The joy of native plants
Join the Frederick Law Olmsted Society and Adrian Ayres Fisher, board member of the West Cook Wild Ones, for “Native Plants and Living Soil and the Joys of Complexity in the Garden,” at the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road on March 23 at 7 p.m.
Hear what makes native plants native, why they belong in every garden and how using them can bring new complexity to your garden and joy to your life.
Register to attend at riversidelibrary.org/events.
Juniors host ‘Brews, Blues & BBQ’ fundraiser
Tickets are now on sale for Riverside Junior Women’s Charity’s “Brews, Blues & BBQ” fundraiser at the Riverside Swim Club, 100 Bloomingbank Road, on April 22 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Proceeds go to support local charities. Tickets (21-older only) are $80 per person ($100 includes whiskey tasting) and include a sampling glass, 40 beer samples, pig roast (vegetarian/non-pork options) and live music. Ticket sales close April 5.
To buy tickets, visit riversidejuniors.org/brewfest.
Recreating old time radio
The Riverside Township Radio Players perform two more classic shows from Radio’s Golden Age on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside.
The troupe will recreate the episode “Tobias, the Terrible” from “The Damon Runyon Theater” and “Colony” from the show “X Minus One.”
Free and open to the public. Visit riversidetownshipradioplayers.com for more.
Easter Basket Raffle
The St. Paul VI Parish Holy Name Society hosts its 3rd Annual Easter Basket Raffle, which will be livestreamed virtually on April 2 at 3 p.m.
Thirty-five baskets containing spiral-cut ham, smoked sausage, rye bread, houska, a dozen eggs and an egg-coloring kit, an Easter lamb cake and more will be raffled off. There will also be a split-the-pot raffle with thousands of dollars in cash prizes.
Eash entry is $5 with a two-entry bonus with each $20 purchase for either raffle. The deadline to buy tickets is March 31. The drawing will be livestreamed via a link at stpaulviparish.org. Call 708-602-1927 with questions.
Two new shows at RAC
Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., hosts opening receptions for two new exhibitions “One Ends and Another Begins” featuring the work for Regin Igloria and “Over the Rainbow, One More Time,” featuring the work of Laura Kina, on March 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. Afterwards join RAC for a happy hour across the street at Quincy Street Distillery.
Both exhibitions continue through May 6. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.
Brookfield Native Seed Exchange
The Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., in partnership with the Brookfield Conservation Commission and Brookfield Garden Club has grown a seed library and invites you to a seed exchange to learn more about the initiative on March 25 at noon.
Register to attend by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or at brookfield.evanced.info/signup.
And more
- Aging Care Connections, 111 W. Harris Ave. in LaGrange, presents Pride Café, a monthly in-person and virtual program providing space for LGBT+ seniors who are interested in age-related or LGBT+ related topics, discussion and social opportunities, on March 25 at 11 a.m. This month’s topic is Trauma and Resilience. Contact Hanah Sebek at 708-603-2270 or hsebek@agingcareconnections.org to get the Zoom link or with questions.
- North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, hosts a Kids Club Bunny Bash Easter Celebration on March 25 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the mall’s center court, featuring a scavenger hunt, crafts, the Bunny Hop and more.
- Friends of the Chicago Portage present “Mapping the Chicago Portage: 17th Century Explorations by Jolliet, Marquette, LaSalle and Joutel” by scientist and author Richard Lanyon on March 25 at 1 p.m. at the Lyons Public Library, 4209 Joliet Ave. Free and open to the public. For more, visit chicagoportage.org.
- Riverside Arts Center presents “Mujer Quetzalcoatl” featuring the work of Alex Velazquez Brightbill, through March 30 in the lobby of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside. Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on March 23 at 4 p.m., Crafterdarks: Landscape Painting on March 23 at 6 p.m., Calming Craft for Kids (all ages) on March 24 at 4 p.m., Videogame Tournament (grades 6-12) on March 25 at 1:30 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Ms. Karen on March 27 at 10:30 a.m., a Koko’s Film Club screening of “This Changes Everything” on March 28 at 2 p.m. and Safari ABCs (child with adult, every other week in Spanish) on March 29 at 10:30 a.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new.
- Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Fairytale Storytime on March 23 at 10:30 a.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on March 27 at 11 a.m., Tenacious Tour du Mont Blanc with world traveler Brian Michalski via Zoom on March 27 at 7 p.m. and Storytime Stars (ages 2-3 with caregiver) on March 28 at 10:30 a.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brookfield.evanced.info/signup to register for programs.
- Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents STEAM Explorers (grades 1-5) on March 23 at 4 p.m., All Ages Yoga Storytime on March 24 at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., Mindfulness Together meditation on March 24 at 11 a.m., Legopalooza on March 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, a Monday Minion Movie Marathon on March 27 all day in the Community Room, and All in the Family Genealogy Club: Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online on March 28 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary.org/events.
- 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.
