Register for Friends of the Fourth 5K
Registration is now open for the Riverside Friends of the Fourth 5K, which will take place on June 26.
For 2021, the race replaces the Independence Day 5K and will start and end at Riverside’s historic water tower. Groups of runners will be staggered based on expected pace and face masks are required until you cross the start line and post-race. Bring a bottle of water since there will be no water station on the route.
Register by June 1 to ensure you have your T-shirt by packet pickup. Those registering after June 1 will get T-shirts after race day. Registration deadline is June 23.
You can register online.
Riverside walking tours kickoff May 30
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society kicks off its seasonal walking tours of Riverside, highlighting the village’s design, history and architecture beginning Sunday, May 30 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The tour will cover the area north of the railroad tracks and features the Longcommon, an architecturally significant school, a place of worship designed by William LeBaron Jenney and homes by Silsbee, Wright and Purcell & Elmslie.
Tours are $20 per person ($15 for seniors 62+ and Olmsted Society members). Tour groups depart at 2 p.m. from the Riverside Train Depot (east side of platform) at 90 Bloomingbank Road.
Face masks are required and participation is limited. Reservations required. Email tours@olmstedsociety.com or call 708-447-7635 to make reservations. Payment is made via PayPal only at The Frederick Law Olmsted Society website.
‘TRU Story’ focuses on mental health
Pillars Community Health presents “TRU Story,” a free one-hour Zoom presentation featuring songs from the musical “TRU,” on Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 8 p.m.
During “TRU Story,” the show’s creators David Gosz and Leo Fotos unpack the origins of sharing their own mental health journeys through the medium of musical theater and encourage viewers to find a way to tell their stories.
Following the presentation, Pillars Community Health will lead the panel discussion with mental health leaders from west suburban organizations.
Observe Memorial Day in Riverside
Riverside American Legion Post 488 will again host an in-person Memorial Day ceremony commemorating those who have died serving in the Armed Forces on Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at the Gold Star Memorial in Guthrie Park, Riverside and Bloomingbank roads in Riverside.
Due to COVID regulations, this year’s ceremony will be an abbreviated one but will still include the reading of the names of the 54 Riverside residents who have died while serving the nation, music and recognition of this year’s honored veteran, the late Hal Kotora.
No chairs will be provided, so bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. The ceremony will be held at the flagpole of the memorial, across the street from the Riverside train station.
LTHS musical retrospective
Even during a pandemic the show must go on! The Lyons Township High School Theatre Board may have put its traditional musical on hold this year, but they have put together a digital retrospective of LTHS musicals from the last 70 years in “Showstoppers,” which can be viewed on this YouTube link.
And more
- Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Restraint and Limitation” featuring the abstract work of artists Sarah Arrigada, Anna Buckner, Sharon Butler, Magalie Guerin, Elizabeth Powell, Elise Rugolo and Simon Tatum through June 26. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Email to info@riversideartscenter.com to schedule an appointment.
- North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, is looking for budding artists to decorate white paper parasols for their Umbrella Art Contest, which runs through the month of May. Open to all ages. Just pick up an umbrella at the mall’s Customer Service Center (M-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.-6 pm.), decorate it at home and return it by May 31. Gift card prizes for best entries.
- 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, there’s Green Cleaning and Composting via Zoom on June 3 at 6 p.m. Learn about non-toxic and pet and children-safe products and learn compost do’s and don’ts and composting in small spaces. Register at the North Riverside library’s online events calendar for Zoom access.
For kids there’s 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.
Call 708-447-0836, ext. 230, email youthservices@northriversidelibrary.org or visit the library’s online events calendar 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 at facebook.com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary. For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on May 27 at 11 a.m.
Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit the library’s online events calendar to register for Zoom programs.
- Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids and adults to Outdoor Storytime on May 28 at 10 a.m. Bring a blanket, mask, listening ears and dancing feet and enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. Older kids can play Jackbox games during Teen Game Night (grades 6-12) on May 28 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Families can also enjoy Storytime at the Community Garden (at Ascension Lutheran church, 400 Nuttall Road) on June 1 at 10 a.m. No registration required.
For more info visit the library’s online events calendar
