WJFPR_HolidaySpectacular_112625

Holiday 2025

Your Guide to Holiday Shopping & Dining in Oak Park, River Forest & Forest Park

HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME TO COME TOGETHER.

Our Local Communities Are Interwoven Through Connections & Celebrations.

Happy Holidays!

A

OPRF Chamber of Commerce

Since arriving at the Chamber in October, I’ve been reflecting on what makes Oak Park and River Forest such a remarkable place to live, work, and do business. In the short time I’ve served as Interim Executive Director, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many shop owners, civic leaders, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs who form this spirited, tight-knit community. Their dedication to their craft, and to one another, is what gives our local economy its heart.

The holidays are an especially meaningful reminder that thriving communities don’t happen by accident. They are built through each of us showing up for one another: choosing to shop local, supporting our independent businesses, participating in community events, or simply taking a moment to thank the people behind the counters, kitchens, studios, and storefronts.

ery purchase you make locallysweet treat, a special gift, or a celebratory night out - strengthens our small businesses and keeps our commercial districts thriving. It sustains the partnerships, creativity, and at make Oak Park and River est truly unique.

As you browse this guide, I hope you’ll vorites, revisit familiar , and feel inspired by the breadth of what our community has to of fer. Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that work tirelessly to serve and shape this place we all care so much about.

Wishing you a season of connection, warmth, and local joy.

Yoo-Jin Hong Interim Executi ve Director OPRF Chamber of Commerce

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We are Proof. Proof of Concept. Proof of Design. Proof of what’s possible when creativity meets purpose.

We are proof of what is and of what came before. With over 30 years of experience, our work is more than a portfolio. It’s evidence. Evidence of trust built with a client list that continues to grow year after year. Evidence of a multidisciplinary studio where creative minds—both near and far— come together to craft custom solutions that fit.

Snowflake ornament drop-in workshop is back!

beadinhand.com

145 Harrison Street 708-848-1761

beadinhand.com

145 Harrison Street

708-848-1761

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 11–6

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 11–6

Wed: 1–6; Sat: 10–5 Sun: Closed except Dec 17

Wed: 1–6; Sat: 10–5 Sun: Closed except Dec 17

C eleb rat e the delicious

As

we edge towards the darkest days, food keeps us looking forward

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Here in immigrant-rich America, we love to eat every culture’s celebration foods. For better or worse (for our waistlines), we think of them as everyday meals. Let’s take a bite of those celebrations as we take a dive into several dishes to delight the season.

Onion Roll – Latke ight

Hanukkah spans Dec. 14 to 22 this year. The eight-day festival commemorates when the Maccabean Jews re gained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple. They only had enough olive oil to burn a lamp in the Temple for one night, but it stayed lit for eight nights

“In order to remind us of the oil, Jews eat a lot of oily foods during this holiday,” Ryan Rosenthal, co-owner of The Onion

River

Roll, said. “The Ashkenazi’s, which are a group of Jews that only had potatoes and onion, so they got very creative and made potato pancakes.”

Latkes, as they are called, are popular in many Jewish delis. At The Onion Roll, they start with Idaho potatoes, chopped fine with a bits of onion, salt and pepper. Panko crumbs are added as a binde r. Formed into patties, the pancakes are slipped into olive oil and fried until they are crisp on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.

This North Avenue deli goes a step further. They serve a latke flight – like you’d have a flight of wine or beer tasting.

“One pancake will have applesauce. A second pancake will have sour cream and chive, and the third pancake will be a Nova pancake,” Rosenthal said.

The Nova is topped with hand-sliced lox, rolled around cream cheese and topped with chives. As it’s been said, bet you can’t eat just one.

Forest Chocolates – Peppermint bark

A candy cane is said to symbolize a shepherd’s staf f. T he crook evokes the shepherd of men that the baby Jesus will become. River Forest Chocolates owner Donna Slepicka remembers that connection and putting candy canes on her Christmas tree, but at her shop on Lake Street in River Forest she transforms them into another treat of the season: peppermint bark

“We crush peppermint, candy canes,” Slepicka said. “My chocolate is couverture. that is very high in cocoa butter, which is the most expensive ingredient in chocolate. It’s creamier and it just has a better flavor.”

To do justice to that quality of chocolate, it is tempered in-house. That means melting it, then raising the temperature higher, then lowering it in a way that aligns the confection’s crystals. This creates the distinctive snap of high-end chocolate.

At River Forest Chocolates, they add a touch of peppermint oil to batches that will become pe ppermint bark

“That makes it a little more special than what you g et at the grocery or big box stores,” Slepicka said. “When you say Christmas, it is all about peppermint. In

the winter I think mint because it’s cold out. It is just all the more appealing because it’s minty and it’s fresh. This is just my own take on it.”

C ONTINUED FROM PA GE B1 1

Spilt Milk – “World Peace” chocolate cookie

This time of the year, we see many cards, signs that encourage, even implore Peace on Earth. What ingredients are needed to make that happen? Butter, flour, cocoa powder, egg, sugar, vanilla – mix them together in the right portions and cookies emerge. A cookie with the power of world peace?

“It’s just a small statement,” Nikos Liargovas, owner of Spilt Milk, said. “What holidays is, is about people putting their best ef for ts to be as cheerful as possible, to be as positive, maybe trying to forg et some of the problems that we all have.”

In the fractured and crummy world that we are inhabiting at the moment, the new owners of Spilt Milk bakery figure that chocolate cookies can’t hurt.

“It’s a very simple recipe, it doesn’t have secret ingredients,” Sandra Liargovas, wife and co-owner with her husband Nikos, said. “Something so simple can have such a big name. It’s small things that can make this season and make people’s life better with some small ef fort

“If you put some ef fort in to give some positivity out, some-

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Old Xmas cards – OPRF museum PROVIDED

Holiday card s make a ge nuine, tactile connection

The world might be digital, but a card in the mail delivers like nothing else

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Recently I read an essay in the New York Times by novelist Ann Pachett. Her nostalgia for physical mail struck a chord with me. She wrote, “I loved the mail. In my youth, I ran to the box to see if there might be an envelope whose contents would change the course of my life – an acceptance letter, a love letter, a check.”

To me, there is something special about opening the mailbox and seeing a letter with a handwritten address on it (not those phony ones that try to look like

handwriting!)

Christmas still brings a bumper crop of these correspondences. I reached out to several local enthusiasts of the postal experience to get their perspective on the tradition and future of cards in the mail.

Colleen Fitzgerald is the owner of Fitzgerald’s Fine Stationery. In her downtown Oak Park shop, she designs custom holiday cards and more.

“In a world that moves faster every year, sending a holiday card is a simple way to slow down and connect,” she said. “When someone opens a holiday card, they feel

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Garland F

Silhouette Blue, card design

remembered. It’s a small gesture that can lift a heart, spark a smile, and remind us what the season is really about: connection, gratitude and love.”

Another local card purveyor Gail Eisner of Pumpkin Moon and Scratch ‘n Sniff, both in downtown Oak Park, echoed that personal connection.

“Somebody thought about you and they went to the extent to pick out a card and, address that envelope and get that stupid stamp and get it to the post office. And that is a gift,” she said.

“We don’t touch anything anymore.

Christmas cards, I feel are one of the last things that you get to hold in your hands,” Megan Rose said.

Rose designs cards and stationery. Her Forest Park-based company is Silhouette Blue.

ager Rachel Berlinski think back to a time when long distance phone calls were expensive or not even possible.

“Cards would’ve been a really important way to keep in touch with family that you wouldn’t normally see, especially during the holiday season. How else would people keep in touch?” Berlinski said.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Holiday cards, Fitzgerald's

“It’s so nurturing to send a piece of mail,” she said. “You have to put into the world what you want back from it. It’s a two-way street. You have to start sending them out.”

At the Oak Park River Forest Museum on Lake Street, they have a collection of historic greeting cards. Those made Operations Man-

Keeping the tradition alive, the museum’s gift shop sells a pack of six cards, which are a collection of historic images from the area that evoke the holiday spirit.

“I have some diehard friends that are still doing it. God love them. And again, I love it. And I love the photo card where I get to see the family, the update letter,” Eisner said.

“Christmas is such a nostalgic time of year. People are willing to go the extra step,” Rose said. “Christmas kind of pulls you back in time a little bit. And so much of it is tactile. I hope that it keeps going because I love holding the cards in my hands, putting our friends’ pictures up on the wall and getting to look at them for a couple weeks. It’s such a special time “

Holiday Spectacular presented by

Celebrate the Season!

Upcoming Holiday Events

November 29-December 30

There’s something fun for ever yone this holiday season!

Compiled by Stac y Coleman

Holiday Open House

Saturday, Nov. 29, Noon-4 p.m., Oak Park and River Forest Museum

OPRF Museum’s Holiday Open house will include festive refreshments, games and activities for all ages! Enjoy their Stars of Oak Park and River Forest Christmas Tree and Hometown Legends LEGO Hunt and take advantage of the Small Business Saturday 10% o discount in the gift shop. 129 Lake St.

A Charlie Brown

Christmas Brunch (Live!) at Pleasant Home

Saturday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Pleasant Home

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! Enjoy live music, nostalgic holiday spirit and great food presented by Fitzgerald’s Nightclub and the Park District of Oak Park. The Kevin Fort Trio will be playing live at Pleasant Home with a brunch bu et by BABYGOLD Barbecue. Register on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave

Holiday Trivia Night

Monday, Dec. 1, 7-8:30 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Back by popular demand, test your festive trivia skills at the library! Registration is encouraged but not required for this jolly evening. Bring a team of up to ve people or join a team when you arrive! 3541 Park Ave

Holiday Market

Friday, Dec. 5, 3-7 p.m.

Saturday Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

IWS Children’s Clinic

Get unique and special gifts for your loved ones at the OPRF Infant Welfare Societ y’s Holiday Market. Featuring 22 vendors, the market will be held in the upstairs event space of the IWS Children’s Clinic. 28 Madison Street

“On Christmas Morning we would run eagerly to the playroom fireplace where we had hung our stockings the night before. They were always filled with candy, spiced cakes, cookies, and surprise packages.” - John Lloyd Wright

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, December 6, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park

Join us for a celebration of the season in keeping with the Wright family tradition! Bring your family and friends for a free tour of Wright’s Oak Park Home, decked for the holidays.

Free. Please register at flwright.org.

Concordia-Chicago University Band Christmas Concert

Friday, Dec. 5, 8-9:15 p.m.

Chapel of Our Lord

Enjoy festive holiday favorites at the Concordia University Band Christmas Concert! Conducted by Dr. Richard Fischer, the University Band features 70 players. Admission and parking are free to all 7400 Augusta Street

Holiday Cookie Exchange with Mary DiSomma

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7-8 p.m.

River Forest Public Library

Whisk up some festive treats and visit the River Forest Public Library for their Holiday Cookie Exchange. Bring homemade cookies (and the recipe!) to share with other participants. Not into baking? Cookies from a local bakery are also allowed. The library will provide cookie tins to take your treats in. Plus, local baker and cookbook author Mary DiSomma will share some of her own baking wisdom and cookies as she talks about her book A Gift of Cookies: Recipes to Share with Family and Friends. Registration on the River Forest Public Library website is required. 735 Lathrop Ave.

An [Urban] Christmas Carol - Bah Humbug with Groove!

Friday, Dec. 5, 7-8:30 p.m.

Madison Street Theater

Join the Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago for one night in Chicagoland’s only all dance adaptation of A Christmas Carol! The performance is set in modern-day Chicagoland and embodies the same hopeful message as its inspiration. Tickets are available online only. 1010 Madison Street

Holiday Housewalk

Friday, Dec. 5, 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-5 p.m. Oak Park and River Forest

Kick-o the holiday season with the OPRF Infant Welfare Societ y’s annual Holiday Housewalk! Four stunning Oak Park and River Forest homes will be festively decorated and open for viewing. Tickets are available on the OPRF IWS website.

Austin Holiday Market

Friday, Dec. 5

BUILD- Austin Campus

BUILD’s Austin Holiday Market is back! Taking place on its Austin campus, the market is known as a celebration of small, local black and brown owned businesses and non-pro t social enterprises. Find a unique gift and get into the holiday spirit by attending! Keep an eye on the BUILD Chicago website for further details. 5100 W Harrison St.

Family Cookie Part y

Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-3:30 p.m.

A House in Austin (The Big Blue House) Make some delicious holiday memories with your loved ones at A House in Austin’s Family Cookie Party! Come dressed in your favorite festive pajamas and enjoy treats and activities in each room, as well as festive photo ops! Register on A House in Austin’s website for $25 per family, or pay what you can. 533 N Pine Ave

Holly Jolly Gingerbread Part y

Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Brook eld Zoo Discovery Center

Get in the holiday spirit and give back with the Brookeld Zoo at their Holly Jolly Gingerbread Party fundraiser. This event will feature a brunch bu et (featuring cocoa, Bloody Mar ys and mimosas!), gingerbread house

decorating, and special visits from the zoo’s animal ambassadors and Santa himself! Purchase tickets on the Brook eld Zoo website. 3300 Golf Road

Holiday Bazaar

Friday, Dec. 5, 3-9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Liber ty Cultural Center

One of Animal Care League’s longest standing traditions, the Holiday Bazaar is back! Pick up special holiday gifts, snack on some festive baked goods and more!

Plus, if you swing by the ACL adoption center on Sunday the 7th, you can get a picture with Santa! Visit Animal Care League’s website for more details. 6445 27th Pl

Candlelight Walk

Friday-S unday, Dec. 5-7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oak Park Conser vatory

Take in the sights with Oak Park Conser vator y’s Candlelight Walk! Holiday music and refreshments await as you take in the festive atmosphere. Take a stroll over to Mrs. Claus’ holiday garden, where you can meet Santa and get a special treat! Plus, make sure you drop o your wishlist in Santa’s mailbox. Purchase tickets on the Oak Park Conser vator y website. 615 Gar eld St.

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Krampusnacht: A Holiday Hunt!

Friday, Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.

Pleasant Home

For the folklore fans ages 21 and up, enjoy a night of fright and festivities at Krampusnacht: A Holiday Haunt! Santa rewards the nice, but Krampus comes after the naughty, so be sure to keep an eye out for the notorious beast. Enjoy light appetizers and drinks at the cocktail par ty that promises thrills, chills and twisted holiday cheer. Register on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave., Oak Park

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Join the Frank Lloyd Trust for a free holiday experience at the Home and Studio! Wright’s Oak Park home will be decorated for the season with a festive tree, poinsettias, wreaths, evergreens and more. B ring friends or family and enjoy a free tour. Register on the Frank Lloyd Trust website. 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park

Winterfest in Downtown Oak Park

Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Downtown Oak Park

Visit Downtown Oak Park for Winter fest to get your local x of the holiday season! Enjoy festive enter tainment, from The Polar Express playing free at Lake Theatre to Canterbur y Carolers and local choral performances. Register for the Cookie Walk to pick up a holiday tin and pick up sweet treats from local businesses. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for Santa! More information can be found on the Downtown Oak Park website.

Cozy Winter Family Singalong

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2-4 p.m.

Forest Park Public Library

Warm up your voices and winter spirits! The Forest Park Library is hosting a winter musical medley for the family. Words will be provided for those who would like to sing along, plus there will be jingle bells and shakers for the little ones. Hot chocolate, cider and co ee will be ser ved. Plus, kids can stick around for an indoor snowball ght! Registration is encouraged and can be completed on the Forest Park Public Library website. 7555 Jackson Blvd.

A direct line to Santa, Bluey, Batman …

Children can send and receive letters from their personal her

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

For the past four years a bright red mailbox has hit the streets around the holidays with the intent to delight young children. Collaboration for Early Childhood sponsors the box and a whole team of elfish volunteers ply their trade to make it seem magical.

The letterbox is usually posted outside the Collaboration’s office at 171 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park. But it goes on the road too, when the organization takes part in events around the area, such as Winterfest, Shop Small, and Santa Saturday.

“We exist to try to bring joy and support to families,” said Wendy Giardina, the collaborations engagement coordinator. “We also take templates to area coffee shops so that kids can fill out the letters to Santa and then they can bring them to our mailbox.”

The organization sends letters too. Using a form on the collaboration’s website, parents can request a letter from Santa or just about any character who is special to a child.

“It could be Batman; could be Bluey; could be, some of them we have to look up because we don’t really know who that is,” Giardina said. “But we do our very best. Last year we got almost 200 letter requests. We have a lot of volunteers that

help us ans of our most joyful programs that we do.”

It’s a way for adults to emphasize something positive going on in a child’s life.

“Parents are able to shout out that their kid is potty trained or that they ’re sweet to their younger brother or that they’re very kind to the new puppy they just got,” Giardina said. “That really goes a long way, when you get it from Santa or whomever your hero in life is.”

T he Collaboration for Early Childhood was established in 2002. It is both publicly and privately funded with the goal to cultivate the whole child from birth to the age of five.

Mailing a letter to Santa

“There really wasn’t any sort of attention paid to anything that happened before kindergarten,” Giardina said. “It was just, oh, those are little kids. But as we all now realize, 90% of brain development happens before you’re five years old.”

When the organization isn’t coordinating mail, it also supports early learning professionals working in childcare, day care and preschools.

“We try to find ways to help them,” Giardina said. “Get support for things that they need. We do professional development for them. We also support parents of children zero to five with parenting workshops and

groups and tons of activities in the community.”

Though they enjoy the interaction at Christmastime, the organization tries to highlight as many holidays as they can.

“We’re always looking to find people to help us,” Giardina said. “We recently celebrated Diwali. We had a family come and help us set that up. We try to shout out every holiday that we possibly can with the goal of being inclusive.”

Connect with the North Pole

• collab4kids.org

Donuts and Dreidels: A Chanukah Celebration

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-2 p.m.

Oak Park Public Library

Come celebrate Chanukah at the Oak Park Public Library! Temple Har Zion’s David Schwar tz will lead children through songs and stories. Plus, there will be snacks! Register on the Oak Park Public Library website. 834 Lake St

Holiday Pajama Extravaganza

Friday, Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m.

Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Don your favorite festive pajamas and head to the librar y for the annual Holiday Pajama Ex travaganza. Enjoy stories, snacks, music and crafts, plus, Santa will make an appearance! Bonus: Santa speaks both English and Español! 3541 Park Ave.

Winterfest

Friday, Dec. 12, 4-6 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Middle and High Schoolers are invited to the Oak Park Public Library’s annual Winter fest! Come celebrate the season with games, activities and food. More information can be found on the Oak Park Public Library website. 834 Lake St

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9-10:30 a.m.

Park District of Forest Park Administration Building

Santa is teaming up once again with the Park District of Forest Park for a breakfast to remember! Enjoy pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and hot co ee, with a side of games, coloring and crafts. Make sure to bring your own camera so you can snap a picture of your kids with Santa! Make sure to register beforehand, as spots do ll up. 7501 Harrison Street

Card-making with Ope ration

Rising Spirits

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1-2:30 p.m.

Forest Park Public Library

Make a veteran’s holiday season a little brighter! Write cards to veterans living in Illinois veterans homes and take part in a local tradition. Last year, Forest Park made up more than half of the holiday cards collected for Operation Rising Spirits through the Department of Veterans A airs. Be a par t of the impact this year! Materials are all provided. Registration is available on the Forest Park Library website. 7555 Jackson Blvd.

All Ages Private Lessons for Music, Languages, Academic Tutoring, Theater, Voice, Audition Prep, Logic Pro recording and more! $150 o ! Spanish Immersion K-12 Micro School

$150 off registration fee if used before Jan

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6:30pmChurchdoorsopen

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33rd Annual Cookie Walk

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United Lutheran Church

The sweetest $20 you’ll spend this holiday season!

library! Join in on the DIYing with the Austin Branch by decorating cards for the holiday season. Cards and decorating materials will be provided! More information can be found on the Chicago Public Library website. 5615 W. Race Ave

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115NorthOakParkAve

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Hosted by United Lutheran Church and Chicago Church of Christ, the 33rd Annual Cookie Walk is fast approaching. Buy a box and ll it with a variety of holiday cookies, knowing that the proceeds go to local charities. There will also be a ra e and jams, jellies and candles available to purchase. 409 Green eld St.

Cla ssical Blast’s “Dark Side of the Yule”

Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s Nightclub

Mix your holiday spirit with some classic rock in this unique holiday experience! Combining rock hits and traditional carols, holiday standards and beyond, Classical Blast ’s “Dark Side of the Yule” is returning to Fitzgerald’s for one show only and is open to all ages!

Tickets can be purchased on the Fitzgerald’s website. 6615 W Roosevelt Rd

DIY: Holiday Greeting Cards

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Chicago Public Library- Austin Branch

Make and take holiday greeting cards with your local

A Dickens Carol

Friday, Dec. 19, 7-9:30 p.m.

Pleasant Home

Join Oak Park Festival Theater for the world premiere of A Dickens Carol at Pleasant Home! One night only, this staged reading is a new twist on the holiday classic, reimagining the story from Dickens’ point of view and featuring real-life events. Light appetizers and two drink tickets are included in the cost of registration on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave

A Christmas Carol

Friday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m.

Grace Lutheran Church

Join Consonance - Chicago Choral Artists this holiday season for a returning favorite! A Christmas Carol features both arrangements of traditional carols and original music by Benedict Sheehan, and the return of voiceover artist Bill Rohl ng. Tickets are available on the Consonance website. 7300 Division St.

accompanied by a parent or guardian. Doors open at 6:30 and tickets can be purchased on the Rober t’s Westside website. 7321 Madison Street

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Downtown Oak Park

Get into the holiday spirit with Downtown Oak Park! Marion Street will have free horse drawn carriage rides, and maybe you’ll see Santa as he visits local businesses. Plus, warm up with some free hot cocoa on the Cocoa Walk! Full details are available on the Downtown Oak Park website.

Khanike (Hanukkah)

Celebration with Mameloshn

Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:30-8 p.m.

Temple Har Zion

Celebrate Hanukkah with one of two programs at Temple Har Zion, both featuring the local Yiddish

Monday, Dec. 22, 1:15-2:30 p.m.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

Enjoy an afternoon of holiday favorites, operatic arias, musical theater gems and pieces from the Great American Songbook per formed by Desir Hassler, Pam Williams, Mike Cavalieri, Lisa Kristina and John Concepcion. close out the concer t, join in yourself! There will be a sing-along of holiday carols. The event is free to the public, though donations are welcome. 178 Forest Ave.

Kwanzaa Celebration

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 6-8 p.m.

Oak Park Public Library

Celebrate Kwanzaa with the Oak Park Public Library! Keep an eye on their website for details, coming soon. Past years have included dancing, drumming, storytelling, and more! 834 Lake St.

Savo r the seasonal

These are dishes that make fall and winter wor th it

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Khyber Pass – Karahi gosht

While this dish isn’t connected to a specific winter holiday celebration, it takes Khyber’s owner Malik Jawid on a sentimental journey when days get shorter, colder and memories gain a nostalgic hold on the mind

“Back home, cozy, family together,” Jawid said. “I remember always enjoying that smelling and being cooked.”

This savory, warm meal comes from northern India and Pakistan. Traditionally made with goat or mutton, at Khyber Pass it’s made with lamb.

“Around that time of the year, it’s a little bit more specially prepared,” Jawid said. “With spices you don’t use usually.”

A kadai is the deep, round, flat-bottomed cooking pan used to prepare the dish. Unlike curries which marinate the meat first, here it is simply sauteed in ghee or oil, then slowly simmered in sauce to delicate tenderness. The method gives the unique taste that is different from curries made with the same meats.

The sauce includes ginger, garlic, green chilies and a special coarse ground spice blend known as kadai masala. The “gravy” didn’t traditionally include onions, but modern recipes add them to balance the tangy zip of tomatoes. Overall, the dish pairs well with naan to mop up the playful combo of sweet, spicey and hot flavors.

Khyber Pass is on Lake Street in Downtown Oak Park

Cucina Paradiso – Pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sage sauce

Customers at Cucina start asking for it about the time PSL lattes hit the menus elsewhere. Once the idea of fall is in the air, tastebuds are ready.

“Servers are coming to us and saying, they’re asking about the pumpkin ravioli,” Mike Bouse, Cucina Paradiso’s operations manager, said. “It’s like, all in good time. if it wasn’t a little bit limited, it wouldn’t be so sought after.”

The fall favorite starts with a puree of pumpkin and ricotta cheese. That is plumped inside egg pasta with fresh herbs and for med into ravioli.

“The sauce is very simple. We take brown butter and

with a little bit of garlic and some sage that we toast in the brown butter. We add stock and white wine to it and then very carefully emulsify it with Pecorino Romano cheese.” Bouse said.

On top goes toasted pepitas and another generous helping of Pecorino.

Sage is spotlighted here. But do you know why fall foods are so often sage-flavored?

“Sage can definitely withstand even some snow. It’ll withstand a freeze,” Bouse said of the herb that lasts longer into cold weather than most others. “It lends itself so well to things like squash, gourds, game meats that would normally be harvested during the fall season – turkeys, venison, that sort of thing. At home, I am pulling sage out of the garden for the T hanksgiving turkey.”

Cucina is on North Boulevard in Oak Pa rk

Daly Bagel – Cranberry orange bagel & gingerbread bagel

Two different bagels, packed with ingredients with deep connections to end-of-year holidays, show up on the menu for a limited time each year at Daly Bagel on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park

Cranberry orange will be the featured special the first week of December, just as we are all fully digested from Thanksgiving and looking for another blast of turkey-time flavor. Whole dried cranberries mix in with bagel dough that gets its liquid from orange juice rather than water

The week of Christmas gingerbread bagels roll out. Most Daly bagels are made with honey, but this recipe calls for molasses to set the right tastebud-bed for chunks of crystalized ginger inside and a ginger topping outside

“We’ll have both flavors again in January. You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Adrienne Guldin said. “You do appreciate it more when it comes back, than if it’s something you can’t get all the time.”

Guldin has a favorite cream cheese combo for each of the flavors.

“We have an apple cinnamon roll cream cheese that I really like with the gingerbread, because you’ve got so many of those spices that just come through them, just warm it all up. For the cranberry orange, I think goat cheese is probably the most popular with that. It’s a nice mix of sweet and sour,” she said.

The Joyful Giving Giving Catalog2025

Animal Care League

Animal Care League o ers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1,300 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery. Make a di erence in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague.org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Arts Alliance Forest Park

Become a Member and Create With Us! Arts Alliance Forest Park. The Catalyst for Creativity.

Members enjoy a variety of bene ts including discounts to events all while collaborating with other local organizations and businesses including Village of Forest Park, the Park District, Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce.

Programs include the well-attended StoopSessions, Tellers’ Night, GarageGalleries, Makers’ Market, 48-Hour Film Festival and art installations such as Little Perspectives, Sit & Savor, FiberFlash and the Park District mural with more to come!

Join the only local arts organization that assembles art enthusiasts for the love, fun and beauty of art for only $25! Visit forestparkarts.org/becomea-member

Austin Coming Together

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our 50+ member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. Recent e orts include co-developing the former Emmet School into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation and supporting the Austin Eats Initiative, a 20+ group focused on strengthening the community’s food access infrastructure. Learn more at austincomingtogether.org

Beyond Hunger

For over 45 years Beyond Hunger has been harnessing the power of communities to create a hungerfree future. Through our food pantry, home delivery program, nutrition education classes, and social services, we provide hunger relief that truly goes beyond basic nourishment. We provide our clients with the tools they need to ensure that no one is left behind in the battle against hunger. We know that this work would not be possible without our community. Whether you volunteer, advocate for those in need, or donate, you are essential in moving our mission forward. With your support, we believe hunger is solvable. Learn more about how you can get involved in the ght to end hunger by visiting gobeyondhunger.org or donating using this QR Code.

BUILD

Since 1969, we have embedded mentors in schools and across neighborhoods to connect with youth who need support. Wrapping young people in the opportunities and care they deserve, we help them build hope, resilience, and a path to a promising future. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school, college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering, and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

Join us in BUILDing a better future: buildchicago.org

CAYR Connections

CAYR Connections, an Oak Park nonpro t, envisions a future where all brains belong. CAYR stands for “Come As You Are,” and our mission is to build inclusive spaces that honor neurodiversity (the natural variation of human brains). Our programs for neurodivergent children and their families - including our upcoming microschool and summer program - provide opportunities for education, connection, and advocacy. Our social club for neurodivergent adults and community outreach programs help create lasting networks of support and understanding. Your donations make this possible and help us expand our reach.

Join us in creating a more inclusive world at www.cayrconnections.org

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

Early care and education is where success starts. It makes everything else possible, and it allows children to reach their full potential from the rst day of kindergarten all the way through to adulthood. We are a communitydriven organization that cultivates the development of the whole child, birth to age ve, by engaging families, local organizations, early childhood educators, caregivers, and health providers to create equitable, nurturing, and interconnected systems of support. Help ensure that we continue to be a place where families thrive!

Investing in early childhood is an investment in the future. Your donation will make a powerful impact! Learn more at collab4kids.org

Community Support Services (CSS)

Community Support Services (CSS) initiates, provides and promotes services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, within their communities, in order to strengthen their independence, self-esteem, and ability to participate in and contribute to community life. We provide supportive employment services, respite care, residential services, community day services and home-based services. CSS serves 51 communities and has a strong presence in Oak Park and River Forest and surrounding areas. We rely on private philanthropy to fully fund all our essential services.

To donate and learn more about services, please visit www.cssservices.com/donate.

Friends of the ChildrenChicago

Every child has hopes and dreams – but far too many children face the challenges of poverty, housing insecurity, and exposure to gun violence.

Friends of the Children steps in early— pairing kindergarteners on Chicago’s West and South Sides with Professional Mentors. We focus on the individualized journey of the child, helping them build skills and create goals while partnering with caregivers to strengthen family stability. What makes us unique? We walk alongside our youth for 12.5 years. No Matter What. Our trauma-informed approach puts the child at the center and surrounds them with a network of support.

Friends of the Children-Chicago isn’t just about prevention—it’s about possibility. Join a child’s team of support by donating at friendschicago.org today.

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

Built in 1929, the Oak Park Conservatory is a Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Conservatory o ers three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants and two outdoor gardens including a play area for toddlers. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory o ers a wide range of programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory. From volunteering to educational and recreational opportunities, tours and classes, there is something for everyone to enjoy year-round.

Growing Community Media

Growing Community Media is the reader supported newsroom behind four great local news publications covering our neighborhoods and villages. We publish the Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brook eld Landmark. Day in and day out we provide authentic, boots-onthe-ground, fact-based reporting about people and places you know and value. We hold our public o cials and institutions accountable and help our communities stay connected and informed. Your gift to Growing Community Media is an investment in making your neighborhood a stronger and better place to live.

Donate for news that matters to you at growingcommunitymedia.org/donate

Habitat for Humanity Chicago

We at Habitat for Humanity Chicago do more than build homes. We help build thriving neighborhoods by o ering residents small grant opportunities, homebuyer education, and a ordable mortgages through our various programs. Working in the Austin, Greater Grand Crossing, and West Pullman community areas, our wider neighborhood approach guides our work and is sustained by our dedicated volunteers, donors, and partners.

Together, we build Chicago. Join us in investing in our neighbors today: habitatchicago.org/ donate • (312) 563-0296

Hephzibah Children’s Association

Housing Forward

Founded in 1897, Hephzibah Children’s Association is Oak Park’s oldest social service agency. Serving children and families for 128 years, our mission of helping children thrive and families ourish is muti-faceted. We are the only residential treatment program for severely abused, neglected, and traumatized children in need of behavioral intervention from ages 3-11 in Illinois. In addition, Hephzibah o ers foster care services, comprehensive services for children and families in crisis, positive parenting services and an abuse & neglect prevention program. Hephzibah also provides a ordable after-school care and summer camp for Oak Park families of all income levels.

To make a donation, visit hephzibahhome.org/donate-now.

Holiday Food and Gift Basket

Holiday Food and Gift Basket, a program of the Community of Congregations, has been spreading joy in Oak Park and River Forest since the 1970’s. Every year we provide grocery gift cards in November and holiday gifts in December to low-income individuals and families. Our small program has a big impact because of the support of community members like you. We need donors to fund gift cards, sponsors to ful ll wish lists, and volunteers to deliver gifts. Thank you for helping our neighbors in need.

Please visit our website for information on how you can donate, sponsor, or volunteer. Find us at communityofcongregations.org/ holiday-food-gift-basket

Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness.

Ending homelessness means addressing it at all levels, from the possibility of a housing crisis to its permanent resolution. We prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur, and stabilize people with supportive services and housing. Housing Forward is a recognized leader in west suburban Cook County, assisting over 2,500 individuals and families each year with our comprehensive wraparound support from the onset of a housing crisis to its resolution.

To learn more or get involved, visit housingforward.org, email or call 708-3381724

L’Arche Chicago

Together is a beautiful place to be…

Quality care for adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities extends beyond the basics of supporting someone with their basic living and medical needs. Everyone deserves an opportunity to live a vibrant and meaningful life. L’Arche Chicago is a highly relational community dedicated to creating a space where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated. We are committed to the highest quality of care for our core members (adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities). Mutual relationships transform lives at all four of our homes, located in Forest Park, Oak Park, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

You can make a beautiful impact – Join us by making a gift today! Visit www. larchechicago.org • 708-6601600 • hello@larchechicago. org

League of Women Voters of Oak Park-River Forest

The League of Women Voters

Oak Park and River Forest is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. Locally, we register voters and sponsor candidate forums. We also present civic education programs covering topics such as the decline of local news, ranked choice voting and the problem of mis and disinformation. The League advocates at the state and national level on policy issues including voting rights, immigration and the environment. And the LWV nationwide United and Rise initiative aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters to protect and preserve our democracy.

Visit lwvoprf.org to learn more.

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program

Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to highschool youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, eld trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management and con ict resolution, etiquette, police/ community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youths, providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and

The Neighborhood Bridge

The Neighborhood Bridge connects families in the Austin and Oak Park communities to vital resources that strengthen stability and opportunity. Through our Advocate Program and Essentials Pantry, families receive personalized support for housing, food, legal aid, education, and more. This year, we opened the Bridge Center at 38 N. Austin Boulevard, a new Community Service Center built on partnership and hope. Your generosity helps us continue bridging families to the services they need to thrive.

Donate today to support our work: theneighborhoodbridge.org

New Moms

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local nonpro ts, who account for 80% of its usage. We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in ve areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The Nineteenth Century is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the building. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join. Our Monday programs are now being live-streamed as well as available a week later on our website for all to enjoy.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Oak Park Regional Housing Center has celebrated 52 years with the mission to achieve vibrant communities while promoting intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park and the surrounding communities. OPRHC is the only HUD approved non- pro t agency in Oak Park promoting intentional integrative housing stability options while increasing housing inventory. Consider giving a tax-deductible year end donation so that we may reach our goal to raise $25,000 by December 31, 2024! These funds will help us continue to help integrate and invigorate the Greater Westside communities for up to 100 individuals in the rst quarter of 2025!

You may donate at: oprhc. org/donate. To learn more, please call 708-848-7150, or email: info@oprhc.org.

One Earth Collective

One Earth curates vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet. We focus our work in 3 areas - One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Youth Voices, and One Earth Local. One Earth Film Fest’s 15th season will take place April 22-28, 2026. We’re excited to welcome Chicagoland audiences live, in addition to our virtual screenings. Join us for captivating lms, engaging discussion, impactful action opportunities and community-building.

Memberships start at $35. Learn more and donate at oneearth lmfest.org/give

OPRF Infant Welfare Society

Since 1916, OPRF Infant Welfare Society has supported families in need through programs including the IWS Children’s Clinic. Each year, 3,000 infants, children, and young adults from birth to age 21 receive medical, dental, and behavioral health services— regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Guided by a commitment to compassionate care delivered with respect and dignity, the Clinic attracts families from across Chicagoland, from nearby Oak Park to as far as Mount Vernon. OPRF IWS is powered by generous donors, dedicated sta , committed members, and caring volunteers. Join us in advancing children’s health. Donate at opr ws.org/donate.

PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation)

Pro Bono Network

Pro Bono Network creates exible pro bono opportunities, removing barriers to attorney volunteerism, to serve people in need. Founded and based in Oak Park, PBN connects attorneys who want to volunteer with workable pro bono opportunities. PBN has supported more than 400 volunteer attorneys and 30 translators who make justice more accessible to individuals in need. Since 2011, PBN volunteer attorneys have contributed more than 36,000 volunteer hours, to serve more than 6,500 clients. We believe in a future where every person has access to legal help and every attorney has the opportunity to serve.

Info@pbnetwork.org Support PBN here: www.pbnetwork.org/donate

Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest

The Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest is a dedicated branch of Rotary International, a global network of community members united in the mission to provide service to others. Locally and internationally, the club champions humanitarian projects that promote peace, ght disease, support education, and grow local economies. Their work ranges from funding college scholarships to providing polio vaccines to 2.5 billion children in 122 countries over 35 years. These e orts rely on community support.

To learn more about Rotary and help create lasting change in our community and beyond, visit: oprfrotary.org/.

St. Angela School

St. Angela School has served the families of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for more than ve generations. We are committed to enriching the lives and futures of our children. We have a storied history and an extended family of generous alumni whose philanthropy provides scholarship funds and whose engagement keeps our campus beautiful. We are richly blessed and deeply grateful for the partnerships that have sustained us through the years. Now, early in our second century, we are proud to rea rm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community. We ask those partners to recommit to our cause as well. Thank you! Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 6262655.

Sarah’s Inn

Sarah’s Inn takes a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence, o ering free, bilingual (English/Spanish) services for survivors and their children, including con dential advocacy and counseling. We also provide a Partner Abuse Intervention Program for perpetrators of domestic violence, Prevention education for youth to build healthy relationships, and Training and Education program for professionals and organizations to create a network of skilled ambassadors. Together, these programs improve the lives of those a ected by domestic violence and help break the cycle for future generations.

Show your support for our ongoing work at sarahsinn.org/donate.

Share Food Share Love Food Pantry

Due to federal cuts to regional food distribution, our food pantry has been put on notice that we will likely not receive supplies that our neighbors in need are especially looking forward to this holiday season. Putting food on the table is a basic human right. Putting food on the table means we can a ord to take a break from our daily worries to feel the comforts of mealtime, togetherness, and nutritional well-being. Putting food on the table is an act of sharing and love.

You can make a real di erence this holiday season. Learn how: sharefoodsharelove.org.

The Joyful Giving

visit OakPark.com

Three Pillars Initiative

The idea to create a youth philanthropy leadership education program was born in 2010 by Rick and Cheryl King, long-time residents of Oak Park. In partnership with the OPRF Community Foundation, they launched the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP), now in its fteenth year.

Given the success of the Oak Park program, and a desire to share this model with communities across the country, the Three Pillars Initiative (TPI) was incorporated in October 2018. TPI’s mission is to work with communities to develop and launch programs that teach the art, science and business of philanthropy to the next generation.

Donate today to support the youth of tomorrow.

Way Back Inn

Since 1974, Way Back Inn has successfully provided long-term residential and outpatient treatment for substance use and gambling disorders. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment. This holiday season, we ask that you gift responsibly with the youth in your family. Children who have early exposure to gambling experiences, including lottery tickets, are more likely to develop a gambling problem later in life.

For more information or to make a donation to our program by scanning the QR.

West Cook YMCA

In the last few months, your West Cook YMCA has transformed, expanding our reach to serve youth, families, young professionals, and healthy aging adults. We’ve added tness classes and programs for all ages, extended facility, gym, and pool hours, and invested in new weight equipment and space, all to strengthen spirit, mind, and body. Today, we ask for your support to continue building a more connected and healthy community. Your investment helps to keep and add programs that foster wellbeing, spark belonging, and bring people together across all walks of life. Join us in shaping a better us, for today, and for the generations to come. Together, we are stronger.

For more information, visit westcookymca.org.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association

Association (WSSRA) provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest and eleven other surrounding communities. Donations to WSSRA help provide nancial assistance to those participating in our year-round programs and summer day camp.

To make a donation please visit wssra.net.

Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak

Park

Wonder Works Children’s Museum has been a community gem on North Avenue since 2003. Our small but mighty museum plays a very important role in nurturing young minds, fostering a love of learning, and bolstering social and emotional skills. In 2025, we continued to grow museum access for ALL children through discounted admission for families with nancial needs, sensory friendly play sessions, and social service agency partnerships. As a 501c3 non-pro t organization, individual donations to Wonder Works Children’s Museum are crucial to bringing our mission and programs to life.

Visit Wonder-Works.org/ give to donate and support the museum.

LOVE OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST? JOIN AS A COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR.

If you shop here, live here, or simply love it here, this is your chance to fuel the local businesses that keep our community buzzing.

Become a Community Contributor and help power:

✔ Small business support ✔ Local events & festivals

✔ New business initiatives ✔ A thriving, resilient economy

Plus, you’ll get insider access to Chamber happenings, invitations to special events.

Stay in the loop. Sign up for our Community Connection newsletter. Make your impact today.

SAVE THE DATE - BITE NITE 2026 Friday, January 30, 2026 • 5:30-9:30 PM Nineteenth Century Club, Oak Park Scan to join.

• The biggest foodie night in OPRF is back!

• Bold flavors. Packed rooms. Electric energy.

• 30+ restaurants, a 360° bar, live entertainment, and all the community vibes you can handle.

• Mark your calendars – you won’t want to miss it.

Whether you’re pampering yourself at James Anthony Salon, Elan Hair Body & Sole or Polished Nails and Day Spa, we think you should be able to get all of your banking done in your neighborhood…with people who love the area as much as you do. Byline is privileged to be a part of the Oak Park and River Forest community. Dine at Breakfast House Oak Park, Kyber Pass, or Jerusalem Cafe and shop at The Book Loft, River Forest Chocolates or Val’s Halla Records.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf