2013 March Park Happenings

March 2013 Park Happenings

Quick Links Volunteer! Become a Member! Donate! Save the Dates Saturday, March 9 Friends of the Parks Park Advocacy Conference South Shore Cultural Center Thursday, March 14 Friends of the Parks' Walter Netsch Lecture Chicago Cultural Center Saturday, April 20 Earth Day Parks and Preserves Clean-Up Parks & Preserves Friday, April 26 Parks Ball Honoring Peoples Gas Galleria Marchetti The Easter bunny is coming to Chicago Parks this month. Please visit the Chicago Park District for a full listing of all bunny events! Enjoy the sounds of the Civic Orchestra in select parks in March! This series of free chamber concerts by the Woodwind Quintet from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago is free for all! Families with children ages 5 and up are welcome. Call (312) 294-3803 for more information. Dates and times are subject to change. Visit the Chicago Park District for a full listing of Civic Orchestra dates. ___________________________________________________________________ March 1-7 Blackstar Tutoring Burn Training ASHAKI-Black History Celebration Save Energy, Save Money and Get a Rebate Plant Propagation from Seeds & Cuttings Workshop TreeKeepers Class Armour Square Park Volleyball Tournament Winter Tree ID DuSable Day at the DuSable Museum of African American History Chicago Modern Orchestra Saturdays, March 1 - March 30, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Blackstar Project Grand Crossing Park - Senior Room 2nd Floor 7655 South Ingleside Tutoring for K-6th grade, including math, reading and writing. Children must be pre-registered with Blackstar. Call (773) 285-9600. Free. Thursday, February 28 and Friday, March 1 - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st Street Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Sagawau Environmental Learning Center 12545 111th Street, Lemont Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training Training covers the basics of fire behavior, controlled burn techniques, and smoke management. Participants will learn how to safely participate on the crew of a controlled burn. Register here. For questions, contact Chris Mulvaney at chris.mulvaney@chicagowilderness.org or call (773) 417-6257. Fee: $15 per person. Friday, March 1, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm 21st Annual "ASHAKI-Black History Celebration" Washington Park, 5531 S. King Drive Partake in a night of illuminating performances, savory foods, and historical cultural enrichment while shopping for exquisite hand-crafted items on Vendors Row. For vendor information, contact (312)747-7661. All Ages. Fee: $3. Saturday, March 2, 1:00 pm Save Energy, Save Money and Get a Rebate Independence Park Auditorium, 3945 N. Springfield Learn how to save energy in your home and get a rebate for it. Energy Impact Illinois' seminar will focus on energy efficiency, and existing rebates for homeowners to help them reduce their energy usage. The Citizens Utility Board will give information on related subjects, such as the ComEd electrical supplier change. Free. Saturday, March 2 - Two Sessions 10 am to 12:00 noon or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Plant Propagation from Seeds & Cuttings Workshop Address: Wicker Park address given to registered students Learn successful techniques to propagate annuals, perennials, shrubs, and vegetables. Try growing some great vegetables, herbs or annuals this year. Let us know what you'd like to propagate and we will include it in the class presented by the Wicker Park Garden Club. Registration required. RSVP to wpgarden@aol.com. Fee: $15. Pay at door. Saturday, March 2, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm TreeKeepers Class Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th Street Do you want to learn more about Chicago's Urban Forest? Become a TreeKeeper! Visit Openlands to learn more. Saturday, March 2, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Armour Square Park Volleyball Tournament 3309 S. Shields Ave. (312) 747-6012 Armour Square Park will host a one day co-rec adult professional volleyball tournament. Contact the park to register your team. Ages: 21 & over. Fee: $200. Saturday, March 2, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm - Work Day 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Winter Tree ID for Restoration Beaubien Woods, I-94 and Beaubien Woods, exit 69 South Meet at the pavilion Improve your winter botany skills. This field-based workshop will focus on winter identification of the trees and shrubs the community encountered in its ecological restoration. Limited to 20 participants. Register by contacting Becky Collings at (312) 665-7420 or via email at rcollings@fieldmuseum.org. Sunday, March 3, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm DuSable Day at the DuSable Museum of African American History 740 E. 56th Place Join this daylong celebration honoring the memory and legacy of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, the founder of Chicago. The event will mark our city's 176th birthday with multi-cultural dance performances, musical tributes and art workshops. Tour the DuSable Mobile Museum, which offers an interactive exhibition that explores DuSable's life. For more information, call (773) 947-0600, ext. 290 or visit here. Free. Sunday, March 3, 3:00 pm Chicago Modern Orchestra: Conversations and Collaborations South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive Chicago Modern Orchestra (CMOP) invite you to "Conversations & Collaborations," featuring a special tribute to the "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, along with the world premiere of new repertoires. Parking on site at $1 per hour. Free. March 8 - 14 Park Advocacy Conference Garden Exchange Dunning Read Conservation Area Monthly Stewardship Work Day "Sing to a Plant" at Garfield Park Conservatory Friends of the Parks' Walter Netsch Lecture Saturday, March 9, 8:15 am 2013 Park Advocacy Conference - "Our Park...Our Community" South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive Click here to register Join Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Park District for the 2013 Park Advocacy Conference focusing on giving Park Advisory Council's a sense of ownership to their parks. The Conference breakout sessions will highlight Capacity Building, Programming, Finance, and the Chicago Park District's strategic plan. Following the breakout sessions, participate in the Park Security Summit. A panel of community members and officials will hear concerns, ideas, and successes from PAC's across the city. The panel will share ideas and plans for park safety and give the PACs advice on working with the Police Department and the Park District to improve security in parks. This panel will focus on such problems as drug sales, gang turf issues, vagrants in the parks, security cameras (both police and OEMC), and vandalism. 8:15 am Registration and networking 9:00 am Keynote address 10:00 am Breakout Session 11:00 am Breakout Session 12:00 noon Breakout Session 1:00 pm Park Security Summit Free. Saturday, March 9, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Garden Exchange Event 3501 N. Kilbourn St. Exchange and share ideas, skills and tools with fellow gardeners. While enjoying free organic gardening demonstrations, you can find gently used gardening and cooking tools, as well as books at bargain prices. Intelligentsia burlap coffee bags, coffee chaff, and used coffee grounds will be available for free for use in your garden. If weather permits we will also have compost for sale. For more information, contact Kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistrict.com. Free. March 9, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Dunning Read Conservation Area (DRCA) Monthly Stewardship Work Day 4200 N. Oak Park Ave., meet at the red shed behind the Chicago Read Mental Health Hospital Join Friends of the Parks, Wright College, American Indian Center and the Dunning community to help restore this 23-acre conservation area. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and jeans and long-sleeve shirts. Dress appropriately for the weather. Rain or shine event. Free. Wednesday, March 13, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Giant Spring Sing-A-Long featuring "Sing to a Plant" Stations Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue Join us for a giant public sing-a-long. Enjoy original songs for this evening, culled from the Garfield Park Conservatory's unique plant collection. Family activities include a "make your own instrument" station in the Children's Garden to strum along at the song stations. Visit Garden Conservatory for more information. Fee: $5 suggested donation. Thursday, March 14 at 12:15 pm Friends of the Parks' Walter Netsch Lecture: The Growing Worlds of Urban Gardens and Farms Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Auditorium, 78 E. Washington Erika Allen, Chicago and National Projects Director of Growing Power and Chicago Park District Commissioner, will talk about the new Chicago movement for planting edible gardens, hosting green outdoor markets and developing urban farms in vacant lost and in parks throughout the city. Free. March 15 - 21 Warm Stories on a Cold Winters Night Bobolink Meadow Volunteer Workday The Beauty of Jim Rowan Photography North Region Gymnastics Meet at Warren Park Friday, March 15, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Warm Stories on a Cold Winter Night North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. (312) 744-5472 Join storyteller Mark Kater inside around a crackling fire and hear stories filled with humor, joy and thoughtfulness. Registration required. Free. Saturday, March 16, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Bobolink Meadow Volunteer Workday Jackson Park Bobolink Meadow - exit Lake Shore Drive at 5800 South, go left and follow the signs south to the Meadow Help establish and maintain a healthy habitat in this fabulous and upgraded natural area. Click here for more information. Saturday, March 16, 1:00 pm -to 3:00 pm The Beauty of Jim Rowan Photography: The Parks North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. (312) 744-5472 Join naturalist and photographer Jim Rowan on a photo journey to local, state and national parks. Click here for a sneak preview. Ages: 6 & up. Free. Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm North Region Gymnastics Meet Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave. (773) 262-6314 Gymnasts compete to move forward to the city-wide competition. Ages 6-12. Free. March 22 - 31 T-Shirt Design Contest Volunteer Workday in Jackson Park's Wooded Island Growing Tomatoes Maple Syrup Festival Golden Ages Senior Talent Showcase Tool Sharpening Workshop Friends of the Parks' Earth Day Saturday, March 22 Design contest submissions due: Earth Day Parks & Preserves Clean Up T-Shirt Design Contest Have a budding young artist at home to help design the 2013 Earth Day T-shirt? Our theme this year is Healthy Earth, Healthy You! Download the submission form. Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Volunteer Workday in Jackson Park's Wooded Island Meet at Darrow Bridge, south of Museum of Science and Industry Lake Shore Drive at Science Drive, 5800 South Starting March 23 and repeating 4th Saturdays through fall, help restore and maintain a healthy habitat. Contact Jerry Levy to be placed on the information list and confirm you are coming: sjlevy@jeromelevylaw.com. Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Growing Tomatoes - The World's Most Popular Fruit Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Did you know that 93% of American households grow tomatoes? Learn about planting, watering, fertilizing and making America's most popular fruit produce optimally. From heirlooms to hybrids, cluster to cherries, paste to purple Russian, there's a tomato for you and your growing garden! RSVP at kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistrict.com. Fee: $10. Saturday, March 23 & Sunday, March 24, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Maple Syrup Festival North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. (312) 744-5472 See the entire maple syrup-making process from tapping the tree and collecting the sap, to boiling it into syrup. Take a walk through the sugar bush, enjoy storytelling, make a maple craft, warm yourself by the fire, and taste real maple syrup fresh off the fire. Free. Wednesday, March 27, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Golden Ages Senior Talent Showcase South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. (773) 256-0149 Join us for a senior talent showcase like no other! Enjoy top-rate singing, dancing, comedy, and more while enjoying a delectable luncheon. All ages. Fee: $15 Saturday, March 30 - 2 Sessions 10 am to 12 noon or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Tool Sharpening Workshop presented by Wicker Park Garden Club Address: Wicker Park address given to registered students Bring your tools and go home with sharpened ones - all hand held tools, shovels, spades - no lawn mower blades. Registration required. Go to www.WPGarden.org RSVP to wpgarden@aol.com. Fee: $15 at door. Please note: In order to fairly represent the city, unfortunately, we cannot list every event. SAVE THE DATES! Saturday, April 20, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Friends of the Parks' Earth Day Parks & Preserves Clean Up The big Earth Day celebration is just around the corner! Submit your t-shirt designs with the theme "Healthy Earth, Healthy You!" by March 22. We are excited about our new Earth Day collaboration with the Cook County Department of Environmental Control. We will be launching some initiatives at a few of the FPDCC locations including prescription drug collections, paper shredding, composting and electronics recycling. Stay updated at Earth Day Chicago. Earth Day Captains: In order to help the Chicago Park District and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County plan for allocating resources, all Captains should register their site by March 15. (Individual volunteers may register beginning March 16). Special thanks to Karen Tharp (TNC) and CSI Team Members Laura Milkertand Becky Collings (Field Museum) for compiling all of these outstanding volunteer trainings and opportunities. ___________________________________________________________________ In addition to our work protecting, preserving, improving and promoting the use of Chicago's parks, Friends of the Parks is pleased to provide you with free lectures and workshops. Your support makes a difference!