Local Programs/Events:
For Upcoming Events at Oak Park Public Library. Click here.
Oak Park/River Forest Township Senior Services has a lot of programming too. See their calendar here. (or online here.) Note: for any of the programs, please call their Activity and Nutrition hotline at
(708) 725-9129 to check availability and to register.
Local and Online Events:
February 2 from 8:30 am- 10:30 am: American Society on Aging (ASA) Roundtable: Moving the Needle: Engaging Multiple Sectors to Improve Aging & Equity in Illinois Register here.
February 2 from 9:30 am- 11:00 am: Oak Park's Main Library hosts Adult Coffee Hour in their Main Lobby's Community Space. Register here. (every 1st Friday of the Month)
February 2 from 11:00 am- 1:30 pm: Kehrein Center for the Arts presents Aging Well Together. This is a free event with yoga, a luncheon and entertainment. See the Schedule here.
(Read article here about their past event)
February 3 from 10:00 am- 1:30 pm: Fox Center and Park District of Oak Park present Repair Cafe. (every 1st Sat of the Month) For more details, click here.
February 4 from 2:00 pm- 3:30 pm: River Forest Township and River Forest Public Library present Hidden Messages in Negro Spirituals on the Underground Railroad at the River Forest Library. Join Connie Martin, teacher and Rhode Scholar will present on these powerful and sacred songs.
February 4, from 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm: Arbor West Neighbors presents their first Literary Salon at the American House Bistro
(703 Madison St) Listen to readings/stories from your neighbors. Appetizers and drinks will be served Register at registerawnprogram@gmail.com
February 5 from 10:00 am- 11:00 am: River Forest Township and River Forest Public Library present Coffee Monday with Eric Morton from Triton College. Learn about program offerings for older adults at Triton College.
February 5 from 1:15pm- 2:15 pm, The Nineteenth Century Charitable Foundation presents their Monday Enrichment Series: From 5,000 Years of Eating Bread to "Gluten Free". If you can't join in person join via Zoom here.
February 6 at 2:30 pm, Dominican University Arts and Minds presents Ayo Tometi at Lund Auditorium. Tometi is a feminist freedom fighter. This event is free, but registration is required. Register here. (see Dominican's website below 3-4 other events)
February 6 at 7:00 pm: Illinois Public Libraries presents Jerry Craft, bestselling author, illustrator and syndicated cartoonist. To learn more and to register for this virtual event, click here.
February 7 from 9:00 am- 10:00 am: Trailside Museum of Natural History presents Senior Fitness Walks: A one mile walk in the forest preserves at your own pace with Master Naturalist, Roberta Jannsen. Meet at the Thatcher Woods Pavillion. Register at 708-366-6530
February 7 from 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm: River Forest Library presents Great Decisions. In each session, we will watch a recorded video lecture and then discuss the topic as a group. Readings for each session will be available at the library two weeks in advance. This weeks topic is Mideast Realignment.
February 10 from 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm: River Forest Township and River Forest Public Library present Soundbath Meditation with Rhonda Fentry. Register here.
February 12 from 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm: The Nineteenth Century Charitable Foundation presents their Monday Enrichment Series: With Love: The Three Baritones. For more information, click here.
February 13: Robert's Westside hosts Teller's Night. Come listen to local storytellers. Bring your own food and buy drinks at Robert's.
February 16 from 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm: Come to the Cheney Mansion Living Room for a White to Dark Chocolate Candy Tasting with Candycopia, paired with wine. ($41- reach out to Susan Crane susan.crane@pdop.org 708-725-2500 if interested)
February 16 at 7:30 Good Shepard Lutheran Church hosts a Jazz Prayer Service for all. For more information, click here.
February 17: Oak Park Festival Theater Gala. Tickets are $125.00 or make a donation to the theater. For more information, click here.
February 19 from 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm: The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association presents their Monday Enrichment Series: Why Bookstores Matter in the 21st Century. Read more here.
February 20: Robert's Westside presents Soup and Bread Night. Donate $10 at the Door and enjoy soup from vendors and others in the community. Your donation this month goes to the Night Ministry.
February 20 from 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm (doors open at 6pm): Fitzgeralds presents The Moth Story Slam. For more details and to reserve tickets, click here.
February 21 from 9:00 am- 10:00 am: Trailside Museum of Natural History presents Senior Fitness Walks: A one mile walk in the forest preserves at your own pace with Master Naturalist, Roberta Jannsen. Meet at the Thatcher Woods Pavilion. Register at 708-366-6530
February 21 from 10:00 am- 12:00 pm: Oak Park (Park District) Active Adults and the Oak Park Health Department are reaching out to all Older adults in Oak Park and neighboring towns to come to the Community Recreation Center (CRC) (229 Madison St. in Oak Park) for a Walk with a Nurse. Come for a walk and snacks and ask any health questions, get your blood pressure checked and get a diabetes risk assessment. Contact health@oak-park.us or 708.358.5480 or call Megan Ulczak at Activeadult@pdop.org with any questions.
February 22 at 7:00 pm: Music and Potlucks hosts their Monthly Folk Jam at Friendly's Community Room (Part of the Friendly Tap on Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn) Donations accepted. Bring your instrament and/or your voice.
February 26 from 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm: The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association presents their Monday Enrichment Series: Social Science: Bubbles and Boxes, An Inquiry into Race and Identity. To learn more, click here.
Put in your Calendars: Robert's Westside Every 2nd Tuesday is Tellers Night and Every 3rd Tuesday is Soup and Bread and Every 4th Tuesday is Open Mike Night.
Websites for more Events:
Trailside Museum of Natural History events here.
See Dominican University Events here. (2/6, 2/18, 2/21, 2/22)
Oak Park Library Calendar for February here.
Oak Park River Forest Museum February Calendar here. (2/4, 2/7)
Green Community Connect Calendar: (including Repair Cafe).
Click here.
The Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce posts events:
Go to their site here and scroll down to All Community Events.
Newberry Library Events here. (many online)
The Park District of Oak Park has Active Adult Programming open to all communities (see just below); The Mohr Center in Forest Park has programming (see their newsletter in attachments) and
Village of North Riverside has some nice trips too (some local and some bigger trips). Call 708-762-5214 if you want to get their newsletter.
Wednesday Journal Community Section: here.
Also, please note the libraries, Township and OPRF Museum all have book clubs.
Ongoing:
Every Monday:
10:00 am- 10:50 am: Fitness Fellowship presents Gentle Yoga with Carol Olsen at Oak Park Arms (every Monday and Friday). Open to the community.
1:15 pm- 2:30 pm: Nineteenth Century Charitable Association presents their Monday Enrichment Series. For more information, click here. (note: all Monday Enrichment Programs are live-streamed if you can't make the event in person: Zoom link here.)
The Oak Park Meditation Group meets in person at the Oak Park Public Library "Maze Branch on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 6pm-8pm and on Zoom the other Mondays. It is open to all who want to learn and practice meditation together. Each session begins with a brief warm-up drawn from yoga or qigong, followed by meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, reading and discussion. Open to all. For more information, email OakParkMeditationGroup@gmail.com
Every Tuesday:
1:00 pm: Illinois Pathways to Health and the Mohr Center host Fit and Strong: Moving Towards a Healthier You. See flyer here. (at the Mohr Center: 7640 Jackson Blvd.) (every Tuesday and Friday) Reservations Required.
Every Wednesday:
10:00 am- 11:30 am: Free Zumba Gold at the Roos Center in Forest Park through Rush Oak Park Hospital and Park District of Forest Park. For more information, click here.
11:15 am- 12:15 pm: Line Dancing at the Dole Center (in Oak Park) for Active Adults. Free to all. Teaches rhythm, groove and hip-hop. Sign up here.
Every Thursday:
10:00 am- 11:00 am: Come to Oak Park Township Senior Services Office (130 S. Oak Park Ave.) and join "Mad 4 Mats" (Made with Love) Learn how to make mats for the homeless or unhoused with "plarn". Please donate any plastic bags you may have.
1:00 pm- 3:00 pm: Come to the River Forest Community Center to play Mahjong and socialize. We have a teacher for those new to the game.
Every 4th Thursday:
from 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm: The Oak Park End of Life Options Coalition has their monthly meeting. For more information on this group reach out to Roz Byrne at roz@rozrealestate.com or call (708) 370-7444.
Every Friday:
10:00 am- 10:50 am: Fitness Fellowship presents Gentle Yoga with Carol Olsen at Oak Park Arms (every Monday and Friday). Open to the community.
1:00 pm: Illinois Pathways to Health and the Mohr Center host Fit and Strong: Moving Towards a Healthier You. See flyer here. (at the Mohr Center: 7640 Jackson Blvd.)
Every 1st Saturday:
10:00 am- 1:30 pm: Repair Cafe at Fox Community Center. (Fox Center) Bring any small items that need to be repaired. If you are interested in being a volunteer repair person please stop by and let them know. Click here for more details.
Every Saturday:
1:00 pm- 5:00 pm: College of DuPage Radio presents Those Were the Days with Steve Darnall. Enjoy old-time radio classics and music on 90.9 FM WDCB or listen live here.
1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: Fitness Fellowship presents Gentle Tai Chi with Matt LaSaine at Oak Park Arms.
Every Sunday:
6:00 pm- 9:00 pm: Tune into Radio's Golden Age with Steve Darnall. KXEL- AM/1540 or listen live here. (Go to nostalgiadigest.com to learn more)
Local Music:
Music and Potlucks (a local organization of your neighbors that donates to local charities) To learn more, click here.
Friendly Music Community Calendar here.
Robert's Westside a new music venue in Forest Park. (Go to their facebook page if their website is down here.
Fitzgeralds Calendar of Events: Click here for their Event Calendar (including a lot of free music events in their side bar) They also have Baby Gold BBQ next door for before or during the show: Consider Moth Radio Show (tickets go fast) and Tuesday Bluesday, $5 Hamburger Wednesday and Voice Box
Comedy: Comedy Plex in Oak Park: Click here.
Other Useful Information:
If you are looking for a way to meet more people and you want to be more involved in your community, connect with Arbor West Neighbors (our local Village group). Learn more here.
Call 211 Metro Chicago is a free resource connecting all Cook County residents with essential health and social services to help them meet their basic needs. Trained, local specialists are available 24/7 to connect individuals with the support they need, such as food, housing, utility assistance, access to health care, and other vital resources.
Elderwerks Resource Directory here.
Rush Generations Information
The 'Old Lady Project': Angela Allen is reclaiming the phrase "Old Lady". Listen to her podcast here.
CUB (Citizens Utility Board) provides help with utility bills. If you have any concerns about your bills, call 1-800-669-5556; Call for a Free Home Assessment: a representative will walk through your house to see how you can save and will give you free products to make things more affordable. 1-855-433-2700
Fraud/Scam Information:
Be careful of scammers or people trying to take advantage of you, whether they call or come to your door, including utility scammers. If you have any concerns, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 or CUB (the Citizens Utility Board) if it is related to your utilities at 1-800-669-5556 as well as your local Police Department. Another resource is the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360 a toll-free service available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Crime Prevention Fraud/Scam Tips from the River Forest Police Department here.
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