Riverside

Sensuous, meditative, relaxing, challenging and complex are the adjectives ClaySpace uses to describe working with clay, definitely qualifying it as a shared experience for two. 

The basic fairy tales may be familiar, but it takes the imaginative mind of playwright Jeanne Sheehan of Riverside to transform the stories into original musicals for the Riverside Theater Guild, where she has been a member since 1978. Established two years earlier by George Glaser, RTG originally produced classic musicals and dramas until 1994, when it began focusing on children’s shows performed by adults and children about 8 and older.
 

Riverside Theater Guild cast rehearses for the new musical, “Pied Piper,” written by Jeanne Sheehan. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Deciding on where to dine this weekend for Valentine's Day with your significant other is a question on a lot of people's minds. But there's another reason to dine - and especially party - this weekend.

The Chew Chew restaurant in Riverside is celebrating Mardi Gras all week long, starting Wednesday, Feb. 10. The restaurant will have beads, a fortune teller, belly dancers, live music, strolling magic and costumed staff to celebrate the New Orleans day.

Mardi Gras dining specials include Blackened Red Fish, Bayou Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Alligator Jambalaya, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Traditional King Cake and more. Reservations are recommended. Call (708) 447-8781.

The lively visual arts scene offers a variety of date-night options, whether through retail or community galleries or venues like Salt Creek Wine Bar.

The next opening reception at Salt Creek in Brookfield launches an exhibit by painter Jennifer Paul on Saturday, Jan. 16, where complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served from 5 to 7 p.m.

“I’m very happy about the fact that our artists often sell well here,” says co-owner Linda Kampschroeder.

Among the fans of Salt Creek’s art events are Char and John Gianetti of Brookfield.

“It’s a wonderful atmosphere,” she says. “Being casual, you can appreciate the art, there’s no pressure. You see things you like, or wait for the next event. I love the idea of being able to shop for art and have a glass of wine. It’s such a social scene … it’s given us an opportunity to widen our circle of friends.”

Self-expression runs gloriously rampant at the Riverside Arts Center, where kids as young as 2 dive into the creative process. Adults get their turn at show and tell in a six-week members’ exhibit opening with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Garry Henderson of Riverside, director of exhibitions and a co-founder of the center, invites the community to take a look.

Garry Henderson, director of exhibitions at the Freeark Gallery at the Riverside Arts Center, sizes up where to hang Barbara Sistak Baur’s work titled “It’s Only a Matter of Time” for the opening of its annual members’ show Friday, Dec. 4, coinciding with the town’s Holiday Stroll. Below is Jennifer Taylor’s “Eggs and Crows.” STAFF PHOTO BY BILL ACKERMAN

Feel like scaring up an art exhibit?

Riverside cartoonist Charley Krebs will show his autumn and Halloween images from a variety of Chicago area publications including the Berwyn Life, Suburban Life and Elmhurst Press from now through Nov. 8 at Grumpy’s Cafe in Riverside.

This work is part of the current show by Charley Krebs. SUBMITTED IMAGE

Grumpy’s Cafe is at  35 E. Burlington St. For more information, call (708) 443-5603 or visit www.grumpyscafe.com.

Leaping onto the stage is a 10-month research project fusing live performance, video and the Internet, as it revels in “stealing” and reworking some of the best of contemporary dance to make an entertaining point about the ethical dilemma and creative promise inherent in appropriating someone else’s choreography. Julia Rhoads of Riverside, an award-winning choreographer and faculty member at Columbia College Chicago, is artistic director of Lucky Plush Productions, which celebrates its 10th anniversary with “Punk Yankees.” She will be part of the eight-dancer cast.
 

Julia Rhoads of Riverside, artistic director of dance-theater company Lucky Plush Productions, will be among the dancers in “Punk Yankees,” a high-flying exploration of the medium of dance and the pros and cons of pirating intellectual property in the arts. Fun fact: She points out that author Matt Mason says ‘yankee’ derives from the old Dutch slang word, ‘janke,’ linked to ‘pirate.’ SUBMITTED PHOTO

A 5K run will be presented by the Riverside Arts Center at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. Proceeds will help support programs at Jen’s Kids and the Riverside Arts Center. Part of the course follows the road along the Des Plaines River past architecturally significant homes.
 
The cost for the “RACe” is $25, $30 on race day and includes a 5K RACe for Jen's Kids T-shirt. Awards will be given to top three male and female finishers by age group.
 
More information is available at www.riversideartscenter.com/race.html or you can register at www.signmeup.com/65694.

A display of artwork by Chicago Jazz Magazine cartoonist Charley Krebs of Riverside, formerly of Cicero, appears now through Aug. 21 at Grumpy's Cafe, 35 E. Burlington Road,  Riverside.

Included are cartoon posters of the three-part series "Jazz & Blues: Made and Played In Chicago," featuring local musicians, venues and live recordings; and a two-part series depicting Chicago baseball as it intersects with jazz music and with life in the western suburbs. Prints are available for purchase. For more information, call Grumpy’s Cafe at (708) 443-5603.

Shown is a detail of the “Jazz & Baseball” cartoon by Charley Krebs. SUBMITTED PHOTO