🌱 Patch AM: Could Oak Park’s next great sci‑fi writer win this $1,500 grant?

Hello Oak Park! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could Oak Park’s next great sci‑fi writer win this $1,500 grant?

Also on today's calendar: Master Bespoke Tailor Launches Hands-On Fashion Classes at E.W.S. Fashion Academy, est. 1995 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Snow and rain, up to 1", with a high of 37 and low of 23 degrees.
• Sunday: Breezy; morning snow showers, temps: high: 34, low: 26.
• Monday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high of 42 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• SLF's 2026 A.C. Bose Grant for South Asian Speculative Literature Open for Submissions (file770.com) — Writers in Oak Park with South Asian or Desi roots can now apply for the Speculative Literature Foundation’s 2026 A.C. Bose Grant, which supports speculative fiction projects with a $1,500 award. The foundation notes key backing from the Oak Park Area Arts Council, the Village of Oak Park, and the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation.
   

📸 Around Oak Park

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

Saturday January 10

• Master Bespoke Tailor Launches Hands-On Fashion Classes at E.W.S. Fashion Academy, est. 1995
  137 N Oak Park Ave , Oak Park
  9:00 am
• A Vision Board Workshop For Empowered Parents and Caregivers
  Forest Park Public Library , 7555 Jackson Blvd , Forest Park
  10:00 am
• BABS Babes Improv @ 8
  BABS Comedy Club , 7316 Madison St , Forest Park
  8:00 pm

Sunday January 11

• Arnie the Doughnut - COOK THE BOOK! - preschool class
  Schoolhouse Kitchen + Studio - Oak Park , 1011 Madison St , Oak Park
  10:00 am
• Cosmic Romantics
  Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
  1:00 pm
• BABS Brawl- An Improv Competition
  BABS Comedy Club , 7316 Madison St , Forest Park
  5:00 pm

Monday January 12

• Threading Community
  The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association , 178 Forest Ave , Oak Park
  1:15 pm

Friday January 16

• Jazz Prayer - Where Jazz Meets Spirit
  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , 611 Randolph St , Oak Park
  7:10 pm
• Dinner + a Show with Comedian Adam Burke
  Salerno's Pizza & Pasta of Oak Park , 7128 Roosevelt Rd , Oak Park
  8:00 pm

Saturday January 17

• Dixon's Violin LIVE!
  Belle's Lounge by Valentine Distilling Co. , 161 Vester Ave , Ferndale
  4:00 pm
• Abstract Mystical Forest Sip and Paint 🎨
  Toast To Paint , 7185 W Bloomingdale Ave , Chicago
  7:00 pm

Sunday January 18

• Create Your 2026 Vision: A heart-centered vision board + visualization workshop
  Unity Oak Park Spiritual & Family Center , 405 N Euclid Ave , Oak Park
  11:00 am

📣 Oak 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!

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 Oak Park PatchAM possible:

• Doug Lalli - Pianist/Composer/Teacher — (708) 228-7150
  Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson!
• Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
  Discover Oak Park’s Hidden Gem – A living world of beauty
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
  Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming…
• Doug Lalli - Jazz Musician, Composer and Teacher — (708) 228-7150
  Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson!
• Art Studio 928 - Oak Park, IL — (312) 371-9526
  From Team Off-Sites to Parties – Host It at Studio 928!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• BHHS Chicago’s Kindness Foundation Granted $35,000 to Philanthropic Organizations in 2025
  The Kindness Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chicago real estate brokerage Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, made 2025 year-end grants... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Two ICE Shootings in Two Cities, One Day Apart —Laurie Christofano Read on Patch

• Can anyone recommend someone or company that they have used to do exterior painting?
  Looking for someone who is reliable, does great work, and is has reasonable pricing. Thank you. (Nextdoor North East Oak Park)

• Roehl Transport posted a job opening for CDL Training - on-the-job program in Oak Park. Apply here.
• Lou Malnati's Pizzeria posted a job opening for Waitstaff in Oak Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

River Forest

• Revisiting Oak Park's ban on ‘For Sale' signs (oakpark.com)
• J. Peter Dygert (springvillejournal.com)

Forest Park

• Mayor Adams Let Drivers Back into Forest Park — and Mayor Mamdani Can Fix It (streetsblog.org)
• Rep. Underwood endorses Dr. Fisher in 7th District Dem. primary (oakpark.com)

Berwyn

Ok Oak 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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