March 28, 2024
Local News | Kane County Chronicle


Local News

Entertainment options abound in DuPage and Cook

MAY 16

TASTE OF GLEN ELLYN: May 16 to 19, downtown Glen Ellyn on Main Street and Crescent Blvd. Information: shawurl.com/3b6n.

TASTE OF THE TOWN – FOOD FOR LIFE: 6 to 10 p.m., Wilder Mansion, 211 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. The UCCA event features food and wine and beer tastings from 17 Elmhurst businesses. UCCA provides food to Elmhurst school children and their families. Price: $60 to $70. Information: Tickets at www.ucca-elmhurst.org.

BENSENVILLE SPRING CARNIVAL: May 16 to 19, Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood St., Bensenville. Information: www.bensenvilleparkdistrict.org/pdcms/special-events.

LA GRANGE FARMERS MARKET: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, La Grange Road and Harris Avenue. Information: shawurl.com/3b6m, 708-582-6510.

"ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL": Wednesday through Sunday through June 23, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show, which won five Tony Awards, is the tale of a precocious 5-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis. Faced by obstacles caused by her family and school, the book-loving Matilda befriends her teacher and helps her reclaim her life. Cost: $55 to $70. Information: drurylanetheatre.com.

DRURY LANE THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES PRESENTS "YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN": Daytime curtain various days of the week through June 15, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Information: drurylanetheatre.com.

MAY 17

"THE BEST OF THE SECOND CITY": 8 p.m., Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave. The comedy show is a benefit for the theater. It has mature content. Cost: $35. Information: theatreofwesternsprings.com.

DUPAGE COMMUNITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE: 8 p.m., Normandy Banquet Hall in Elmhurst. Cost: No cover charge at the door, with reservations suggested. Information: Call Normandy Banquet Hall at 630-833-7800 for reservations.

PROKOFIEV'S MUSICAL TALE OF "PETER AND THE WOLF": 4 to 4:30 p.m., Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 E. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst. The event opens a new Kinder Concert Series at the church. A special invitation is extended to children and their families, as well as community members of all ages. Using the composer’s adaptation for piano of the orchestral work, Bethel’s Minister of Music Jeffrey Panko will be pianist, with Bethel Learning Center teacher Georgia DeClark as narrator. Eleven-year-old Nathan Li will open with Copland’s "The Cat and the Mouse." Cost: Free, but a donation of $5 per family is suggested. Information: 630-279-4040.

DUPAGE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM: Ongoing activities, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Information: dupagechildrens.org.

LILAC TIME EVENTS: Until mid-May, Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard. The Lombard Park District's Lilacia Park is an 8.5-acre horticultural showcase featuring hundreds of lilacs and thousands of tulips among numerous other showy blooms, along with special events for the festival. Information: www.lombardlilactime.com.

GLEN ELLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY PARTNERS WITH VILLAGE LINKS OF GLEN ELLYN TO OFFER THREE MINIATURE GOLF HOLES: month of May, library at 400 Duane St. "Putt Putt FORE Fun" holes feature books and other fun obstacles. Youth ages 8 to 16 can register to win a free half-day golf lesson or a free bucket of range balls. The free event kicks off summer programs at the library and golf course. Information: www.gepl.org, 630-469-0879; www.villagelinksgolf.com.

AMERICAN LEGION BINGO: 7 p.m., 123 Main St., West Chicago. Weekly bingo, raffles and pull tabs on Fridays for ages 18 and older. Proceeds help veterans and the community. Check out additional dates. Information: wchicago.mhsoftware.com.

EXHIBIT: Through June 15, Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St. "Sound Textures for Intimacies of Space" highlights work by Monica Rezman and Beth Bradfish; an Artists' Talk is offered at 2 p.m. May 25. The Sculpture Garden shows art by Jordan Martins until Aug. 3. The center's FlexSpace displays "Passing hours, space in between: I am breathing your air," an installation by Yoonshin Park, featuring self-breathing pillows on the floor; the show runs until June 11. Cost: Free. Information: 708-442-6400, www.riversideartscenter.com.

SELECTIONS BY SIX PAINTERS: Until Aug. 25, Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Ave. The show's title "With a Capital P" is a reference to an approach that doesn’t always use paint or brush. The group exhibition consists of six rooms, each using different criteria to interpret artistic approaches and a wide-ranging conversation about process and media. Cost: $10 to $12; free for youth younger than 18. Information: elmhurstartmuseum.org.

BRICK SAFARI AT BROOKFIELD ZOO: Underway, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. It features more than 40, life-size animal sculptures created by a noted LEGO artist. Information: www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Home.

MAY 18

CHICAGO DRUM SHOW AND AMIGOS CHICAGO GUITAR SHOW: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18 and 19, Odeum Sports & Expo Center, 1033 N. Villa Ave., Villa Park. Information: odeumexpo.com/event-calendar.

RAW – RIVERSIDE ARTS WEEKEND: Opening at 10 a.m. May 18 and 19, Guthrie Park, 28 Bloomingbank Road, Riverside. Information: shawurl.com/3b7l.

CIVIL WAR DAYS: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18 and 19, Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. The battle begins at 2:30 p.m. each day. At the encampment, visitors can meet famous figures of the past. Hundreds of reenactors participate, staging a battle complete with cannons and marching infantry. Civil War Days is an outdoor, all-weather event. Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for youth ages 4 to 12. Information: 630-420-6010, www.napersettlement.org/civilwardays.

TOWER CHORALE PRESENTING "ANYTHING GOES – BROADWAY & IRVING BERLIN": 7:30 p.m. May 18 and 3 p.m. May 19, Nazareth Academy, 1209 Ogden Ave., La Grange Park. The 90-voice community chorus performs such Broadway classics as "Comedy Tonight" and "Once Upon a Dream," plus a medley from "The Lion King" and a tribute to Berlin in a pops concert directed by Patrick Godon. Information: www.towerchorale.org.

THE REMEDY BAND: 9 p.m. May 18, Ballydoyle Pub, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. Other acts include South of Disorder in a Jimmy Buffet tribute at 9 p.m. May 16; The Loop Rockers at 9 p.m. May 17; and The Whiskey Brothers at 5:30 p.m. May 19. Information: 630-969-0600.

BROOKFIELD ZOO'S ROARS & POURS FOR ADULTS: 4 to 8 p.m., 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Information: CZS.org.

BUSY BEAVERS CRAFT CLUB: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18 and June 15, Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E. Romeo Road (135th Street), Romeoville. The Forest Preserve District of Will County offers the club. There are monthly themes – May's is creating a caterpillar to travel with you on your walks, and June's is making a fish-themed craft. The program is for kids ages 12 and younger. Cost: Free. Information: www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/visitor-centers/isle-a-la-cache-museum.

MAY 19

WESTMONT PET PROMENADE AND PARTY IN THE PARK: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ty Warner Park, 700 Blackhawk Drive, Westmont. Participants can bring pets for a parade, sit on a tractor or truck or view an alligator from the cold-blooded creatures show. Information: shawurl.com/3b7p.

ELMHURST MUSEUM DAY WITH FREE ADMISSION AND ACTIVITIES: 1 to 5 p.m., Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Ave.; Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave.; and Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill Ave. (view the Rock Cafe only until the end of the month and participate in a Stone Hunt to collect rocks, minerals and fossils to take home). Visitors of all ages are welcome to board the complimentary Explore Elmhurst trolley as it transports guests to each location. Participants can pick up a Museum Day flier and get a stamp at each museum to qualify for a prize drawing. Information: www.elmhurstartmuseum.org, 630-834-0202; www.elmhursthistory.org, 630-833-1457; www.lizzadromuseum.org, 630-833-1616.

MAY 20

AFTER HOURS FILM SOCIETY PRESENTING "TRANSIT": 7:30 p.m. May 20, Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Information: www.facebook.com/afterhoursfilmsociety1.

MAY 21

BINGO AT AMERICAN LEGION POST 80: 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Alexander Bradley Burns Post 80, 4000 Saratoga Ave., Downers Grove. Doors open at 4 p.m. There will be a variety of games and progressive jackpots, with food and refreshments available. Cost: Free admission. Information: 630-968-9710, www.post80.org.

MAY 24

RED, WHITE & BAR-B-Q FESTIVAL: May 24 to 26, Ty Warner Park, 700 Blackhawk Drive, Westmont. The Westmont Lions Club puts on the barbecue festival and competition for Memorial Day weekend. Information: www.westmontbbq.com.

WHEATON'S FRIDAY NIGHT VINTAGE RIDES CAR SHOW: 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, May 24 to Aug. 23, Front Street in downtown Wheaton. Information: www.downtownwheaton.com.

"SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET": May 24 to June 16, Wheaton Drama's Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale St., Wheaton. The community theater presents the dark, witty tale of love, murder and revenge set to one of Stephen Sondheim's most memorable scores. David Pfenninger is in the title role. It is recommended for mature audiences. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $21 to $24. Cost: www.wheatondrama.org, 630-260-1820.

DOWNTOWN DOWNERS GROVE'S SUMMER NIGHTS CLASSIC CAR SHOW: 6 to 9 p.m. May 24 to Aug. 30, on Main from Maple to Franklin. Live entertainment plays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Main Street train station. Information: www.downtowndg.org.

MORTON ARBORETUM PRESENTS "NATURE CONNECTS" ART WITH LEGO BRICKS BY SEAN KENNEY: May 24 to Sept. 15, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. It features 15, nature-themed sculptures crafted from more than a half-million LEGO bricks. New highlights include a bee mid-flight, an oak tree sprouting from an acorn, and a pileated woodpecker with a bright crimson crest. There will be themed programs related to the show for all ages. Adults can learn more about the animals, insects and plants in the exhibition at the June 11 program, "The Nature Behind Nature Connects." Visitors also can enjoy the Troll Hunt exhibition on display through the end of summer. A wine tasting event with entertainment is offered at 6 p.m. May 24. Information: mortonarb.org.

VILLAGE THEATRE GUILD STAGING "LUNA GALE": May 24 to June 15, near the northwest corner of Butterfield Road and Park Boulevard, Glen Ellyn. Who should decide the safest environment in which to raise a baby – parents, grandparents, social service agencies? "Luna Gale" will explore the issue in the Rebecca Gilman play. Curtain is at 8 p.m. May 24, 25 and 31 and June 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15, with 3 p.m. matinees June 2, 8, 9 and 15. The play contains adult themes and strong language. Cost: $19.99 for all tickets. Information: www.villagetheatreguild.org.

LOMBARD GARDEN CLUB'S HUMMINGBIRD PROGRAM: 1 p.m., Lombard Commons at St. Charles Road and Grace Street. Nancy Carroll, member of The Hummingbird Society, Illinois Audubon Society and National Audubon Society, will lecture on "Our Flying Jewels." Find out how anyone from kids to adults can have a hummingbird zoom into their yard. The speaker also provides ideas about making hummingbird art, whimsical ideas for attracting hummingbirds, handouts and giveaway items. Guests are welcome. Cost: Free. Information: Reservations are requested at 630-620-8938; www.lombardgardenclub.org.

MAY 31

FRIENDLY MUSIC FEST: 6 to 11 p.m. May 31and 5 to 11 p.m. June 1, Friendly Music Community, 6733 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, at intersection of Euclid Avenue and Roosevelt Road. The Friendly Music Community's first annual outdoor fest lineup includes the Yellowhammers, Yarn, Waco Brothers, Bendita, Cannonball, Hayes Carll and Cathy Richardson. The venue encompasses a bar, coffee lounge and school of folk music. Cost: $25 single-day pass, or $40 for both; $80 for one-day family pass. Information: shawurl.com/3b7q; tickets at bpt.me/4238546; www.friendlymusic.community.

MICHAEL JOHNATHON: 8:15 p.m., Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. The songwriter and performer is the host of the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour, a live-audience radio and TV broadcast with over two million listeners each week on 500 public radio stations, public television coast-to-coast, the RFD-TV Network nationwide plus American Forces Radio Network in 173 nations and every military base in the world. Cost: $10. Information: twowaystreet.org, 630-969-9720; www.michaeljohnathon.com.

JUNE 6

WESTMONT CRUISIN' NIGHTS & STREET FAIR: Thursday nights from June through August. Information: westmontevents.com.