River Cleanups

Three, three, three streets in one! We'll meet at[ Deko Cafe](https://cafedeko.com/contact2.html), 715 S. Dearborn St and then head over to Franklin and walk north. Franklin turns into Orleans at the river and ends at Wisconsin. These two streets combined aren't long enough for a decent February walk so we will head north to Webster and go south on Hudson Ave, ending at Erie St. The 6.67 mile point to point route can be found [here.](https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/ldXgSUN1dd) Hudson Ave, named for the English navigator Henry Hudson, who explored America from about 1607 - 1611. He discovered the Hudson River in 1610. Orleans St. was named for either New Orleans, LA, or the French city of Orleans on the banks of the Loire River. in 1429 Orleans was under siege by the English. They were turned back by Joan of Arc. How do Hudson and Franklin tie into New Orleans, Orleans or Mardi Gras? Well, I'll tell you. Or I should say, ChatGPT will tell you this: *The most direct and concrete connection between the names **Hudson** and **Franklin** with Mardi Gras is through a single historical figure and a specific event:* *The strongest link is a historical figure who brought the names together during a major Mardi Gras season:* * ***Mary Hudson Vandegrift*** *(originally Mary Evelyn Hudson) was a successful businesswoman who founded the Hudson Oil Company.* * *In **1965**, she was crowned **Queen** of the **Krewe of Venus**, which was the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe established in New Orleans.* * *The archival records of her Mardi Gras experience explicitly mention her husband, **Frank Vandegrift**.* *The record states that a scrapbook album relating to the event includes correspondence and ephemera surrounding both the 1965 Mardi Gras celebration and her **20th wedding anniversary to her husband, Frank Vandegrift** (1898-1977).* My lunch suggestion is Mr. Beef on Orleans and Huron. I have yet to dine at this iconic Chicago staple made popular lately by the high-intensity show, The Bear.

Welcome back Chicago Korean-English Language Exchange! Please read these instructions. 1) Do not mention "Korean Language Exchange" to any security guard or building manager. 2) If you're asked why you're entering the building, just say that you're going to buy food from McDonald's, Billy Goat Tavern, Dunkin Donuts. Each of those restaurants is on the second floor. Starbucks is on the first floor, which should be ok. 3) Make a purchase from a food vendor. It doesn't matter how cheap it is, just buy anything. My belief is that if we ALL make purchases from the food vendors, then we ALL have a right to use the space. For safety concerns we ask that you only come if you are fully vaccinated. We will also be breaking off into smaller groups for the time being and doing our usual 15 min Korean, 15 min English structure. We hope to see you there 🥰 Rsvp 를 누르시기 전에 다음 공지사항을 읽어주세요! 1) 참가는 백신접종을 2차까지 다 마치신 분에 한합니다 2) 건물에 들어 오실때 경비원이나 건물 관리자에게 "밋업"에 대한 얘기는 하지 말아주세요 3) 혹시 건물에 무슨 일로 왔는지 질문을 받으시면, McDonald 's, Potbelly, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts에서 음식을 사러 오셨다고 말해 주세요. 밋업은 보통 그룹으로 나누어 15분간 영어/한국어로 캐주얼한 대화를 하는 형식으로 진행됩니다. Merchandise Mart 2층 맥도날드 왼쪽에 있는 푸드코트로 와 주세요!

Come and join us for some fun board games! We focus on being social and not on being competitive. We play a variety of games including Azul, Transamerica, Rubbikub, Cryptid and more. Party games and simpler Euro games. Don't worry if you are not familiar with the games, we will teach. We will be in BACK ROOM near the bathrooms - it is just too cold to use the little room in the front. The room is also bigger so feel free to bring friends and your games. Please come and have some fun.

Hosted by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Join us for a stroll through the Forest Preserves at sunrise. https://fpdcc.com/event/sunrise-stroll/

******The movie starts at 5pm, but we’re meeting beforehand in the lobby at 4:30pm**. Tickets are available! There are no trailers before the movie 🎥 so it will start at 5 pm. **After the show join us for a discussion about the film! Look for me with a Meetup sign in a green coat with a blue scarf****** _With a screenplay by John Hughes, “The Breakfast club” this movie is a classic heartbreaking high school love story. _Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and Andrew Mccarthy are iconic In these roles and this was a movie that left a lasting impression on a generation. “The movie stars Molly Ringwald as Andie Walsh, a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother bailed out of her life years earlier, and she lives with her unemployed father (Harry Dean Stanton), whose first words after she wakes him one morning are, “Where am I?” Andie works in a record store in a downtown mall and wears fashions that seem thrown together by a collision between a Goodwill store and a 1950s revival. Andie attends a high school where most of the kids are wealthy snobs, and she has a crush on a rich kid named Blane (Andrew McCarthy).”

Help cook a special birthday lunch for seniors at Little Brothers: Friends of the Elderly. This is a celebration event where you will meet many seniors in their 70's, 80's and 90's and some even over a hundred years old! Come help make their birthday a very special one. Both experienced and non experienced volunteers are welcome. All cooking and plating instructions will be provided on site and it is easy. All volunteers must be 14 years or older. Minors must get their parents' or legal guardians' permission to participate. This birthday luncheon helps relieve isolation and loneliness among the elderly by providing a delicious meal in a social interactive space. There is a live band or DJ for music with singing and dancing. Volunteers will meet at their main office location at 355 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607. We will start cooking at 9 am and be ready to serve by noon. We will cook 80 to 100 meals to serve on site. Volunteers will meet in the kitchen. The shift time is flexible. If you have to come later or leave early, that's OK. Please dress appropriately to work in a kitchen. Wear closed toe shoes with non slip bottoms, like sneakers. Slacks, jeans or long pants. No shorts or tank tops allowed. You will be asked to wear a hair net or you can bring a baseball cap or hat to manage your hair. You can also bring your own apron if you own one. There is free street parking in the area, usually west of Ashland Ave and the surrounding side streets. It is also near CTA bus routes and Pink line. About our organizations: A 501(C)(3) organization, Fight2Feed’s mission is to make a difference by changing the rise of food insecure communities by fighting hunger one block at a time. The non-profit has over 650 volunteers with presence in Chicago, Kansas City, San Diego, Atlanta and Indianapolis. For more information, to donate or volunteer, visit fight2feed.org (http://fight2feed.org/), like on Facebook (http://facebook.com/fight2feed) or follow on Twitter (http://twitter.com/fight2feed). Fight2Feed combines donated restaurant resources with the mobility of food trucks and volunteer driven cars to delivery food to where food is needed the most in our city. Our organization is 100% volunteer run and supported. We have served over 55,000 meals to people in need in the last 3 years, and have rescued thousands of pounds of surplus food in 2017 from restaurants and other events to be redistributed to hungry citizens in need. Since 1959, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter’s mission, philosophy, programs and activities remain focused on alleviating loneliness among elders. The need for social interaction is critical to the human spirit—we believe that nurturing the soul is as important as feeding the body. And, while the number of elders served has grown by more than 35% in the last five years, our mission remains firm – to relieve isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly was started in France in 1946 by Frenchman Armand Marquiset as les petits frères des Pauvres (Little Brothers of the Poor). The organization served elderly Parisians who had lost their savings and family members in World War II. His motto, flowers before bread, expresses the spirit that man does not live by bread alone; it is the human touch that makes life worth living. Today, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly serves elderly in seven US cities and eight countries around the world. The Chicago Chapter is located at 355 N. Ashland Avenue in a multi-purpose facility purchased in 1998. This facility is transformed regularly into a place of celebration for holidays, Wednesday luncheons, and countless social gatherings held all year long.

*Before and After, an instant drama* **Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM, January 30-February 21** Life is defined in moments. *Before and After* explores the story leading to a life-changing event and the impact of that instant on all that is to follow. Are we truly changed by the big moments in our lives, or are we only revealed? No two performances are ever the same, but every show is an instant drama created before your eyes. Theatre Momentum is the **only** theatre in Chicago dedicated to dramatic improvisation. Join us for a night of grounded instant theatre. Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM (doors open at 7 PM) January 30-February 21 All tickets $5! Studio Momentum, 1541 W Belmont Ave ### **Get your tickets!** **[https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows](https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows)**

Join us Sunday morning as we travel to GERMANY and pick up Lincoln Square! We will meet at Lincoln Square’s Entry Gateway (on North Lincoln Avenue and West Lawrence Avenue). Here's what you can expect when you join a Litter Caterpillars event: * A conversation with new friends, filled with kindness and warmth * Every rule and tradition has been crafted and chosen to maximize friendship and fun * To quickly see your own impact on the neighborhood and city around you AGENDA: 9 am: The volunteers gather at the designated meeting location 9:00 - 9:10 : Each person introduces themselves, leads us in a stretch, and states what they are manifesting for the week 9:10 - 10:55 : Partner up and pick up trash! Rules: * Half of the people are on bag duty, half are on grabber duty. No one is allowed to be independent. * Every time you finish filling up a bag, change your role, and change your partner 10:55 - 11 am: Reflection and the Goodbye Ceremony - We all look backwards and notice how dirty things were, and how clean things are now! We take a deep breath and feel calm and happy. Finally, for the goodbye ceremony, we all put our left hands in the middle and chant "You'll never feel bitter, when you're picking litter!!" Hope to see you there! P.S. Afterwards, you are invited to grab lunch with us! No pressure to join though!

Let’s meet for a language exchange! How it works: We meet at the **7th floor** of the **Harold Washington Public Library** (400 S State St, Chicago) for conversation practice. After brief introductions, we will alternate between 15 minutes of English and 15 minutes of Korean (up to 90 minutes). For those who are new to Korean, we have a separate group that focuses on Korean vocab and basic grammar. Since space is limited, **please RSVP ASAP.** Please contact Tasnim at 614-260-4591 if you have trouble finding us! Also, we highly recommend that you **bring a notebook** with you to jot down new vocabulary words that you learn during conversation (you should then try to master those words as you will use many of the same words over and over again in real-life conversation!). For more information about our group (we also have [dinner parties](https://photos.app.goo.gl/QHvsF1puf4iDupJd7), K-drama discussions, [karaoke](https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKMdzmgwd6v8PQUg6), etc.), visit us on **Instagram** at [https://www.instagram.com/koreanconversationtable/](https://www.instagram.com/koreanconversationtable/) and at our website at [www.koreanconversationtable.org](www.koreanconversationtable.org)

Join us every Sunday morning to help make and distribute bagged lunches that include salads, sandwiches, and more to the hungry/homeless throughout Chicago. We make and package the food in the center, and then distribute it outside in the city, so dress according to the weather. Entrance is right in front of the Jackson red line stop, and a block away from the Harold Washington library. Follow us on Instagram @dic.chicago All are welcome!

**🎟️ 🎶Theater Week Stop 3: $30 tix-Trial in the Delta: Murder of Emmett Till🎭** *Chicago Theater Week 2026 Play #3 - $30 Tix-* *Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till @Kimball Arts Center* **Chicago Theater Week Play #3** 🎶 *Trial in the Delta: the Murder of Emmett Till* 📅 **Saturday Feb 14, 2025** ⏰ **7:30 PM** 📍 **The Kimball Arts Center \|** 1757 N. Kimball Ave, Chicago, **🎟️ General Admission Seating** Our **3rd & final stop** for Chicago Theater Week is **Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till**, a powerful, award-winning live docu-drama presented by **Collaboraction** in their brand-new **House of Belonging** in Humboldt Park. This immersive production brings the **1955 murder trial of Emmett Till** to life using the **recently unearthed trial transcript**, placing audiences inside the courtroom for a **deeply human, radically honest** examination of a case that changed America forever. Actors sit among the audience, taking the stand as witnesses for both the defense and prosecution — including **Mamie Till-Bradley** — creating a stunning, immediate, and unforgettable experience. New this year! Tickets are available on Hottix, no special codes needed! 🎟 **Theater Week Deal via Hot Tix** • **$30 tickets + fees (normally $55.00)** — no special code • **Limited quantity — WILL sell out** 👉 Buy here: https://hottix.org/shows/collaboraction-in-the-kimball-arts-center/trial-in-the-delta-the-murder-of-emmett-till/ ✔️ Select **2/14/25 General Admission – 7:30 PM** \| **The Kimball Arts Center** **-reg price $55.00 for $30! so $25.00 savings!** Any issues calls Hot tix helpdesk at Phone: **(312) 977-9483 or** Email: **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])** ⚠️ **Important Ticket Rules** · You must buy your own ticket · **DO NOT RSVP YES until ticket is purchased** · GA seating — we’ll meet in the bar & sit together · High probability of value-priced tickets selling out!! - buy asap! I’ll arrive around **7:00 PM to grab seats as general admission.** *I may grab a meal nearby earlier & I will post a comment of where I will go for those who wish to meet & grab a bite. Check back for updates* 🍷 **Food & Drinks** • No food served and no outside food allowed • Full bar available (wine, spirits, non-alcoholic drinks allowed in theaters) • If you want to eat, plan to do so before the show — many nearby options • Some of us may grab a bite. I’ll post updates closer to the date **Trial in the Delta: the Murder of Emmett Till** 🎶 About the Production On September 20, 1955, testimony began in the murder trial of two members of Emmett Till’s lynch mob. What happened during that trial — and in the weeks and months surrounding it — would help ignite the Civil Rights Movement. Written by Willie Round & G. Riley Mills, directed by Anthony Moseley & Dana Anderson, this production is drawn directly from The State of Mississippi vs. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam trial transcript. It plays as a live courtroom reenactment, featuring top Chicago actors seated among the audience. Join us as we witness this vital story — and stay to discuss its impact and legacy. **🏛️ About Collaboraction & the Kimball Arts Center** Collaboraction celebrates **30 years** of innovative, socially conscious theater and opens its new **House of Belonging** in Humboldt Park. The space includes: • 🎭 99-seat flexible studio theater • 🍷 50-seat cabaret with café/bar • 🏙️ Located next to the **606 Trail**, where Logan Square meets Humboldt Park Collaboraction’s work is grounded in **KEDA** — *Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue, and Action* — theater for social change. **Kimball Arts Center** Kimball Arts Center is a hub of Chicago creativity located next to the 606 Trail, where Logan Square meets Humboldt Park. Home to a collection of independent businesses for over 15 years. Always inclusive. Always open-minded. 🚗 Parking: Metered street parking nearby; SpotHero/ParkWhiz recommended 🚇 CTA accessible https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/ ❗ **No-Show Policy** 3 no-shows without RSVP updates = 3-month event freeze. 🎭✨ **This is a true Theater Week steal — grab your ticket before it’s gone!**

Come and play American Mah Jong. This is for players who know how to play - it is **NOT lessons**. Lessons will be offered again in the future. Stay and Play has a$15 cover charge. They credit $10 of the cover charge toward food and beverage. We often have a wait list so please update RSVP by Saturday evening so someone else can plan on attending. We will have 4 - 5 tables playing with extra players rotating in.

*Before and After, an instant drama* **Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM, January 30-February 21** Life is defined in moments. *Before and After* explores the story leading to a life-changing event and the impact of that instant on all that is to follow. Are we truly changed by the big moments in our lives, or are we only revealed? No two performances are ever the same, but every show is an instant drama created before your eyes. Theatre Momentum is the **only** theatre in Chicago dedicated to dramatic improvisation. Join us for a night of grounded instant theatre. Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM (doors open at 7 PM) January 30-February 21 All tickets $5! Studio Momentum, 1541 W Belmont Ave ### **Get your tickets!** **[https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows](https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows)**

Horner Park has a beautiful nature trail along the Chicago River which is part of the 312 RiverRun from Montrose to Belmont Ave, car free! This park looks different every time I go, with an ever-changing kaleidescope of native flowers! This a monthly event, on first Tuesdays. For the winter months, we will meet at 11 am, at the Horner Park field house on Montrose and California. You can get there by the Montrose #78 or the Western #49. We will walk south along the river, crossing the river on the pedestrian/biking Riverview Bridge and continue to Belmont. Then we will loop back to the field house.

Join us this Sunday morning as we travel to BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA and pick up West Ridge! We will meet on the corner of North Western Avenue and West Lunt Avenue. Here's what you can expect when you join a Litter Caterpillars event: * A conversation with new friends, filled with kindness and warmth * Every rule and tradition has been crafted and chosen to maximize friendship and fun * To quickly see your own impact on the neighborhood and city around you AGENDA: 9 am: The volunteers gather at the designated meeting location 9:00 - 9:10 : Each person introduces themselves, leads us in a stretch, and states what they are manifesting for the week 9:10 - 10:55 : Partner up and pick up trash! Rules: * Half of the people are on bag duty, half are on grabber duty. No one is allowed to be independent. * Every time you finish filling up a bag, change your role, and change your partner 10:55 - 11 am: Reflection and the Goodbye Ceremony - We all look backwards and notice how dirty things were, and how clean things are now! We take a deep breath and feel calm and happy. Finally, for the goodbye ceremony, we all put our left hands in the middle and chant "You'll never feel bitter, when you're picking litter!!" Hope to see you there! P.S. Afterwards, you are invited to grab lunch with us! No pressure to join though!

This event is a time for people to study their target language. Typically, the focus is on conversation. Beginners will have additional help with guided conversation and we all take turns speaking with 15 minutes in Korean and 15 minutes in English. If the group is large enough, we split into beginner and advanced groups. Sometimes we will also play language games or study TOPIK vocabulary. No materials are required, but we highly recommend that you bring a notebook with you to jot down new vocabulary words that you learn during conversation. The book I am currently using for conversation starters and guided sentences is called Writing Conversational Korean for Beginners by Goose Apple Books. I will bring my copy of the E-Book on my tablet, so purchasing it is optional. *** Language Exchange Community Guidelines 언어 교류 모임 가이드라인 1. Be kind and respectful. Let’s create a friendly and encouraging space. Speak kindly, listen well, and be patient with language differences. 1. 서로 친절하고 존중합시다. 친근하고 따뜻한 분위기를 함께 만들어가요. 말할 때는 친절하게, 들을 때는 집중해서, 언어의 차이를 이해하며 대화해요. 2. Respect personal boundaries. Not everyone is comfortable sharing personal info. Please don’t pressure others for phone numbers or social media. 2. 개인적인 경계를 존중합시다. 모든 사람이 연락처나 SNS를 공유하고 싶어하는 것은 아닙니다. 상대방이 원하지 않으면 더 이상 요청하지 마세요. 3. Message thoughtfully! If you’d like to contact someone, do so during normal hours (around 9 AM - 9 PM ) and keep it friendly and appropriate. 3. 예의 있게 연락합시다! 누군가에게 개인적으로 연락할 때는 예의 바르고 적절한 시간대(오전 9시\~오후 9시)에 메시지를 보내주세요. 4. Give everyone a turn. Please don’t dominate conversations. Make space for others to share and practice. 4. 모두에게 발언 기회를 줍시다. 혼자서 너무 오래 이야기하지 말고, 다른 사람들도 말할 수 있는 기회를 주세요. 5. Keep a positive atmosphere. Avoid gossip or heavy emotional topics. Let’s keep our gatherings uplifting and enjoyable for everyone. 5. 긍정적인 분위기를 유지합시다. 뒷담화나 무거운 주제는 피하고, 모두가 즐겁고 편안하게 참여할 수 있도록 도와주세요. 6. Talk to leaders if something feels uncomfortable. If you ever feel uneasy or unsure how to handle a situation, please talk to a group leader privately. 6. 불편한 일이 있으면 리더에게 알려주세요. 불편하거나 당황스러운 일이 생기면 언제든지 리더에게 조용히 말씀해주세요.

(This event gets 25+ people. Hope everyone had a fun and fantastic weekend!) Welcome back to the Lakeview home of Fun and Games at The River. The usual Mountain games will be in the bag, but repaired, returning and new games will appear in the new year! As always the Agenda is to have fun, meet people, eat some great food and to play some amazing board games. You're more than welcome to bring your own if you want to, but there will always be games to play. If anyone has any questions feel free to post them in discussion box or my DMs I do respond ASAP. The River is located at 2909 N Sheffield Ave. Located between the Diversey and Wellington Brown Line stops.

This monthly project has grown to be the Chicago's largest feeding project on a single morning, with an impact of helping over 24 different sites across the city. Come volunteer with your friends and family. This event is handicap accessible and appropriate for all ages. Saturday from 7 am to 11 am. We are making 7100+ lunch bags for 24+ shelters and sites to assist Veterans, seniors, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, refugee and migrant locations, and other supportive organizations. Location: St. Andrews Orthodox church, from 7 am to 11 am. All are welcome to participate. This volunteer event is family friendly, all kids can participate and be helpful. Gymnasium is wheelchair accessible. They can join us anytime in that time window. Free parking South of the church and entrance on the south side kitchen door of the gymnasium building. 5631 N. Sheridan Ave Chicago , IL 60660 if you are available to help deliver some lunch bags to a shelter or site, please come with an empty car and trunk, we will try to match you with a site that is along your route home. Typical delivery may be 2 to 4 giant garbage bags in size.

**Abstract:** The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is an X-ray light source at Argonne National Laboratory where researchers perform imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy experiments at 68 specialized beamlines. APS recently completed a major upgrade that made it the brightest synchrotron in the world and upgraded many of the beamlines to take advantage of the dramatically brighter, more coherent beam. These new capabilities are increasing the facility’s raw data production from <10 PB/year before the upgrade to >100 PB/year once all instruments are back online. To meet this data challenge, the APS Beamline Data Pipeline project team is partnering with beamline staff to develop and deploy science data pipelines that use a common set of open-source software tools (many written in Python) to link instruments with the Polaris supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) for data processing. This talk will describe the APS data systems, our file-based and streaming pipeline templates, and some of the open-source software we use to extract scientific insights from beamline data. **Audience Takeaway:** Open source Python data acquisition and analysis tools are ubiquitous at the APS. Many of the packages that are mentioned can be found at [https://github.com/AdvancedPhotonSource](https://github.com/AdvancedPhotonSource). This is a *hybrid* event. To attend online, join us on Zoom here at 6pm: [https://numfocus-org.zoom.us/j/89399976851?pwd=UEgMUZXdYmKdK1x1dIPL6hwUYnp7NW.1](https://numfocus-org.zoom.us/j/89399976851?pwd=UEgMUZXdYmKdK1x1dIPL6hwUYnp7NW.1) **Sponsor**: Grainger will provide the meeting site, as well as snacks for the onsite participants. * **Address:** 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, 18th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654 * **Grainger's Overview:** W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broadline distributor with over $17 billion in revenue. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Our machine learning team builds broadly across search, recommendations, product matching, computer vision, and generative AI. * **Logistics**: To access the Grainger office, we require **first and last names** of those who RSVP'd by **Feb 11**. Please take the main elevators at the center of the Mart. Attendees will then present their **IDs** when they arrive at the front desk on the 18th floor.