Christmas is almost here. One sure sign of it is the pickle-making team at Christ Episcopal Church in River Forest. The pickle choppers were hard at work last Friday evening. Then they came back on Saturday morning to mix the secret recipe and jar the pickles to marinate until the first Saturday in November. That’s when the Christmas Bazaar takes place, and a more exciting bazaar you’ll never find. Mark the date, Nov. 1. The church is at Franklin & Lake Street. More later.
The Midwest Writers held their annual meeting at Centuries & Sleuths last Friday. Authors, fans, and others met, ate, talked and listened to each other and just generally had a great time. Probably the most famous writer in attendance was Sara Paretsky, seen here with Augie Aleksy, our prize-winning proprietor. Author Hallie Ephron, John Cline and Tracy Aleksy were discussing some good books near the pizza table. It was an exciting evening everyone will long remember.
If you think you’re one of those who can’t “draw a straight line with a ruler,” you’re wrong! Come to Crea.ti.vita and see for yourself. You can sign up for a painting and the artist of the evening will guide you step by step through the entire picture. Do this a few times and you’ll be sure enough of yourself to venture out on your own. And with Christmas coming, you’ll have a few original paintings to give to family members. For more details, call 312-343-2149. Painting classes are usually Friday nights from 7 until 9. The address of the shop is 7502½ Madison. You can try creativitaforestpark.com.
The Symphony of Oak Park-River Forest has been rehearsing for a few weeks now and will present the very exciting Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky on Sunday Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. Also on the program: Mendelssohn’s concerto for two clarinets, featuring John Bruce Yeh and Teresa Reilly and Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. That’s at Dominican University, 7900 Division in River Forest.
And don’t forget about the book sale at the Forest Park Public Library this weekend.
Happy birthday this week to Laura McDermott, Hunter Van Zant, Dan Lala, Samantha Grams, Elsa Katlic, and Kathy Thompson. Happy anniversary to Ben and Millie Spinelli, Brigo and Narcissa Millar, Marge and Al Buccholtz.
Jackie is a former Chicago and Elmwood Park schoolteacher with an undying love for music, friendly pets and a host of life’s other treasures too numerous to list. She was born on the far southwest side of Chicago in a great neighborhood when it was a great time to be young.
