Forest Park Pride Celebration
Thursday, June 23, 5 p.m., Constitution Court
The village of Forest Park, in conjunction with the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, is going to do this party up right! Hosted by Angel Lebare with music by DJ Melo, there will be an hour-long performance by famed drag queens LeBare, Britney Taylor, Fox E. Kim, Harlet Wench, Aleyna Couture, Mariela Duarte, and Monique Greene at 7 p.m. This will be preceded by a meet-and-greet at 5 p.m., with one queen at seven different businesses – Brown Cow, Twisted Cookie, Jimmy’s Place, Play It Again Sports, Team Blonde, MacDaddy, and Fiore. Take your pick!
Future Perfect
Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26, Kehrein Center, Austin
Future Perfect – a Modern Tale of Curiosity, an opera by the award-winning creative team of librettist Christine Steyer and composer David Shenton found a perfect home, a newly renovated center for “storytelling through music, theatre, and creative expression” in the Austin neighborhood, free parking lots close by. Tickets affordable for all: from $5 to $50 for VIPs. Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 4 p.m. Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 Washington Blvd.
In Ernie’s Footsteps: A Tour of Hemingway’s Oak Park
Friday, June 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Hemingway Birthplace Museum
This 90-minute outdoor tour explores Ernest Hemingway’s connections to Oak Park. Outdoor sites to be visited include the Birthplace Museum, Boyhood home, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Oak Park Public Library, Congregational Church and WW I War Memorial in Scoville Park – the territory “young Ernie” knew. Dr. Nancy Sindelar, author of Influencing Hemingway: The People and Places That Shaped His Life and Work, will be the tour guide. Includes one copy of Sindelar’s book (15 person maximum). 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.
Sankofa Arts Festival
Sunday, June 26, 2-4 p.m., Scoville Park
The essence of excellence in the Black community is fully present, with performances by the Snake Doctors, Kuumba Kids Dance, Keli Stewart and Sydney Jackson, Just Cause Dancers, and Uneq’ka. Register now at //oppl.org/calendar. 800 Lake St., Oak Park.
Lady Gaga Laser Light Show
Saturday, June 25, 8:30 p.m., Triton College
The Cernan Earth & Space Center at Triton College will present a special light show based on the music of Stefani Germanotta, better known as the one and only Lady Gaga. A 45-minute show recommended for the whole family. $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (55 and over), $5 for children (2-17), free for Triton students, staff and faculty. 2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove.
Kids’ Movie Screenings
Thursday, June 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Veterans Room)
Today, this summertime kid-friendly matinee features Disney Nature: Oceans. Join us all summer long for kid-friendly movie screenings! Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
The Essence of Being: Open Mic
Thursday, June 23, 6-8 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Veterans Room)
Come share your poems, your songs, and your thoughts as part of the essence of being at this open mic night. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Sound Opinions Presents – It Was Fifty Years Ago Today … Albums From 1972 Still Inspiring & Influencing Musicians 50 Years Later.
Thursday, June 23, 7-8:30 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library
Greg Kot & Jim DeRogatis, hosts of the famed rock radio talk show Sound Opinions, will look back at the pivotal year 1972. Even though much time has passed, much of the music released during this year has continued to resound, rebound and reverberate straight through to today’s performers. Kot and DeRogatis will discuss this magic year in depth. Register now at //oppl.org/calendar.
