BRAVO 1.5

an elgin culture magazine

Virtues and Voices pp. 2-4

with the

DECEMBER 2015

1.5

Elgin on the Menu

pp. 22-23

BRAVO

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1.5

Expression: A City that Sings

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Virtues and Voices

Downtown Elgin (224) 223-7718 soulfulsparrow.com

On the cover: “Media Guide”

by Jeffrey R. Pierce Decoupage of print from BRAVO 1.0-1.4.

Face and hand: parts of Rachel Maley and Roberto Martinez, photographed by Doug Hanson (1.3).

Hair: watercolor painting of Lord’s Park trees, cover art by Tracey Padron (1.1).

Halo: Elgin Public House ad (1.3); article on Open Mic Scene (1.0); cover art by Virginia Smith (1.4).

Robe: Shared Harvest ad (1.0); Cemetery Walk ad by Trish LaFleur (1.2); Resale Shop infographic by Joy Symonds (1.4); Downtown Elgin Pub Crawl ad (1.2).

Armor and breastplate: Elgin Fringe Festival cover art by Chris Hodge (1.2); Shared Harvest logo (1.3); vegetable-based ink emblem (1.0-1.4).

Book: Gilded-Lily ad, photo by Susan Giugliano (1.0); lettering from ads by Side Street Studio Arts, Elgin Knit Works, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and Elgin Public House; and BRAVO subheads and pull quotes.

Wings: cover photo by Bill O’Neill (1.0); Healing Heart Massage Therapy ad (1.0); Elgin Poetry Box Project ad (1.1); La Groove Fatale dancer’s veil, photo

by Mike Frankowski (1.2); PJN Tax Solutions Group ad (1.1); cover art by Virginia Smith (1.4).

Borders: section headers from BRAVO (1.0-1.4).

Jeffrey R. Pierce was trained in the art of magazine decoupage by Immanuel Baptist Church Sunday School, and pursued advanced study with Cub Scout Pack 46 under Den Mother Marilyn Porchetta. All of his previous works have been destroyed.

We don't all love it. We're not all good at it, but we have all done it since we were old enough to talk: it's singing, the oldest form of music and, along with dance, one of the only forms of expression we share with animals.

Maybe it's no coincidence that the oldest arts organization still active in Elgin today is the Elgin Master Chorale. Formed in 1947 as an ad hoc gathering of church choirs, it now has its own support staff, professional Music Director and an impressive concert schedule.

Assembly Re-Choired The group prospered for 67 years under the name Elgin Choral Union, reflecting its genesis as a collective. The original connection to local church choirs has since been replaced by a membership of singers-at-large who come from thirty different communities.

“This is truly a group that finds its common ground in a love for choral music,” says Executive Director Elizabeth Niemeier. “We have 20 yearolds, 80 year-olds, and every age in between. It's a beautiful thing when people with such wide-ranging careers, home towns, and stages of life come together with such unity.”

discussion,” confesses Niemeier.

“Our organization does bring people into this city-away-fromthe-city to experience the arts through choral music. Elgin is rapidly becoming known as a lively arts hub of the Chicago area, with a renowned symphony, multiple youth arts organizations and an overall attitude of investment in the arts. We wanted to remain connected with that identity, and are proud to be one more example of Elgin's fine arts life.”

EMC Music Director Andrew Lewis, a Chicagoan with a distinguished fine arts career, concurs with this assessment.

“Elgin has the best arts scene anywhere outside the city.”

On the Same Page Maestro Lewis guides the Chorale through weekly rehearsals which require the singers to stand for long periods and read from multi-part music that resembles a conductor's score. But the time passes quickly during these fast-paced rehearsals, propelled by the cues of not one, but two talented piano accompanists.

Leading this ECC in-residence ensemble as adjunct faculty,

The organization underwent a rebranding in 2014 and is now called Elgin Master Chorale (EMC) to reflect its emphasis on musical excellence. Yet despite its large geographic footprint, the board of directors chose not to adopt “Fox Valley” as part of EMC's identity.

“The concept of keeping Elgin in the name was a subject of

Elgin Master Chorale.

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Music Director Andrew Lewis leads a rehearsal of the Elgin Master Chorale at Elgin Community College.

Lewis is part teacher as well as director, offering vivid word pictures to elicit the right sound, along the lines of “sing like a flood light, not a laser.”

The choir responds with careful enunciation (often in non-English languages), precise timing, and a command of loud and soft volumes that exalts the music. “I don't want to have to over-emote and call attention to myself,” Lewis tells the Chorale.

❝ Elgin has the best

arts scene anywhere outside the city.

— Andrew Lewis

That collegiality extends to the programming process as well, as the entire membership participates in brainstorming and selecting music for each season.

“People are encouraged to suggest ideas without regard to budget or programming philosophy,” explains Lewis. “We've found that our members are very knowledgeable and have such diverse and broad experience that this is the best way to expand our thinking.”

How Firm a Foundation Not all choral music is connected to sacred texts and traditions, but much of it is. Perhaps no other Western art form owes as much to the Church as choral music does. As a result, an EMC rehearsal is one of the few places on the ECC campus where you'll hear 88 people uttering the words to a prayer or prophecy.

Such is not the case at Judson University, where choral music was a cornerstone of its founding. Among its first faculty in 1963 was Edward Thompson, who started its fine arts department and led the choir in rehearsals in the carriage house of the original private estate that became the Judson campus.

“With 96 members this year, the Judson University Choir is still a cornerstone of the institution,” says Professor Warren Anderson, Judson choir director and former student of Thompson's. Nearly a seventh of the entire traditional student body sings in the group, which tours the country three times per year, and travels the world every 2-3 years.

Poco Descrescendo Despite the deep affinity of choral music for spiritual subject matter, many churches are questioning the relevance of traditional robed choirs to their mission of attracting new people to their practice of faith. Newer styles of worship use electric guitars, drums, stage lighting and multimedia to lead congregational singing, in a new form called “worship arts ministry,” which is now a degreed academic discipline taught at colleges including Judson University. “Most contemporary worship music leaders would not use the word choral to describe their efforts,” says Prof. Anderson.

Among the approximately seventy congregations in Elgin, many have adopted the “worship arts” style for their primary church music experience. Only about one third describe an

active choral music program on their website, and some use choirs only for holidays or special seasons.

It thrives and adapts better to modern tastes, Jones says, “because it's already upbeat and lively.”

Keeping the Faith

Still Fresh After 4000 Years

Elgin's Second Baptist Church has one of the most vibrant and effective choir ministries in the area. More than 150 people serve in its four choirs, some as young as two years old. Minister of Music Latrisha Jones plans and directs singers and musicians through a monthly schedule of Sunday morning services that includes youth and adult praise bands in addition to choirs.

Jones agrees the art carries with it a legacy of European church music, “but it's more than that,” she says. “African-American gospel music has embraced jazz, blues, spirituals and other roots music into its style.” Musically speaking, it shares these elements in common with the most popular kinds of contemporary music.

And unlike the classic choral traditions of northern Europe, African-American gospel music has always incorporated rhythm and movement as a natural part of its expression.

Music for Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, as seen

by Elgin Master Chorale singers.

Even as choirs are slowly disappearing from some local churches, one Elgin congregation is forming its choir anew. Since 2013, Congregation Kneseth Israel (CKI) has begun to introduce choral music to its services during the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

With its four-part harmony, traditional texts and white robes, this choir resembles many

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Taste: December 2015 Elgin Choir Concerts

Fri.Dec.04

2014 Miss Illinois Marisa Buchheit (Soprano). 1:30p, 6:30p, Hemmens Cultural Center. $30-40.

Sun.Dec.13 Choir Cantata First United Methodist Church, 216 East Highland Ave, 9a.

Donation.

Home for the Holidays - A Musical Revue Concert of classic holiday songs from the 40’s and 50’s, mixed with comedy and dance. Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St. 8p. $2025. www.homefortheholidays.show

Sat.Dec.05 Christmas Concert of Worship featuring ar Judson University Choir, Judson Civic Orchestra, and faculty and student soloists. 7pm, Herrick Chapel of Judson University, Donation.

Home for the Holidays - A Musical Revue Concert of classic holiday songs from the 40’s and 50’s, mixed with comedy and dance. Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St. 8p. $2025. www.homefortheholidays.show

Sun.Dec.06 Barbershoppers Christmas Show “Marshmallow World” starring the Fox Valley Men of Harmony. 2:30p, First United Methodist Church of Elgin, 216 East Highland Ave, $10.

Elgin Children’s Chorus concert entitled “Colors of Christmas.” 3p ECC Blizzard Theatre. $12-15.

St. Edward’s High School Jazz Band, Choir and String Ensemble concert.

4:30p, St. Edwards High School.

Home for the Holidays - A Musical Revue Concert of classic holiday songs from the 40’s and 50’s, mixed with comedy and dance. Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St. 2p and 6p. $20-25. homefortheholidays.show

Tue.Dec.08 Larkin High School Choral Concert, 7p, Larkin High School Auditorium.

Thu.Dec.10 Elgin High School Holiday Concert, vocal and instrumental ensembles. 7p Elgin High School Auditorium.

Sat.Dec.12 Magical Holiday Concert featuring Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Master Chorale, Elgin Children’s Chorus,

Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria presented by choir and instrumentalists of First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago Street, 10:15a. Donation.

Choir Cantata Elgin Evangelical Free Church choir, Elgin Evangelical Free Church, 1900 Big Timber Rd, 10:30a.

Donation.

Choir Cantata Northwest Bible Baptist Church, 9N889 Nesler Road, 10:45a. Donation.

Magical Holiday Concert featuring Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Master Chorale, Elgin Children’s Chorus, 2014 Miss Illinois Marisa Buchheit (Soprano). 1:30p, Hemmens Cultural Center. $30-40.

Sat.Dec.19 This Christmastide: Fa La La La La presented by the Heartland Voices, featuring choirs from Dundee Middle school. First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave, 3p. $10.

This Christmastide: Fa La La La La presented by the Heartland Voices, featuring the SOTP Ringers. First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave, 7:30p. $15-18.

Community Christmas Carol Singalong featuring the Blue Tulip Wranglers and more. Proceeds to benefit Community Crisis Center and the Ecker Center for Mental Health. First Congregational Church of Elgin, 256 E. Chicago Street. $5.

Dr. Warren Anderson and the Judson University Choir. others in the area, except they sing in Hebrew.

“There is a rich, long and varied tradition of Jewish liturgical and other music,” says Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein. “Everywhere Jews went they have adopted local music for their own singing.”

Established in 2003 by Sarah Frisch, CKI's Abraham M. and Anna Rose Seltzer Music and Cultural Arts Fund supports music programming at the synagogue, and is considering plans for a cantorial concert there in 2016.

Singing Their Art Out Choral music first began to appear in places other than houses of worship during the 1800's and has since accumulated a substantial secular repertoire of its own. In Elgin, the elite singers of the Heartland Voices and the energetic Elgin Children's Chorus present multiple concerts every year. The Elgin Master Chorale performs regularly on its own, and in combination with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Music on the Fox. We estimate that the number of people singing in choirs at the schools, churches and choral societies of Elgin approaches 1000.

As to why, Judson's Warren Anderson offers this: “As social media continue to flourish, those seeking true, tangible community will find social connections in the midst of choral groups.” And EMC's Elizabeth Niemeier adds, “This is just one more example that music brings people together in a unique and profound way—and making music together, even more so.”

Amen and Amen Elgin isn't just a city that sings, it's also a city that nurtures choral composers as well, among them former ESO Music Director Robert Hanson and Elgin native Daniel Brewbaker. Local musicians Jeff Grosser and Jeffrey Pierce have each premiered choral works here, and local choir director Gary Hillquist commissioned a piece premiered by the Heartland Voices at Epworth United Methodist church. There are still more examples to be discovered.

Could Elgin use an anthem named after the city? Perhaps.

But the fact remains that Elgin was named after a hymn tune, and that's as strong a claim to choral music culture as any city can boast.

— JP

Wed.Dec.23 Christmas Eve Services with First Baptist Church choir. First Baptist Church, 1735 W. Highland Ave, 5:30p.

Donation.

Thu.Dec.24 Christmas Eve Services with First Baptist Church choir. First Baptist Church, 1735 W. Highland Ave, 5:30p.

Donation.

Minister of Music Latrisha Jones leads the Choral Ensemble at Second Baptist Church of Elgin.

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Expression: Local Music Scene

Oceans and Oceans What is it about sibling bands?

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there’s a queer alchemy that happens when people who know each other so intimately make music together. Off the top of my head: The Kinks, Ramones, Jackson 5, CCR, Heart. Heck, I’ll even mount a spirited defense of Hanson – unashamedly sincere pop with unimpeachable melodies. “But hey,” you say, “what about The Osmonds?”

Well, I suppose there’s got to be at least one exception to every rule. “Kings of Leon?” Okay, two exceptions.

Turns out that Elgin has its very own sibling band. Adrian

(lead guitar, vocals) and Kristine (drums) Medriano formed Oceans and Oceans in the spring of 2010 “out of restlessness and boredom,” and an unplayed electric guitar that made Adrian “feel really sad.”

Younger brother Julian (bass, guitar) joined later. For the past six months, they’ve been on a tear. In June, they played the first round of Side Street Studio Arts’ Battle of the Bands to an audience of maybe a dozen.

They won. And kept winning.

Each time they moved on, the crowds got bigger. For the finals almost 200 people crammed into the room to hear them. The crescendo peaked last month

on the main stage of Nightmare on Chicago Street where they played for as many as 15,000.

Oceans and Oceans’ sound is marinated in the buzzy, distortion-heavy shoegazing history of 90s indie post-punk. Standing on the edge of the pit, you can almost imagine you’re at a Yo La Tengo or My Bloody Valentine show. Adrian tells me that when he and Kristine first began playing music together, they “became enamored and fascinated with making really weird noises – pushing the limits of the equipment – really abrasive stuff.” When they found a sound that they both liked, they tried

to build a song around it.

Oceans and Oceans makes music for sad people. But it’s not for people who use sadness as a pose or a costume. And it’s not for sad people who are content to leave their sadness unexamined.

Oceans and Oceans explore the spaces in which sadness and joy are sometimes indistinguishable. In a clever play on words, their facebook page lists their interests as, “harmony and dissonance.” Many of the songs have a shambling, wandering feeling that manifests itself in semi-improvised distortion drenched freak outs. It’s a musical metaphor for something the Medriano’s are trying to approach obliquely: simply put, life’s a mess.

❝ Oceans and Oceans explore the spaces in which sadness and joy are sometimes indistinguishable.

Oceans and Oceans’ core audience is sad people who want to be with other sad people so they can be sad together. They stand in front of the stage, pumping their fists in the air, chanting “I’m low, tired, and wasted” along with the band. And for a little while it feels like the whole room is family. They don’t expect this communion to make their sadness go away, but it does change the sadness’ color, making it a little deeper and more nuanced than when they were alone. — JB Adrian, Kristine and Julian Medriano of Oceans and Oceans perform at Nightmare on Chicago Street V.

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BRAVO Side Street Studio Art’s Small Wonders Choreography Workshop Choreography Workshop w/ Erin Rehberg 4p-6p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276. Free Meet the Brewer Meet the brewer from Emmet’s Brewing Co. and taste the product. 5p-8p, Dog’s Paw Brewing Co. 224.227.7655

Thu.Dec.3 Good Morning Elgin: Mayor Kaptain’s State of the City Address Good Morning, Elgin! Please join us for the Mayor Kaptain’s Annual State of the City Address to the Elgin Area Chamber on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 a.m. An exclusive event for the business community, Mayor Kaptain will celebrate Elgin’s achievements while planting seeds for the future.

7.30a-9a, ECC Business Center (Bldg.

E) Device Advice Drop by the Rakow Branch for hands-on learning. You are welcome to bring your own devices. 9.30a-11.30a, Rakow - Computer Cafe Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 9.30a-1p, GBPL Computer Room Playful Learning Centers/Centros de Aprendizaje Children ages 3-Kindergarten with a participating adult may drop-in and experience fun and interactive activities to encourage reading readiness and explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics) discoveries. In English and Spanish. No registration required. Los ninos de 3 anos de edad hasta Kinder inclusive pueden presentarse con un adulto y participar en entretenidas actividades interactivas destinadas a formentar la aptitud para la lectura y explorar descubrimientos de la ciencia, la tecnologia, la ingenieria, el arte y las matematicas (STEAM, por su siglas en ingles). No necesita registrarse. 9.30a-11a, GBPL Story Room 847.742.2411 ChessMaster Junior Chess Club Kids and teens in grades 2-12 are invited to hone their chess skills.

Beginners are welcome...; we will teach you how to play! Intermediate and advanced players can find new opponents or work on chess puzzles.

4p-5p, GBPL Youth Center - South 847.742.2411

Grupo de Conversacion para la Ciudadaña/Citizenship Conversation Group ¿Necesitas practicar tu ingles para el examen de la ciudadania? Ven a este grupo gratis para repasar y practicar el ingles que vas a necesitar para la entrevista y las 100 preguntas del examen de historia y civica.

El grupo es liderado por un tutor y cualquiera puede asistir. Presentado por The Literacy Connection. No hace falta inscribirse. Do you need to practice English for your naturalization/citizenship test? Come to this free group to review and practice the spoken English you will need for the interview and the 100 questions from the history/civics test. This group will be led by a tutor and is open to all.

Presented by The Literacy Connection. No registration. 6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Meadows Rm. C

Ola la Ijorere’s Peace Social Painting “Peace” BYOB painting social + LIVE music 6.30p-8.30p, Ola la Ijorere 312.254.9807. $35 Danny’s D.J. Night 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Flickr Basics Flickr is an free online photo application that allows you to edit, organize, share and store your pictures. Inside Flickr, you can link to partner websites and create custom photo creations for a fee. Come and see how Flickr can help you make the most of your photos in this fun class! #software&apps 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room ZenDoodle for the Holidays! Before the busy holiday season kicks in, get lost in the world of creative thinking while relieving stress as you doodle and design a set of holiday cards and an ornament. Deb Morton, local artist, designer, and doodler will guide you in the Power of Doodling with lines, shapes and patterns. Not only does doodling have a calming effect as you focus on your project, it sparks your creative side. During this program you will learn the basics of ZenDoodling and how a pen and paper can

be a useful tool to increase brain power. It’s a relaxing gift you can give yourself, and you’ll be amazed at what you can create. Space is limited, so please register. 7p-8.30p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B

ECC Steel Bands: Winter Steel The ECC Steel Bands, under the direction of Steve Butters, always delight with an eclectic mix of calypso, reggae, rock, and more. Original arrangements at past concerts have included works by The Beatles, Kurt Cobain, Frank Zappa, and Lorde. 7.30p, ECC Blizzard Theatre 847.622.0300. $7-9

Fri.Dec.4 Welcome Baby! Baby’s First Library Visit Welcome Baby! Bring baby and baby’s new library card to this class designed especially for Baby’s First Library Card holders. Learn about programs and resources to support your baby’s early literacy development and receive a special gift! For babies up to six months old and their parents. Registration preferred.

11a-11.30a and 1-1.30p, GBPL Story Room - South 847.742.2411 Blue Box Cafe Geek N Out Geek N Out @Blue Box Cafe 5p-8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583 BrushedChicago’s Holiday Ornament Painting Santa Claus Event BrushedChicago is hosting a special holiday event with Santa Claus in downtown Elgin with a special visit from Santa from 5-6pm and fun activities while customers wait and after Santa returns to his sleigh. Proceeds to benefit Community Crisis Center.

5p-7p, 15 Douglas Ave. BrushedChicago.com 847.220.7335. $10

Home for the Holidays: Frozen Extravaganza! Elgin’s Home for the Holidays kicks off with a Frozen Extravaganza! Sarah the Singing Princess and her sister Gretel will sing Disney tunes. Wear a costume and bring your camera to take lots of photos. Kids will enjoy an indoor snowball fight and other games, face

1.5 painting, crafts, a scavenger hunt and refreshments. Look for a craft fair at the trading post on the second floor. Information about Elgin holiday events, Keep Your Elgin Dollars Home for the Holidays discounts and Elgin area nonprofits will be available.

5.30p-7.30p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C

SSSA’s First Friday 2015 Krampuslauf & Krampus Krawl Celebrating our third First Friday art exhibit / Krampuslauf in Elgin! This year, we’re planning to be out and about Downtown Elgin with more costumed Krampus and Krampuslauf themed costumed characters (you don’t have to dress as Krampus, you can be St. Nicolas or an angel or hapless Victorian Krampus victim!). Meet St. Nicholas, hear some Krampus lore, and sample some of the tastiest treats Downtown Elgin has to offer! 6p-8p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276.

Free First Fridays Improv with GreenRoom Productions 2015 100% clean. 99.27% hilarious. 90 minutes of complete improvisation a la Whose Line Is It Anyway. With competing teams, live music and a bar who knows what the night will hold. General Admission. 8p-9.45p, Hemmens Cultural Center 847.931.5900. $10-12 Home for the Holidays Concert Inspired by the classic films, Holiday Inn and White Christmas, this spectacular holiday concert will take you on a musical journey of classic songs from the 40’s & 50’s: Beginning with a WWII performance for the troops, we’ll move on to a Florida nightclub and finally settle in to a New England town. Christmas Eve In My Hometown, Home For The Holidays, Baby It’s Cold Outside & White Christmas are just a few of the classic songs performed in this magical revue.

Costumes, comedy and sentiment will warm the heart and enrich the soul.

8p, Elgin Art Showcase 847.931.6019 Danny’s on Douglas Live Music: Uptown 6 9p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Cadillac Casanovas 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000. No cover

BRAVO

December 2015

mas! Holiday treats, punch, and tea will be served. Free Admission. This year’s speaker will be Leslie Goddard and her wonderfully insightful history of Marshall Field & Co. 1p-3p, Elgin Area Historical Society. Free

Sat.Dec.5 DNA’s Window Wonderland: Twelve Days of Christmas Join the DNA as they celebrate the 17th Annual Window Wonderland! The day will include pictures with Santa, Santa’s live reindeer, carolers, free City Skate, roasted chestnuts, City of Elgin official tree lighting and much more! 12p-5p, Various Downtown Elgin Locations

Welcome Baby! Baby’s First Library Visit Welcome Baby! Bring baby and baby’s new library card to this class designed especially for Baby’s First Library Card holders. Learn about programs and resources to support your baby’s early literacy development and receive a special gift! For babies up to six months old and their parents. Registration preferred. 1p3p, Rakow - Living Room

Elgin Police Department Winter Open House The Elgin Police Department will be hosting its annual Winter Open House. This is part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin IL Window Wonderland event. There will be historic displays in our lobby, child fingerprinting, McGruff, information from our special divisions, facility tours, activities for kids, and a demo with K9 Colt and Officer Schuttrow from 3:30 - 4 p.m.

12p-3.30p, Elgin Police Department

Holiday Tea featuring Leslie Goddard: History of Marshall Fields Enjoy Old Main dressed up for Christ-

A Holiday Musical Revue

December 4 & 5 at 8:00 PM, December 6 at 2:00 & 6:00 PM Elgin Art Showcase - 164 Division St, 8thfloor $20 in advance, $25 day of show www.HomefortheHolidays.show or call 630.492.0487

Presented by With A Voice Like This and FAME - Flora Ann McIntyre Entertainment

Since 1939

$1.00. from every OIL CHANGE donated to charity

AUTO SERVICE Around the World in One Night Enjoy a night of cultural traditions through Elgin Public Museum’s Touching on Traditions exhibition. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the stories, crafts and foods of different winter holidays highlighted in this interactive, drop-in program. No reservations required. 6p-8p . $2

Side Street Studio Art’s FREE Accents Kids Day As part of our Accents arts education and outreach program, Side Street Studio Arts hosts seasonal make and take arts events for children that are free and open to the public. In this open house environment, families are welcome to spend time at Side Street, visiting various art-making stations, making work of their own to take home, and just simply explore the gallery. Sponsored in part by our friends at Elgin Knit Works. 12p-4p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276. Free

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

City of Elgin’s Tree Lighting Ceremony 5p-6p, City Hall Plaza

Homes for the Holidays Eight houses in Elgin’s historic neighborhood, beautifully decorated by their owners for the holidays, The NENA Butterfly Garden, a warming house and a craft shop. Registration and Day of Tour ticket purchase at Advocate Sherman East Campus, 901 Center Street. If you have ordered your tickets online, please pick up your tour book at Registration Headquarters, 901 Center St. 12p-5p nenaofelgin.org. $10-20

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Blue Box Cafe’s Doctor Who Season Finale Party & Hell Bent Showing Co-Hosted with Southgate Media Group, we combine our awesome Live at the Blue Box and Doctor Who!!!!

Celebrate this season finale of Doctor Who at The BBC!!!!! We w... 6p-9p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583. Free

The Queers An awesome night of rock n roll that starts with Boxsledder, The Biscaynies, The Bungdoons, The Usuals and ends with The Queers!

Oct-Dec 2015:

Crisis Center

Complete Car Care • Servicing all Makes & Models High Mileage Specialists • Schedule Appointments Online Open Weekdays 7:30-5 • Open Saturdays 7:30-Noon

217 Symphony Way • (847) 741-5457 • autoelgin.com

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FEED.whereisbravo EAST SIDE Dublin Mule 1350 E. Chicago Street Elgin Animal Clinic 1350 E. Chicago Street #5 Elgin History Museum 360 Park Street Gail Borden Public Library 270 N. Grove Avenue Jewel-Osco 1040 Summit Street Willard Coin Laundry 745 E. Chicago Street #D

Grumpy Goat Tavern 875 Sports Way Elgin Community College Campuswide 1700 Spartan Drive Habitat for Humanity ReStore 800 N. State Street Holiday Inn Express 495 Airport Road Hampton Inn 405 Airport Road In The Neighborhood Deli 185 Edison Avenue

DOWNTOWN

Jewel-Osco 1660 Larkin Avenue

Blue Box Cafe 176 E. Chicago Street

Judson University (Commons & Library) 1151 N. State Street

Danny’s on Douglas 231 Douglas Avenue Domani Cafe 109 E. Highland Avenue Dog’s Paw Brewing Co. 74 S. Grove Avenue Downtown Neighborhood Association 10 N. Spring Street Elgin Antiques & Uniques 207 E. Chicago Street Elgin ArtSpace 51 S. Spring Street Elgin City Hall 150 Dexter Court Elgin Knit Works 8 Douglas Avenue Elgin Public House 219 E. Chicago Street Hemmens Cultural Center 45 Symphony Way Kellenberger Auto Service 217 Symphony Way Rediscover Records 9 S. Spring Street Side Street Studio Arts Gallery 15 Ziegler Court Soulful Sparrow 10 Douglas Avenue WEST SIDE Alexander’s Cafe 1725 N. State Street Big Skillet Restaurant 90 Tyler Creek Plaza Books at Sunset 1100 South Street Colonial Cafe 600 S. McLean Boulevard

Metra Rail Big Timber Station 2025 Big Timber Road Paul’s Family Restaurant 1300 Lawrence Avenue Super 8 435 Airport Road Walnut Speakeasy 214 Walnut Avenue RANDALL CORRIDOR Advocate Sherman Hospital 1425 N. Randall Road Candlewood Suites 1780 Capital Street Dutch Inn West 36W610 Foothill Road Jewel-Osco (South Elgin) 375 S. Randall Road Jimmy’s Charhouse 2290 Point Boulevard Panera Bread 2484 North Randall Road Panera Bread (South Elgin) 322 S. Randall Road Porter’s Pub 1250 Bowes Creek Road Rakow Branch, Gail Borden Library 2751 W. Bowes Road Starbucks 2480 North Randall Road Starbucks (South Elgin) 338 S. Randall Road Village Pizza and Pub 2496 N. Randall Road Woodman’s Market (Carpentersville) 2100 Randall Road

“D” Hangout Bar and Grill 550 S. McLean Boulevard

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Fox Valley Flea Market 840 N. State Street

Contact us at: bravo@marqueemedia.net

This is their only Chicago area stop for this tour that supports the re release of Beyond The Valley. Get there early because this is a small bar and entry is first come first served!

Don’t miss this 7p, Dutch Inn West 847.888.9560. $12

1.5 All are welcome! 1p-1.45p, GBPL Story Room - South 847.742.2411 Introduccion a las Tabletas Electronicas El participante conocera las posibilidades tecnologicas y las caracteristicas esenciales de las tabletas electronicas: iPads, Android y Windows. #basics 1p-2.30p, GBPL Computer Room Piano Performance: Marilyn House Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

1p-2p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Home for the Holidays Concert Inspired by the classic films, Holiday Inn and White Christmas, this spectacular holiday concert will take you on a musical journey of classic songs from the 40’s & 50’s Beginning with a WWII performance for the troops, we’ll move on to a Florida nightclub and finally settle in to a New England town.

Christmas Eve In My Hometown, Home For The Holidays, Baby It’s Cold Outside & White Christmas are just a few of the classic songs performed in this magical revue. Costumes, comedy and sentiment will warm the heart and enrich the soul. 8p, Elgin Art Showcase 847.931.6019

Blue Voodoo Live band. 9p, D Hangout 847.717.0510. No cover Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: R-Gang 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000. No cover

Sun.Dec.6 Danny’s On Douglas’s Hang out w/ Former Bears Players During the Game! Two former Bears players will be present every week to watch the games with you! 12p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. No cover Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 1p-4p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Instrument Petting Zoo & Kids Crafts Making sounds on a musical instrument is exciting and fun and may inspire an interest in learning to play. Prior to the Family Concert at 2pm, the ESO instrument petting zoo will be set up for children to enjoy in the StoryRoom. With the help of a musically- knowledgeable volunteer, students will be given a “mini-lesson” to spark an interest. No registration.

Home for the Holidays Concert Inspired by the classic films, Holiday Inn and White Christmas, this spectacular holiday concert will take you on a musical journey of classic songs from the 40’s & 50’s Beginning with a WWII performance for the troops, we’ll move on to a Florida nightclub and finally settle in to a New England town.

Christmas Eve In My Hometown, Home For The Holidays, Baby It’s Cold Outside & White Christmas are just a few of the classic songs performed in this magical revue. Costumes, comedy and sentiment will warm the heart and enrich the soul. 2p, Elgin Art Showcase 847.931.6019

Sunday Afternoon Family Concert: ESO Concert - Brass Music from Around the World Brass instruments were first used in Europe but are now played all around the world. Listen to the ESO Brass Quintet play music from all over the globe and learn how much fun it is to travel using your ears. No passport needed. 2p-3p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2.30p-3.30p, GBPL Lobby. Free Colors of Christmas Concert by the Elgin Children’s Chorus. 3p, ECC Blizzard Theater 847.214.7140. $12-15 Piano Performance: Ted Turner Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

3.30p-4.30p, GBPL Lobby. Free Home for the Holidays Concert Inspired by the classic films, Holiday Inn and White Christmas, this spectacular holiday concert will take you on a musical journey of classic songs from the 40’s & 50’s Beginning with a WWII performance for the troops, we’ll move on to a Florida nightclub and finally settle in to a New England town.

BRAVO

December 2015 Christmas Eve In My Hometown, Home For The Holidays, Baby It’s Cold Outside & White Christmas are just a few of the classic songs performed in this magical revue. Costumes, comedy and sentiment will warm the heart and enrich the soul. 6p, Elgin Art Showcase 847.931.6019

Mon.Dec.7

Piano Performance: Sister Weaver Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

7p-8p, GBPL Lobby. Free

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Save 10% on Holiday Cheer Cocktails with this ad!

Limit one offer per person, per visit. Not good with other discounts.

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting 7p-8p, City Hall.

Spring Swing Under the direction of John G. Slawson, DMA, the ECC Vocal Jazz Ensemble performs the finest vocal jazz literature - from be-bop to blues, standards to swing. Syncopated rhythms and melodious voices will have you snappin’ along! 7.30p-10p, ECC Blizzard Theater 847.214.7140

Tue.Dec.8 Walk with the Mayor 8a-9a, Centre of Elgin Centre of Elgin 847.531.7000 Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

11a-12p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Piano Performance: Ted Turner Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December. 3p4p, GBPL Lobby. Free Video Game Tournaments Think you’re the best? Come show off your skills and have fun in one of our videogame tournaments. For teens in grades 9-12. Madden 16: Wednesday November 11, 5-7 PM NBA 2k16: Monday December 7, 5-7 PM FIFA 16: Tuesday December 22, 5-7 PM 5p-7p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Chief’s Monthly Community Meeting Meet with Chief Jeff Swoboda and talk about community issues.

6p-7.30p, Elgin Police Department North Community Room.

The Gaming Event Players in grades 3-up are welcome to come to this monthly drop-in event. Play Pokemon™, Yu-Gi-Oh™, and other role-playing games (Don’t know how to play? We will teach you and get you started). Bring your cards to play or trade. No registration required.

6p-8p, GBPL Meadows Rms. B-C

Armchair Generals - Civil War Trivia Game A Brown Bag Civil War and Lincoln Interest Group. Join forces to commemorate events, share insights, and talk about books or experiences during the 150th anniversary. Bring your own hardtack. No registration.

11.45a-1.15p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411 Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 1p-4p, GBPL Computer Room

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Rakow Rooks Kids are invited to hone their chess skills at Rakow Branch. Beginners are welcome.

Intermediate or Advanced players can play opponents or work on chess puzzles. Chess sets available or bring your own. 4.30p-5.30p, Rakow - Children’s Area.

Poetry Writers Workshop Come share your love of poetry! This is a group for local poets to share what they have written. Gareth Mann Sitz, poet and songwriter, will facilitate.

No registration. 6.30p-8.30p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411

Elgin Public House’s Italian Wine Dinner Six-course dinner paired with Italian wines. Reservations required.

6p, Elgin Public House 847.468.8810. $60

Microsoft Word 2010: Editing Tools Did you know that Microsoft Word has built-in editing features that allow you to move content, check spelling and grammar, and receive comments on your documents? Come learn about these--and other features--in this session! #microsoft 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room.

Creative Gratitude Has the hustle and bustle of the season already gotten to you? Do you promise every year to slow down and appreciate what you have? Participants will create “sneaky art” to give to others as well as get connected by creating a gratitude circuit lapel pin. This evening will make the great beginning

Sustainabilty Commission 6p-7p, Elgin City Hall.

dancing til 4AM!

NEW

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IL 847-741-0349 M A161RE. Chicago T I NSt.IElgin, R O O M

WWW.MARTINIROOMELGIN.COM

BRAVO

10 to a Family Night or Friends Get-Together! Please register. 6.30p-8.30p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free Grupo de Conversacion en Ingles/ English Conversation Group Practica conversar en ingles, mejora tu pronunciacion y adquiere confianza con un tutor del Literacy Connection.

Practice having every day conversations in English, improve your pronunciation, and gain confidence with a tutor from the Literacy Connection.

6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411 Piano Performance: Heartland Voices Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December. 6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Lobby.

Free Danny’s On Douglas Open Mic Night ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 eBay Basics Ebay is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces for new and used merchandise, collectibles and other hard-to-find items.

Learn how it works--and how to pay for your purchases with PayPal--in this fun-filled class! 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room Library Board Meeting Monthly meeting of the Library Board which is generally held on the second Tuesday of the month. 7p-9p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411

Wed.Dec.9 Job Training Information Session Training grants are available to help you get a job! Learn about WIOA services and the application process.

Attendance is required for the entirety of the session. This program is in partnership with the Kane County Department of Employment and Education. 9a-10.30a, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411

sacion en ingles y espanol. No hace falta inscribirse. English and Spanish lessons and conversations. No registration. 6p-7p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411 Danny’s on Douglas Family Karaoke 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Microsoft PowerPoint 2010: Special Effects Take your PowerPoint skills to the next level! In this session, discover how adding shapes, clip art, logos or pictures and animating objects can spruce up even the most basic presentation. #microsoft 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room

Holiday Traditions ECC Concert Band highlights holiday favorites including Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “Christmas Festival.” 7.30p-10p, ECC Blizzard Theater 847.214.7140. $7-9 Elgin Public House’s Trivia Night Wednesdays 8pmStretch your brain with beer in hand! Wednesday nights are for Trivia! Join the EPH Trivia gang and battle against Elgin’s most ferociously competitive brainiacs.

Weekly prizes for the top three teams, as well as eight-week cumulative tourneys with big grand prizes.

Trivia starts promptly at 8pm. Get here early to settle in with some food, beer and cocktails. Check it out at elginpublichouse.com. 8p, Elgin Public House 847.468.8810

Device Advice Questions about your smartphone, tablet, eReader or laptop? Stop in to Studio 270 with your device for 1:1 help and a cup of coffee or tea! Registration not required. 9.30a-11.30a, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411

Piano Performance: Ted Turner Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December. 3p4p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 9.30a-1p, GBPL Computer Room

Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 5p-8p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Clase Futuros Bilingues / Go Bilingual Class Lecciones y conver-

Listen, Learn and Lead Toastmasters Club #6974 Become the speaker and leader you want to be. No registration. Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. By learning to effectively formulate and express your ideas, you open an entirely new world of possibilities. You’ll be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations, and you’ll improve your one-on-one dealings with others. Please join us as a guest! 12p-1p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411 ChessMaster Junior Chess Club Kids and teens in grades 2-12 are invited to hone their chess skills.

Beginners are welcome...; we will teach you how to play! Intermediate and advanced players can find new opponents or work on chess puzzles.

4p-5p, GBPL Youth Center - South 847.742.2411 Side Street Studio Art’s Small Wonders Choreography Workshop Choreography Workshop w/ Erin Rehberg 4p-6p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276. Free

Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

10a-11a, GBPL Lobby. Free Tinsel Time Join us, along with Mrs. Claus, as we celebrate the holiday season. Also joining us will be Ken

court Join us for an evening of beginner’s yoga with Pita Betancourt.

Learn techniques for relaxation.

Presented in Spanish. Acompananos para una de tarde yoga con Pita Betancourt. Aprende tecnicas para la relajacion. Sera presentado en espanol. 6.30p-8p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C Danny’s D.J. Night 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

Fri.Dec.11 Blue Box Cafe Geek N Out Geek N Out @Blue Box Cafe 5p-8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583 Blue Box Cafe’s Traveling Cafe Artist Blue Box Painting Join the BBC’s own Cynthia Shababby,The Traveling Cafe Artist, to paint your own Blue Box! Beginner or experienced painter, all are welcome. Includes a 2 hour painting session with instruction, canvas, paints, and all the supplies you need to create your masterpiece. You also get an Espresso Drink from Blue Box Cafe! Open to ages 12 and up. 5.30p-8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583. $25 11th Annual Holiday Hoot-n-Anny Fundraiser for Noland for State Senate. 6p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. $40 up Brushed Chicago’s Light For Paris Painting Event A LIGHT FOR PARIS Candle lighting ceremony and painting social. BYOB. 6.30p-9p, BrushedChicago.com 847.220.7335. $30 Dinner with Santa! Bring the kids for dinner and an evening of holiday fun, a craft, a sing-a-long and a visit with Santa. Don’t forget to bring a camera!

Dinner served at 7:00 pm. Min/Max: 75/200 6.30p-8.30p, Centre of Elgin Centre of Elgin 847.531.7000

Thu.Dec.10

Baby ‘n’ Me Playtime A variety of activities will be offered in this non-structured playtime. Spend some quality time with your baby and connect with other adults. For babies 0 - 23 months and an adult caregiver.

10a-11a, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B

Minecraft for Grades 3-5 All ability levels are welcome! Beginners can learn how to play; experts can show off their amazing skills by competing in a building challenge with friends.

Registration is required. 4p-5p, GBPL Computer Room

Schultz, the Holly Folly elf who will dazzle you as he juggles everything around the Christmas tree.

For preschoolers and their adults.

10a-10.45a, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C

1.5

DNA Annual Holiday Meeting The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin invites you to celebrate life and art in our community from a new perspective! Please join us for an evening of music, art, refreshments, raffles, new experiences, fun and friendship. 5p-8p, Kresmery Lofts, 4th Floor downtownelgin.org. $10 YWCA Elgin’s Holiday Open House Good friends, good cheer! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Join them for raffles, music, food and much merriment! 5p-7p, YWCA Elgin 847.742.7930 Genealogy Writers’ Group Learn tips and tricks from others with a similar interest in writing their family history.

6.30p-8p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411 Yoga Thursday with Pita Betan-

Girls Like Us A hit in our Club last spring, Girls Like Us moves into the Blizzard Theatre this season to celebrate the ground-breaking music of Carole King, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell! Inspired by the book Girls Like Us, Laura Freeman, Beckie

BRAVO

December 2015 Menzie, and Marianne Murphy Orland showcase the music and stories of three iconic singers, rock superstars, and adventures of the heart and soul. 7.30p, ECC Blizzard Theater 847.214.7140. $28 Danny’s on Douglas Live Music: Smokin Gunz 9p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

Sat.Dec.12 Read to Rover Tails are wagging at Read to Rover. School-aged kids may practice their reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. 10a-10.15a, 10.30a-10.45a, 11a-11.15a, 11.30a-11.45a.

GBPL Story Room - North 847.742.2411 Children’s Art Project with Art for All Children are invited to drop by the South Story Room to stretch their artistic talents! Project and materials are provided by the community group, Art for All. 1p-3p, GBPL Story Room - South 847.742.2411. Free

Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: April’s Reign 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover Side Street Studio Art’s Chicago Burlesque Showcase The amazing Chicago Burlesque Showcase, led by MsPixy Productions and Giant Martini, returns to Side Street in “Holiday Hijinks”! In our cozy cabaret space, the audience has a unique chance to see featured performers up close and personal. 10p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276. $20

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Holiday with Mrs. Claus The Rakow Branch will welcome children and adults of all ages to story time with Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus will share several timeless Christmas classics.

Create a craft and have a picture taken with Mrs. Claus. Light refreshments will be served. 1p-2p, Rakow - Children’s Area Posada Bring your family and friends for crafts, Mexican punch, candy and traditional Christmas carols. This program will be in Spanish. 1p-3p, Gail Borden Public Library. Free

December at ...

219 E. Chicago Street • Downtown Elgin Free Parking • Open Seven Days a Week (847) 468-8810 • elginpublichouse.com

Elgin Symphony Orchestra Magical Holiday Concert Get the whole family together for a magical concert, featuring all of your holiday favorites!

Featuring the Elgin Master Chorale.

Performances Saturday and Sunday.

1.30p, Hemmens Cultural Center 847.888.4000 Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

1.30p-2.30p, GBPL Lobby. Free Holiday Craft Day Join us at Rakow Branch for a relaxing afternoon making simple holiday crafts and sharing ideas for winter decorating. (Glitter included) 2.30p-4p, Rakow - Corridor West Piano Performance: Emily Yu Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December. 3p4p, GBPL Lobby. Free BrushedChicago’s Holiday Masquerade Celebration “Dazzling Christmas Tree” painting social.

Its the most wonderful time of the

year! BrushedChicago is throwing a Holiday Masquerade Celebration with live music, free give aways , BYOB, food tasting and Masquerade masks.

Don’t miss this special holiday event.

Masks will be provided at the event if guests do not wish to bring one, best dressed attire wins a prize! Be creative and show us your best dress or suit. 5.30p-8p, BrushedChicago. com 847.220.7335. $30 Elgin Symphony Orchestra Magical Holiday Concert Get the whole family together for a magical concert, featuring all of your holiday favorites!

Featuring the Elgin Master Chorale.

Performances Saturday and Sunday.

6.30p, Hemmens Cultural Center 847.888.4000

Cracked Nuts An interdisciplinary exploration of the historic Nutcracker ballet. Featuring dance, music, performance and visual art, Cracked Nuts is the first of its kind in Downtown Elgin.

Featuring performances by Core Project Chicago, Jay-Son Tisa Dance

Now accepting reservations for our

ITALIAN WINE DINNER Six courses paired with Fine Italian Wines TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 6:30 PM TUESDAY, DEC. 15, 6:30 PM $60 per person plus tax & gratuity So popular we had to have TWO!

BRAVO

12 Company, Anna Long, Andrew Moore, Kim Neal Nofsinger, Project606 Dance, Troupe Strozzi and so many more. 8p-12p, Elgin Art Showcase 847.931.6019. $12-15 Danny’s on Douglas Live Music: New Age Renegades 9p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Planet Groove 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

Sun.Dec.13 BrushedChicago’s Frosty Family Days Family and Friends join brushedchicago in Painting Frosty the Snow Man! Family days are $25 per person, ALL AGES WELCOME. 5+ AGES RECOMMENDED, parents are welcomed to help their children with painting. To reserve your canvas go to www.brushedchicago.com. Reservations are required... 10.30a-12p, BrushedChicago.com 847.220.7335. $25 Danny’s On Douglas’s Hang out w/ Former Bears Players During the Game! Two former Bears players will be present every week to watch the games with you!... 12p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. No cover Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 1p-4p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Introduccion a Skype En este curso el participante aprendera a usar Skype como herramienta de comunicacion para interactuar con otras personas ubicadas en cualquier parte del mundo mediante llamadas telefonicas, video conferencias, mensajeria instantanea e intercambio de archivos. #software&apps 1p-2.30p, GBPL Computer Room Elgin Symphony Orchestra Magical Holiday Concert Get the whole family together for a magical concert, featuring all of your holiday favorites!

Featuring the Elgin Master Chorale.

Performances Saturday and Sunday.

1.30p, Hemmens Cultural Center 847.888.4000 Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2p-3p, GBPL Lobby. Free

The Lennys Christmas Show A special Christmas show with the Lennys!

Featuring some cool yule tunes and plenty of favorites new and old! Open to all ages! 3p-7p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. No cover.

Mon.Dec.14

Brown Bag Lunch Classic Films The Bishop’s Wife (1947, NR) An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham (David Niven), has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. Enter Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. (Not rated, 109 minutes) 11a-1.30p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B. Free Coffee Stop: State Rep. Anna Moeller Grab a cup of coffee or a sandwich and meet State Representative Anna Moeller, 43rd District. 11.30a-12.30p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583 Spanish Cafe/Cafe en Espanol Looking for an opportunity to practice your Spanish conversation skills?

Then join this drop-in group that meets the second Monday of each month. Take part in a weekly topic of discussion, learn new vocabulary and put your listening skills to the test. No registration. 12p-1p, GBPL Meadows Rm. C Finals Feeding Frenzy Drop by Studio 270 to enjoy some snacks to help you cram for those finals. For teens in grades 9-12. 3p-9p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Shared Harvest Holiday Pop-up Co-op! Looking for good food for the holidays? Need a free-range turkey or other fine meat for your festive meal? Order it in advance from our parters, and pick it up December 14th.

Buy vegetables and other great local food from various vendors also. Get a little taste of the Co-op before it opens! 4p-8:30p, American Legion Hall, 820 N. Liberty Call (484) 2783781 for more info.

STEAMologists Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math! Kids in

first-fifth grade will be exploring, experimenting and creating. 4p-5p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament Duelists in grades 3-8 are welcome to join us for this free 2-hour tournament.

Banned and restricted card list will be observed. Bring your best can duel attitude! Registration required. 6p8p, GBPL Meadows Rms. B-C Great Books Discussion Group Book Discussion 7p-9p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411 Microsoft Word 2010: Tables, Images & Graphics Tables, borders, backgrounds and WordArt allow users to create custom designs that make their documents pop. Learn how to use these tools to spruce up your own creations in this class. #microsoft 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room

Tue.Dec.15 Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 1p-4p, GBPL Computer Room Finals Feeding Frenzy Drop by Studio 270 to enjoy some snacks to help you cram for those finals. For teens in grades 9-12. 3p-9p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Rakow Rooks Kids are invited to hone their chess skills at Rakow Branch. Beginners are welcome.

Intermediate or Advanced players can play opponents or work on chess puzzles. Chess sets available or bring your own. 4.30p-5.30p, Rakow - Children’s Area.

Elgin Alive - Screening of “Happy Feet” (2006, PG) In the world of the emperor penguin, a simple song can mean the difference between a lifetime of happiness and an eternity of loneliness. When a penguin named Mumble is born without the ability to sing the romantic song that will attract his soul mate, he’ll have to resort to some fancy footwork by tap dancing his way into the heart of the one he loves. 6p-8.30p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B. Free Elgin Public House’s Italian Wine Dinner II Six-course dinner paired with Italian wines. Reservations required. 6p, Elgin Public House

1.5 847.468.8810. $60 Grupo de Conversacion en Ingles/ English Conversation Group Practica conversar en ingles, mejora tu pronunciacion y adquiere confianza con un tutor del Literacy Connection.

Practice having every day conversations in English, improve your pronunciation, and gain confidence with a tutor from the Literacy Connection.

6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411 Danny’s On Douglas Open Mic Night ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Selling on eBay Selling on eBay is fun and can be a great way to earn extra cash for little-used items or personal business pursuits! Learn how to create an auction, employ selling strategies that maximize profit, navigate the ins and outs of eBay’s rules and earn a seller rating that will boost future business in this class. #software&apps 7p-8.30p, GBPL Computer Room

Wed.Dec.16 Job Training Information Session Training grants are available to help you get a job! Learn about WIOA services and the application process.

Attendance is required for the entirety of the session. This program is in partnership with the Kane County Department of Employment and Education. 9a-10.30a, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411 Finals Feeding Frenzy Drop by Studio 270 to enjoy some snacks to help you cram for those finals. For teens in grades 9-12. 3p-9p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Build It Up! with LEGOS Kids in Grades 1 & up; children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. LEGO building blocks will be provided for this fun-filled, creative building program. 4p-5p, GBPL Story Room South 847.742.2411 Young Writers Group for Grades 3-12 Play writing games, meet others who love to write, and get a chance to share and receive peer feedback on your work. 4p-5p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411 Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 5p-8p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Clase Futuros Bilingues / Go Bilingual Class Lecciones y conversacion en ingles y espanol. No hace falta inscribirse. English and Spanish lessons and conversations. No registration. 6p-7p, GBPL Meadows Rm. C Contemporary Fiction Book Group book discussion 7p-8.30p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411 Danny’s on Douglas Family Karaoke ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

BRAVO

December 2015

Belly Dance Wednesdays Eastern Groove Studio brings sophisticated music and an amazing dance show.

Join La Groove Fatale, the Eastern Groove Dance Collective and very special guests for a mid-week break with great performances. Earlier arrival recommended due to limited seating space. 8p, Martini Room 847.741.0349. No cover Elgin Public House’s Trivia Night Wednesdays 8pmStretch your brain with beer in hand! Wednesday nights are for Trivia! Join the EPH Trivia gang and battle against Elgin’s most ferociously competitive brainiacs.

Weekly prizes for the top three teams, as well as eight-week cumulative tourneys with big grand prizes.

Trivia starts promptly at 8pm. Get here early to settle in with some food, beer and cocktails. Check it out at elginpublichouse.com 8p, Elgin Public House 847.468.8810

Thu.Dec.17 Community Crisis Center’s Toy Give Away Help by sponsoring, donating, volunteering, or if in need participating! 9a-6p, Hemmens Cultural Center 847.931.5900 Device Advice Drop by the Rakow Branch for hands-on learning. You are welcome to bring your own devices. 9.30a-11.30a, Rakow - Computer Cafe Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 9.30a-1p, GBPL Computer Room Finals Feeding Frenzy Drop by Studio 270 to enjoy some snacks to help you cram for those finals. For teens in grades 9-12. 3p-9p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 ChessMaster Junior Chess Club Kids and teens in grades 2-12 are invited to hone their chess skills.

Beginners are welcome...; we will teach you how to play! Intermediate and advanced players can find new opponents or work on chess puzzles.

4p-5p, GBPL Youth Center - South 847.742.2411 Grupo de Conversacion para la Ciudadana/Citizenship Conversation Group ¿Necesitas practicar tu ingles

para el examen de la ciudadania? Ven a este grupo gratis para repasar y practicar el ingles que vas a necesitar para la entrevista y las 100 preguntas del examen de historia y civica.

El grupo es liderado por un tutor y cualquiera puede asistir. Presentado por The Literacy Connection. No hace falta inscribirse. Do you need to practice English for your naturalization/citizenship test? Come to this free group to review and practice the spoken English you will need for the interview and the 100 questions from the history/civics test. This group will be led by a tutor and is open to all.

Presented by The Literacy Connection. No registration. 6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Meadows Rm. C Rakow Readers Novels at Night My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh 6.30p-7.30p, Rakow - Living Room Danny’s D.J. Night 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Tattered Covers and All-Night Reads Notes From a Baby Boomer Popular culture specialist and prolific teller of tales,Steven Brezzo will bring his insight and spotlight the unforgettable books and characters that have meant so much to generations of readers. Brezzo, an author, curator and museum director who worked with Dr. Seuss and Maurice Sendak, will bring a holiday twist to this literary adventure. Please register.

7p-8p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B Veterans Information Networking Session - An Update on Veteran Benefits Join us for monthly programs to provide information on a varying range of topics dealing with Veterans and to meet and discuss with other Veterans. Topics may include veterans benefits (medical, dental, compensation, pension, burial, etc.), and updates on these benefits, military experiences, PTSD, trauma, recording of discharges and others.

Coffee and tea will be served. No registration. 7p-8.30p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411

Fri.Dec.18 Tattered Covers and All-Night Reads: The Great Children’s Books Our Parents Loved Exhibit Explore the books and characters that took your parents and grandparents on adventures. Readers of all generations will enjoy this exhibit of 75 iconic children’s and young adult books. Memorabilia, vintage film clips and original radio broadcasts are also included. Exhibit continues through December. Gail Borden Public Library Piano Performance: Ted Turner Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

10a-11a, GBPL Lobby. Free Piano Performance: David Nelson

13

207 E. CHICAGO ST. ELGIN www. ELGIN-ANTIQUES.NET

847-606-6284 • OPEN DAILY 11-5 Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2p-3p, GBPL Lobby. Free Blue Box Cafe Geek N Out New Hope Geek N Out @Blue Box Cafe 5p-8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583 City of Elgin’s Dinner with Santa Held in the Heritage Ballroom enjoy dinner, a craft, and sing-a long. Bring a camera for a picture with Santa!

Also pre-registration is required. 3-12 year olds with parents. Space is limited.... 6.30p-8.30p, Centre of Elgin 847.531.7000 Danny’s on Douglas Live Music: TNT 9p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Hot Rocks 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

Sat.Dec.19 Games & Gadgets Drop-in for some family free play! An assortment of board games, chess, Legos, Wii video games, or iPads will be available 2p-3.30p, GBPL Story Room - South 847.742.2411 Piano Performance: Marilyn House Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

3p-4p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Side Street Studio Art’s Jingle Bell Jam Side Street’s third annual Jingle Bell Jam will not only rock you into your holidays, but new this year, will partner amazing bands with amazing non-profit organizations! Each participating band has selected an

organization to partner with in order to raise awareness and funds. With their suggested donation at the door, JBJ audiences will receive a ticket to place in the band/charity jar they wish to support. Each charity will receive $1 for every ticket in their jar.

Additional tickets may be purchased for $1. Additional proceeds will go the support the musicians and Side Street Studio Arts programming.

Featuring Early Autumn Station, Man Bites Dog, Little Yellow Dog, and Oceans and Oceans. 5p, Side Street Studio Arts 847.429.2276. $10

Ola la Ijorere’s Holiday Adult Coloring & Painting ExtravaGRANDza Join our next annual ExtravaGRANDza! This holiday, we have a BYOB party designed for those who want to stay both inside & outside the lines! Whether you prefer brush stokes on a canvas or coloring within the lines, this scientifically proved STRESS BUSTER is sure to help you ‘Un-wine Creatively’ before Christmas. All painting & coloring materials provided. 8 x 10 picture frames for adult coloring. 12 x 16 canvases for adult painting. LIVE Music, Holiday treats, Contest giveaways and more. 5.45p-8.45p, Ola la Ijorere 312.254.9807. $55 Blue Box Cafe’s Live at the Blue Box Live Podcasts Holiday Special Join Rob, Martha and Molly and other hosts from Southgate Media Group as they record live podcasts, do awesome interviews, play great games, chat with special guests and talk about current TV shows, movies and Geek topics. Audience participation is appreciated, who knows,you may end up on one of the Podcasts!!! 6p-9p,

BRAVO

14 Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583. Free

Danny’s on Douglas Live Music: Sam Dandals Band 9p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Backdated 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

Sun.Dec.20 Danny’s On Douglas’s Hang out w/ Former Bears Players During the Game! Two former Bears players will be present every week to watch the games with you!... 12p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. No cover Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 1p-4p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2p-3p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Elgin Celebrates the Holidays Showcase Discover this wonder of Elgin with the city’s talented performing arts community while rejoicing in the season with ‘Elgin Celebrates The Holidays’. There’s something for everyone with this holiday variety show: dance, chorale music, classic vocal performances and seasonal cheer featuring talented performing arts groups including Eastern Groove Studio, Urban Dance Concept, BFH (formerly Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl), Soirée Lyrique, Elgin Master Chorale and Integrity School of Dance. GreenRoom Productions, our resident Improv Troupe at The Hemmens Cultural Center (First Friday of the month at 8pm - come check it out!), will act as masters of ceremonies for the event. All proceeds from the event go to Elgin’s participating performing arts groups. 3p, Hemmens Cultural Center. $10. 847.931.5900.

Come learn about DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Services for persons with disabilities who want to work, and about DRS Home Services Program, for persons with disabilities who are in danger of going to a nursing home or institution, as well as the other programs and services offered by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. 1p-3p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411

Ancient Cultural Traditions and the Solstice The Winter Solstice is a dark time of year – the darkest here in the northern hemisphere. Humans have replaced the long hours of darkness with lights and festivals since ancient times in the northern hemisphere.

The Celtic people of Ireland and many other cultures chose the solstice as a time to celebrate the seasons.

Solstice is usually celebrated by fires, light, family and community gatherings. The cycle of nature is the ultimate celebration. The Elgin Public Museum invites you to hear about long gone cultures and astronomical significance of the winter solstice.

Learn about the Druid Oak King and the Holly Queen and watch the Yule log be burned in a glowing campfire. Learn about the significance of the harvest and wildlife to ancient peoples. Drink warm cider and enjoy campfire treats! 7p-8p, Elgin Public Museum 847.741.6655. $3-5

Mon.Dec.21

Minecraft for Grades 6-8 All ability levels are welcome. Beginners can learn how to play; experts can show off their amazing skills by competing in a building challenge with friends.

1p-2p, GBPL Computer Room.

Computer Room Winter Film Festival: Tomorrowland Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

(2015, rated PG) 2p-4p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free Sew Much Fun! Grades 3 & Up. New to sewing? We will help you get started by working on simple beginner projects. Already know how to sew?

Come polish your skills. All materials provided. 4p-5p, GBPL Story Room South 847.742.2411

French Conversation Group Refresh and enhance your knowledge of French language and culture in a conversational setting with former college language professor Dennis Schwank. No registration.

6.30p-8.30p, GBPL South Elgin Room 847.742.2411

Winter Film Festival: LEGO DC Comics Super-Heroes: Attack of the Legion of Doom The Justice League starts to fall apart when they try to decide who should be nominated as team leader and a new member sows seeds of discontent among them, all while the world’s super villains are forming their own team to destroy the League once and for all. (2015, not rated) 10a-12p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free

Piano Performance: Ted Turner Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

10a-11a, GBPL Lobby. Free

Holiday Movie Marathon Come join us for our annual holiday movie marathon! Escape the cold and enjoy some hot chocolate. For teens in grades 9-12. 12p-6p, GBPL Studio 270 Stage & Screen. Free Illinois DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services Information Session

Tue.Dec.22

Winter Film Festival: Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run Lola Bunny invents a perfume with the adverse effect of

1.5 turning people invisible, sending her and cab driver Bugs Bunny on the run from the FBI, while another shady group seeks the formula. (2015, not rated). 10a-12p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free Job Search & Resume Help Drop in for one-on-one assistance with your job search. Receive help with your resume, cover letter, completing online applications, and more. For more information contact the Kane County Department of Employment and Education at 630-966-1435. 1p-4p, GBPL Computer Room

Winter Film Festival: Minions Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlett Overkill, a super-villainess who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world. Soon they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind... from annihilation. (2015, rated PG). 2p-4p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C Video Game Tournaments Think you’re the best? Come show off your skills and have fun in one of our videogame tournaments. For teens in grades 9-12. Madden 16: Wednesday November 11, 5-7 PM NBA 2k16: Monday December 7, 5-7 PM FIFA 16: Tuesday December 22, 5-7 PM 5p-7p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Moon Gazing on the Winter Solstice We will have a special night of moon viewing, a story and hot chocolate.

Drop by the Rakow Branch for a look at the moon with the possibility of seeing some planets. We will have a telescope set up for your viewing pleasure. If the weather is uncooperative, come anyway for the story and hot chocolate. 6p-7p, Rakow - Outside South Danny’s On Douglas Open Mic Night ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

Wed.Dec.23 Job Training Information Session Training grants are available to help you get a job! Learn about WIOA services and the application process.

Attendance is required for the entirety of the session. This program is in partnership with the Kane County Department of Employment and Education. 9a-10.30a, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411

BRAVO

December 2015

15

Stage & Screen. Free Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2p-3p, GBPL Lobby. Free

Winter Film Festival: Thomas & Friends: Legend of the Lost Treasure Unearthing an old pirate ship, Thomas is on the hunt for Sodor’s lost treasure. When Thomas rocks the boat with some new friends, trouble soon rushes in. Will Thomas track down the treasure in time or will Sailor John set sail with it? (2015, not rated) 10a-12p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free Holiday Movie Marathon Come join us for our annual holiday movie marathon! Escape the cold and enjoy some hot chocolate. For teens in grades 9-12. 12p-6p, GBPL Studio 270

Winter Film Festival: Cinderella When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.

(2015, Rated PG) 2p-4p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free

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16

Mini-Media Guide: FEED 411

How to Get Your Events Listed for FREE in The FEED Publishing and promoting all the things to do in Elgin is why we started BRAVO. We are eager to fill our pages with your events, concerts, festivals, lectures, arts happenings and more.

What We Don’t Want Commercial messages, like “$9.99 Friday Fish Fry” belong in your ad, not in the FEED. Since BRAVO is freely distributed to the general public, private events should not be listed.

Repeating Events Some kinds of events repeat regularly, like bird watching or French conversation groups. If these events are open, they are welcome in the FEED.

Basic Event Submission Visit our online event submission page and fill out the form.

Fill in all your event details, along with your own contact info in case there are questions.

Automatic Submission Fortunately, we have a means of collecting events from certain kinds of schedules you post on your website or social media.

If your website has a built-in calendar feature, there’s a good

DIY Crafts Get crafty with Studio 270’s Do-it-Yourself crafts and projects. For teens in grades 9-12. 3p-5p, GBPL Studio 270 847.742.2411 Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 5p-8p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Danny’s on Douglas Family Karaoke ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

Facebook Events We can access the events you create in your Facebook account, provided they are open, public events.

All we need is your Facebook ID, which is a number consisting of 10-15 digits. You can determine this number by following the tips at findmyfacebookid.com (see link below).

Google Calendar If you have a Google account, you have free access to a suite of useful tools, including a calendar that can be accessed as an RSS feed.

Edit your calendar settings and make your calendar public (or share it with us). You can obtain the URL of your calendar’s RSS feed by clicking the “XML” button. Boom! Send us that URL!

FEED.links

Elgin Public House’s Trivia Night Wednesdays 8pmStretch your brain with beer in hand! Wednesday nights are for Trivia! Join the EPH Trivia gang and battle against Elgin’s most ferociously competitive brainiacs.

Weekly prizes for the top three teams, as well as eight-week cumulative tourneys with big grand prizes.

Trivia starts promptly at 8pm. Get here early to settle in with some food, beer and cocktails. Check it out at elginpublichouse.com. 8p, Elgin Public House 847.468.8810

Thu.Dec.24 First United Methodist Church’s Christmas Eve Family Service 4.30p, First United Methodist Church First United Methodist Church’s Christmas Eve Traditional Service 7.30p, First United Methodist Church

Sat.Dec.26 Bison Feeding in Lord’s Park Join us for an up close and personal look at the bison, deer and elk at the Lords Park Zoo. Meet at the Museum for a short introduction after which we head for the zoo to assist the zookeeper in feeding these magnificent creatures. Space is limited to 12 people, so please register early. 7a-8.30a, Elgin Public Museum. $1-2.

! 7a-8.30a, Elgin Public Museum 847.741.6655. $1-2

http://www.fi ndmyfacebookid.com Go to the Facebook profile page for your business. Copy the URL (web address) shown in your browser’s location field.

Go to fi ndmyfacebookid.com and paste your profile page URL into the box at the top of the screen. Click Submit. The next screen will display your Facebook ID. Send us that number.

Blue Box Cafe’s Doctor Who Christmas Special Replay 8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583

Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Final Say 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

Sun.Dec.27 Danny’s On Douglas’s Hang out w/ Former Bears Players During the Game! Two former Bears players will be present every week to watch the games with you!... 12p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400. No cover Piano Performance: John LaBorn Join us for drop-in piano performances in the Lobby by community members during the month of December.

2p-3p, GBPL Lobby. Free Grupo de Conversacion en Ingles/

FEED.colorcode

http://www.marqueemedia.net/events Fill out the form with your event title, date, time, location, phone number, short description, and price. Your name, email and phone number are also required in case we need to double-check your details!

Elgin charities: Feeding Greater Elgin, a local food pantry, and the Elgin Community Crisis Center. Admission to the event will cost $15 per person.

There is a student rate of $10 if you show your student ID at the door. Unlimited food and drink (pizza and pop) will be provided with the purchase of a ticket. In addition, there will be a raffle and auction with... 5p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Blue Box Cafe’s Live at the Blue Box Live Podcasts Join Rob, Martha and Molly and other hosts from Southgate Media Group as they record live podcasts, do awesome interviews, play great games, chat with special guests and talk about current TV shows, movies and Geek topics.

Audience participation is appreciated, who knows,you may end up on one of the Podcasts!!! 5p-8p, Blue Box Cafe 847.697.2583

chance that your scheduled event data can be accessed over the internet, in a form that’s conducive to publishing in the FEED. The technology is called RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Ask your webmaster about it. Then tell us the URL (web address) of your calendar RSS feed, and we will take it from there.

1.5

2nd Annual Rock the Halls Holiday Concert Celebrate the season by dressing up, being ready to dance, and to raise money in support of local non profits through this benefit concert. This event will fundraise for two

Bands & Music

Causes & Community

Exhibits & Film

Theater & Dance

Kids & Families

Lectures & Learning Creativity Other

BRAVO

December 2015 English Conversation Group Practica conversar en ingles, mejora tu pronunciacion y adquiere confianza con un tutor del Literacy Connection.

Practice having every day conversations in English, improve your pronunciation, and gain confidence with a tutor from the Literacy Connection.

6.30p-7.30p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411

Trivia Party with Kahoot Come test your knowledge of news and pop culture events from the past year using the newest gaming craze, Kahoot!

1.30p-2.30p, Rakow - Children’s Area

Mon.Dec.28 Winter Film Festival: The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water When a diabolical pirate above the sea steals the secret Krabby Patty formula, SpongeBob and his nemesis Plankton must team up in order to get it back. (2015, rated PG) 2p-4p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free

Winter Film Festival: Scooby-Doo: Moon Monster Madness Scooby and the gang are off to space in billionaire Sly Baron’s brand new ship, the Sly Star One. It’s all gravity-free fun until a mysterious alien begins destroying the ship! As the ship breaks down, the crew is forced to land on Sly Baron’s base... on the dark side of the moon!

Will the gang unravel this alien mystery? (2015, not rated) 10a-12p, GBPL Meadows Rms. A-B-C. Free

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Wed.Dec.30 Elgin Knit Works Open Knit 5p-8p, Elgin Knit Works 847.627.4700 Danny’s on Douglas Family Karaoke ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400 Elgin Public House’s Trivia Night Wednesdays 8pmStretch your brain with beer in hand! Wednesday nights are for Trivia! Join the EPH Trivia gang and battle against Elgin’s most ferociously competitive brainiacs.

Weekly prizes for the top three teams. Trivia starts promptly at 8pm.

8p, Elgin Public House 847.468.8810.

Free

Rakow Readers My Sunshine Away

by M. O. Walsh 1.30p-2.30p, Rakow Living Room

Open Mic Night ... 7p-11p, Danny’s on Douglas 847.742.5400

Brew Year’s Eve Brew Year’s Eve is a craft beer centric New Year’s Eve party. Brew Year’s Eve will feature twelve Chicagoland breweries serving over 30 different craft beers. Live music, butler passed hors d’oeuvres, a late night pizza buffet and many unique photo ops will make this a New Year’s Eve you won’t soon forget. 8p-1a. The Haight. $125. brewyearseve.com

Thu.Dec.31

Writers on the Fox This writer’s peer group will inspire and motivate you with thought-provoking writing prompts and constructive critique.

Writers of all genres are welcome to participate. No registration.

7p-8.30p, GBPL Conference Room 847.742.2411

Tue.Dec.29

Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Rhinestone DJ 6p-9p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

FEED.disclaimer We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the event details listed in the FEED, but some of our sources may contain errors, and we make mistakes once in a while, too.

Grand Victoria Casino Live Entertainment: Classical Blast 9p-11.59p, Grand Victoria Casino 847.468.7000.

No cover

PLEASE verify the details of any of these events with the host and/or venue before making firm plans. Enjoy!

Limited Edition BRAVO 2015 Poster is Not For Sale

Chris Hodge

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Cover artist:

Tracey Pad

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Cover artist:

ith Virginia Sm

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Just take our fast, easy online Reader Survey and we’ll give you this poster. Pick it up or we’ll mail it to you.

With compliments. frey Pierce er artist: Jef

Cover artist:

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It’s 12 x 9 inches of pure Elgin culture, signed, certified and hand-numbered.

Sorry, you can’t buy it anywhere.

It’s free for BRAVO readers.

Just take our online Reader Survey. www.marqueemedia.net/2015_Survey

BRAVO

18

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• File format: PDF • Color Space: CMYK • Image resolution: 240 dpi or more • Fonts embedded in PDF • No bleed required

• PDF/X-1a:2001 preferred • No trapping required • OpenType fonts preferred • Avoid rasterized type • Maximum ink coverage 240%

Send ads to: bravo@marqueemedia.net

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BRAVO 2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . December 23 . . . . . . . . . . December 23 . . . . . . . . . . . December 31 BRAVO 2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . January 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . January 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 28 BRAVO 2.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . February 17 . . . . . . . . . . . February 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . February 25 BRAVO 2.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . March 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 31 BRAVO 2.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . April 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 28 Publication dates are subject to change.

Please contact Marquee Media before scheduling your ad.

BRAVO

December 2015

What This Town Needs

Cheap Tickets, Great Popcorn, and Every Movie You Need to See Suppose you could see a double feature of Sleeper (1973) and A Clockwork Orange (1971) for $5.00 tonight in Elgin. Would you consider taking it in?

How about Brazil (1985) and Being John Malkovich (1999)?

The world's treasury of sublime and ridiculous films is vast, and yet many of us will never see, or even hear about parts of this incredible legacy.

The DVD collection at Gail Borden Library is a tremendous asset to movie buffs who know what movies they want to watch and don’t mind screening them at home. (Editor’s note: all four of the above films are in the Library’s online catalog.)

Yet there is still a percentage of Elginites who prefer to travel to the Catlow Theater in Barrington for an alternative big screen experience.

That cool old building is an attraction, no doubt about it, but so is low price, good second-run variety, big sandwiches you can have delivered to your seat, and some really good popcorn.

Some readers will remember

Saturday night BREWvies at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles — a pioneer of "cash bar" cinema over a decade ago. In recent years, South Barrington's iPic has evolved the concept to full menu service.

In fact, the dinner-in-a-movie format still thrives in many places. Why not here?

19

FRI 7:00 18

SAT 7:00 19

9:00

9:15

Casablanca (1942, PG)

BIRDEMIC: Shock and terror (2010, NR)

HUMANOIDS from the deep (1980, R)

Some Like it Hot (1959, NR)

FRI 7:00 SAT 7:00 25 LA KER 26 SLACKER SLACKER

9:00

C

(1991, R)

9:15

PAPER

MOON

(1973, PG)

O BROTHER

WHERE ART THOU? Clerks (1994, R) We've overheard it said more (2000, PG-13) than once, "I wish we had a Catlow in Elgin." Unfortunately, DOUBLE Elginites lacked the money and/ FEATURE • ALL SEATS $5.00 • DOUBLE FEATURE • ALL SEATS $5.00 or the will to save our old movie Elgin movie house schedule of the future? houses from the wrecking ball when it mattered.

But we still have an appetite for cheap dates, great popcorn, and films outside the mainstream. Mama Lee's Gourmet Popcorn and the Elgin Short Film Festival are current proof of that.

Is there a courageous movie entrepreneur out there, ready to start up a regular schedule of cult flicks, classics, B-list screamers and artsy revivals?

Truffaut, anyone? Kurosawa?

Kubrick? Bueller?

Bueller? — JP

http://www.rectangoapp.com

BACK ISSUES available contact us: bravo@marqueemedia.net

BRAVO

20

1.5

Shared Values: A Local Food Co-op

What is Shared Harvest?

Question: “Shared Harvest?

What is Shared Harvest?”

Answer: A Food Coop.

Question: “What the heck is a Food Coop?”

It’s a question lots of people ask Elgin City Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger and Jennifer Shroder.

Rauschenberger, whose brainchild this was, and Shroder, the current Shared Harvest Board President have had a lot of educating to do. But once they do, the concept “just sort of sells itself!” says Shroder. A cooperative is a jointly-owned enterprise that meets a need in the community.

An Idea Germinates Because Elgin had no good source of local, fresh food or sustainably raised meat or local cheeses except for the few

months of the summer market, they and a group of like-minded citizens decided to start up their own grocery store.

Cooperatives sell “shares” or memberships to all those interested in the becoming “owners” of their own neighborhood grocery. Thus the community owns the store, not a corporate giant.

“I could never sell my way out of a paper bag,” Jennifer notes, “but this is sort of a no-brainer.

Most people want access to good food in the area and to be a part of bringing something positive to their neighborhood.”

A cooperative grocery store is a place where neighbors help plan the store and what is in it.

A food coop supports local small farmers and facilitates easy access to the local food system.

A cooperative grocery store is a place where you can spend

your money and know that each dollar you spend there generates $1.60 for the community.

do now is raise the money, hire a GM and build out the store space.”

Shared Harvest will be more than a store; the board of directors envisions a place you can go to get information on good food, good health, and good nutrition.

They envision an educated staff and the clear labeling of food; its content and where it comes from. They envision a business that supports composting, sustainability and community needs such as affordable pricing.

Where and when will the store be opened? Shroder claps her hands together with enthusiasm.

Question: “If it is owned by the people in the neighborhood, then how is it run?”

Answer: Democracy, naturally.

We all get together and vote for what we want and who we want. No more items that you fall in love with being discontinued by the corporate office. We are the corporate office.

Rauschenberger, Shroder and their fellow board members and volunteers say this is the wave of the future.

Spring Time for Harvest “We aren’t the only food coop coming. There are at least five other grocery store food cooperatives starting in the Chicago area alone, and a sixth one that just opened. The Sugar Beet Coop in Oak Park has been running since July.

Carol Rauschenberger addresses a meeting of coop shareholders at Imago Creative Studios.

Coop experts warn that starting a cooperative store takes from three to five years.

“It’s a lot of work but we have accomplished a lot,” says Rauschenberger, “We have almost 600 shareholder households, a location and a solid business plan. But the most challenging part is just ahead. All we need to

“The ACE building at Spring and Kimball, the part that’s on Spring Street. And no, the ACE isn’t moving, they are just letting us use the 1950’s part of the building, the part they use for storage. They have been amazingly supportive! ACE is leasing us that space rent free for 10 years once we build it out. It’s going to be great for the downtown.”

❝ A cooperative gro-

cery store is a place where neighbors help plan the store and what is in it.

“Besides access to healthy food for my family, rebuilding our community,” says Rauschenberger, “is a big part of the appeal for me.”

Shroder nods. “In our early research we visited several coops in the midwest. The General Manager of the Common Ground Coop gave their success story and I thought, ‘That’s what I want for us!’”

Grassroots Look Greener Common Ground is a food coop in Urbana, Illinois. After 20 years in a church basement, with the store making around $500,000 a year in sales, the membership decided to expand and add meat, eggs and dairy to the inventory. That meant mov-

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December 2015

21

profit. That money will be paid based on how much a shareholder spends in the store, not in how many shares they own.

The benefit of owning more than one share is that the store opens sooner with the added equity invested by shareholders.

Feeding Our Heads

Artist rendering of the future Shared Harvest store facade.

ing to a location that had space for freezers and refrigeration.

They talked to the membership, raised the money and moved to a run-down strip mall in downtown Urbana. A mere five years later, the coop had $7 million in annual sales, and has lifted the entire neighborhood with it. New stores opened and brought new life to the surrounding mall area.

They doubled their space again after only a few years. They are currently in the midst of another expansion to open another store in neighboring Champaign.

David Ziegler, President of Ziegler’s ACE Hardware says there is something very cool that happens when you put a grocery store in the same mall with a hardware store. The sales don’t grow in a linear fashion. They feed each other. “And with ACE being a coop too, it’s like kismet!”

It turns out ACE Hardware isn’t an ordinary franchise. ACE Hardware stores are owned independently, but buy from a national coop to get the collective buying power to compete with the big box stores.

David Ziegler was chairman of the board of directors of that national coop from 2008-2014.

He has a lot of faith in coops as a result. “It’s a win-win. Ziegler’s ACE Hardware wins, Shared Harvest wins, the city of Elgin wins, our whole community wins.”

Our whole community? “Yep!” says Shroder. “People won’t be

leaving town for Algonquin or Schaumburg to buy the kind of food they feel they need, and taking those sales tax dollars with them. We get jobs, and we get great local, sustainably grown food. The city gets the sales taxes they were missing out on, and then some.

“And then there’s the cool factor. Any town that can pull off a food coop has to be pretty cool.

It will add a level of cachet to Elgin’s beleaguered image. We are already changing our image with our seriously cool art scene, and this will cement that in people’s minds.”

Are there any other benefits we should be talking about?

“Yes!” says JoAnn Armenta, one of the board’s newest members.

“I signed on to make sure that good food gets into the hands of the people who are most in need, and that they get the information about what to do with that food.”

Shroder says Elgin is about 50 percent Hispanic so it is important to include ethnic families in this formula. Selling affordable, healthy, local food that appeals to the huge variety of families.

Cooking and nutrition classes are part of the blueprint for the future of the coop. Shared Harvest will open when the number of shareholders reaches “critical mass” according to Shroder.

“We need the equity from

Profits are something that most people think of when they hear that there are shares being sold. Profits are important to the mix but not the driver of most cooperatives. Coops like grocery store coops, or coops like ACE are there to help the member/ owners get something they need in an economical way.

They have to make a profit because, as the saying in the coop world goes, No Profit, No Program. You don’t get good, affordable food into the hands of your community if you can’t keep the business running. Shareholders will get profit-sharing in the future when the coop is making

On the advice of national food cooperative experts, Shared Harvest is launching the loan campaign in February. This is how most food coops get their start. With committed neighbors deciding that they are going to fund this endeavor, it is the very definition of investing in your neighborhood. This is the last step before hiring a general manager and beginning the buildout. “It’s the hardest part of the job, but it all goes very fast after that,” says Rauschenberger.

Shroder grins, “Which is good, because the most common thing we hear from everyone is ‘We can’t wait!’”

A share of the coop is $100.

For more information, contact Shared Harvest at sharedharvest.coop or email Jennifer Shroder at sharedharvestelgin@ icloud.com or call Carol Rauschenberger at (847) 873-9995.

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The Profit’s Hometown Rauschenberger agrees. “As a city councilwoman, I can’t own a piece of this store, even though there is no real ‘profit’ motive here. But this is so good for Elgin that I can’t help but work at this.”

shareholders, so the more the better, and we need to raise over a million dollars for the build out and inventory. The rest will come from our owners and the community in the form of loans.”

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22

1.5

Taste: A Culinary Map of Elgin Buffalo wings, Chicken Kiev, Manhattan Clam Chowder.

You could fill a cook book with recipes named after a bunch of more or less famous places in the world. Yet most of those dishes got their name from somebody who didn’t actually live there. So depending on how you look at it, it takes either pride or courage for a chef to name his restaurant — or his signature entrees — after his own city.

We visited menus and dining rooms all over Elgin, looking for those restaurants and menu items that honor local landmarks and the people who live and eat here.

Breakfast What is it about Elgin that inspires a breakfast skillet?

Baker Hlll Pancake House, a busy east side breakfast destination, features the Victoria Vegetarian Skillet, Fox River Skillet and Fountain Square Skillet prominently on its menu.

It’s a respectful tribute to three of Elgin’s great assets.

The Golden Skillet Restaurant, a west side breakfast and

Elgin on the Menu lunch specialist, makes the Elgin Skillet with bacon, sausage, ham and cheese. It’s one of only two skillets on the menu that contain no vegetables.

Many restaurants name their finest creations after the chef, the owner, or a beloved relative who originated the recipe. That’s nothing new. But local legend has it that Kendall’s Kountry Kitchen has named several breakfast specials after it’s customers. Now that’s gratitude!

Lunch Standing apart from the tasteless mass of fast food options, you’ll find the Blue Box Cafe, where the Elgin Club tops the

list of signature sandwiches.

Unless Sriracha mayo or pepper jack cheese count as vegetables, this deluxe four-meat sandwich continues the high-protein theme we first discovered in our skillet roundup.

A block away, you’ll find the Eastside Roast Beef sandwich at Al’s Cafe & Creamery, whose building is a local landmark in itself. What differentiates this from a westside roast beef sandwich is: at Al’s they put the horseradish spread on the side, not on the sandwich.

Happy Hour After work (but before 6PM), pick up some Elgin Mix, a combi-

nation of white cheddar, garlic and caramel popcorn, available exclusively at Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn. Dozens of online reviews attest that it tastes better than Chicago Mix, Schaumburg Mix, Bartlett Mix or Marengo Mix. Then raise a glass at the Martini Room, where you’ll find the world’s finest spirits, the best martini in the ‘burbs, and a list of signature mixed drinks that leads off with the Elgin Harvest.

Homemade basil and cucumber infused vodkas, agave and lemonade will get you thinking of the Elgin Harvest Market. More than two of these, and you’ll start forgetting about it.

Supper We have yet to find Zucchini Tips a la Elgin, or Elgin Perch Roulade on any dinner menu, but “Elgin” does grace the names of a couple of fine local eateries.

Considering its good food, astonishing beverage variety and hometown pride, the popular Elgin Public House needs no introduction.

A relative newcomer estab-

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December 2015

Taste: A Party in Your Mouth lished in 2012 on the northeast side is Elgin BBQ Pit, which features a glass-sided smoker in the dining room. Their menu includes hints of Caribbean and Mexican flavors alongside traditional dry rub meats and four signature sauces.

The Main Course No other restaurant displays greater community spirit than In The Neighborhood Deli, where essentially everything on the menu is named after businesses, schools, nonprofits and institutions. No less than thirty-five signature sandwiches honor all the things that make Elgin great, except one name that’s missing: ITN Chef Jeff Turner.

Dessert Elgin’s historical culinary brush with greatness is a chocolate malted milk shake, the Burns Malt, named after the Burns Pharmacy, where Fred Burns created it in the 1930’s for their soda fountain. The original recipe is currently curated by Al’s Cafe & Creamery. Yes, you can order a half-sized malt, but why would you do that?

What Tastes Like Elgin Still starving to identify the quintessential Elgin dish, we began to brainstorm. What’s a tangy, gooey, meaty, party in your mouth that no other city owns? Could it be ... a Francheezie?

— JP

FEED.elginonthemenu EAST SIDE Elgin BBQ Pit 970 Dundee Avenue www.elginbbqpit.com Baker Hill Pancake House 1279 Dundee Avenue www.bakerhillrestaurant.com DOWNTOWN Al’s Cafe & Creamery 43 Du Page Court www.alscafe.com Blue Box Cafe 176 E. Chicago Street www.theblueboxcafe.com Elgin Public House 219 East Chicago Street www.elginpublichouse.com

Martini Room 161 East Chicago Street www.martiniroomelgin.com Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn 20 South Spring Street (847) 789-6084

23

ASSIGNMENT BOARD This is where we post assignments for volunteer writers, photographers, and artists. We can’t compensate you properly (yet), but we give credit where credit is due, and excellent contributors have a way of getting our attention. So when those paid assignments do come along, well, we know who to call ...

BRAVO 2.1: Elgin Broadcasting & Meetup Groups Deadline: Weds., December 23, 5pm Cover Art: Microphone, antenna or broadcaster art Stories or interviews about broadcasters and Elgin media Photos of Elgin broadcast studios, past and present Roundup of drop-in groups that meet in Elgin Research article on “meetup group” trends.

BRAVO 2.2: Tattoo Art & Elgin Authors Deadline: Weds., January 20, 5pm Cover Art: Heart-themed painting or image Stories or interviews with tattoo artists (300 words) Photos of body art, or tattoo artists’ work (1000 x 500 px) Roundup of Elgin authors and books (2 columns)

Submit to: bravo@marqueemedia.net

WEST SIDE Golden Skillet Restaurant 740 West Chicago Street www.restaurantgoldenskillet.com Kendall’s Kountry Kitchen 219 Walnut Avenue (847) 742-5642 In The Neighborhood Deli 185 North Edison Avenue www.itndeli.com

B R A V O Magazine is published by

MARQUEE MEDIA P.O. Box 1551, Elgin, IL 60121-1551 (224) 513-1220 bravo@marqueemedia.net Publisher: Jeffrey R. Pierce Contributors: Jamey Bouwmeester, Jennifer Shroder.

2015 Advertising Rates: Full Page $169 • Half Page $99 Quarter Page $69 • Eighth Page $39 15% Discount for ready-to-print digital artwork (PDF) For complete advertising details, go to: www.marqueemedia.net/Advertise Next ad deadline: Weds., December 23rd, 5:00 p.m.

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