Food Network star judges OK Chili Cook-off Jan. 22

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Updated: February 2, 2012 4:11PM

Opportunity Knocks’ fourth annual Chili Cook-Off will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at Healy’s Westside, 7321 Madison St., Forest Park. The cook-off is OK’s first benefit event of 2012 for the Warriors at Opportunity Knocks, a nonprofit organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Your $20 suggested donation includes appetizer and dessert buffet, choice of 25 registered chili recipes, drink specials, OK squares and TVs that will feature the NFL’s NFC and AFC championship games.

This year’s event will be judged by three of Chicago finest chefs:

Jeff Mauro, of Elmwood Park, winner of “Food Network Star” Season 7 and host of Food Network’s “Sandwich King.”

Paul Virant, Food & Wine Magazine’s 2007 Best New Chef and head chef and owner of Vie & Perennial Virant, in Chicago.

Erik Freeberg, Chef de Cuisine at Bar Toma, former sous chef at Spiaggia, in Chicago.

For more information visit the events section of www.opportunityknocksnow.org or e-mail info@opportunityknocksnow.org.

Meet suspense
author Jan. 23

Author Libby Fischer Hellmann will discuss “What Keeps Us Turning the Pages?” at 1:15 p.m. Monday (Jan. 23) at the historic clubhouse of the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association at 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park. In addition to her recent novel, “Set the Night on Fire,” Hellmann is the author of six other suspense novels and nearly 20 short stories. She will talk about what keeps her up at night and more.

Suggested donation for the program is $10 and it will be followed by tea.

For more information on all events at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, call (708) 386-2729 or go to www.19thcenturycharity.org.

Knitting lessons
start Jan. 24, OPPL

Reference librarian and experienced knitter Helen Blinder will offer five knitting classes with local knitting instructor Sue Jaffee, an accomplished knitter and knitting instructor from the Tangled Web and Knit Just Knits, in Oak Park. Classes will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 24) in the Small Meeting Room of the main Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St.

The first class is a two-session program for experienced knitters titled “All Wrapped Up.” Learn to knit a cozy continuous cabled scarf with sessions on Jan. 24 and Jan. 31. Reservations are required. Register in person, online or call (708) 452-3480. A required materials list will be provided in advance.

At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28, join instructor Sue Jaffee for “Ewe Need a Headband?” During the session participants will learn how to create a toasty headband ear warmer embellished with a flower. A materials list will be provided prior to the class.

Beginning knitters are invited to attend “Novel Knitters 101” at 7 p.m. March 20. Let the knitter in you be born. Learn the basic concepts of knitting, including casting on, binding off, the knit stitch, the purl stitch and more. Instructor Sue Jaffee will share ideas for simple projects for the new knitter. A required materials list will be provided prior to the class.

Teens are invited at 1:30 p.m. March 26, to join instructor Sue Jaffee for a “staycation” and learn the basics of knitting in this two-session program titled “Knit Happens!” Materials will be provided. Registration is required.

To explore the world of knitting further, check out some of the 387 titles in the Oak Park Public Library collection. The newest knitting-related volumes include Knitting Vintage: 30 Knitting Projects Inspired by Period Fashions by Claire Montgomerie (2011), Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons (2011) and Knitting Green: Conversations and Planet-friendly Projects ”by Ann Budd (2010). For a fictional take on knitting, pick up The Knitting Diaries, a collection of three stories about love and knitting by Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery and Christina Skye.

For more information on the Oak Park Public Library and its collections and services, visit www.oppl.org or call (708) 383-8200.

Beethoven by string
quartet Jan. 25

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association will present “Song of Heavenly Thanks,” the fourth of a 10-concert series by the Avalon String Quartet performing the complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, at 3 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 25). The Quartet Opus 74, nicknamed the “Harp,” makes novel use of plucking the strings. Opus 132, written when Beethoven was recovering from a life-threatening illness, features the “Heiliger Dankgesang” (Song of Heavenly Thanks), one of the truly beautiful slow movements in the chamber music repertoire.

All series concerts are held at 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Charitable Association’s historic building at 178 Forest, in Oak Park. Each concert has a designated local organization to which free will donations may be made. The concerts will benefit the Oak Park Festival Theater.

For more information on all events at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, call (708) 386-2729, or visit www.19thcenturycharity.org.