by annette coffee | Apr 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
Bead In Hand: Mother’s Day is right around the corner! Come on in and make mom a one of a kind gift or choose from one of their finished pieces. They have kits for their popular bird’s nest, mini flower pot, and peas-in-a-pod pendants. If you plan to sit at the back table and create your gift, please give them a call to make sure they have space available. Give yourself enough time too! 708-848-1761. 145 Harrison St. Note: CLOSED ON MOTHERS DAY. https://beadinhand.com/index.html
Brown Elephant: Mom can feel a queen every day with the furniture selection at the Brown Elephant! Shop from the finest, everyday 11 a.m. 6 p.m. 217 Harrison. https://www.facebook.com/BrownElephantOakPark
Buzz Cafe Mother’s Day Take Out Menu: Mother’s Day is all about celebrating the woman who raised you and shaped who you are as a person. From all the packed lunches with napkin notes to the bandages and kisses after falling off your bike, to being the first one to cry at your graduation– your mom was there for it all. That is why they are offering a special Mother’s Day menu for pick-up only. They want to help you celebrate the special moms in your lives. Pick-up will be between 8 am and 2 pm and all orders must be in by Friday, May 6th at noon! Visit http://thebuzzcafe.com/mothers-day-2022 to order! 905 S Lombard St.
Dima Jewelry Atelier + Boutique. 15% sale on everything in her Etsy store until Saturday. Storefront is at 41 Harrison St. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dimajewelrydesigns. https://www.facebook.com/dimajewels
Dye Hard Yarns: Give the gift of creating; Beginning knitting or crochet classes available starting at $27.50. Check out the different class options. Gift certificates, Scented candles, bath salts, candle melts, & bath bombs! Everything to pamper, soothe and relax. Find them here. Save 25% of all Chiaogoo Products, Skacel Yarns and Urth Yarns & Kits. Use Code LUVMOM. They’ll be open 12-5 Sunday May 8th for Mother’s Day! 210 Harrison. https://dyehardyarns.com/
Elevate Creative: Celebrate Mom with carefully curated bundles, or create your own! Elevate also offers e-gift cards so mom can shop for herself or update her look. Shop via elevate-OakPark.com. Shipping and gift wrapping are available! 321 Harrison St. http://www.elevate-oakpark.com/
Gallery PINK exhibition Strange Reverie: NEW exhibition featuring new work by Janice Elkins and Gina Lee Robbins. Using expressive images, fractured form, and rich layers of texture, Janice Elkins and Gina Lee Robbins reveal the ghosts of human experience in abstracted, yet vividly emotional ways. ***In conjunction with the exhibition, Janice Elkins will be opening her studio for a special sale of discounted prints and original artworks, great gift! Hours for Strange Reverie: Thru June 26, Sat-Sun 1-5, and by appointment, 708. 648.3131. 149 Harrison St. https://www.facebook.com/GalleryPink/
GRND Coffeehouse: Mother’s Day is a day to honor and celebrate all mothers. GRND is preparing small cakes and cupcakes for your special mom! Stop by and order a small cake or pick up special cupcakes for her special day. …and try their new after dinner coffees and teas! 6″ single layer frosted cake ($45) available for in-store pick up only (with flowers $59, in decorative box $65). Your choice of vanilla or chocolate. Shop https://www.grndcoffeehouse.com/new-page-3. 140 Harrison. 140 Harrison St. https://www.grndcoffeehouse.com/
Happy Apple Pie Shop: Pies: Signature Apple, Apple Crumble, Lemon-Blueberry Chess, Chocolate Chess, Chicken Pot Pie. Friday/Saturday will include Mother’s Day Specials – Lemon Chiffon, small Rosewater-cardamom-pistachio cream pie, assorted quiche. Call 708-606-0037 for latest info or stop by! 226 Harrison St. http://happyapplepie.com/
Jamilla Yipp Photography: A Motherhood Mimi can be booked at the studio at any time slot available. You can get a gift card for a special session just for that mom in your life! Click https://jamillayipp.as.me/Motherhood to book. More specials can be seen here: https://mailchi.mp/84ee0b6f45ed/spring-newsletter?e=b4de86651c. 19 Harrison St.
Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago:
Heal Your Life with Love Retreat, Saturday, May 7th, 9:45 am, Oak Park – Cheney Mansion.
With special guest teacher Gen Kelsang Rigpa. Love is a powerful medicine that is both healing and transformational. Explore different facets of Buddha’s beautiful teachings on love, and gain direct experience of them through teaching and guided meditation. Cost $35
A Mother’s Kindness: A Buddhist Perspective, Sunday, May 8th, 10 am, Oak Park (in-person & Livestream)
A perfect Mother’s Day activity! Guest teacher Gen Rigpa will share unique Buddhist ideas and methods that will help us to deeply appreciate the great kindness of our mothers.
Cost $ 12. https://www.meditateinchicago.org/event-details/a-mothers-kindness-a-buddhist-perspective
Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago is located at 13 Harrison St. https://www.meditateinchicago.org/
Kidcreate Studio Oak Park: Playdate with Mom- Love You to the Moon Workshop (18 Months-6 Years). In honor of Mother’s Day, spend some creative time with your child. How many times have you said “Love you to the moon and back.” to your child? In this class you and your young artist will create an adorable wall hanging inspired by this popular endearment. What a great keepsake! Register here. 200 Harrison St. https://kidcreate.com/oak-park
L’Institut français d’Oak Park: Oh là là! Share the joy of French for Mother’s Day by offering your loved one a gift card to l’Institut français d’Oak Park. Customize the gift card amount on their website for your recipient to enjoy a weekly French-language Conversation Café, arrange for private or semi-private French lessons, or enroll in a French class. Registration opens for the Summer 2022 Session on May 2. Questions? Visit www.frenchinstitute.net or contact Stacy Fifer at [email protected]. 11 Harrison St.
Mora Oak Park: Mother’s Day Weekend Specials 2022. May 6 (Fri) – May 8 (Sun). https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOMGoXvgFm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. 201 Harrison St.
Purple Sun Arts: What a unique gift! Cosmic Smashbooking Art Journaling May 28, 10a-1p. $60 per session (pay through www.paypal.com please, prior to session to email: [email protected]). The Fusion of Art Journaling with Intentional Creativity. Intentional Creativity® is to make with love, mindfulness and intention. Sessions are 3 hours long. Minimum of 2. Maximum of 4 persons per session. All supplies will be provided. 142 Harrison. https://www.purplesunarts.com/
Rare Bird Preserves: Moms love scones… and jams …and teas …and chocolates! Put together a special gift for the mother figures in your lives. They have new specialty teas from Rare Tea Cellars and hand-crafted chocolate bars from Ritual and Sirene. Their Mother’s Day Menu is available for pre-order. Snap up an 8″ Chocolate Praline Paris Brest with fresh raspberries or a Spring Green Pea and Asparagus w/ Fresh Herbed Ricotta Quiche before they sell out! Limited quantities with be available in the shop for Saturday walk-ins.
They are also having a special Mother’s Day POP-UP on Saturday, May 7th, 9a-1p. Shop candles by G & G Home, flowers by Ivy & Birch Floral, and Chocolates by Christina…with these 3 amazing local vendors all in one place, they recommend that you DO wait until the last minute to shop for Mom! Come for one-stop gifting and enter to win a raffle basket full of goodies. 211 Harrison St. https://rarebirdpreserves.com/
Studio 144 Boutique: Let them help you find the perfect gifts for your loved one. All jewelry and fragrance are buy one, get one 20% off through May 7. Boutique hours May 3-7 are Tuesday-Friday, 12-5, Saturday 11-5. 144 Harrison St. https://www.facebook.com/studio144boutique
Taco Mucho: Now serving Desert Rose Margarita Cookies from @blackoutbakingco. Celebrate moms and cinco de Mayo with some handmade tortilla tacos & finish with a box of Desert Rose Margarita Cookies! 220 Harrison St. http://www.tacomucho.net/
Trattoria 225: Mother’s Day Brunch at Trattoria 225. Book your reservation by calling 708-358-8555 or use their website for online reservations. Sunday May 8, 2022, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. See menu here. 225 Harrison St. https://www.trattoria225.com/
by annette coffee | Mar 24, 2022 | Uncategorized
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for The Buzz Cafe
Since 1987, March has officially been Women’s History Month and the Oak Park Arts District celebrated with the 6th annual WOW! Women Owned Works event on March 19 to promote women-owned businesses in the district. Here are some of their stories:
Caty Stegemann, Centre Physical Therapy
As a student at Oak Park-River Forest High School, Caty took a career aptitude test that told her she should consider becoming a teacher, a nurse, or a therapist so she secured a volunteer position at West Suburban Hospital and discovered that she loved physical therapy. College and career took her to other parts of the Midwest, but 25 years later, Caty returned to Oak Park and opened Centre Physical Therapy at 207 Harrison Street in 2018.
Caty, who has been a physical therapist since 1996 and has worked in outpatient orthopedics since 2003, decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship for three reasons. First, in her last job, Caty’s patients were coming to her based solely on referrals. “I was bringing business to my employer and not the other way around,” she says. Second, her patients encouraged her to strike out on her own. “It really resonated with me when one of my patients said, ‘You can’t swim unless you jump out of the boat.’” And finally, with over 20 years of experience, it seemed like the right time to open her own clinic. For more information, visit www.centrephysicaltherapy.com.
Gigi Hudson, The Actors Garden
Gigi discovered her passion for acting in college and has been teaching theatre for more than thirty years. In 2009, she founded The Actors Garden which is currently located at 909 S. Lombard Avenue. Gigi chose the name of her business because her philosophy is that, “It’s not my goal to produce Broadway actors but to develop audience members who understand what it takes to put a production together. It’s about planting the seeds of interest.”
While The Actors Garden offers classes and workshops throughout the year for both adults and children, it is their summer camp that really helps to lay that foundation. A unique aspect of the program is that the productions are original works by Gigi’s husband, Dave Hudson, who is an award-winning musical writer. Now thanks to their collaboration, The Actors Garden summer camp rotates through seven different musicals that have been written by Dave and are customized to Gigi’s needs. “The seven-year rotation is perfect for us because our campers range in age from 8-15 so that’s the typical length of time that they spend in our program.” And each child has an opportunity to speak, to sing, and to dance. “They all have a moment in the spotlight,” says Gigi. For more information, visit www.theactorsgarden.com.
Stacy Fifer, L’Institut français d’Oak Park
Stacy first studied French in high school but didn’t decide to make it her life’s work until she was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois and realized that teaching French at the college level was a viable career path. “My love of French and my passion for social justice and human rights came together and that’s how I became a Sub-Saharan African Francophone literature specialist.”
After earning her Ph.D., Stacy taught for fifteen years at different universities. Her most recent position was at the University of Illinois at Chicago, but the uncertainly that came with being a non-tenure-track professor was too stressful. “I loved teaching and it was really the only thing that I wanted to do so I had to figure out how to make my own language school work.” She founded L’Institut français d’Oak Park in 2016 and now operates two classrooms at 11 Harrison Street. Visit www.frenchinstitute.net for more information.
Chastity Dunlap, Dye Hard Yarns
Chastity was bitten by the knitting bug more than a dozen years ago when she found a woman on Craigslist who gave lessons in a local coffee shop. Later, she took a class at Chicago’s local yarn convention and became hooked on dyeing as well. In 2019, she realized that she had outgrown her former store and moved to a new studio space at 210 Harrison Street where she offers classes, subscription clubs, and a community dye studio.
Chastity wants her store to be friendly and welcoming and Wednesday Fiber Fun Nights are a part of that vision. Even though they are now held on Zoom because of the pandemic, Chastity still sees an opportunity to create a feeling of community. “I want people to feel like they can sit and talk or not talk and just be together. To feel like they’re a part of something and to get a feeling of calm in a very scary world.” For more information, visit www.dyehardyarns.com.
Tamekia Swint, Styles 4 Kidz
Tamekia is passionate about serving her community. She is the founder and executive director of the only non-profit of its kind, Styles 4 Kidz at 235 Harrison Street, that provides “Hair Care with Heart” through its two-fold social mission: to create hairstyles that boost the self-confidence and self-esteem of children with textured hair and to teach parents the skills they need to manage their children’s natural hair at home.
Tamekia attended the University of Illinois to study community health and learned how to do hair as a way to support herself while in school. Years later, after a mission trip to Poland, she had a vision of “hairbraiding missions” in the community and the seed for Styles 4 Kidz was planted. Now, more than ten years after its founding, 80% of the families served are transracial adoptive parents, transracial foster parents, or biracial families. Through workshops and one-on-one coaching, these families are learning skills and building a community. “The kids get a cultural connection in the salon. They see other kids who look like them and other families that look like theirs.” For more information, visit www.styles4kidz.org.
by Nicole Sankowski | Apr 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
“Her Voice”
3rd Annual Art Exhibition, June 1 – July 26, 2019
SHOW PROSPECTUS
“Her Voice” is an exhibition of women printmakers and their guest artists. The event brings women from different art backgrounds together to interact in a shared studio space.
Who is Eligible: Women artists and those who identify as female.
Must be 2-dimensional artists (i.e. painting, drawing, collage, printing, etc). There will be a $25 fee per person to cover costs of this event.
Juried Show: Fees are only collected from those whose pieces are in the show.
Jurors: E.G. Board of Directors & Liz Born of Hoof Prints Workshop
Reception: Friday, July 19, 6:30-9:30 pm
. Special Guest Lecture TBA
PRIZES!
First place- $50
Second place- TBA during the reception!
Spend a day in our studio! All participating artists will be invited to spend a day in our studio and try different types of printmaking.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please Register online
Work must be submitted by May 12th!
Images must be in JPEG or PDF format ONLY
Include brief write up about your piece(s)
2D work ONLY, maximum 22” x 30”
Unframed work ONLY
Email your images by May 12th to [email protected]
Hanging Fee to be assessed if selected: $25 (1-2 pieces)
Hanging Date: June 1st, 10:00 am
Sales: E.G. member retain 60% of sale, Non members retain 50% of sales
Expressions Graphics has the right to refuse any works of art.
by Nicole Sankowski | Jan 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
by The Eastgate Cafe
Over the years, the Oak Park Arts District has become well-known as a showcase for local musical talent like the Farmers Market Band and other groups that play folk, country-western, rock, and pop favorites. All of these genres can be heard at family friendly venues like the Buzz Café and the District Kitchen and Tap. Not to mention the talent and musical resources provided by Val’s halla Records for over four decades. But now the Eastgate Café offers sophisticated music lovers’ access to a treat rarely experienced outside of a handful of downtown Chicago clubs – a weekly jazz jam session for top tier professional musicians. What’s more – this entertainment is available without the drawbacks of cover charges, expensive parking fees and late hours.
Of course, the Eastgate Café has long been a venue for great jazz, rock and pop bands. But the bistro’s Sunday jam sessions offer a different perspective on America’s most unique musical art form. Jam sessions are a venue for high-quality musicians and singers to meet, practice their craft, share original compositions, and develop new connections. Audience members, on the other hand, have the opportunity to see and hear how the music they love is created. Now, every Sunday, jazz fans can unwind with their favorite drink, enjoy a delicious meal, and hear some of the top musicians in Chicago sit in with the Eastgate’s talented house band, the Doug Lalli Trio.
For local talent, the Eastgate’s jam session has been a welcome addition to Chicagoland’s jazz scene. For years they’ve had to go into town or to a few geographically scattered sessions to jam with their peers. Now players in Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest, Berwyn, LaGrange, Elmwood Park, and other nearby suburbs can connect close to home. Joined by their neighbors, friends, and family members, they can offer their own unique contribution to Chicago’s justly famed jazz scene and Oak Park’s own arts community.
by Nicole Sankowski | Oct 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
By Whitney Parchman
Owner Elizabeth Madden celebrated the grand opening of Rare Bird Preserves late last month in the Oak Park Arts District. The space at 211 Harrison houses a commercial kitchen and multi-use retail area designed to host classes and parties.
With a background in fine arts, Madden attended the French Pastry School and quickly fell in love with small batch artisan preserve making. Thousands of jars later, the opening of the Rare Bird Preserves storefront represents the culmination of these efforts.
Upon entering the new space, visitors immediately note its relaxed elegance and are quickly drawn in by the selection of handmade goods from local and international artisans. An artisan herself, Madden’s support of others in complementary vocations highlights a movement she fell in love with over 20 years ago.
It’s no accident that her selections, much like her preserves, reflect a beautiful merging of tradition and modernity. Beyond the retail area the commercial kitchen provides the perfect setting for Madden and her team to practice and grow their craft. Inspired by the seasonal availability of locally and sustainably grown fruit, Madden uses a traditional combination of French and British preserving techniques to create modern flavor pairings.
Classic Preserves and Signature Curds such as Strawberry Rhubarb and Blackberry Lime are available year round online and in stores throughout the US. Those fortunate enough to grab an inspired exclusive blend (sometimes as few as 20 are made) enjoy unique flavor combinations such as Cherry Lime, Red Berries Rosé and Meyer Lemon Rosemary.
When asked how Madden develops these combinations she relates a cycle of experimentation, failure and reattempts. Persistence and passion have regularly guided Madden through this creative cycle and, to the delight of many palates, success. Tasting Table, an online guide for food and drink enthusiasts, describes Rare Bird Preserves as, “Deeply flavored… with intriguing combinations.” Whole Foods Market refers to it as, “Deliciously unique.” While Chicago Magazine has declared it, “The season’s perfect present for foodies.”
Patience is an equally important part of the practice. Traditional copper kettles and unrushed production methods allow the fruits’ natural pectin to be extracted. This traditional extraction method is an art in itself. According to Madden the process is simple, however, any-one who has attempted to make their own jam knows the best intentions can lead to either a syrup-like or overly dense consistency. In an effort to thwart failure, hobbyists and mass-producers alike frequently use a combination of animal gelatin and additives. The consistency may be a relative improvement, however, the flavor is often less vibrant.
Each jar of Rare Bird Preserves, in contrast, celebrates each ingredient’s natural beauty, taste and texture. When asked what she loves most about making her preserves and curds, Madden responds, “Just a few ingredients, put together properly, can have spectacular results.” We agree!
Check out Rare Bird Preserves in per- son at 211 Harrison Street right here in the Oak Park Arts District and online at RareBirdPreserves.com. Follow their mouthwatering Instagram @rarebirdpreserves.
by Nicole Sankowski | Sep 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
by Whitney Parchman
In 2015 neighbors Jen Gold, Lauren Elliott and Lindsay Monroe became fast friends while in the throes of caring for their young children. They shared labor and delivery stories between carting their kids to various activities and navigating life as new moms.
They reflected on the challenges of transitioning into postpartum life. Through this sharing they realized women weren’t hearing and talking enough about the birth process. They also saw a deficit in resources for women who wanted to make educated decisions.
Fast forward to May 2018 when this trio of moms-turned-doulas opened the Birth Boutique.
Established in the vibrant and family-friendly Oak Park Arts District, the Birth Boutique provides childbirth and postpartum doula services, professional photography, a lending library and classes for expectant and new parents and a thoughtful collection of retail items perfect for gift giving.
Doulas are more than just birth companions or coaches. They’re professionals trained to provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to mothers before, during and after childbirth. Doulas provide these support measures so families feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
Says Gold, “There are so many options when it comes to birth and postpartum. We want to pro- vide women with as much information as we can to enable them to make the best decision for themselves. Ultimately the decisions are yours and should reflect what is best for you and your family.”
The popularity of doulas has increased over the years, however, there are still lingering miscon- ceptions about their role. People often assume doulas are only for home and/or unmedicated births. In reality, the majority of births attended by Gold, Elliott and Monroe take place in the hospital. Of those births about half require some type of medical intervention.
Regardless of what type of birth a woman plans, the consistency of doula support provides com- fort and positive outcomes in potentially stressful circumstances. Many women see a variety of medical care providers throughout their pregnancies. It’s difficult to predict who will be on call when a woman goes into labor.
States Elliott, “There’s comfort knowing the person next to you. They’re there to help you in whatever way you need at any given moment. You won’t receive that attention without a doula.”
The underlying philosophy at the Birth Boutique is that support is available no matter what kind of birth you’ve planned. This support also extends beyond birth into postpartum. According to Monroe, “We have an incredible line-up of free community workshops for families to learn, grow and connect with others.”
When asked why she was drawn to the role of doula Elliott replies, “I was fortunate to have a doula by my side for my first birth. She made me realize that I have the power within myself to do anything. From that moment on, I knew I needed to support women in the way that my doula supported me.”
For more info on the Birth Boutique check out their website. For convenient and up-to-date info on their free community workshops and to view a sampling of their beautiful photography follow them on Insta- gram @thebirthboutique. Welcome them to the neighborhood in person at 128 Harrison Street right here in the Oak Park Arts District.
