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 Photo credit: Becca Heuer
Evanston's Skate Park Grand Opening April 6
 Ben Blount. Photo credit: Becca Heuer
Enjoy Evanston Art with First Saturday events!
This Saturday, explore over 30 sites during First Saturday Art Events, ranging from small businesses to artist studios. Take yourself on a self-guided tour of Evanston’s creative community. Events are happening in several business districts -- a great opportunity to check out a new neighborhood! Use the Evanston Art Map to check event times and locations.
Want to be a pilot user for a new app? Download the Roamli app and start the “Evanston Art Hunt!" Visit 10 First Saturday art events, upload a photo at each, and be entered to win 30% off your purchase at shopevanstonmade.org. The winner will be announced April 15.
See below for upcoming events and start planning your weekends! You can find the full calendar of events on the Enjoy Evanston website.
Have a upcoming event?
Help us add to our calendar! We encourage you to submit all your upcoming events through our website.
Please review the following submission guidelines:
- Only public events may be listed
- Cannot be solely retail in nature
- Cannot be solely religious or political in nature
- Cannot be solely fundraisers or networking events
- Should be leisure time or recreational activities
Event eligibility is also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are only able to accept event listings in English.
 Monique Leiser and Billie Topa Tate. Photo credit: Becca Heuer
Meet Billie Topa Tate and Monique Leiser of MSI Wellness Center! Their healing and meditation center has been in Evanston's Ashland Arts business district for nearly 30 years, and is dedicated to being of service to anyone who is seeking wellness, spiritual growth, mindfulness, and training to build on current healing practices. See the full interview below!
KB: MSI Wellness Center has a long history in Evanston. Can you share some of that history?
ML: It begins with our first precious experience of stepping into the Old Vintage Peacock Ice Cream Factory, located in the 5th ward, which was being transformed into “The Peacock Lofts” by well-known architect John Leineweber and his wife Muffy. Their wonderful architectural work inspired many, and stepping into the courtyard you could see the great potential of the beautiful healing space. Our friendship and love of the land developed our new relationship and MSI Wellness Center was born. Endowing the space with beautiful ceiling sky light windows and breathtaking spiral staircases, this is where we launched the first Native American Woman-owned center, sharing indigenous wisdom, earth friendly knowledge and free community meditation every Friday for our community and the general public, launched 29 years ago.
KB: How does the community around the Ashland Arts district support your business?
ML: Our camaraderie with our fellow business owners has been most inspiring and we do our best to help each other and support each other. I especially like the meetings generated by our 5th ward councilmember Bobby Burns and many other Evanston teams who have taken the time to listen to our needs and help support our efforts.
KB: What can folks expect if they come to MSI for services?
ML: Firstly, a welcoming smile and an offer to enjoy a fresh cup of organic tea and healthy snacks. We offer a free weekly meditation every friday at 6:30 p.m. to help introduce the general public to meditation. Our services offer one-on-one native mentoring for stress management using indigenous practices, such as connecting with nature and other natural practices to de-stress the body, mind and spirit.
KB: How do you set yourself apart?
ML: Our goal is to create a sacred space one person at a time, through sharing native knowledge, stories, techniques and practices that help the body become more in a state of balance, which helps promote a happier and more relaxing life.
KB: Any specials or services you’d like people to be aware of?
ML: Yes, our classes are both on-line and in-person and range from teaching and sharing our native knowledge about healthy wellness, building healing gardens, learning meditation, developing healthy stress management skills, introductions to simple practices of self care and much more.
KB: What is your favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston?
ML: My favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston is that you are not alone. It’s a wonderful community of people helping and learning from each other. I know we are all busy but I have always seen people in Evanston, especially our 5th ward councilmember Bobby Burns, the Evanston Economic Development Committee, and our new “Enjoy Evanston” effort to explore the nine unique districts of Evanston, taking time to hear what we have to say and make every effort to help and support us.
 Get to know Howard Street!
This vibrant commercial corridor district connects Evanston and Chicago and offers an impressive array of international food, including Jamaican, Cambodian, Central American, and good ol’ fashioned Wisconsin-style fish fry. Grab a drink from Peckish Pig or Ward Eight, and stroll the street checking out an amazing collection of murals.
 Trolley tracks circa 1910, looking west on Central from Green Bay
Did you know?
Central Street was once home to a trolley that ran from 1897 to 1935. Locals called the cars 'Dinkys’ and ‘Toonerville Trolleys.' In the winter the trolleys had ‘pot-belly’ stoves fueled by coal to keep riders warm.
According to Linnea Coulter, “when Northwestern won the Big Ten Championship, students would pile on that streetcar, up on top, hanging on the sides, all over, and would head south toward the Edgewater Beach Hotel for dancing." The final streetcar trips were down Central St. carrying passengers to Dyche Stadium for a NU football game.
Could there be a new electric trolley in store for Central Street and the other business districts? Stay tuned!
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