August 21, 2026 By

El Grito Fest Chicago Community Information Meeting – August 24th

El Grito Fest Chicago will take place September 12–13 as a community celebration of Latino heritage, with cultural performances, music, food, and family-friendly activities.

A community information meeting will be held on Zoom to provide residents with more information about the event and answer questions about potential traffic and neighborhood impacts.

Date: Monday, August 24, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Zoomd\
Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EE9cb3gdSpOL6qU-pgIAsw

Residents with questions or concerns can also contact Event Manager Garett Buzil at 773-584-6665 or garett@chicagoevents.com.

Filed Under: Community
August 21, 2026 By

Chicago River Swim – September 20th

Chicago River Swim  Friends of the Chicago River Cheering Section

Sunday, September 20 ~ 6:30 – 9:00 a.m.

The Jetty on the Chicago Riverwalk,
between Wells & Franklin – 260 W Wacker Dr.

Register Here

The beautiful clean waters of the Chicago River are hosting the Chicago River Swim on Sunday, September 20. This is the second year for this annual swimming competition put on by A Long Swim and Friends will be there to cheer on the swimmers! Join Friends of the Chicago River to celebrate this incredible event that showcases the progress made in the river’s water quality. FOCR will start gathering at 6:30 a.m. (come anytime!) at the Jetty on the Riverwalk (Wells to Franklin), where Friends helped guide the installation of floating habitat. Wear your Friends T-shirts! Coffee and donuts are on us. If you plan on coming, please sign up here so we know how many snacks to bring and can communicate should plans change due to crowds.

Filed Under: Community
August 17, 2026 By

Coffee with 18th District Commander – August 20th

Filed Under: Community
August 14, 2026 By

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan – Ward Park August 29th for the Kids!

Description

Mary is fascinated by the legends of monsters in the Great Lakes. She invites audiences to join her on her treasure hunt for the elusive “dinosaur of Lake Michigan”, also known as a sturgeon. Taking place near Chicago’s bodies of water, “The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan” highlights the importance of community care in light of the ever growing climate emergency. Kerfuffle and Rabbitfoot Puppetry use hyper realistic animal puppets made out of recyclable items, live music, and physical storytelling to bring this participatory play to life. Best enjoyed by children ages 3-6 with their caregivers.

Filed Under: Community
August 14, 2026 By

Upcoming CPD CAPS BEAT Meetings – September

We encourage all residents to participate in their CAPS Beat Meeting.  This is your chance to get involved

Unsure of your Beat?  To find your District & Beat, click HERE.

What is CAPS?  CAPS stands for Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. CAPS is a partnership between police and community that is the foundation of community policing. CAPS uses Beats to develop relationships between the community and the police.

CAPS meetings offer city residents an  opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing  feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues.  The beat meeting is a chance to meet your neighbors and come up with strategies that affect the community.

____________________________________________________

If you are in the 12th District, there are only In-Person Meetings

Beat 1214:  September 15   – Sterling Bay 333 N. Green Street 

  • 1214 7:00 p.m.

___________________________________________________

JULY  IN-PERSON MEETINGS for District 18

Beats 1822/1823: Sept 8 – Holy Family Church 542 W. Hobbie Street

  • 1822 5:00  p.m.
  • 1823 6:00 p.m.

Beats 1821/1824:  Sept 10 – The Clark -1201 N. Clark Street

  • 1821 4:00 p.m. (Changed from 5:00 p.m.)
  • 1824 5:00 p.m. (Changed from 6:00 p.m.)

Beats 1831/1832:  Sept 15 – Anti-Cruelty 510 N. LaSalle Drive – Enter through Grand Avenue Doors

  • 1831 5:00 p.m.
  • 1832 6:00 p.m.

Beats 1833/1834:  Sept 17  – Northwestern University 303 E. Superior Street

  • 1833 5:00p.m.
  • 1834 6:00 p.m.

OTHER RESOURCES:

To see the schedule for all of District 018 and 012 CAPS Beat Meetings for 2026,  CLICK HERE

Filed Under: Community

https://rnrachicago.org/37600/

https://rnrachicago.org/37599/

August 12, 2026 By

River North Design District Hosts 10th Annual Fall Gallery Walk September 11

To celebrate their 10th Anniversary, The RNDD Fall Gallery Walk is featuring 18 locations with special events throughout River North opening Friday, September 11th from 5-8pm. The event includes design vignettes from 31 artists and 17 designers sure to inspire anyone who wants to make their home a beautiful art filled haven. The Gallery Walk is free and open to the public, with proceeds from the afterparty, Light after Dark benefiting Tunnel to Towers. Visit our website to learn more and reserve your tickets, CLICK HERE

Feel free to check out the digital preview

of our Gallery Walk Program Book!

Filed Under: Community
August 8, 2026 By

18th Police District Council Meeting – August

18th Police District Council Monthly Meeting

August 25 – 6:00 p.m.

The 18th Police District Council will hold its monthly meeting on August 25, 2026 at 6pm at Wintrust Bank at 100 W. North Ave (Wintrust Bank at NW corner of Clark St & North Ave). Street Parking is available on North Avenue and Clark Street.

Our guest speaker will be 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins. We appreciate his attendance as he will provide his perspectives on safety issues.

District Councilors will also provide updates, and our 18th Police District Commander Bielfeldt (or his representative) will attend to provide information on safety.

REGISTRATION LINKS

CLICK HERE to register for In-Person Meeting (not required but appreciated).

CLICK HERE to register for Zoom (View Only)

Filed Under: Community
July 20, 2026 By

RNRA Joins Alderman Reilly in Ribbon at Montgomery Ward Park

 

This week, Alderman Reilly cut the ribbon to mark the official re-opening of the children’s playground at Montgomery Ward Park following the completion of a resurfacing project funded through his Aldermanic Menu Funds. As reported in a previous Reilly Report, Alderman Reilly allocated funding for the project after hearing concerns from local parents and neighborhood groups about the condition of the playground surface.

At the event, the Alderman spoke about the importance of maintaining neighborhood parks and investing in public infrastructure that enhances quality of life throughout the 42nd Ward. He also thanked the River North Residents Association (RNRA) for its advocacy and Schneider Deli for providing bagels and coffee for attendees. The poster shown below was created by preschoolers at the nearby The Gardner School.

Filed Under: Community