '20s. Reviews are pretty poor, but what I'm most interested in what people think about using director Baz Luhrmann's name as a verb, as in, "He…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Forest Park Chamber of Commerce is seeking antique cars, hot rods and more for a downtown event May 18.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines ... and bring your classic cars to Forest Park. A Hot Rods and Revelry event will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce is seeking antique autos, classic cars and hot rods to show off. The cars will be parked along Madison Street. This event is part of Celebrating Seniors Week, which is May 16-23. If you have any questions or want to register a car, contact Jim Flanagan at 630-505-8375 or jflanagan@bentron.com.
Three Queens Organic, located in the Oak Park Arts District, is owned by resident Christine Fisher, who also has a farm in Wisconsin where the syrup is tapped.
Sometimes a business idea comes organically. That's the case with Three Queens Organic, a new art gallery in the Oak Park Arts District, which grew out of two far-away happenings: a love for art developed in Europe, and a discovery of maple trees on a farm in Wisconsin. Oak Park resident Christine Fisher opened the gallery in April, and said she loves the space she has at 140 Harrison St. Besides local art, Fisher also sells organic maple syrup "It’s eclectic and funky," she said. "It’s a space where I can do my work, too." Her love for art developed when her family was living in Europe, where her children's schools had fantastic art programs. She also toured around and learned about the art there. "There was art all around me," Fisher …
Check out live performances, special events and more at businesses along Harrison Street on May 17-18.
There's been a few new businesses blooming in the Oak Park Arts District lately, and this weekend you can enjoy the district at the "What's Blooming" festival. The Arts District, located around Harrison Street, will have live performances, artist demonstrations, an art fair and lots more this weekend, May 17-18. Friday night will feature many special events at participating businesses, and on Saturday there will be more going on along Harrison, including dancing, music, food vendors, carnival rides and more. For more details go to the What's Blooming page on the Arts District website, and see featured events below: Harrison Works presents the Beatles-inspired art of Sandra Ragan. Opening night is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 17. On Saturday, …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
We look at the local voices who have contributed recent blog posts to Patch in Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest. Find out how you can start blogging, too.
District 97 Schools Earn Top Awards in Global Virtual Classroom Contest: tudents from Percy Julian Middle School, Lincoln Elementary School and Mann Elementary School competed in the 2013 Global Virtual Classroom Contest, which is a free online collaborative learning project that fosters creativity, cross cultural understanding and helping others; provides children with the opportunity to use research, writing and communication skills; and teaches IT and Web site design skills to students from around the world. Kotowski fighting to eliminate corruption in Illinois: Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski’s (D–Park Ridge) ethics reform legislation which increases transparency in government passed the Senate on Thursday. Kotowski has been …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Do you vehemently refuse to wear that winter coat even one more time? Has this crazy spring weather got you all distressed over getting dressed?
My clever brother tells me spring in the mid-west suffers from bi-polar disorder. One day it's 75 and sunny, the next it's 40 something and rainy. So how in the world are we supposed to know what to wear? That pretty floral print scarf I just bought . . . should I wear it with my winter jacket? That doesn't sound right. Or how about jeans, boots and a turtle-neck sweater in May? That sounds ridiculous, but hey, that's exactly what I had on just a few days ago. As a seasoned wardrobe advisor, this is what I do and this is my best advice. Keep the calendar in mind, but dress for the weather. It's the smart and stylish thing to do. I also recommend some classic closet items that come in very handy this time of year: Layer, layer, and then …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Resident Kevin Reid, who has extensive experience in the music industry, is running a nine-week program to teach people the ins and outs of being in a band, complete with a live performance and recording studio session at the end.
Oak Park resident Kevin Reid knows what it takes to start a band. He's performed in bands, taught musicians and worked in Nashville and Los Angeles on producing and songwriting. The most important thing to do, he says, is to just start playing. And he's giving people that opportunity with a new program, Rock Performance & Studio Recording in Oak Park. Reid’s company, Audio Tribe, has partnered with Sonic Palace recording studio owner, Matt Mercado, to offer three new bands work in a nine-week session where they can learn cover songs. All of it leads up to a live gig June 20 at FitzGerald's in Berwyn and a recording studio session at Sonic Palace. He said he's still looking for bass, keys and drums in the adult bands. "I want to give them …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
"Posters with a Purpose" is Saturday, May 11, at Expressions Graphics. It will feature a private collection of social and political posters of Mark Rogovin's. He will also lead a lecture about their use for social activism.
Social and political posters, and their impact on social activism, will be the focus of an Oak Park art gallery event this weekend. Mark Rogovin, son of photographer Milton Rogovin, will display his family's private collection of such posters, and he will discuss the history of social activism via poster production. The event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Expressions Graphics, 29 Harrison St. in the Oak Park Arts District. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Rogovin is a muralist, historian and founder of the Peace Museum. His lecture will begin at 8 p.m. You can read more about him and his father in this 2006 article. Call 708-447-9262 for more information.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
John Clay III of Oak Park participated in the awards program Monday and goes on to New York event in July.
By Ted Schnell, St. Charles Patch Two suburban high school students have been singled out by Broadway in Chicago as the two award recipients from the second annual Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards, according to chicago.broadwayworld.com. Oak Park-River Forest High School student John Clay III of Oak Park and St. Charles North High School student Taylor Marie Sherry of St. Charles were among 24 young actors and actresses who participated in the awards program at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago on Monday, April 29, 2013, chicago.broadwayworld.com announced on its website Thursday. Sherry and Clay will represent the state of Illinois at The Jimmy Awards in New York on July 1, 2013, the website states. …
Nancy Pipal
3:19 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
And Thank you too, Carol. I know that it's been wicked downtown the past few weeks. You are so smart to have a coat that has a good lining but isn't a winter coat per se. Mine is worth it's weight in gold! more ›