Park District of Oak Park

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:09AM

Headquarters, 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302. Registration required for all. Website oakparkparks.com. Main office (708) 383-0002; Paul Hruby Ice Arena at Ridgeland Common, 416 Lake St., (708) 848-9661; Rehm Pool is at 515 Garfield St. (between Gunderson and East avenues), (708) 848-2929; Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Ave., (708) 383-2612; Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., (708) 386-4700; Longfellow Center, 610 S. Ridgeland Ave., at Jackson Boulevard, (708) 725-2150; www.oakparkconservatory.com. Historic Pleasant Home, 217 S. Home Ave., (708) 383-2654. Fee listed resident/nonresident.

Park District is Celebrating: 100 Years of Fun! From 1-4 p.m. Jan. 29 come on over to the Paul Hruby Ice Arena at Ridgeland Common for the Park District of Oak Park’s Winter Fest. Open skate with music played by Chicago Blackhawks organist, Frank Pellico, snow sculpture created by award-winning sculptor Peter Hermann, free photo booth, a raffle with great prizes, cupcakes and hot chocolate, as well as games and prizes by the Blackhawks Street Team. Fun for the whole family at $1 per person. For more information visit www.oakparkparks.com/100th/.

Daddy Daughter Event: Call for start time. Feb. 3 at Cheney Mansion. Enjoy a private evening of elegance with your daughter (age 4-7 with parent). The evening includes special activities, a personalized dessert created just for you and dancing. Create a special memory for your special girl. For more information go online.

Teen Activities: for grades 6-12. Feb. 3 - Friday Night Ice at Ridgeland Common; Feb. 5 - Super Bowl Party at the Teen Center, 49 Lake; Feb. 11 - Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. For more information go to online.

Art Classes for Adults: in January and February at Pleasant Home. Art classes in pencil drawing, ink drawing, watercolor, charcoal, chalk and printmaking are starting up. For more information or to register call (708) 383-2654.

Youth Winter Basketball: for boys and girls in Grades 2-8 will begin the week of Jan. 24 and will continue into mid-March. Practices take place once a week at District 97 schools with games on Saturdays for Grades 2-5 and Thursdays for Grades 6-8. Register by Jan. 10 and save $10. For more information or to register, go online.

Kids Cook!: Leaping into Chocolate, Feb. 10; and Cajun and Creole, Feb. 17 at Cheney Mansion. Professional chef Ron Martin will train your young chef in the basic techniques of cooking and kitchen skills. Kids Cook! classes take place on Friday nights.

Seniors

The park district offers a variety of programs and trips for seniors and active adults. To find out more or to register visit www.oakparkparks.com or call Meredith Schwartz at (708) 725-2150.

Senior Dancing Hour: Call for time. Feb. 20 at Longfellow Center, 610 S. Ridgeland Ave., at Jackson Boulevard. Dance the afternoon away every third Monday of the month. DJ James Rohrbacher will play all of your old favorites. Bring a partner, come with a friend or come solo and meet some new people.

Book Worms Book Club: 10:30-noon, Feb. 23 at Cheney Mansion. A lively discussion each month. February’s book selection is Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Copies of the book are reserved for the Book Worms Book Club at the main Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., under “Park District of Oak Park Book Worms.” Fee: $1 for Active Adult members; $2 for nonmembers.

Current Events: Discussion Group meets 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month; Brain Builders meets on the second Thursday of each month; and Drop-In Games meets every Tuesday (Scrabble, Bridge, Mah Jongg and Chess). Classes begin in January, February and March and include “Winter Warmer Crafts,” “Memory Keepers” and “Keepsake Crafts.” Programs meet at Longfellow Center, 610 S. Ridgeland Ave., (at Jackson Boulevard) in Oak Park.

Ongoing

Oak Park Conservatory Gift Shop!: A best kept secret. New gift shop filled with interesting nature-related items many of which come from the 10,000 Villages Gift Shop.

Open Studio for Artists: (Adults): 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays; 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays open studio at Historic Pleasant Home, 217 S. Home Ave. Visual artists, writers and musicians are welcome to visit. Suggested donation: $5. For more information (708) 383-2654.

Drop-In Program: (Adults/Seniors): 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Party Bridge and more at Longfellow Center, 610 S. Ridgeland Ave. Active Adult program hosts party bridge, Scrabble and Mah Jong every Tuesday. Drop-in or make it a regular activity. Bring your lunch — coffee and tea are provided. Fee: $2/$3; or $15 for the season. For more information pick up an “Out ‘n’ About” newsletter at 218 Madison St., or call Meredith at (708) 383-3143.

Tour & Tea: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Historic Pleasant Home, 217 S. Home Ave. Reservations required at least one week in advance. Fee: $25 includes tour and tea and light sandwiches. Call (708) 383-2654.

Teen Center the Place to Go!: (Grades 6-12), 49 Lake St., Teen Center at Stevenson Center. Become a member and enjoy comfy furniture, computers with internet access, Wii and PS3, pool table, air hockey, a big screen for movies and TV and more. Come for the March Mayhem Teens Only Basketball Tournament, Thursday Tourneys or just drop in after school or on Saturdays.

Discover the Exploration Station: 10 a.m.-noon every Saturday at the Conservatory. New program every Saturday highlighting special aspects of the Conservatory for both adults and kids. Go to www.fopcon.org. December: “Animal Plants.” Have you seen a kangaroo paw or an elephant ear? Both of these are popular names for two plants. Learn about these and many other “animal plants.” Free.

Oak Park’s Garden of Eden: the Conservatory, 2-4 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, 615 Garfield St., at East Avenue. Free admission. Conservatory has never looked better. The Conservatory offers a variety of gardening workshops. And don’t forget É this tropical paradise can provide a unique and beautiful venue for your special event. Online or call (708) 725-2450.