Zoom only

Celebrate Earth Month with BlackForager, Alexis Nikole Nelson. A forager, outdoor educator, chef, and influencer based in Ohio, Nelson uses her platforms to yell, sing and celebrate all the edible plants hiding in plain sight. She invites all to come on her foraging journey with her via @alexisnikole (TikTok) and @blackforager (Instagram). Through her search… Continue reading Illinois Libraries Present: The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson (virtual)

National Humanities Medal winner and bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan joins us to share on her body of work and reflect on the wonder of slowing down and savoring the quiet moments. Her connection to nature is captured in her latest, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a collection of sketches and essays… Continue reading Illinois Libraries Present: An Evening with Amy Tan (virtual)

Illinois Libraries Present James McBride, an award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, was published in 1996 and is considered an American classic, read in schools and universities across the United States. His 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, won the National Book Award for Fiction and was adapted by… Continue reading Illinois Libraries Present: An Evening with James McBride (virtual)

While sharing his journey of writing and publishing Civil War history, Thomas B. Mack, Ph.D will cover lessons learned in finding sources, ensuring the work is accurate, and completing a historical nonfiction manuscript. This is a virtual program presented via Zoom to be viewed anywhere on a device with an internet connection. Attendees will have… Continue reading Galena LitFest: Lessons Learned Writing History (virtual)

Whodonit? That is the question in any murder mystery, but an even better one is “How did the author do that anyway?!” In many cases, it means writing backwards. The author chooses who is killed and how. The author chooses the setting and the weapon. The author chooses…sometimes not a lot! Sometimes the characters themselves… Continue reading Galena LitFest: Writing a Mystery Can Be a Mystery! (virtual)

Famed Food Guy reporter at NBC 5 (Chicago), Steve Dolinksy has won 13 James Beard Awards for his TV, radio and podcast work. Steve is also the producer and host of Pizza City, a bi-monthly podcast featuring some of the nation's greatest pizza makers. In 2022, he launched Pizza City Fest in Chicago. Now in… Continue reading Illinois Libraries Present: Chicago Pizza Past & Present with Steve Dolinskey (virtual)

Join comedian, actress, and producer Michelle Buteau in conversation with Greta Johnsen. Michelle is the creator/writer/star of the Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, inspired by her autobiographical book of essays of the same name. She is also the host of two popular reality competition shows - The Circle and Barbecue Showdown, and hosts the… Continue reading Illinois Libraries Present: Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau (virtual)

Join Chef Art Smith to learn about his culinary journey and bring some culinary inspiration into your holiday season. A two-time James Beard Foundation award winner, Smith believes “The art of cooking, the act of feeding people, is the most engaging, most memorable way to connect with people.” Smith began his career at the Florida… Continue reading Holiday Tips and Tricks with Chef Art Smith (virtual)

Discover how retailers entice shoppers to make impulse purchases and how to avoid going overboard on your holiday shopping. Presented by Josue Fernandez an educator with Consumer Credit Council Northern Illinois. Register to attend virtually here: https://bit.ly/3LY4Hrs

Learn about fair housing laws, tenant rights, and landlord expectations and responsibilities. Presented by Josue Fernandez an educator with Consumer Credit Council Northern Illinois. Register to attend virtually here: https://bit.ly/3WuyUmY