Shall we dance?
Hauser Junior High, 65 Woodside Road in Riverside, invites the public to its spring musical The King and I, on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m.
The cast features more than 60 students, who will bring the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical about an English school teacher and her relationship with the King of Siam and his many children and wives to life.
Admission is free and open to all.
Strike it up for RAC
The Riverside Arts Center hosts “RAC the Pins,” a bowling fundraiser to benefit the organization at Circle Lanes, 7244 Circle Ave. in Forest Park, on Sunday, March 19 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Tickets for RAC members are $25 adults/$15 children ($30/$20 for non-members) and include bowling, shoe rental and pizza. A cash bar will be available, along with a raffle for artwork and other items. Tickets must be purchased in advance by visiting www.riversideartscenter.com and can be picked up at the door.
Budding artists unite
The North Riverside Public Library is hosting a “Paint the Night with Brushes and Bites” fundraiser on Saturday, March 18 at 5 p.m. in the gymnasium of the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave.
Channel your inner Van Gogh and paint your own masterpiece while supporting the library and enjoying great food in the family friendly environment. And instructor will provide step-by-step guidance. All supplies will be provided.
Tickets are $40 per adult and includes food and one complimentary drink. Call 708-447-0869 for more information.
LTHS stages Thornton Wilder classic
Lyons Township High School Theatre Board presents The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder on Friday, March 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m. in the North campus Reber Center, 100 S. Brainard Ave. in LaGrange.
Tickets are $10 ($5 kids and seniors; free with LTHS ID) and can be purchased at the box office before the show.
School board candidate forum
The Hollywood Citizens Association hosts a school board candidate forum on Tuesday, March 21 at the Hollywood House, 3435 Hollywood Ave. in Brookfield.
Candidates for Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 will speak and take questions from 7 to 8 p.m., while candidates in Riverside Elementary School District 96 will speak and take questions from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m.
The forum is open to all in the community.
And more
• The Congress Park School PTO hosts March Madness, pitting the school’s sixth-grade basketball team against the Brookfield Police Department, on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 9311 Shields Ave. in Brookfield. Tickets are $5 or $20 for a family of four or more. Proceeds benefit the Brookfield Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
• Christ Presbyterian Church, 2350 8th Ave. in North Riverside, will host a pancake breakfast on March 18 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 (green pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee) at the door. Kids under 6 free with paying adult (eat-in only). Carry-outs available.
• Lyons Township High School will host a blood drive on March 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Campus Corral, 4940 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs. The drive is open to the community. Pre-register by calling 708-579-7444. Walk-ins also welcome.
• Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St. in Riverside, presents “What the Cool Pigeon Knows,” a solo exhibition of works by painter Kevin Blake in the RAC’s FlexSpace gallery and “Resist the Urge to Press Forward,” a two-person show of sculpture and installations by Brent Fogt and Stacia Yeapanis in the Freeark Gallery through April 15. Admission is free. Gallery hours T, W, Th, Sat from 1 to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., hosts an exhibit of artwork by local artist Brittany Hanks. The exhibit runs through April.
• North Riverside Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., hosts Messy Mornings for Munchkins (ages 2 and up) on March 21 at 10:30 a.m.; Lapsit Storytime (adults with babies/toddlers) on March 16 at 10:30 a.m.; Lego Club (1st grade+) March 15, 22 at 3:30 p.m.; Family Bingo and Loteria Familia (3 and older) on March 18 at 2 p.m.; Mad Science (1st grade and older) examines static electricity on March 21 at 3:45 p.m.; 3-D Origami (6th-12th grades) on March 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, will host the Alzheimer’s Association for “Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters,” in the Public Meeting Room on March 18 at 10:30 a.m. Also, the library hosts Felted Animal Making on March 21 at 7 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room. Join Diane Ruzevich and learn to make adorable felt animals. Supplies provided. $10 fee per animal. The library’s annual Magazine/CD/DVD Sale is underway. Buy a bundle of magazines for $1. DVDs are $1 each, and CDs are 25 cents each of six for $1.
• Parent Community Network, in partnership with local area school districts 101, 102, 105, 106, 107, 204, will present a free screening of the documentary Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age on March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Lyons Township High School South Campus Performing Arts Center, 4900 Willow Spring Road in Western Springs. Seating is limited; parents and students are encouraged to register at ParentCommunityNetwork.com.
• St. Barbara, Divine Infant and St. Louise de Marillac parishes will host Father Bill Zavaski who will talk on “12 Characteristics of Discipleship” on March 21 at 7 p.m. as part of the parishes’ Lenten Mission. The talk will take place at Divine Infant Church, 1601 Newcastle Ave. in Westchester.
• Friends of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, are selling raffle tickets ($5 each or five for $20) as a fundraiser to support the library. Purchase a chance to win any of the five prize items, which are in display at the library. The prize drawing will be held April 9.
• Morton West High School, 2400 S. Home Ave. in Berwyn presents You Can’t Take it With You on March 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and March 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Senior citizens and children under 10 free.
