7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6
Fair trade shopping to benefit PADS
Seek out or rediscover the year-old fair trade shop on Marion Street in Oak Park and help local homeless people at the same time. Ten Thousand Villages will donate 15 percent of proceeds from its sales during a two-hour period to West Suburban PADS-Public Action to Deliver Shelter. 121 N. Marion, 848-4572, http://oakpark.tenthousandvillages.com
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6
A preview of TV in February
Find out what the mandated change in February for TV signals is all about, whether your TV will be affected and, if it is, how to save $40 on a digital converter box. In the Austin Meeting Room of the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson. To register, call 366-7171 or go to www.fppl.org.
8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6
Live jazz on Oak Park Avenue
Clifton Jazz Trio at Avenue Ale House. No cover. 825 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7
Opening for pop art show
With layers of sign painter’s enamel and winks of wit, Oak Parker Jay Boeldt puts a 21st century spin on pop art sensibilities. The works he calls pop impressionism are the new exhibit at Wm. B. Sullivan Realty’s Oak Park Area Arts Council Gallery. The exhibit opens with a reception Friday and runs through Dec. 31 by appointment; call 508-0071. At 107 N. Marion, Oak Park. 445-2303, www.jayboeldt.com
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7
Holiday bazaar at Grace Lutheran
Don’t let the recent warm spell fool you. It is time to do holiday shopping. And the women at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest have lots you can get started with this weekend. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, get to the church’s annual fall sale to discover attic and estate treasures, handmade goods and even prepared meals. The church is at 7300 Division in River Forest. 366-6900, www.graceriverforest.org.
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7
Hooray for Hollywood at Brooks Middle School
The student play, presented by Bravo, the performing and fine arts program at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, opens on Friday night and has two Saturday shows, too: at 2 and at 7 p.m. Nov. 8. To reserve tickets, which are $6, call 524-5621 or e-mail treynold@op97.org. In the auditorium at Gwendolyn Brooks, 325 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8
A holiday bazaar that includes EpiscoPickles
At the holiday hospitality bazaar at Christ Episcopal Church this weekend, lots of cool finds will be available: jewelry, decorations, grab bags, free gifts for kids, a raffle that includes two iPods. But it’s the custom-made foods that have us intrigued: cookies by the pound, Father Max’s peanut brittle and EpiscoPickles. Yes, EpiscoPickles. We’re told these brine gems are a Christ Church tradition, one that members of the congregation look forward to every year. Check out their work for $4.50 a jar. 515 Franklin Ave., River Forest. 366-7730
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8
Mass dog wedding to break world record
It’s just about time for the high-profile fundraiser for Oak Park’s animal shelter. To support Animal Care League and help get Oak Park on a Guinness list, head to Marion Street on Saturday with $5 to register your dog and an extra $5 if they need speed dating to land a partner. You can register in advance at www.dogwedding.info and read more about it here. The ceremony is at 1 p.m.
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8
Intro to sake
Learn about the Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice, and why just calling it a rice wine isn’t quite right. Free. At HouseRed, 7403 W. Madison, Forest Park. 771-7733, www.house-red.com
5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8
Turkey dinner
First United Church of Christ is serving up the traditional dish of the month with all the trimmings. $10; $6 for children 6 to 11; free for kids 5 and younger. Call the church at 771-8456 by Thursday, Nov. 6, for tickets. 1000 Elgin Ave., Forest Park
9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8
Cliff Johnson at FitzGerald’s
Power-pop pioneer Cliff Johnson will do a 90-minute show with material from his coming solo album, Little Crimes, and a few of his legendary off-Broadway hits. Opening for Cliff will be Nicholas Tremulis and his punk-jazz orchestra. Opening for Tremulis are the Javelinas. $12, $15 at the door. FitzGerald’s Nightclub, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. 788-2118, www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9
Benefit for Oak Park Art League
At Hemmingway’s Bistro, with the theme: A Touch of Paris. Reservations limited to the first 100 people. $60. Kids 12 and older are welcome. To reserve, call the Oak Park Art League at 386-9853. Hemmingway’s Bistro is at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. www.opal-art.com
7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9
Music and dance concert
A show from the Academy of Movement and Music titled Momenta: In Time, Dances, Past and Present includes highlights from Charles Weidman’s 1941 Flickers, Doris Humphrey’s Passacaglia and Fugue and Isadora Duncan’s Cherubim. There’s also a Saturday performance at 8 p.m. $20; $10 for seniors; $5 for students. In the Doris Humphrey Memorial Theatre, 605 Lake St., Oak Park. 848-2329
3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9
Free concert by Kimo Williams and Carol Williams
Catch keyboardist and Beatles interpreter Carol Williams and her composer husband, Kimo Williams, in a Veterans Day concert at the library in Oak Park. The couple will include commentary on such matters as taxes, the war in Iraq, and children of mixed race. Kimo Williams is best known recently for his work with the Lt. Dan Band, a charitable cover band he founded four years ago with actor and musician Gary Sinise, who played a character named Lt. Dan Band in Forrest Gump and who is a big supporter of veterans with disabilities. At 834 Lake. 383-8200, www.oppl.org
