Friday, November 24, 2023 | View in browser
Good Morning,
Check out this week's Parks & Recreation e-News featuring information about Flapjacks & Flannels, Letters to Santa, the Mayor's Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive, and more!
The Winter Program Guide is here!
The Winter 2023 Program Guide is now available to view online. This digital only issue provides hundreds of recreation programs, special events, and ways to keep you healthy, active, and having fun this winter season.
Evergreen Gnomes & Wreath Making
Join our winter workshop just in time to decorate for the season! Learn the techniques for making a beautiful and lasting evergreen wreath or gnome to decorate your home or give as a gift. We will listen to music and enjoy warm drinks around a wood-burning fireplace. Ecology Center staff will provide instruction, evergreen boughs, ribbons, and wintry decorations for your wreath or evergreen gnome. Please bring clippers and garden gloves if you have them. Children must to be accompanied by an adult. To register, please call the Ecology Center at 847-448-8256 or register online.
 
Write a letter to Santa
Santa is waiting for your letter! Letters will be accepted beginning Friday, Dec. 1 at the North Pole mailbox located at the Chandler-Newberger Community Center.
Mayor's Holiday Food, Book, and Toy Drive
Help ensure every Evanston family can celebrate this holiday season. Through Friday, Dec. 8, we're collecting new, unwrapped toys in addition to staple food items for holiday meals, including stuffing, green beans, yams, mac and cheese, corn, and cornbread mix. We're also collecting new and gently used children's books.
Donation drop-off locations:
Autobarn, 1015 Chicago Ave.
Booked, 506 Main St.
Briteco, 805 Greenwood St.
Chandler-Newberger Center, 1028 Central St.
Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
Evanston Community Bank, 1740 Sherman Ave.
Evanston Made Holiday Market, 832 Dempster St.
Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.
Fire Station 3, 1105 Central St.
Fire Station 5, 2830 Central St.
First Northern Credit Union, 1705 Sherman Ave.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St.
Jewel-Osco, 1128 Chicago Ave.
Jewel-Osco, 2485 W. Howard St.
Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.
Police Station, 1454 Elmwood Ave.
Robert Crown Center, 1801 Main St.
Target, 2209 W. Howard St.
The Merion, 1611 Chicago Ave.
Valli Produce, 1910 Dempster St.
Register to Receive Food and Toys: Families who wish to participate in the Mayor's Holiday Food, Book & Toy Drive to receive toys and/or food items must register by calling 847-448-4311 (or dial 311 in Evanston) between Monday, November 20 and Friday, December 8.
Ladd Arboretum Canoe Launch Public Meeting
The Ecology Center will be hosting the first public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 to gather input regarding the design of the new ADA accessible canoe launch proposed along the North Shore Channel. The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Preschool Open Gymnastics
Come out to the Chandler-Newberger Community Center to climb, tumble, and play at Preschool Open Gymnastics on Fridays from 10:15 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. This class is available for drop-ins at $10 per class for residents and $13 per class for non-residents. Call the Chandler-Newberger Community Center for more information at 847-448-8252.
Holiday Hip-Hop Dance Class
Under the creative direction of skilled Chicago Loves Dance instructors, students will learn choreography to the newest pop/dance songs, show off their creativity in free-style choreography sessions, and more. Sign up now.
Flapjacks & Flannels Registration Open Now!
 Wear your flannel, bring your family, and enjoy some flapjacks! This event includes a full breakfast, selfies with Santa, dreidel, and snow globe-making. Vegan and Kosher options are available. Due to the nature of this event, we are unable to provide refunds. For questions, please email adagostino@cityofevanston.org.
Thanks to our event sponsors: First Northern Credit Union, Healthy Kids Running Series, and Evanston Parks Foundation!
Fencing at Chandler-Newberger
Fencing requires patience, concentration, discipline, and self-awareness. The rewards are self-confidence, self-control, and emotional strength. Register today!
Jamming Jean Concert - December 1
Enjoy a return concert featuring Gerald McClendon "Soulkeeper" and his band. This exceptionally versatile Soul R&B performer has played to sold crowds in many of the major entertainment venues throughout the Midwest. The concert is Friday, Dec. 1, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Maple Room at the Levy Senior Center. It is free and open to the public.
Hecky’s Barbecue will be on site with food for sale. Grab dinner from this Evanston institution, and enjoy while you tap to the tunes. Wine and beer will also be available for purchase.
Thanks to generous support from the Levy Senior Center Foundation, this concert is free and open to the public. The Jamming Jean Music Series, named in honor of a former Levy Center member, features music and musicians that reflect Evanston and its cultural diversity.
Archery Class - Come join the fun!
Participants will learn the fundamentals of archery from experienced coach Brent Harmon. Skills will be honed by playing games and fun archery activities while progressing to more advanced distances and targets. Register today!
Holiday Grooves & Disco Moves at Levy Center
Come out in your best Ugly Holiday Sweater and get ready to dance to local DJ Michael Stinson playing your favorite disco hits! The first Holiday Grooves & Disco Moves: December 8 Delight will take place on Friday, Dec. 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Levy Senior Center. All are welcome.
Beginning Guitar and Ukulele
Learn to play an instrument and sing at the same time. This Beginning Guitar and Ukulele class is hands-on, teaching basic music theory, rhythm, and instrument-specific skills as well as chart-reading, harmony singing, and ensemble playing. Sign up to learn a new skill in 2024.
The Great Elf Hunt! Coming Soon
We have received word that the elves are on their way to Evanston! Once they arrive, on December 18, we need help tracking them down. We heard they will be hiding around the City's Community Centers and parks.
Help us find them between December 18 and 28. Find each elf, snap a photo with them, and send your photos to kgrundin@cityofevanston.org to be entered into a raffle to win various prizes including gift cards to local Evanston businesses. Each photo counts as one entry. Winners will be announced on January 2.
Special Thanks to these businesses for donating prizes!
The Fat Shallot
Candlelite Chicago
Firehouse Grill
Bluestone
Koi Evanston
Art Makers Outpost
A Poetic Kwanzaa at Robert Crown
The City and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater will host the annual first day of Kwanzaa celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center. The festivities will include the popular Artisan Market Place, delicious food, sweet treats, a community drum circle with Tony Garrett, arts & crafts for the entire family (sponsored by the Evanston Public Library), a performance of 'A Poetic Kwanzaa' featuring JustUsArts, and conclude with the traditional Kwanzaa Ceremony. This is a free Evanston Community Sharing event. All are welcome.
Sing and Play
SING & PLAY is a creative, multi-level class open to all instruments. The group is looking for those who already play instruments with basic open chords in multiple keys and voices who learn by ear. Exploring transposing, arranging, inversions, and chord chemistry, we will enhance our musical vocabulary to communicate, jam, and share ideas. Register today!
Vibrant Living
Are you ready to embark on a journey to a healthier, happier you in 2024? Join our Vibrant Living group wellness program for women, led by Certified Health Coach Jennifer Reddick. The class will begin on Thursday, Jan. 11, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register today!
Light The Night
The City’s Parks & Recreation Department is seeking proposals for solar- and battery-powered, artistic light "installations" to be displayed in Tallmadge Park on January 27. Artists will receive a $150 check for supplies after the event.
Manifest your goals in 2024 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Vision Board Party
Enjoy an afternoon of vision board creation with images, motivational words, and group conversations to ignite dream-building and set new goals for the New Year. Enjoy alcohol refreshments with friends and meet new people during this Vision Board Party. This event is open to ages 21 year of age and older. Register today!
Seniors, walk right in!
The Secretary of State's Office has opened a new, walk-in "Senior Only" DMV service temporarily housed in Room G300 of the Morton Civic Center. Seniors will not need appointments, as this walk-in center is specifically designed to meet their needs including Real ID, behind the wheel driving test, and renewals of State ID as well as drivers license.
Accessibility for all
The City of Evanston is committed to promoting a citywide culture of accessibility and inclusivity. To request an accommodation for a program, service, or activity, please call 847-866-2919 to make an ADA service request or fill out a request form online.
Facility Locations and Phone Numbers
Chandler-Newberger Community Center: 847-448-8252
Levy Senior Center: 847-448-8250
Robert Crown Community Center: 847-448-8258
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center: 847-448-8254
Ecology Center: 847-448-8256
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend,
The City of Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Team
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