Upcoming Events & Meetings
North River Commission is committed to building and engaging our community.
Explore our upcoming and past events below.
Green Corn Festival
The American Indian Center and Global Gardens Chicago is excited to invite you to our Green Corn Festival on Sunday, November 2nd from 1-6pm. Events will take place at the farm at 4815 N Sacramento as well as the AIC at 3401 W Ainslie St.
The Green Corn Festival is a historic indigenous festival to celebrate the harvest, so come and enjoy the bounty with us! The days activities will include:
🌱Native seed saving guided walk
🌽Corn husk doll making
🌳Tree tours with @openlands
🏴☠️Fall pollinator scavenger hunt
🥫Canning & Fermentation Class with @vargobrotherferments
🎃Pumpkin smash composting station
🍳Community meal + story time by the fire
🧑🌾Farm & Art Market
Exact schedule of events to come!
Recital/Masterclass Jeanine De Bique, Soprano and Aaron Wajnberg, Piano
Ticketed concert at 5 p.m. followed by a free master class 6:30 p.m. to 8 pm
Jeanine De Bique has been described as “one of the most exciting sopranos to catch onstage these days. Animated, joyful, and technically flawless (Operawire), a “sheer endless wealth of colour and nuance [and] a radiant, free-floating timbre” (Opernwelt).
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
House of Waters
Jazz fusion with stunning hammered dulcimer. The "Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer" (NPR), Max ZT is an innovator of an instrument rarely heard in contemporary music. Moto Fukushima is a recognized master of the six-string bass. With a background in jazz improvisation, Western classical music and the music of South America, Moto's playing is a combination of finesse, subtlety, and power that leaves audiences “slack-jawed in awe.” (Jazz Wise)
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
Rene Izquierdo
Cuban-born René Izquierdo is a unique artist and passionate educator whose career has been dedicated to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. Whether performing on stage, devotedly mentoring his students, fundraising, or leading community outreach, René’s multi-faceted approach endeavors to continue creating experiences that enrich people’s lives and add beauty to our world.
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
Barcelona Guitar Trio
Three internationally renowned guitarists, the teachers Alí Arango, Xavier Coll and Luis Robisco deliver an unforgettable tribute to Paco de Lucía, fusing both flamenco and Spanish guitars. Feel the passion of Barcelona Guitar Trio & Dance as you listen to some of the greatest compositions brought to you by names such as Manuel de Falla, Federico García Lorca, Chick Corea and Paco de Lucía.
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
One for the Foxes
Dave Curley, Tadhg Ó Meachair & Joanna Hyde form an exciting and dynamic transatlantic trio that presents a rousing blend of Irish and American folk music, having already won over audiences on both sides of the ocean. The group is made up of Dublin’s Tadhg Ó Meachair (Goitse), Galway’s Dave Curley (SLIDE) and Denver, Colorado’s Joanna Hyde (The Hydes), and features a mix of Irish and American folk music and song – both traditional and newly- composed – presented in an energetic and engaging manner.
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
Howard Levy 4
The Howard Levy 4 is a dynamic, multi-styled band hailing from Chicago, led by Grammy-Award winning diatonic harmonica master, pianist and composer Howard Levy. Joining him are the incredibly virtuosic guitarist Chris Siebold, the outstanding upright and electric bassist Joshua Ramos, and the masterful Brazilian drummer Luiz Ewerling. This powerhouse ensemble delivers pure musical magic in a range of styles that includes Jazz, Latin, World Music, and Blues. Besides several distinctively reworked American and Brazilian tunes, the band has an astonishingly diverse repertoire of original compositions that combine and blend many cultures, rhythms and genres, creating a sonic experience that's nothing short of extraordinary.
Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
Septura Brass
One of London's finest brass chamber music groups! Septura's program contrasts the musical worlds of American Jazz and French Impressionism with works by Ravel, Debussy, and Gershwin. Don’t miss your chance to see this uniquely vibrant and versatile brass septet! Tickets available at neiu.edu/tickets
Family Fahm Event for Filipino American History Month
JOIN US FOR A DAY FILLED WITH ART WORKSHOPS, STORYTELLING, PERFORMANCES & MORE!
Intro to Craftivism Through Embroidery Workshop
Intro to Craftivism Through Embroidery Workshop
Oct 9th, 6-8pm (Thursday) - $25
🪧🧵🪡🪧🧵🪡
Get acquainted with craftivism, learn to embroider, stitch something brilliant, and make friends—all in just 2 hours! Craft-based activism has been used as a tool of resistance, coalition building, and even espionage! Learn from Shannon Downey of @badasscrossstitch—a leader in the modern craftivism movement. She will provide an introduction to the history of craftivism and ways you can get involved in the modern movement. Shannon will then teach you how to embroider and have you stabbing it out in no time. She guarantees you walk away feeling better than when you arrived.
Luella's Ribbon Cutting
Luella’s Southern Kitchen has a new home, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with them! The Albany Park Chamber is thrilled to welcome Luella’s to Albany Park with an official ribbon-cutting✂️ Join us on October 9th from 3-5 pm as we celebrate this wonderful new chapter🎊
Come feel the warmth and hospitality of Luella’s and enjoy complimentary samples of their famous Kentucky Hot Brown and delicious biscuits with jam😋. This is more than just a new location; it’s a new place for our community to gather, share a meal, and make memories. Let’s show Luella’s some true Albany Park love!💕
Luella’s Southern Kitchen will be open:
🕒Wednesday - Friday: 9 am - 2 pm
🕦Saturday - Sunday: 8 am - 2 pm
Irving Park Fine Arts Free Concert
Carlson Community Services and the Irving Park Fine Arts Committee are hosting a FREE CONCERT on Sunday, October 5 at Irving Park Lutheran Church, 4100 N. Harding Avenue, Chicago. Join us at 2:00 p.m. when we welcome Mike Brozick, trumpet, accompanied by John Goodwin on piano, featuring selections from Debussy, Vladimir Peskin, Paul Hindemith, Leonard Bernstein and more. The FREE concert is open to all ages and parking is available in the lot at Pulaski & Belle Plaine. We hope you will join us for the first concert of our 32nd season!
The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide
Premiered April 19, 2025, it marks the 50th Anniversary of the Khmer Rouge Genocide. Adapted from The Rebirth of Apsara, it celebrates Cambodian arts and Apsaras. Charya Burt combines classical dance with Chinary Ung's music, traditional Khmer pin-peat, Joel Davel's live soundscape, and Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh's video backdrop.
Buy tickets HERE!
Know Your Rights Workshop
Join us on Thursday, October 3rd from 7-8:30pm for a Know Your Rights Workshop led by @icirr_il 🗣️ This event is being organized by Megan Eberhardt, please reach out to her with any questions. Link in bio to register, event details below ⬇️
@rootedinthestars
One way to become empowered is to educate ourselves. Let’s do it together!! And learn how to take better care of each other, our neighbors, our city.
This Know Your Rights presentation will be offered by a representative of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). It will be given in English and is intended for allies, though all are welcome.
Doors open at 6:30, presentation is from 7:00-8:30pm. There will be tea and cookies, you are welcome to come early and linger aftwards!
This event is offered by donation though a donation is not required. After covering costs of putting on the event all proceeds will go to ICIRR.
Email megan@rootedinthestars.com with any questions!
Cleveland Elementary Back-to-School Fall Craft & Vendor Fair
Friends of Cleveland are looking for vendors to apply to participate and would like to invite the community to attend and support our school and neighborhood small businesses and artisans. Spread the word and/or apply!
Global Gardens Cooking Class
Join us for a hands-on cooking class where we’ll create Burmese-style Papaya Salad with our very own farmer, Tee Moo! You may be familiar with the Thai-style Papaya Salad, but now learn how our Burmese farmers make it. Tickets are $30. All cooking classes take place outside at our farm, weather permitting.
Tickets are available here:https://donorbox.org/events/810018/steps/choose_tickets
Hey, I Thought of You Anniversary
Free-to-attend Sticker Day! It’s our 1-year anniversary of being open, and we will have sticker paper that you can draw and color your own sticker designs on! We will have stickering pages (like a coloring book, but you get to add stickers to fill in the artwork), and cookies to celebrate! Come relax, and meet some new friends!
Fall Nature Fest
🍂🌿 The 6th Annual Fall Nature Fest is back at LaBagh Woods on Saturday, September 13th (12–3pm)! 🌳✨
Hosted by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen and the Cook County Forest Preserves, this fest brings thousands together to celebrate nature, sustainability, and local eco-friendly businesses and organizations. Expect animals from the Brookfield Zoo, a show by the Jesse White Tumblers, food trucks, music, and so much more! 🐾🎶🌮
🙌 Commissioner Degnen’s Office is looking for volunteers to help make this year’s fest even bigger, better, and greener than ever. Volunteers receive a free Fall Nature Fest t-shirt, sandwich, and water — plus the chance to enjoy the festival and connect with environmental leaders.
🔗 Sign up to volunteer or learn more at fallnaturefest2025.eventbrite.com
Chicago Vintage Fest @ Albany Park
SAVE THE DATE FOR CHICAGO VINTAGE FEST TO COME TO ALBANY PARK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME! Taking place on Kedzie Ave between Lawrence and the Kedzie Brown Line
KYR Workshop
Attend a virutal workshop to learn about what to do if you encounter ICE, creating an emergency plan, and updates in immigration law. This workshop is geared toward local business owners and their employees. This event is on Thursday September 4 from 3-4:30 pm and is in collaboration with the HANA Center and Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. Ofrecemos el presentación en inglés y español. Register for the event using this link: bit.ly/4mxfKbB
Urban Flooding Workshop
🌧️ Albany Park Community Meeting: Urban Flooding & Emergency Response 🌧️
Join us on Wednesday, September 10th at 6 PM at Movement on Montrose (2951 W Montrose Ave) for an important community meeting on flooding preparedness.
This meeting will:
✅ Give you space to share your flooding concerns
✅ Introduce the latest technology supporting city flood response
✅ Provide tips on how to effectively prepare for a flooding disaster
✨ Food and drinks will be provided! Participants who register AND attend will receive a gift card for participating.
📍 Albany Park, Chicago
📅 September 10, 2025 | 6 PM
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/flood0910
Albany Park Pop-Up Market
Join us for the second Albany Park Market of the season!
June 29th | 11AM–4PM
📍3403 W Lawrence Ave (in the parking lot)
Come shop handmade goods, unique finds, and support local makers and small businesses!
Bring a friend and connect with your community — we’ll be there, no matter the weather!
Flavors of Albany Park
North River Commission and the Special Service Area 60 are excited to invite you to the event of the summer! Flavors of Albany Park is back with your favorite restaurant crawl!
Flavors of Albany Park is back with your favorite restaurant crawl, giving you FOUR routes to choose from and bites from all over the world to sample! Let's celebrate the #GlobalRootsLocalHeart at the largest restaurant crawl in Chicago!
Experience the diverse, international cultures, and cuisines by tasting the delicious "Flavors of Albany Park" at our neighborhood restaurant crawl on Wednesday, June 25th, from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Albany Park is "Chicago's Gateway to the World" reflected in the distinct variety of ethnic cuisines from 50+ participating restaurants. Flavors of Albany Park explores the depth and diversity of global cuisines across four routes. The choice is yours! Attendees receive a "passport" as their ticket and route guide to taste sample-sized portions of culinary delights from local restaurants along.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE:
- Lawrence WEST
- Lawrence EAST
- Kedzie
- Montrose
Take your time walking from restaurant to restaurant. Each restaurant on the route will offer a sample of their food, a sweet treat, or a unique drink to all attendees. Participating restaurants will be listed soon!
Eat your way around the globe and get your tickets today!
P-B-B Asian Kitchen Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of P-B-B Asian Kitchen with a special ribbon cutting ceremony! Be among the first to experience our unique fusion of Chinese, Thai, and Korean flavors.
Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday, June 12th
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 4569 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL
(Right next to Perfect Brunch Bros.)
✨Grand Opening Special:
All customers will receive 50% off their order on the day of the ribbon cutting!
Come hungry, bring friends, and be part of the beginning of something delicious!
Session on Community Engaged Policing
Give your feedback and shape community policing in this session on neighborhood safety. An immigration attorney and CPD representatives will be present to answer questions.
Participants will receive gift cards. Light refreshments and Spanish translation will be available.
Youth Led Environmental Town Hall
Join the North River Youth Council, a group of civic minded high schoolers from the Northwest side, at their environmental town hall!
There will be local groups and environmental champions on the panel answering questions and talking about the work they do for our communities!
Support the youth by coming out!
It's Your Park Day!
Let's keep that Earth Day energy going every day! It's YOUR Park Day is a big community cleanup event that kicks off our volunteer season every year. Dozens of parks will pitch in across the city with park improvement activities. This is a free, fun, family-friendly event.
Coffee & Chat at Dulce De Leche Café
Join us at Dulce De Leche Café, one of Albany Park’s beloved local spots AND five-time champion of the Community Choice Awards!
Free samples will be provided and you’ll get a chance to try their NEW menu. Come hang out, make some new connections, and enjoy good vibes!
50% of ticket sales proceeds will go to support Dulce De Leche!
URI Cafe and Baklava Ribbon Cutting
Sweet news, Albany Park!
Join us for the ribbon-cutting of @uri_cafe_and_baklava and experience a taste of heaven with Turkish delights and unique coffees and drinks. See you there!
📍4640 N Kedzie
🗓️May 23rd
⏰4pm