Arts and entertainment calendar for July 19

Updated: July 17, 2012 1:14PM

Summer Concerts

Wednesday Night at the Gazebo concert series, 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays at Riverfront Park, 8600 W. Grand Ave. (at Ditka Drive), River Grove. Visit http://vorg.us. July 25: Ryden (local teen band). Aug. 1: The Allison Wonder Band (rock). Aug. 8: The Chicago Skyliners (big band music).

Park District of Franklin Park will present concerts at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the North Park Centre Gazebo, 10040 Addison St. Call (847) 928-8478. July 19: 7th Heaven. Aug. 2: Firebeat (pop/rock). Aug. 9: Valle Verde (Latin American).

The Park District Of Oak Park presents concerts from 5:30-7 p.m. Sundays in Scoville Park, 800 W. Lake St., Oak Park. Free admission. Concerts may be canceled due to inclement weather two hours before performance and a banner will be hung on the stage to let the public know. Visit www.oakparkparks.com. July 22: Billy Croft & the 5-Alarm (country rock). July 29: One Foot in the Groove, an eight-piece horn-driven rock band. Aug. 5: Midwest Dueling Pianos. Aug. 12: Tropixplosion, a Caribbean show band that features steel drums, percussion and vocals. For more information, visit www.oakparkparks.com.

Taste of Melrose Park, Village Hall, 1000 N. 25th Ave. (708) 343-4000, ext. 148, or see www.melrosepark.org. Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Winston Plaza Stage — Aug 31: 5:30 p.m., Tony Spavone; 7:15 p.m., Pat Capuzzi; 8:30 p.m., Voyage. Sept. 1: 6:30 p.m., The Chauffeurs; 8:45 p.m., 7th Heaven. Sept. 2: 5 p.m., Jimmy Damon; 6:30 p.m., Danny Fox; 7:30 p.m., American English (Beatles tribute). Meijer Stage — Aug. 31: 6 p.m., Jimmy Damon; 7:15 p.m., Charissa; 9 p.m., DeJaVu. Sept. 1: 6 p.m., Rick LaVere; 7:30 p.m., The Other Three Tenors; 9:30 p.m., Vintage Vinyl. Sept: 2: 5:45 p.m., TBA; 7 p.m., Nick Pontarelli; 8:30 p.m., Tony Capone. Peroni Garden Stage — Aug. 31: 8:15 p.m., R-Gang. Sept. 1: 8:15 p.m., R-Gang. Sept. 2: 6:30 p.m., R-Gang.

Village of Elmwood Park summer concert series, 7 p.m. on select Thursdays in Central Park, 75th and Fullerton. July 26: New Odyssey (three guys, 30 instruments). Aug. 9: Final Say (dance, rock). Aug. 23: Petty Cash (Tom Petty and Johnny Cash tribute).

Stage

“All Kinds of Crazy,” presented by 16th Street Theater Aug. 9-18 at the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th St., Berwyn. Peformances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays. Arlene Malinowski, sauthor of “What Does the Sun Sound Like?” and “Aiming for Sainthood,” returns to 16th Street to complete her trilogy of true tales. Tickets: $14-$18. Call (708) 795-6704 or visit www.16thstreettheater.org.

“The Merchant of Venice” will be presented by First Folio Theatre through Aug. 19 as part of its Shakespeare-under-the-Stars series on the outdoor main stage at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Performances are at 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Featuring lawn seating, attendees are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets, or rent one for $2 each at the concession stand. Concessions as well as pre-ordered box suppers from La Cuisine (prepaid 48 hours in advance) are also available. Gates open at 6:45 p.m. Tickets: $26-$36, with discounts for students and seniors. First Folio will also present a fully staged reading of “Shylock and His Daughter,” by Maurice Schwartz, at 8:15 p.m. July 26, Aug. 2, 9 and 16. Originally written for the Yiddish theater and translated into English, the play tells the same story as “The Merchant of Venice,” but from Shylock’s perspective. Tickets are $10. Call (630) 986-8067 or visit www.firstfolio.org.

“Reefer Madness,” through Aug. 26 at Circle Theatre, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. $26 Fridays; $30 Saturdays and Sundays, $28 for students and seniors. Call (708) 660-9540 or visit www.circle-theatre.org.

“Richard III,” by William Shakespeare, presented by Oak Park Festival Theatre July 19-Aug. 25 outdoors in Austin Gardens park, located in the 100 block of North Forest Avenue, Oak Park. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sundays; Additional performance at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. Tickets: $25; $20 for students and seniors; $15 for previews, July 19-20. Call (708) 445-4440 or visit www. oakparkfestival.com.

“The 39 Steps,”through Aug. 26 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Based on the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, “The 39 Steps” is a fast-paced comedy thriller that introduced the “man on the run” genre to Hollywood. The performance schedule is 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursdays; 8:30 p.m. Fridays; 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $35-$46, with discounts available for students and senior citizens. Lunch and dinner packages available for $49.75-$68. Call (630) 530-0111 or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.

Classical

Church of Beethoven Oak Park, a family-friendly Sunday morning classical music series, presents Allegro Brass at 10:30 a.m. July 22 at Open Door Theater, 902 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. The program includes works by Handel, Purcell, Poulenc, Josquin and more. $10; $5 for children. Visit www.churchofbeethoven-oakpark.com.

Pop/folk/jazz

FitzGerald’s,6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. (708) 788-2118. www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Tuesdays, 9 p.m.: Open mic in the SideBar. July 20, 9 p.m.: The Bad Sneakers Orchestra (Steely Dan tribute). $15. July 20, 9 p.m.: Ralph Covert’s Acoustic Army in the SideBar Music Room, $10. July 21, 9 p.m.: Terrance Simien (zydeco). $15. July 22, 6 p.m.: The John Burnett Orchestra (jazz). $10; $5 for those under 17 with student I.D. July 25, 9 p.m.: Expo ’76. No cover. July 26: Oak Park Food Co-Op fundraiser with Golden Horse Ranch Band. July 26, 8 p.m.: Country Night in Berwyn with The Last Kind Words, Knockdown String Band and Decoy Prayer Meeting, $5. July 27, 9 p.m.: Rosie Ledet with the Cajun Aces (zydeco). $15. July 27, 9 p.m.: Cannonball in the SideBar. No cover. July 29, 6 p.m.: Southland Jazz Ensemble. $10; $5 for those under 17 with student I.D. Aug. 3, 9 p.m.: This Must Be The Band (rock). $10. Aug. 10, 9 p.m.: Steepwater Band with Kinsey Report (blues). $15. Aug. 18, 9 p.m.: Billy Prine CD release show (folk). Aug. 22, 9 p.m.: Yarn (roots/rock). $10.

Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport, Chicago. (773) 525-2508. www.schubas.com. July 20, 9 p.m.: Singer-songwriter Xoe Wise. $10.

Art galleries

Expressions Graphics, 29 W. Harrison St., Oak Park. (708) 386-3552. www.expressionsgraphics.org. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Through Aug. 5: “Calacas,” works from Il La Calaca Press International Print Exchange.

Gallery Pink, 149 Harrison St., Oak Park. (708) 524-2231. www.gallerypink-elkinsstudio.com. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment. Through Aug. 26: Ridge Art will open a pop-up gallery featuring all of its African and Latin American collections including masks, works on paper from Cuba and East and West Africa, Maasai beadwork, and textiles. For information, visit www.ridgeart.com.

North Riverside Mall Theatre, 7501 W. Cermak Road, Riverside. www.classiccinemas.com. Through July 31: Works by the Senior Citizens’ Center of Oak Park and River Forest’s Lifelong Learning Center art class.

Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park. (708) 386-4700. Hours are 2-4 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Through August: “Creation — Nature,” archival pigment prints by Marcia Babler.

Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, 834 Lake St. (708) 383-8200. www.oppl.org. Through July 30: Tom Burtonwood and Holly Holmes present “Multiplicity,” an exhibit based on the geometry and patterning found in the residential architecture of Oak Park.

Prairie Title Company, 6821 W. North Ave., Oak Park. Exhibits are presented by the Oak Park Area Arts Council. For information, call (708) 386-9853 or visit www.opal-art.com. Through Sept. 4: Works by Amani Borah, Henry Berry, Faith Humphrey-Hill and Ken Reif.

Riverside Arts Center, Freeark Gallery, 32 E. Quincy Road, Riverside. (708) 442-6400. www.riversideartscenter.com. Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Through Aug. 3: “Urban Trace,” new work by local artist Anne Evans. Using a variety of media, including photography, fiber and mixed media, Evans creates abstract compositions through color, pattern and surface.

Auditions & opportunities

The West Suburban Youth Orchestra is seeking middle school and high school musicians for the 2012-13 season. For information or to schedule an audition, visit www.wsyo.org.

The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest seeks string interns. Students in junior high through college may apply, and if selected, will receive a $100 per concert. Rehearsals start Aug. 29. For information, e-mail thesymphonyoprf@gmail.com, call (708) 218-2648 or visit www.symphonyoprf.com.

The Oak Park Concert Chorale is holding auditions for its 2012-13 season, which will feature performances of compositions ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century, as well as works commissioned by the chorale. Seeking singers for all voice parts — sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. Rehearsals are held from 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesdays in Oak Park. For more information or to schedule an audition, call (847) 420-9200 or visit www.oakparkconcertchorale.org.

The Oak Park Art League seeks artists to participate in the second annual Carriage House Gallery National Juried Exhibition, to be held Oct. 12-Nov. 16. The exhibit is open to all artists nationwide, working in any visual media, including photography and digital art. Submitted artworks will be juried and judged for Best of Show, first, second and third place. More than $4,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. Entry fee is $30, $25 for members, for up to three images. Entry deadline is Aug. 3. Call (708) 386-9853 or visit www.opal-art.com.

Artists and craftsartists are invited to jury to participate in the 38th annual Oak Park Ave-Lake Arts & Crafts Show, to be presented by the American Society of Artists Aug. 17-19 in Scoville Park, Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street, Oak Park. Submit four images representative of work to be exhibited, one of the display set-up, first/last name, physical address, daytime telephone number, and resume/show listing to www.americansocietyofartists.org. For information, call (847) 991-4748.

Crafters sought for the Oak Park Women’s Exchange 38th annual Holiday Art & Craft Show, to be held Nov. 4 at Oak Park River Forest High School. For an application, visit www.opwe.org or call (708) 848-4693.

Ballet Legere will hold auditions for its 28th annual production of “The Nutcracker” Aug. 11-12 at the Legere Dance Centre, 7377 W. North Ave., River Forest. All roles are available. Saturday — Height under 45”, ages 4 1/2 years and up, 8:30 a.m.; girls 46”-48”, 10 a.m.; girls 49”-52”, 11:30 a.m.; girls 53”-57”, 1 p.m.; girls 58”-61”, 2:30 p.m. Sunday — boys 5-12 years old, 9 a.m.; male and female dancers, teen through adult, and non-pointe roles, 10 a.m. Dancers must bring a photo. Gymnasts and tumblers, ages 8 through adult, should call for an appointment. For information, call (773) 237-1874 or e-mail balletlegere@yahoo.com.

Entries are sought for the 2012 Oak Park International Film Festival, “Arts and Activism,” to be held Sept. 15 at the Oak Park Public Library. There must be a local connection (cast, crew, subject, location, etc.). Music videos, documentaries, shorts, cartoons and features are welcome. Youth, women, minorities and others are encouraged to submit entries. Submit a DVD, film description, contact information, and a two-sentence biography to: Oak Park International Film Festival, PO Box 1294, Oak Park IL 60304. Entry deadline is Aug. 2.

Benefits

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, celebrating its 125th anniversary, will host its inaugural MercyFest July 20 on Mercy Home’s West Loop Campus, Adams Street and Racine Avenue, Chicago. A family-friendly portion of the event runs from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring games, prizes and pony rides. The evening portion of the event, from 3-10:30 p.m., offers food, beer, wine, and live entertainment from the Dirty Rooks (at 5 p.m.) and Wedding Banned (at 7:30 p.m.). Admission is $10; free for children under 12. Visit www.mercyhome.org.

Books & poetry

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W. Madison St., Forest Park. (708) 771-7243. www.centuriesandsleuths.com. July 21, 12:30 p.m.: Bryan Gruley discusses and signs The Skeleton Box, the third book in the Starvation Lake Series. July 21, 2 p.m.: Mystery Discussion Group will discuss The Likeness by Tana French. July 29, 2 p.m.: Clio’s Chroniclers (The History Discussion Group) will discuss Berlin Games (1936) How the Nazis Stole the Olympic Dream by Guy Walters. Aug. 5, 1 p.m.: Mystery Writers of America meeting with guest speaker Rebecca Crowley presenting “Working with a Publicist.” Aug. 11, 2 p.m.: G.K. Chesterton Society of Chicago will discuss Characters of the Reformation by Hillaire Belloc. Aug. 18, 11 a.m.: Sisters in Crime meeting. Aug. 18, 2 p.m.: Mystery Discussion Group will discuss The Body in the Gallery by Katherine Hall Page. Aug. 26, 2 p.m.: Clio’s Chroniclers (The History Discussion Group) will discuss Ghost Map: London’s Cholera Epidemic by Steven Johnston. Sept. 8, 11 a.m.: Sisters in Crime meeting. Sept. 15, 2 p.m.: Mystery Discussion Group will discuss March Violets by Philip Kerr. Sept. 27, 7 p.m.: Val Mc Dermid will discuss and sign Vanishing. Sept. 29, 2 p.m.: Author discussion and signing with Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower, who have edited Arthur Conan Doyle’s newly discovered Dangerous Work: Diary of an Artic Adventure. Sept. 30, 2 p.m.: Clio’s Chroniclers (The History Discussion Group) will discuss A Concise History of Russia by Richard Pipes. Oct. 2, 7 p.m.: William Kent Krueger discusses and signs Trickster’s Point. Oct. 7, 3 p.m.: Robert Olen Butler discusses and signs Hot Country. Oct. 14, 2 p.m.: Jeffrey Siger discusses and signs Target: Tinos (the fourth Inspector Kaldis mystery in modern Greece). Oct. 20, 2 p.m.: Mystery Discussion Group will discuss Fourth Day by Zoe Sharp. Oct. 28, 2 p.m.: Clio’s Chroniclers (The History Discussion Group) will discuss Munich 1938: Appeasement and World War II by David Favor. Nov. 4, 1 p.m.: Helen Macie Osterman discusses and signs The Evil Eye (an Emma Winberry mystery). Nov. 17, 2 p.m.: Mystery Discussion Group will discuss The Sinners: A Criminal Edition by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips. Nov. 18, 2 p.m.: Robert Goldsborough discusses and signs Archie Meets Nero Wolfe.

Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid, Oak Park. July 26, 10:30 a.m.: Book Worms Book Club for Seniors will discuss Wild Swans by Jung Chang. Copies of the book are reserved for the Book Worms Book Club at the Oak Park Public Library main branch. Fee is $2.

Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, 834 Lake St. (708) 383-8200. www.oppl.org. July 24, 8 p.m.: genre X Book Discussion, for adults in their 20s and 30s, will discuss A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole at Molly Malone’s, 7652 Madison St., Forest Park. July 25, 7 p.m.: Phat Fiction Book Club discusses Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany by Hans Massaquoi at Lake Street Kitchen and Bar, 1101 Lake St., Oak Park. July 26, 7 p.m.: Young @ Heart Book Discussion Group, for adults who read Young Adult literature, will discuss Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Child’s play

Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St., Oak Park, presents the Wednesday Morning Movie Series June 13-Aug. 8, featuring family-friendly films for $1 admission. Show time is 10 a.m.; doors open at 9 a.m. for appearances by costumed characters, games and other activities. For information, visit www.classiccinemas.com. July 25: “The Smurfs,” rated PG. Aug. 1: “Disney’s Winnie the Pooh,” rated G. Aug. 8: “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,” rated PG.

Oak Park Art League, 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park. (708) 386-9853. www.opal-art.com. Summer art camps available for children ages 5-12 years, 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday. Tuition is $265 per two-week session; $250 for OPAL members. Camps include July 23-Aug. 3: “I Love Summer,” painting and sculpture; Aug. 6-17: Jewelry Making.

Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch, 845 S. Gunderson Ave., Oak Park. (708) 386-4751. www.oppl.org. July 23, 4 p.m.: Movie Maniacs Film Series, for ages 8 and up, features “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” rated PG. Wonder Works,

A Children’s Museum, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park, provides a hands-on environment intended to strengthen the social, emotional and intellectual development of children up to age 10. The 6,400-square-foot museum includes exhibits, educational programming, a retail store and a children’s party room. Memberships are available. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 per person; free for members and children under age 1. For information about field trips, birthday parties and after-hours parties, call (708) 383-4815 or visit www.wonder-works.org.

Dance

Willowbrook Ballroom, 8900 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs. www.willowbrookballroom.com. (708) 839-1000. July 22, 2-5 p.m.: Ballroom dancing to music by the Ron Smolen Orchestra, $14 per person. No jeans or gym shoes. July 24 and 31 and Aug. 7, 7:30-10 p.m.: Country and western lessons and dance, $8. July 25 and Aug. 1 and 8, 7:30-11 p.m.: Salsa lessons and dance, $10. No partner needed. July 27 and Aug. 10, 8 p.m.: Good Time Charley Singles Dance. Admission is $6 before 8:15 p.m.; $8 after. July 29, 2-5 p.m.: Ballroom dancing to music by the Steve Cooper Orchestra, $14 per person. No jeans or gym shoes. Aug. 3, 7-11 p.m.: Country and western dance, “Boppin’ at the Brook,” $8. Aug. 5: Rumba dance lesson, 12:30-1:30 p.m., $20. Ballroom dancing to music by The Teddy Lee Orchestra, 2-5 p.m., $14. No jeans or gym shoes. Aug. 12, 2-5 p.m.: Ballroom dancing to music by The Steve Anthony Orchestra, $14. No jeans or gym shoes.

Dining

Thursday Night Out Downtown Oak Park, 5-9 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 30, featuring more than 20 downtown Oak Park restaurants offering a variety of drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts on the TNO menu and allowing diners to eat inside or carry out. Tables are also set up outside for patrons to enjoy live entertainment while dining al fresco. $12 ticket booklets contain four dine-around tickets. Ticket booklets are available at the Downtown Oak Park kiosk at Lake and Marion from 5-9 p.m. Thursdays. For information, visit www.downtownoakpark.net. Entertainment includes — July 19: The Barb Silverman Trio, from 5-7 p.m., and Paul Botts Jazz, 7-9 p.m. July 26: Nick Kitsos and the Bono Bros, 5-7 p.m., and old- time string band Common Taters, 7-9 p.m.

Fairs & festivals

Wacky Quacky Duck Splash and Carnival of Fun, 2-6 p.m. July 21 at Proksa Park, 3001 S. Wisconsin, Berwyn, featuring carnival style games for children, free craft stations, face painting, balloon artist and more. Duck Splash at 5:45 p.m.; first prize $500 with nine runner-up prizes. Call (847) 455-2100 or visit www.wssra.net.

Film

Movies at the Gazebo at Riverfront Park, 8600 W. Grand Ave. (at Ditka Drive), River Grove. Movies begin at dusk. In the event of inclement weather, movies will be shown inside the Rec Center across the street. For information, visit http://vorg.us. Aug. 10: “Moneyball,” rated PG-13.

Oak Park Arms Retirement Community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. (708) 386-4040. www.oakparkarms.com. “Journey Through History … Hollywood Style” film series, hosted by radio announcer Dan Kane. All films are shown at 3:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and are followed by a discussion. Admission is free. Aug. 10: “Elizabeth,” starring Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes. Sept. 14: “Waterloo,” starring Rod Steiger, Christopher Plummer and Orson Welles. Oct. 12: “Amistad,” starring Anthony Hopkins. Nov. 9: “The Alamo,” starring John Wayne. Dec. 14: “Love Actually,” starring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson.

Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, 834 Lake St. (708) 383-8200. www.oppl.org. July 20, 1:30 p.m.: Hitchcock Film Series features “Strangers on a Train” (1951). July 22, 1:30 p.m.: Bold Films Series features “Shutter Island” (2010). July 29, 1:30 p.m.: Bold Films Series features “Hanna” (2011).

Oak Park Public Library, Dole Branch, 255 Augusta, Oak Park. (708) 386-9032. July 20, noon: Watch & Reflect Group will discuss the documentary “I Am.” DVD copies of the film are available at the library.

Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch, 845 S. Gunderson Ave., Oak Park. (708) 386-4751. www.oppl.org. July 25, 1:30 p.m.: Bogie! Film Series features “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” (1948).

Lectures

Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, 834 Lake St. (708) 383-8200. www.oppl.org. July 31, 7 p.m.: “Doris Humphrey and Women in Modern Dance,” a lecture and slide show to complement the Rose Yasgour and Jewish-American Women in Early Modern Dance exhibit at the library.

Open Door Theatre, 902 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. July 24, 2 p.m.: “Cole Porter’s Top Ten LIST and LUST Songs,” a multimedia presentation by Charles Troy. $10. For information, call (708) 342-0810.

Unity Temple Restoration Foundation presents break :: the :: box, a lecture series exploring creative nonconformity across architecture, art and culture, in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, 875 Lake St., Oak Park. For tickets, call (708) 383-8873 or visit www.utrf.org. Aug. 29, 7 p.m.: Rescue Me :: Tour of Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio. Andrzej Danowski will lead a behind-the-scenes tour of his work space, one of the country’s top conservation studios. He’ll show his current work and explain how he has used both cutting-edge and traditional methods to save such treasures as Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain and Marshall Field’s clocks, and recreate Unity Temple’s stolen bronze letters. $15; $12 for UTRF members. Advance ticket purchase required.

Organizations

Oak Park Art League’s Plein Air Painting Group meets from 8:30 a.m.-noon the first and third Saturdays of the month to paint or sketch directly from both urban and natural landscapes. This is a free activity and is not instructed; bring your own materials. Open to teens and adults. For information, call (708) 386-9853 or visit www.opal-art.com. July 21: Oak Park Art League garden. Aug. 4: Historic homes surrounding Holmes School Park. Aug. 18: Austin Gardens. Sept. 15: Garfield Park Conservatory grounds. Oct. 6: An OPAL friend’s yard.

Oak Park Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. July 23 in the Veterans Room of the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park, to view and critique photographs taken by members. All skill levels are welcome.

The Oak Park Writers’ Group meets from 6:30-9 p.m. the first Thursday of every month in the second-floor Book Discussion Room of the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St. Writers share their work and discuss it with the group. The Writers’ Group also sponsors a Second Sunday Open Mic, a free performing venue, from 5-7 p.m. the second Sunday of every month at the Eastgate Café, 102 Harrison St., Oak Park. Poets, storytellers, acoustic musicians, comedians, playwrights, singers and dancers are all welcome to perform. For information, e-mail oakparkwritersgroup@yahoo.com.

Singles

CAC (Catholic Alumni Club of Chicago) Single Catholics. (708) 450-8280 or www.caci.org/chicago.html. Aug. 10, 7 p.m.: Dinner at Giordano’s, 10410 W. Cermak Road, Westchester. Reservations to (708) 788-3352. Aug. 11: Dinner at Francesca’s, 75 S. La Grange Road, La Grange. Reservations to (708) 788-3352 by Aug. 10.

Paramount Tall Club of Chicago, www.tallclubchicago.org or (312) 853-0183. Paramount Tall Club of Chicago is a singles club for taller than average people. Men must be 6’2” or taller and women must be 5’10” or taller. All members must be 21 years or older. The club meets the second Monday of the month at Elmhurst Public House, 683 W. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst.

Tours & outings

Pedal Oak Park Bike Tour will be held at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, through Sept. 23. The two-hour tour includes stops at 22 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures in Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District. The tour begins and ends at Greenline Wheels, 105 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes; however, if a bike is needed, Greenline Wheels will provide one at no additional cost. Admission is $35; $30 for members. Tickets can be purchased at www.GoWright.org/pedal.

Restoration in Progress Tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Emil Bach House, led by preservation architect T. Gunny Harboe, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and Sept. 9. Designed for the owner of Chicago’s prominent Bach Brick Company, the Bach House (1915) showcases Wright’s transition into post-Prairie School design. A Chicago Landmark and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, its compact structure has been described as “semi-cubist.” Admission is $75; $65 for Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust members. Tickets are available at www.gowright.org/bach.

Workshops & classes

Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch, 845 S. Gunderson Ave., Oak Park. (708) 386-4751. www.oppl.org. July 26, 6:30 p.m.: Teen Improv Workshop.

Poets and Patrons will sponsor a free writing workshop at 10 a.m. July 28 at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. Meet by the main entrance of the conservatory. Everyone will have one and a half hours to view the conservatory or the park, and then the group will meet in Horticulture Hall to write poetry. Admission is free; donations appreciated. To register, e-mail Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com or Wilda Morris at wem@ameritech.net.

Et cetera

Dominican University, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest, will present a community program and free ice cream social celebrating its 100-year commitment to the arts on July 29. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic supper to enjoy in the university Quad, where artists from the Oak Park Art League will be creating plein air paintings and leading children’s art activities from 5:30-7 p.m., with the university providing free ice cream. The event will culminate in a free screening of the Academy Award-winning film, “Hugo,” at 7 p.m. in the Lund Auditorium.

“The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy,” a 1940s radio show starring Frank Morgan, will be recreated in a live stage radio reading, along with “Easy Aces” at 7 p.m. July 31 in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center. Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, Chicago. “Tweedy,” directed by Mercita Demonk of Oak Park, stars Oak Park actor Lanny Lutz in the title role. Admission is free. Enter at 77 E. Randolph St.

Triton College’s Cernan Earth and Space Center, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove. (708) 583-3100. www.triton.edu/cernan. July 28: Super Saturday, featuring “Zip! Zoom! Whiz!” and “There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars” mini show at 7 p.m.; Monthly Skywatch at 8 p.m.; and “A Momentary Lapse of Summer” laser show at 9:30 p.m. Admission for the 7 or 8 p.m. show is $8; $4 for children and senior citizens. Admission for the 9:30 p.m. show is $10/$5. Special rates to attend multiple shows are available.

Show / Hide Comments