🌱 How an Elmwood Park bar owner is reinventing a troubled Wheeling spot

Cheers Elmwood Park! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How an Elmwood Park bar owner is reinventing a troubled Wheeling spot

Also on today's calendar: Enjoy a Jazzy Xmas Eve Dinner with Doug Lalli and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Windy with periods of rain, with a high of 50 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Breezy and much colder, temps: high: 27, low: 24.
• Saturday: Breezy with clouds and sun, with a high of 43 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• New restaurant coming to Wheeling space with deadly past (dailyherald.com) — Elmwood Park residents may recognize entrepreneur Dmitry Khlebnikov, who already runs Red Bottle Bar & Cocktail Lounge in town, as he expands with a new Red Bottle Restaurant in Wheeling. Village officials approved a 2 a.m. liquor license, live entertainment, and banquet space for the new spot, which is slated to open in early January in a location previously troubled by violence.
   

📸 Around Elmwood Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Elmwood Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 24

• Enjoy a Jazzy Xmas Eve Dinner with Doug Lalli
  4:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Lunch & Learn
  West Central SDA Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park
  12:30 pm
• Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4
  Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd, Northbrook
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Holiday Concert with Little Miss Ann
  West Belmont Branch Library , 3104 North Narragansett Avenue , Chicago
  11:00 am

Saturday December 20

• Cookies and a Book
  West Addison Branch Library , 7536 West Addison Street , Chicago
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Film Screening: White Christmas (1954)
  West Addison Branch Library , 7536 West Addison Street , Chicago
  2:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Gift Wrapping Party
  West Addison Branch Library , 7536 West Addison Street , Chicago
  1:00 pm
• Tis the season!
  The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association , 178 Forest Ave #1 , Oak Park
  1:15 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Parachute Play
  West Addison Branch Library , 7536 West Addison Street , Chicago
  10:30 am
• Cruelty Free You + Me: Stories and Songs
  Austin-Irving Branch Library , 6100 West Ivring Park Road , Chicago
  11:00 am
• Adult Book Club: Piranesi
  West Belmont Branch Library , 3104 North Narragansett Avenue , Chicago
  6:30 pm

📣 Elmwood Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Family Storytime
  Bellwood Public Library , 600 Bohland Ave , Bellwood
  10:00 am
• Toddler Time (Ages 18 months-3)
  River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Avenue , River Forest
  10:00 am
• Story and Play Time
  West Addison Branch Library , 7536 West Addison Street , Chicago
  11:00 am
• Boys Basketball/Cheerleading AWAY @ Hester
  Hester Junior High School , 2836 Gustav St , Franklin Park
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Elmwood Park PatchAM possible:

• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
  Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming…

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Charlie the Snowman & Friends, Wishing YOU a very happy holiday season !
  (3 D paint original 12/16/25 - Character line "Charlie") (Nextdoor Elmwood Park IL)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Melrose Park. Apply here.
• Molly Maid of Oak Park and the Midwestern Suburbs posted a job opening for Ayuda para Lipieza / Limpieza de casas / Limpiadoras / Maid / House Cleaning in Melrose Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elmwood Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

River Forest

• Nativity scenes, art spotlight immigration (umnews.org)
• Term limits in River Forest confirmed (oakpark.com)
• OPRF, Fenwick hockey revel in big wins (oakpark.com)

Oak Park

• Oak Park Conservatory A 'Hidden Gem' In The Community: Best Of 2025 (patch.com)

Elmhurst

Ok Elmwood Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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