On The Go

Kids Rock Too! Kids Restaurant Weekend returns to Downers Grove this weekend.

Starting today, children can enjoy tasty treats and take advantage of participating restaurant promotions to get those treats on their weekly allowance.

Check out the restaurants participating in the weekend at www.visitdownersgrove.com.

Learn about what's new in energy efficiency, green automobiles and rain barrels and find out how you can apply them to your lifestyle at the Third Annual Elmhurst Green Fest on Saturday, July 31.

Volunteers for the second annual Elmhurst Green Fest, including (left to right) Liam McFarlane, David Hille and Brian Gleason of Elmhurst assist Jeff Pointec of Unitec Recycling in Villa Park with electronic items dropped off at Wilder Park on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. FILE PHOTO

The annual event, put on by the Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition, includes exhibits on sustainability, educational activities for adults and children, live folk music and speakers on topics, such as tai chi, reducing home energy usage, composting and bike maintenance. There will also be a Recycling Boutique Tent set up for festival goers to drop off recyclable items from as small as eyeglasses, batteries and cell phones to as large as computers and fax machines. TV's will not be accepted.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at Wilder Park in Elmhurst.

For a complete list of recyclables, program schedule, PROJECT GREEN and directions, visit www.elmhurstgreenfest.org.

Amadeus rocks again with the return of the Woodstock Mozart Festival. A roster of prominent artists and diverse repertoire by Bach, Handel, Rossini, Vivaldi and Wagner highlight its 24th season from July 31 to Aug. 15, at the Woodstock Opera House, featuring three concert programs, a Chamber Music Sampler, an all-Chopin piano recital and two master classes.

 
Two Wayne natives are among the featured guest artists. The brothers are violists Doyle Armbrust (left) and Kyle Armbrust. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The Glen Ellyn Historical Society presents Claudia Russell and the Folk Unlimited Orchestra in a benefit concert for the Glen Ellyn History Park. The music begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, in the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St.

Based in San Francisco, Russell is a world-class vocalist, songwriter and guitarist. A gifted songwriter and vocalist with a sweet, smoky voice, she weaves together blues, western swing, country, pop and rock music, say concert organizers. She was a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition, and was named Best New Artist of 2000 by Boston’s renowned folk radio station WUMB. She has performed for thousands as cast member in productions at American Folklore Theater in Door County, Wis.

Bruce Kaplan (from left), Claudia Russell and Mark Petrella prepare for a performance at the Glen Ellyn History Center. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Reprising their sold-out “Under the Streetlamp” concert will be Michael Ingersoll and the recent stars of Chicago’s long-running production of the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys,” returning to Elgin Community College’s Arts Center. Tickets are on sale for shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at the arts center on the main campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
 
“Our audiences continue to rave about how great they were last year , (so) we couldn’t wait to bring them back,” says Steve Duchrow, the center’s director of performing arts. “Even though we’re prepared to meet the demand with this advance sale, I recommend people get their tickets early before they’re gone.”
 
Ingersoll and his former “Jersey Boys” cast mates will be together for the entire show, belting out golden oldies, Rat Pack melodies and doo-wop hits to the beat of a 15-piece jazz orchestra. Other highlights of the evening include the performers’ experiences in show business and during “Jersey Boys,” which ended its Chicago run Jan. 10. Additional surprises are in store, including a Four Seasons tune or two.

Enjoying a serene setting, a classical guitar concert by Geneva native Casey Nielsen will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25, in the Fabyan Japanese Garden. The program, sponsored by The Private Bank, will feature a selection from renowned composer Takemitsu and some 100-year-old Latin pieces.
 
Nielsen has given solo concerts for Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, the Northbrook Public Library’s “Salon Series” and the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission’s “Riverpark” series. He is also a regular performer at restaurants and venues throughout Chicago, in addition to jazz festivals across Canada and the United States.
 
The special program featuring Asian and European music will echo the history of the Fabyan Japanese Garden, and is part of the season-long celebration of the garden’s centennial planned by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. A blanket or lawn chair is suggested for seating.

Casey Nielsen will return to perform in the Fabyan Japanese Garden. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX UMEMOTO

Several area bands are rocking all the way to regionals in a statewide battle of the bands contest, put on by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

Bands from Berwyn, Brookfield, Oak Park and various other towns around Illinois will compete at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, in Forest Park. The Regional Battle will be held at 7501 W. Harrison in Forest Park. Another Regional Battle will be held in Algonquin on the same day at 5 p.m.

Those who win in regionals will advance to the State Finals on Aug. 21 in Springfield. For more information and a listing of the competing bands, check out the contest's MySpace page.

Unwind after a long workday at Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse in Oak Brook, starting tonight. 

The new location recently opened its outdoor dining area and will be celebrating with music by the PJ Experience and Goose cocktail specials.

It doesn't stop at tonight. Live music will be performed from 8 to 11 p.m. every Thursday on the patio. Plus the Grey Goose cocktail specials will also be available every Thursday for $9.50 each. Drink specials include:

• Grey Goose l’Orange Summer Tea
• Ginger Daquiri (Classic Bacardi Cocktail with a splash of Canton ginger)
• Pear Blossom (Anjou pear meets elderberry flower, Grey Goose L’Poire and pear purée)
• Twisted Vintage Collins (Bombay Sapphire Tom Collins enhanced with raspberry purée)

When Melanie Lamoureux was 13 years old, she, along with the help of a few of her friend started the BAMTheatre ten years ago. Now, 250 kids join them to help put on productions of renown Broadway plays. At just 23 years old, Lamoureux’s got experience that many professional playactors wish they had. On August 14 and 15, BAM will be putting on their rendition of Beauty and The Beast.

Lombard native Rachel Singer Gordon juggles more than a few projects at a time. As a former librarian, now a freelance writer, editor, blogger and mother of two, Gordan thrives sharing information with others. Her most recent endeavor, “Point, Click, and Save: Mashup Mom’s Guide to Saving and Making Money Online” helps people everywhere bargain hunt with ease. She covers everything from stockpiling to “blinkies” in the book and here, Gordon takes time to explain the ins and outs of couponing online.