Kids’ poetry workshop

Riverside Public Library 1 Burling Road, invites elementary school students to take part in an Outdoor Poetry Workshop on Saturday, April 17 at noon.

Celebrate National Poetry Month and get your poems ready for the annual Olmsted Society Poetry Contest. Connect with nature, play with words, brainstorm and have fun.

Students will be split into two groups: grades 1-5 and grade 6-8. Bring a mask and a towel to sit on.

Visit the library’s online calendar to register.

AP Art Expo at RAC

Work on paper in marker, ink, watercolor and gold leaf by junior Isabella O’Brien.

Riverside Arts Center, 34 E. Quincy St., presents the Riverside-Brookfield High School Advance Placement Art Exhibition starting April 16 and running through May 15 in the Freeark Gallery.

This year’s work was created by students who overcame the unique challenges posed by COVID-19 – learning art skills virtually and sharing explorations of materials, concepts and critiques in a screen’s eye view.

The gallery is open by appointment by emailing to info@riversideartscenter.com. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Going green

Brookfield Public Library invites you to discover how to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and how to incorporate ways to be sustainable during the special Zoom program “Living Green in the 21st Century” on Wednesday, April 21 at 6 p.m.

Presenter Ann Terry has a certification in sustainable management from the University of Chicago and has consulted with many clients in sustainable developments.

Registration is required by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 140 or visiting online.

Native gardening basics

West Cook Wild Ones wraps up its series on online lectures on native plant gardening with a “Native Plant Gardening Q&A” via Zoom on April 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Native plant experts Monica Buckley of Red Stem Native Landscapes and Sarah Michehl of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County will answer your questions on how to get the most out of your Midwest garden.

The program is free, but you must register online.

Naz spring musical ‘Annie’ virtual in 2021

Gavin Dimit (from left), Natalie Niccolai and Mary Calabria in Nazareth Academy’s production of “Annie”

Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park will share its spring musical, “Annie,” as a pre-recorded production with ticketed show times on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available here. Audience members will purchase tickets for specific performances and then watch the shows via the showtix4u.com website.

And more

  • North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., offers a number of virtual programs through Facebook Live, conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom.

For adults, the Writers Group explores who to “Build Your Author Platform” on April 15 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. You can also play Bingo on Zoom on April 17 at 11 a.m.; enjoy Stretching and Meditation via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322) on April 19 at 6:30 p.m.; and engage in some brain-health activities during a WITS Workout on Zoom on April 20 at 11 a.m.

Register at the North Riverside library’s online calendar for Zoom access.

For kids there’s ABCs and 123s (ages 3+) via Zoom on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.; Story Safari (ages 3+) via Zoom on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; and Lego Builders Club (ages 5+) via Zoom on Thursdays at 4 p.m. There’s also a special Zoom Razzle Dazzle Rain Stick Craft program for kids ages 3+ on April 21 at 4 p.m. Kids in grades 6-12 can play the Jackbox game Survive the Internet via Zoom on April 17 at 3 p.m.

Call 708-447-0836, ext. 230, email youthservices@northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events-new for Zoom meeting access info.

  • Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page. For adults, there’s also Chair Yoga via Zoom on April 15 at 11 a.m. For kids there’s Andertoons: Number Bots via Zoom on April 17 at 2 p.m. Draw robots using only numbers, Roman numerals and math symbols.

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit the library’s online calendar to register for Zoom programs.

  • Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Sunset Meditation with Gina Barsotti on Zoom on April 15 at 6 p.m.; An Organized Family, a Zoom program showing families benefits of using resources like time and money efficiently, on April 20 at 7 p.m.; and Riverside Reads: “Shuggie Bain” by Douglas Stuart on April 20 at 2:30 outdoors, weather-permitting.

Kids and parents can enjoy Outdoor Storytime on Friday, April 16 and Tuesday, April 20 at 10 a.m. Stories will be repeated from Friday on Tuesday, so pick which day works better for you. Storytime will be canceled in the event of bad weather. Visit the library’s online calendar for more info.