St. Louise goes all out for Gershwin
The St. Louise Players present the new Gershwin musical “Crazy for You,” over two weekends – March 22-24 and March 29-31 – in the Parish Center, 1125 Harrison Ave. in LaGrange Park.
The parish-based theater troupe’s show is a high-energy comedy filled with plot twists, mistaken identities, a love story and big dance numbers to beloved Gershwin songs, like “I Got Rhythm” and “Shall We Dance” that will resonate with audiences of all ages. Cast members range in age from third-graders to senior citizens.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. on March 22, 23, 29 and 20 and at 2 p.m. on March 24 and 31. Tickets are available in advance through www.slmparish.org or at the box office a half-hour prior to showtime. The cost is $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and $7 for kids 12-under, with a $2 discount on opening night.
Renowned architect, planner talks Olmsted
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society hosts an afternoon with internationally recognized architect, urban designer and planner Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk on Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m. in the Great Room of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road.
Plater-Zyberk will present “Olmsted’s Offspring: From Riverside to Seaside,” addressing the influence of the father of landscape architecture on contemporary urban design, the process of new town planning and her own recent work for the historic railroad suburbs along Philadelphia’s Main Line.
The presentation is geared for a general audience but, given Plater-Zyberk’s prominence in the field, will interest professionals, as well.
LWV talks township school treasurer
The League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area will host “The Lyons Township School Treasurer: Does It Make Cents?” on Thursday, March 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barnsdale School, 920 Barnsdale Road in LaGrange Park.
Panelists, including Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, will present information followed by questions from the audience. The program is free and open to the public.
Relive radio’s golden days
Riverside Township Radio Players will recreate two shows from the Golden Age of Radio on Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road.
The troupe will present the Lone Ranger episode “The Osage Bank Robbery” as well as the episode “April Fools’ Day” from the show “My Favorite Husband.” The show is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.riversidetownshipradioplayers.com.
Insects are good!
North Riverside Public Library’s Adult Services Department hosts “Garden Insects: The Good, the Bad and Why they Matter” on Saturday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Gardens are home to community of insects, each with their own roles to play. Learn about northern Illinois’ wide variety of helpful garden insects. Refreshment’s provided by the North Riverside Garden Club.
To register, call 708-447-0869 or visit www.northriversidelibrary.org/events.
And more
• Compassion Factory Art Gallery and Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave., continues its High School Art Exhibit, featuring work in a variety of media by local student artists through March 30. Free. Gallery hours are Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Undiscoverable Country,” featuring the works of Kate McQuillen and Gina Hunt, and “Nomads,” featuring the work of Lynn Basia. “Undiscoverable Country” in the Freeark Gallery runs through March 30. “Nomads” runs through April 27 in the outdoor sculpture garden. Free. Gallery hours Tues.-Sat. from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, hosts Intro to Microsoft Word on March 21 at 3 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room. Introductory class will focus on most common uses and applications for people with little or no experience using Word. Register by calling 708-442-6366 or visiting www.riversidelibrary.org. Teenage girls and their moms are invited to Keeping Your Bond Strong: Mother/Daughter Bonding Workshop on March 23 at 1 p.m.
• Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., presents a Medicare Seminar hosted by Bill Scanlon of Access Benefit Plan Consultants on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. and Keeping Your Bond Strong: Mother/Daughter Bonding Workshop on March 23 at 1 p.m. Register to attend events at 708-485-6917, ext. 140 or at www.brookfieldlibrary.info.
• North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., hosts a Senior Drop-in on March 22 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Meeting Room. Play cards and socialize every Friday
Adult Services hosts Spanish Language Book Club on March 22 at 10:30 a.m., discussing “Manual del Guerrero de la Luz” by Paulo Coelho and Meditation and Stretching on March 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Sign up for adult programs by calling 708-447-0869 or visiting www.northriversidelibrary.org/events.
For kids, there’s Lapsit Storytime (through age 5) on March 21 at 10:30 a.m.; DIY Craft Hour (grades 2+) on March 22 at 4 p.m.; Messy Mornings for Munchkins (ages 2-5) on March 26 at 10:30 a.m.; Bilingual Storytime (ages 2-5) on March 27 at 10:30 a.m.; and Drawing Robots (grades 5-12) on March 23 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and March 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• The community is invited through March 22 to jog, walk or run inside on the indoor track at the Lyons Township High School South Campus fieldhouse, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs, from 6 to 7 a.m. on days when school is in session. Free.
• Aging Care Connections hosts a free Memory Café program through September on the second Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Young at Heart Adult Day Services Center, 6504 Joliet Road in Countryside and the third Tuesday of each month at Salerno’s Pizzeria & Sports Bar, 9301 W. 63rd St. in Hodgkins. Call 708-354-1323 for more information.
• The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo every Monday night. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 7 p.m. minimum cash payout of $2,275 a night, plus pull tabs, lightning, tic-tac and raffles.
