Publications & Sites 
Judy’s cooking sessions turn into pitched battles
Updated: October 15, 2012 1:50PM
Here’s Judy’s pick of coming community activities in the Oak Brook/Oakbrook Terrace area, spiced with a little commentary. To suggest an event for her weekly column, send an e-mail to clafortune@pioneerlocal.com.
History a la Judy
Sign up now to visit a Civil War Encampment. Members of the 10th Illinois Regiment, along with their families, will depict life in a Union military camp in 1863 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 1 and 2 at Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 York Road in Oak Brook. Complete with authentic clothing, weapons and tools, there is excitement for all ages, including black-powder firing demonstrations and drills, cooking and crafts. For fees and to register, call (630) 655-2090.
This Civil War encampment event promises to be so enlightening, especially learning how people coped with having television just three hours a day and then only re-runs of Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” which was mighty hard to re-create in a rusty ol’ kettle over an open fire. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. They did have Cuisinarts, which helped.
Free grub here,
literally
FullersBird Fridays continue at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road in Oak Brook. Join these naturalist-led hikes in the summer and see how the diversity of birds in a forest preserve changes from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Aug. 17, 24 and 31. For fees and to register, call (630) 850-8110.
“… see how the diversity of birds in a forest preserve changes from 7:30-9:30 a.m. …” Hmmm. I wonder what’s behind this “changing of the birds” between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Maybe breakfast is served, the chickadees chow down, followed by the rapacious robins who churlishly churp about no fresh worms with their pancakes because of those chomping chickadees, and then … what? It means the hike is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.? It has nothing to do with the actual birds? Phew, that’s good, because when the doves dive-bombed in, it would have meant every birdie for him/herself, those greedy gobblers.
Tiltin’ at the
Tilt-a-Whirl
Drew’s Family Fest for CURED will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 18 at Terrace View Park in Oakbrook Terrace. Families will have a good time and help raise money to find a cure for eosinophilic disease. There will be rides and entertainment for all ages. The costs are $3 per child, $6 per adult. For tickets and more information, visit www.drewfest.com; e-mail drewfest@gmail.com or call Kris Mastrino at (630) 579-3403.
Here’s a great way to have fun with your family and help a worthy cause. Look for me. I’ll be the one watching my kids go round and round and round on the rides, as I always do, and then when they get off, I’ll kind of walk crooked and everyone will think I’m drunk and rumors will start … or is that only me? Anyway, say hello. I’ll be the one staggering, er, strolling about wearing a fetching shade of green. On my face.
Why be honest?
The Oak Brook Park District, 1450 Forest Gate Road, offers a wide variety of classes for all ages in its fall catalog. One example, in the arts and crafts section, are the popular ceramic classes for both adults and children, as well as many other options. To access the catalog online, visit www.obparks.org. For more information call (630) 990-4233.
Once when I took a ceramics class, I made a bowl and asked the instructor if he thought my masterpiece transcended craft and should be labeled as art. He replied, “No, it is not craft, it is not art, it is an unqualified disaster.” At least he could have said “qualified disaster” and left me with a speck of hope, the meanie.
I coulda’ been a contender
Please note: The Oakbrook Park District’s Family Aquatic Center will be closed from Aug. 20 through Aug. 31 for maintenance.
Drat, I was planning to go to the Aquatic Center to learn how to swim, a sport in which I am sure I could become Olympic-caliber-qualified quickly. But, drat again, the Aquatic Center will be closed from Aug. 20 through Aug. 31 and I just checked my calendar and that is the last time slot open for the rest of my life to learn this challenging — but for me, extremely easy — sport. So dear readers, if you see me ‘round the pool, tell yourself, “There’s Judy. What a champion she could have been. She’s terrific.” I’ll sign autographs.
