Riverside Family Skate
After a two-year hiatus, the Riverside Department of Parks and Recreation invites the community to dust off their skates and head over to the ice rink at Big Ball Park, Longcommon and Delaplaine roads, for a Riverside Family Skate on Friday, Jan. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Attendees are asked to wear a mask and bring their own ice skates. Longtime Riverside resident and Big Chill Crew stalwart Mark Mieczkowski, courtesy of Guaranteed Rate Mortgage, will be providing water, hot chocolate and hot dogs.
Bestselling author discusses new novel
Riverside Public Library in partnership with libraries across the state of Illinois presents an evening with Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a best-selling author who will discuss her newest book “Velvet Was the Night” and her genre-defying mashups of cultural noir and Lovecraftian horror.
Moreno-Garcia is the author of the critically acclaimed novels “Certain Dark Things, “Gods of Jade and Shadow” and “Mexican Gothic, which Vanity Fair called an “irresistibly dark feminist reimagining of the Gothic fantasy novel.”
The program will be conducted on Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and registration is required. Visit the Riverside library’s online events calendar.
Riverside artist featured at Dominican U.
Riverside artist Kim Piotrowski’s work will be featured in a solo exhibition called “Anxious Heaven” in the O’Connor Art Gallery on the fourth floor of Lewis Hall at Dominican University, 7900 Division St. in River Forest, from Jan. 26 through March 4.
The exhibition kicks off with an opening reception on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. with a gallery talk at 4:30 p.m.
The new abstract paintings in the show acknowledge “the collective angst experienced in response to our current moment – between the pandemic, political issues and environmental crisis. … Piotrowski contemplates what waits to receive us as she comes to terms with accepting the unknown.”
Podcasters talk ‘Cocktails and Crime’
Brookfield Public Library invites you to join them at Little Owl Social Pub, 3747 Grand Blvd. in downtown Brookfield, for a special program called “Cocktails and Crime” on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
The program features Todd Ganz and Stephani Young, hosts of the investigative true crime podcast “If the Walls Could Talk.”
Registration is required at 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit the Brookfield library’s online events calendar.
Scrapbooking workshop
North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to visit on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. for its next Scrapbooking Drop-In session, held each month on the fourth Saturday.
Bring your own supplies or use the library’s. A different guided project is available on each date. Cricut machines will be available to use or learn to use during the workshop.
Registration is encouraged to help the library follow in-person health and safety guidelines.
Call 708-447-0869, register at the reference desk or visit the North Riverside library’s online events calendar.
And more
- Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Muse,” an exhibition of photography and costumes by Niki Grangruth and James Kinser, through Feb. 19 and “The Bigger the Fear and Despair …” a two-person show featuring the work of Mayumi Lake and Stacia Yeapanis. Proof of vaccine required. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to pick up a Take-and-Make Spice Kit beginning Jan. 24 and join the Spice Club in making and learning to use taco seasoning. Those in grades 6-12, can come by the library to play the Jackbox game Drawful 2 on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m.
Kids ages 4-up can participate in Lapsit Storytime (Zoom only)on Jan. 20 at 10:30 a.m.; After School Art Escape (Zoom or in person) on Jan. 20 at 3:30 p.m.; Learn with Lester the Llama (Zoom only) on Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m.; ABCs and 123s (Zoom only) on Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m.; Story Safari (Zoom only) on Jan 26 at 10:30 a.m.; and Silly Science, Crazy Construction & Stuff (Zoom or in person)on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m.
Visit the North Riverside library’s online events calendar to register for programs.
- Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to Chair Yoga via Zoom on Jan. 20 at 11 a.m.; Sewing Basics: All About Zippers in the Maker Studio on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.; and Movies with Marty for a screening and discussion of “What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael” on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.
Visit the Brookfield library’s online events calendar to register for programs.
- Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, hosts the youth program Stuffed Animal Storytime on Zoom on Jan. 21 at 3:30 p.m. and welcomes back, virtually via Zoom, its genealogy club All in the Family on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. Registration required.
Visit the Riverside library’s online events calendar to to register for programs.
- Riverside Chess Club, open to anyone age 5 through adult, meets in person each Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Room 30 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road. Players of all levels welcome. Children under 7 require caregiver over 13. Email sean@riversidechessclub.org for more info.
- Through March 25, the Lyons Township High School South Campus Fieldhouse indoor track, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs, will be open to the public from 6 to 7 a.m. on days LTHS is in session. There is no admission charge or fee to use the track. Please bring an ID and be prepared to sign in.
- The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.
