Big Week: June 16-23 - Riverside Brookfield Landmark

Go on Father’s Day ‘seed hunt’ for Olmsted 200

In preparation for celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Riverside’s designer and “the father of American landscape architecture,” the Frederick Law Olmsted Society has partnered with botanical artist Shilin Hora, owner of The Seed, to prepare an Olmsted 200 Botanical Box, which will be given to the Riverside Public Library on Olmsted’s 200th birthday in 2022.

But they need your help and are inviting the public to contribute seeds for the box through a series of monthly “seed hunts,” the next of which will be held Sunday, June 20 at noon.

Meet at the reading circle outside Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, and start off with a seed-themed story read by Nora Durbin, of the youth services department. Then nature guide Susan Lisle will lead families on a 45-minute botanical journey through Swan Pond Park.

Registration and other info can be found at Frederick Law Olmsted Society’s website.

Get Growing! Expo at Brookfield Zoo

Interested in gardening but don’t know where to begin? Then head to Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St. in Brookfield, during Father’s Day weekend, June 18-20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and visit the special Get Growing! Expo.

The Expo features free seminars at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. exploring plants for pollinators, food gardening tips and tricks and fundamentals of container design with annuals.

The event also features make-and-take terrarium workshops at 1 and 3 p.m. and you can purchase items from a mobile plant boutique. Get Growing! Expo is free with regular zoo admission. For more info click here.

‘The Long Shadow’ virtual screening

Join Brookfield Public Library and North Riverside Public Library for a free virtual screening of the documentary “The Long Shadow,” directed by Emmy Award winner Frances Causey, which explores the roots of racism and the legacy of slavery.

The documentary will be available to view June 21-28 with a special virtual Q&A with Causey on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m.

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit the Brookfield Public Library’s online events calendar or the North Riverside Public Library’s online events calendar to register.

MOBA tour, part 2

Take another spin through the collection of the Museum of Bad Art, courtesy of Riverside and North Riverside libraries, during “Living in Tough Times: Having a Bad Day to Dystopian Apocalypse,” part two of a four-part Zoom series, on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 p.m.

Art has always helped get us through tough times, and in this presentation MOBA explores some of ways artists react to small and large, real and imagined, disasters.

Visit the North Riverside library’s online events calendar or the Riverside library’s online events calendar to register.

Drive-thru Pet Parade

Kick off the North Riverside Public Library’s summer reading program at a Drive-Thru Pet Parade on Saturday, June 19 at 11 a.m.

Visit the library, 2400 Desplaines Ave. and drive through the parking lot with your pet or stuffed animal — even with your pet rock or chia pet.

Get a free goodie bag, notes from local animal partner, a photo op and an extra raffle ticket just by attending. While supplies last.

And more

The Riverside Farmers Market continues every Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 10 Pine Ave., in downtown Riverside. The layout will remain the same as 2020, with an entrance and exit and one-way traffic along with social distancing. Face coverings are required for those who are not vaccinated and no pets are allowed.
The Brookfield Farmers Market continues every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Face coverings are required and please practice social distancing. Enter and exit at Brookfield Ave. via the northeast corner of the market. No pets allowed. Park in front of or behind village hall or along Brookfield Ave.
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. Those registering after June 1 will get T-shirts after race day. Registration deadline is June 23. You can register online.
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 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 Writer’s Group via Zoom on June 17 at 6 p.m. and Stretching and Meditation on June 21 at 6:30 p.m. via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322).

For kids, there’s ABCs & 123s in the Parks (location will be emailed no later than Sunday) on June 21 at 10:30 a.m. and Story Safari in the Great Outdoors in the library’s outdoor space or via Zoom on June 22 at 10:30 a.m.

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 Chair Yoga on June 17 at 11 a.m. Kids can get outside for colorful stories and art projects at Kiwanis Park Pavilion, Arden and Brookfield avenues, during Art in the Park on June 19 at noon and Histories for Kids: The Underground Railroad via Zoom on June 19 at 3 p.m.

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

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids and adults to Friday Outdoor Storytime on June 18 at 10 a.m. No registration required. Weather permitting. There’s also a Long-Term Care Options seminar via Zoom on June 17 at 7 p.m.

Visit Riverside library’s online events calendar more info.