Upcoming Events & Meetings
North River Commission is committed to building and engaging our community.
Explore our upcoming and past events below.
Fall Nature Fest
🍂🌿 The 6th Annual Fall Nature Fest is back at LaBagh Woods on Saturday, September 13th (12–3pm)! 🌳✨
Hosted by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen and the Cook County Forest Preserves, this fest brings thousands together to celebrate nature, sustainability, and local eco-friendly businesses and organizations. Expect animals from the Brookfield Zoo, a show by the Jesse White Tumblers, food trucks, music, and so much more! 🐾🎶🌮
🙌 Commissioner Degnen’s Office is looking for volunteers to help make this year’s fest even bigger, better, and greener than ever. Volunteers receive a free Fall Nature Fest t-shirt, sandwich, and water — plus the chance to enjoy the festival and connect with environmental leaders.
🔗 Sign up to volunteer or learn more at fallnaturefest2025.eventbrite.com
Hey, I Thought of You Anniversary
Free-to-attend Sticker Day! It’s our 1-year anniversary of being open, and we will have sticker paper that you can draw and color your own sticker designs on! We will have stickering pages (like a coloring book, but you get to add stickers to fill in the artwork), and cookies to celebrate! Come relax, and meet some new friends!
Global Gardens Cooking Class
Join us for a hands-on cooking class where we’ll create Burmese-style Papaya Salad with our very own farmer, Tee Moo! You may be familiar with the Thai-style Papaya Salad, but now learn how our Burmese farmers make it. Tickets are $30. All cooking classes take place outside at our farm, weather permitting.
Tickets are available here:https://donorbox.org/events/810018/steps/choose_tickets
Cleveland Elementary Back-to-School Fall Craft & Vendor Fair
Friends of Cleveland are looking for vendors to apply to participate and would like to invite the community to attend and support our school and neighborhood small businesses and artisans. Spread the word and/or apply!
Family Fahm Event for Filipino American History Month
JOIN US FOR A DAY FILLED WITH ART WORKSHOPS, STORYTELLING, PERFORMANCES & MORE!
Chicago Vintage Fest @ Albany Park
SAVE THE DATE FOR CHICAGO VINTAGE FEST TO COME TO ALBANY PARK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME! Taking place on Kedzie Ave between Lawrence and the Kedzie Brown Line
KYR Workshop
Attend a virutal workshop to learn about what to do if you encounter ICE, creating an emergency plan, and updates in immigration law. This workshop is geared toward local business owners and their employees. This event is on Thursday September 4 from 3-4:30 pm and is in collaboration with the HANA Center and Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. Ofrecemos el presentación en inglés y español. Register for the event using this link: bit.ly/4mxfKbB
Urban Flooding Workshop
🌧️ Albany Park Community Meeting: Urban Flooding & Emergency Response 🌧️
Join us on Wednesday, September 10th at 6 PM at Movement on Montrose (2951 W Montrose Ave) for an important community meeting on flooding preparedness.
This meeting will:
✅ Give you space to share your flooding concerns
✅ Introduce the latest technology supporting city flood response
✅ Provide tips on how to effectively prepare for a flooding disaster
✨ Food and drinks will be provided! Participants who register AND attend will receive a gift card for participating.
📍 Albany Park, Chicago
📅 September 10, 2025 | 6 PM
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/flood0910
Albany Park Pop-Up Market
Join us for the second Albany Park Market of the season!
June 29th | 11AM–4PM
📍3403 W Lawrence Ave (in the parking lot)
Come shop handmade goods, unique finds, and support local makers and small businesses!
Bring a friend and connect with your community — we’ll be there, no matter the weather!
Flavors of Albany Park
North River Commission and the Special Service Area 60 are excited to invite you to the event of the summer! Flavors of Albany Park is back with your favorite restaurant crawl!
Flavors of Albany Park is back with your favorite restaurant crawl, giving you FOUR routes to choose from and bites from all over the world to sample! Let's celebrate the #GlobalRootsLocalHeart at the largest restaurant crawl in Chicago!
Experience the diverse, international cultures, and cuisines by tasting the delicious "Flavors of Albany Park" at our neighborhood restaurant crawl on Wednesday, June 25th, from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Albany Park is "Chicago's Gateway to the World" reflected in the distinct variety of ethnic cuisines from 50+ participating restaurants. Flavors of Albany Park explores the depth and diversity of global cuisines across four routes. The choice is yours! Attendees receive a "passport" as their ticket and route guide to taste sample-sized portions of culinary delights from local restaurants along.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE:
- Lawrence WEST
- Lawrence EAST
- Kedzie
- Montrose
Take your time walking from restaurant to restaurant. Each restaurant on the route will offer a sample of their food, a sweet treat, or a unique drink to all attendees. Participating restaurants will be listed soon!
Eat your way around the globe and get your tickets today!
P-B-B Asian Kitchen Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of P-B-B Asian Kitchen with a special ribbon cutting ceremony! Be among the first to experience our unique fusion of Chinese, Thai, and Korean flavors.
Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday, June 12th
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 4569 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL
(Right next to Perfect Brunch Bros.)
✨Grand Opening Special:
All customers will receive 50% off their order on the day of the ribbon cutting!
Come hungry, bring friends, and be part of the beginning of something delicious!
Session on Community Engaged Policing
Give your feedback and shape community policing in this session on neighborhood safety. An immigration attorney and CPD representatives will be present to answer questions.
Participants will receive gift cards. Light refreshments and Spanish translation will be available.
Youth Led Environmental Town Hall
Join the North River Youth Council, a group of civic minded high schoolers from the Northwest side, at their environmental town hall!
There will be local groups and environmental champions on the panel answering questions and talking about the work they do for our communities!
Support the youth by coming out!
It's Your Park Day!
Let's keep that Earth Day energy going every day! It's YOUR Park Day is a big community cleanup event that kicks off our volunteer season every year. Dozens of parks will pitch in across the city with park improvement activities. This is a free, fun, family-friendly event.
Coffee & Chat at Dulce De Leche Café
Join us at Dulce De Leche Café, one of Albany Park’s beloved local spots AND five-time champion of the Community Choice Awards!
Free samples will be provided and you’ll get a chance to try their NEW menu. Come hang out, make some new connections, and enjoy good vibes!
50% of ticket sales proceeds will go to support Dulce De Leche!
URI Cafe and Baklava Ribbon Cutting
Sweet news, Albany Park!
Join us for the ribbon-cutting of @uri_cafe_and_baklava and experience a taste of heaven with Turkish delights and unique coffees and drinks. See you there!
📍4640 N Kedzie
🗓️May 23rd
⏰4pm
Special Meeting of the Membership Council
Dear Member of the Membership Council, Community Members, and Friends of NRC,
Since its founding in 1962, the North River Commission (NRC) has worked to connect and empower our community. And, as a longstanding organization committed to the holistic wellness of our community, we understand as well as anyone that, as the world around us changes, so, too, must we learn to adapt and change with it. Part of that journey will always be to examine what is working, and what is not. The Covid Epidemic left an indelible mark on our community, leaving behind both challenge and opportunity as we find our way in a transformed world.
Seeking opportunities to better serve the community we hold dear, the current Board of Directors has been examining itself from the inside out. While we consider ourselves to be the voice of the community, we are looking for ways to better represent the community at the board table. One change was obvious: we need more diversity of voices at that table. We say that we make room for new voices, but how do we act on that declaration? Well, we build into our organization’s structure a mechanism for making room for those new voices.
In April, after much discussion, the current Board of Directors voted to enact term limits for itself and generations of the Board going forward. This step brings our organization’s bylaws more in line with other non-profits of similar stature in the modern day, and endeavors to make space at the table for new and powerful voices with interesting and modern ideas as a natural part of its lifecycle. It is, we believe, a positive and responsible step in service to the community we hold dear.
On Tuesday, May 20th, at 6:00 p.m. we are holding a meeting to answer any questions from the community on this change, and to hold a vote for the Membership’s approval of the Bylaws change. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend, and members in good standing will be invited to vote on the bylaws change to make this much-needed adjustment official.
On behalf of the North River Commission Board of Directors, and our remarkably capable Staff, I look forward to connecting with you and your member organization, both on Tuesday, and in bright future days.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
With warm regards,
Marilee Rutherford
President, North River Commission
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Meeting ID: 821 2134 0892
Passcode: 365643
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33rd Annual Chicago River Day
It is almost time for the 33rd annual Chicago River Day, Friends of the Chicago River's largest volunteer stewardship day of the year!
Our local sites at River and Ronan Park are completely full but there still over 70 locations to pick from. There will also be THREE community hubs where you can learn all about their new River Shallows Project!
Interested in learning more? chicagoriver.org/get-involved/volunteer/chicago-river-day
Career Fair & HANA Resources
Explore new career opportunities in the Chicago area and discover HANA resources, including legal services, senior services, public benefits, education classes, housing support, mental health counseling, youth programs, and civic engagement.
Free services:
Professional headshot
Resume consultation
Mock interview practices
Career training resources
RSVP at bit.ly/2025CAREER
"Grounded & Growing" – A Mental Health Awareness Month Workshop
Join us for a special Mental Health Awareness Month workshop, "Grounded & Growing", led by Licensed Counselor and Dance Therapist Lisaura Lozada-Goode of Drawing Closer Counseling & Wellness.
When life feels like too much, it’s easy to disconnect from yourself and those you care about. In this one-of-a-kind experience, you’ll learn gentle mind-body practices to help lower stress, build resilience, and feel more present in your relationships. Whether you're in a tough season or simply seeking a reset, this workshop is for you.
✨ Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Event Details:
📍 Location: 3403 W Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL – Suite #301
📅 Date: Thursday, May 8th, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Business Safety Meeting
📣ATTENTION ALL BUSINESS OWNERS🚨
In partnership with the 33rd Ward Office, we're hosting a business safety meeting where YOU will have the opportunity to receive important safety updates from the 17th District Commander and team. Stay informed, ask questions, and connect with fellow business owners.
📆 Wednesday, May 7th
⏰ 6pm to 7pm
📍NRC Office | 3403 W Lawrence Ave, Ste 301
Your safety is our priority -- see you there!
Take Back 15 Hours: A Free Workshop for Small Business Owners
📣 FREE WORKSHOP: Take Back 15 Hours
Still buried in admin work?
Join us on April 30 @ 6PM at North River Commission to learn how to:
✅ Automate emails & scheduling
✅ Reclaim 15+ hours/week
✅ Grow your business without burnout
🎁 Toolkit included. Space is limited, RSVP at the link in our bio.
👉 4features.ai/15hours
📞 Text/call: 773-207-3720
Taller bilingüe disponible
Friends of the Parks Earth Day Cleanups
This year @friends_of_the_parks will be hosting their annual citywide Earth Day cleanups on April 26th!🌏
Are you located in Albany Park, North Park, or Irving Park areas? Use our list to find a park near you hosting a clean up! Be sure to RSVP in advance using the link in our bio! 🌳🌟
Can’t volunteer but want to support your local PAC? They’re always looking for donations to keep events like these going!💚
Creativity & Connections: Networking Event
Get ready for a vibrant and fun networking experience! The Albany Park Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to invite you to a one-of-a-kind event at @intouchandmotion , a creative arts therapies practice in Irving Park. This isn’s just another meeting-it’s a chance to connect with amazing professionals, spark new collaborations, and dive into a hands-on, creative grounding activity. Plus, there will be snacks and refreshing beverages to keep you fueled! This event is free of charge.
🗓️Date: April 23rd
⏰Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00PM
📍Location: 4028 W Irving Park Rd, Loft B, 2nd Floor
***Please note, the venue is only accessible via stairs. Street parking is available. Once you arrive, kindly use the buzzer to be let in.
Panda Express Ribbon Cutting
We’re so excited to welcome Panda Express to Albany Park! 🎉 Come join us for the grand opening and help us celebrate this tasty new addition to the neighborhood.
Stick around after the ribbon cutting—the first 88 guests will score a free T-shirt!
From their famous Orange Chicken to a full menu of bold, flavorful dishes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
📍 Location: Panda Express – 3380 W Lawrence Ave
📅 Date: Monday, April 22nd
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM
We can’t wait to see you there!