Did you remember to keep that secret from last week? The one about May Bill’s 95th birthday party at the Community Center, 1 until 5 p.m. This Saturday, Nov. 7. If you know May, be sure to come because that’s how Janet Bill Fink is. “Ya’ll come” is Janet’s philosophy. See you there!
‘Tis the season for music, music and more music. Unfortunately two of the most beloved music groups in the area are performing on the same day. They often do this and somebody should get after them. They are the Oak Park Concert Chorale, under the direction of Paul Lindblad, and the Symphony of Oak Park-River Forest. The dates and times for both are Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.
The OPCC will perform at St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle.
The other prestigious music group performing on Nov. 22 at 4 p.m is the Symphony of Oak Park-River Forest at Dominican University, 7900 Division in River Forest. The Beethoven violin concerto will be performed by concertmaster John Gerson. Brahms’ Symphony #1 and a piece by Berlioz round out the program.
On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. at Grace Episcopal, 924 Lake St., Heritage Chorale will perform favorite choruses from Handel’s Messiah as well as works by Purcell, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Parry and Britten. All this under the direction of new artistic director, James Kallembach. Tickets are $20, general admission; seniors $15; college students $10; and students through high school, no charge.
Halloween is now just a soggy memory for most of us, but the friends of the kids of Gary and Tina Neubeiser will never forget it. They had a Halloween party in Gary’s cemetery. Wooooooo.
A little bit of leftover Hallowen tricks: Dracula, a Gothic tale of the ultimate vampire, will be presented at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, Nov. 6-21, performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., 3801 S. Central Ave. in Cicero. Call 708-656-1800 for tickets or information.
One of the best performing arts centers in the Chicago area is Lund Hall, Dominican University, where this year Ballet Legere will present its 31st annual production of “The Nutcracker Ballet” in its entirety. Performances will take place Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Field trip performances, designed for school children. will be Thursday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.; Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m.; Friday Dec. 11 at 12:15 p.m.; and Monday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Call 773-237-1874 or email balletlegere@yahoo.com. Website is www.balletlegere.org. Don’t miss this truly remarkable show.
Attention anyone interested in Christmas craft fairs:
Nov. 8, St. Bernardine’s Pancake Breakfast and Crafts, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 14, Christ Episcopal Church in River Forest, aka “the pickle church,” 9 a.m. till 2 p.m.
Happy birthday to Ryan Miller, Jim Brown, Carl Hajec, Laura Steinhaver, Heather Dornbusch; Michael Rudolph, Ed Spinelli, Harriet Smith, Jerry Piotti, Jean Zalenski, Brian Cote, Marikate Marino, Jackson Domer, Lyford Arey, Richard Cotton, Rich Cassiani, Emily Johnson, Mark Conway, and Andy Thiesse.
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.
