Big Week | June 9-16

Thursday Night Out

June 10 through Sept. 9, 5 to 8 p.m., Downtown Oak Park (DTOP)

More than twenty restaurants offer a variety of drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts, available through ticket purchases and special menus. Diners may eat inside, take carry out, or dine al fresco. four dine-around tickets per $20 booklet. Each dine-around ticket buys one Thursday Night Out (TNO) menu item. Buy two ticket booklets, receive a $5 DTOP gift certificate for participating shops on any TNO. Booklets available at the tent on Lake and Marion.

“In the Heights”

Friday, June 11, 7 p.m., Lake Theatre

See the movie edition of the Broadway show with original music by Lin-Manual Miranda. Includes beer and wine raffles and pre-movie Trivia. Proceeds benefit the Bravo Scholarship fund and future programming. Sponsored by the Bravo Advisory Board. Tickets: tinyurl.com/intheheightsmovie. 1022 Lake St., Oak Park.

Letting Go of the Past

Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Online with Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago (in Oak Park)

In this workshop, Gen Gomlam, Resident Teacher of KMC Madison, WI, gives practical instruction and guides meditations to help let go of painful events of the past that affect how one lives life now. Move forward with greater clarity, insight and confidence. A recording is available for 72 hours following the live session. $30. Register/more: meditateinchicago.org/event-details/letting-go-of-the-past-1

The Healthy Chef Challenge Home Edition

Register now. Cook June 11 through 13. Vote June 15 through 24.

John Beyond Hunger and spread awareness about good nutrition. New this year – community members, including kids/teens and amateur adults, can get creative in the kitchen along with local chefs battling to make a 5-star entrée with food pantry ingredients. Free. Register/more: gobeyondhunger.org/events/healthy-chef-challenge-home-edition-0

Year of the Butterfly – Butterflies & Moths

Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. to Noon, Oak Park Conservatory Showroom

The Year of the Butterfly is a regional effort to bring awareness to community members about how they can help support a healthy habitat for butterflies and other pollinators. Brought by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory and Oak Park Public Library. Next up – July 10, Bees, Flies and Wasps; Aug. 14 – Bats and other Pollinators. Free. Register: pdop.org.

Sideyard Sounds

Friday, June 11, 7 to 9 p.m., Compound Yellow

See Norman W. Long perform a live mix of electronics and urban field recordings he has gathered from his Chicago neighborhood of South Deering. The performance is a meditation on the practice of mindful breathing, walking and listening in the face of COVID-19, and the murder of George Floyd and the killing of Black men walking like Elijah McClain. Next up – Friday, June 18, Oui Ennui. $15. Tickets/more (or pay with cash or card at the door): facebook.com/compoundyellow. 244 Lake St., Oak Park.

Concert on the Green with The Redmonds

Thursday, June 10, 7 p.m., Ascension Parish Green

Join in a benefit for Ascension School’s Teach the Children Scholarship fund while hearing music from Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash to Civil Wars and the Lumineers. Bring food, non-alcoholic beverages; beer and wine packages available for pre-purchase. $15, lawn seats; $25pp, table of six. 21+. Tickets/more: https://one.bidpal.net/concertonthegreen/welcome. 601 Van Buren St., Oak Park.

James Baldwin: His Impact on the Theater Then, Now, & in the Future: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

Tuesday, June 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Virtually with Oak Park Festival Theatre and partners

Join a night of conversation, community and thoughtful leadership about one of history’s greatest writers, James Baldwin, featuring best-selling author Eddie S. Glaude Jr. Panelists include stage and screen actor Ron OJ Parsons and Director of the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship Saudia Davis. Ages 12+. Free. Register: oakparkfestival.com/glaudebaldwin/

Pride Stitching

Monday, June 14, 3 to 4 p.m., Zoom with Oak Park Public Library

June is Pride Month and to celebrate, show love and support of LGBTQIA+, all students grade 3 through 9 are invited to join in this crafting event. Those needing cross stitch kits can pick them up from the library. Register: oppl.org/calendar

“Songs of Peace and Justice”

View Anytime

Hear the 150 member Sounds Good Choir for older adults and Good Memories Choir perform their spring concert, including “Woke Up This Morning,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “Lean on Me/We Shall Overcome.” The program includes background on the music. Free. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnoMdMFQxeM

Artist Studio Tour