The Village Chicago

Make a Splash with Aqua Zumba
2026-02-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-02 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | IL
Members & guests: $10 per class (Click to purchase)
Aqua Zumba is back! Join us for a refreshing pool workout that mixes fun dance moves with upbeat music. The water adds resistance for a great cardio burn while being easy on the joints. Expect splashes, smiles, and a cool, energizing workout you’ll love!
Please note: The Ray will offer free, two-hour, parking validation at the Sheffield Garage (2331 N. Sheffield) to users of the facility using the Metropolis Parking app. This app allows for seamless, contactless payment and can be downloaded at https://app.metropolis.io/sign-in
​You must scan the QR Code at the Equipment Desk to receive the Ray Meyer Discount Rate
This QR Code will provide the parker with 2 hours of free parking from the time they pull into the Sheffield Garage
Anyone who stays longer than two hours will be responsible for paying the full amount for parking ​
This discount rate will not be available at the Clifton Garage

Keeping Up With The Trend: Understanding Northside Home Values With Village Sponsor John Irwin and Jackie Lafferty Chicago Real Estate
2026-02-24 17:00 | IL
Members & guests: free
Special Sponsor Presentation!
Register today!
Join Village Sponsors John Irwin and Jackie Lafferty Chicago Real Estate for a special Zoom presentation on February 24th at 5PM. John and Jackie will review the main real estate metrics on Chicago’s North Side and explain how these trends are effecting your home values.
There will be a Q & A after the presentation. Send all questions to info@thevillagechicago.org before the event.
About John Irwin and Jackie Lafferty Chicago Real Estate:
Our success is based on personal service and attention to detail. While guiding our clients through every aspect of the home buying and selling process, their needs and interests are our only priority.
With over 300 million dollars in home sales and over 45 years of combined experience, we have been consistently ranked among Chicago’s top real estate brokers. We have been featured in Chicago’s major media outlets, including ABC News, Crain’s Chicago Business, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, Market Watch and CNN. The ultimate measure of our success, however, is that the majority of our business comes from client referrals.
We are especially proud of our association with Baird & Warner and their unmatched resources that expands our reach locally, nationally and worldwide.

Pickleball for All - A two part series
2026-02-25 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-03-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Clark Street Pickleball, 2354 N Clark St
Wednesdays from 1030am-12pm on 2/25 and 3/4

Members & guests: free

Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this two part series is the perfect opportunity to get active and have fun. Pickleball is an increasingly popular sport for people of all ages, and this two part series offers time for experienced players to get right into a match or for beginners to get some guidance on the basics. Rackets and balls are available for free at the venue, just be sure to wear your tennis shoes. Attendees can attend one or both sessions but RSVP is required. A review of the rules and gameplay is available on YouTube by clicking here and recommended before attending for first-timers.

A $5 cancellation fee may be applied to no-shows or to those who do not cancel their registration within 48 hours of the event.

Prospective Member Coffee & Pastries
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | The Village Chicago Office, 2502 N Clark, Chicago, United States
Members & guests: free
Want to learn more about the Village? Join us in the Village office to learn more about Village membership while enjoying coffee and pastries. This informal session will provide the opportunity to ask questions and meet a member of the Village staff.

Let's Talk DNA: Identity, Crime Solving and Genealogy
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:30 | IL
Location: The Village Chicago Office (2502 N Clark)
In this thrilling two meeting mini-series, Village member Marsha Dowd will share true crime stories, mysteries, and insights into crimes solved using DNA and identity forensics.
Register today by calling 773-248-8700 or emailing info@thevillagechicago.org! Space is limited.

Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
2026-02-26 17:00 - 18:00 | IL
Members & guests–free. To RSVP, please scroll down. The day before each discussion, registered attendees will receive a confirmation email with a link to join via Zoom.
RSVP to Join! This is an ongoing discussion group. After you register, you will receive weekly emails with Zoom details and a link to that week’s story. While the group meets weekly, members and guests are welcome to drop in for one or all discussions.
This week the group is reading Folk Tale by Virginia Hamilton

Conversational French
2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Chicago Public Library – Lincoln Park Branch, 1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Members & guests: free

Join member Beverly Livingston for a welcoming and informal French conversation class. This is a place to practice your speaking skills and learn some colloquial French. Various levels are welcome, but some experience is suggested. This event is accessible.

Memory Cafe
2026-02-27 12:00 - 14:00 | IL
Are you looking for social connection and a place to meet others living with memory loss and their care partners? Join the Village Chicago and Lincoln Park Branch Library for our monthly Memory Cafe!
Memory Cafe offers a comfortable and supportive environment for individuals living with memory loss and their care partners. Enjoy lunch and make new friends. This is a fun and casual environment, where all are welcome.
Activities at this event will be thematic and will include games, arts and crafts, music, and more. Friends, family members, and community allies also are welcome.
Memory Cafe takes place at the Lincoln Park Branch Library (1150 W Fullerton) every 4th Friday of the month.
Click here to register!

Skill Share with the DePaul OT Students
2026-02-27 14:00 - 15:30 | DePaul OT Building, 2400 N Sheffield, Chicago, IL
Come teach and/or learn at this special event presented by the DePaul OT Students. Skill shares are gatherings where people can present a skill- whether it be mending clothing, using a feature on a smartphone, or even a small craft – and also learn from others. This intergenerational event is a great way to exchange knowledge while having fun. You can register by clicking here.

Birding on the Lake Front with David Baker
2026-02-28 09:00 - 10:30 | Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, The Magic Hedge, 4400 N. Simonds Dr., Chicago, 60640, United States
Don your winter regalia and join Village member David Baker for a morning walk at
Montrose Point to see what species of birds have braved the winter and if any early
migrants have shown up. Sometimes we get treated to roosting owls, and there will be
a variety of ducks that winter on Lake Michigan to be seen as well. Dress warm and
wear winter shoes and boots.

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies
2026-02-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom, Chicago, IL, United States
Members & guests–free
Every Saturday afternoon, join fellow film aficionados of the Village for an in-depth organic discussion of films new and old. Watch the selected film any time–or enjoy the discussion and be persuaded to view it after!
Mr. Nobody Against Putin: 2025, 90min, 100% Rotten Tom, $6 on Amazon and other streaming services. In Russian with subtitles
“Pasha” is a 33-year old teacher and videographer at a school in a small Russian town of 10,000. Usually, he’s a beloved mentor, prankster, and nonconformist, known for hanging up democracy posters and offering a safe haven to students in his office. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, however, patriotic education policies are enacted requiring propaganda exercises for students. Pasha videos the changes showing students not only engaging in loyalty exercises, but also farewell parties for students drafted after graduation. What he films, or perhaps the way he films things, not surprisingly, gets him in trouble.

Monthly Intergenerational Trivia at D'Agostino's
2026-03-02 19:30 | D’Agostino’s Wrigleyville, 1351 W Addison St, Chicago, 60613, United States
Presented by the Bridging Generations Board

Members & guests: free; food & drink self-hosted

Test your trivia skills at this new monthly event! The first Monday of the month, BGB and Village members will be meeting at D’Agostino’s in Wrigleyville for a few rounds of trivia. All 21+ are welcome but RSVPs are required.

—–
Launched in 2019, The Bridging Generations Professionals Board is a group of young adults who firmly believe in the importance of multigenerational relationships at work and in the community. The events they have organized include book, short story and documentary discussion groups; intimate multigenerational dinners, community volunteerism, Trivia nights and more.

Brain Spa
2026-03-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-17 11:00 - 12:00 | IL
Members & guests–free. RSVP below!
This is a virtual Zoom session held every other week, open to anyone who would like to get connected to others, practice skills and exercise their brain. Join us for puzzles and challenges, storytelling and reminiscing in a comfortable and casual environment. These sessions will be an hour long and are meant to be fun and interactive. You don’t need to attend all sessions to participate, feel free to drop in whenever you would like!

Enhancing Executive Functioning in Adults: Science, Strategies, and Solutions
2026-03-04 14:00 - 15:30 | IL
Members & guests: free.
Location: Via Zoom.
Are you frustrated with daily activities or finding it stressful to do chores or tasks? Do you know you need to do something but have a hard time following through? Join The Village Chicago, and Home Instead for an informative presentation on Executive Functioning in Older Adults. Presenter Suzy Carbrey will discuss the brain science behind executive functioning tasks, tips and tricks for how to improve your executive function, and reduce stress.

Great Books, Great Conversations
2026-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom, Chicago, IL, United States
Location: via Zoom

Members and guests – Free!
This ongoing Village discussion group meets online the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a selection of short readings from an anthology published by The Great Books Foundation. Although the group has been meeting for years, they are very welcoming to new members!
NEW BOOK! Get yours FREE!
Join the conversation!

Email highrenn@aol.com for your free copy of

Conversations Volume 4.

“Meno” by Plato

We travel to Athens to read Plato’s short dialogue between Socrates and a young politician Meno. What is the nature of virtue? What the heck is virtue? Can it be taught?

The Village Thursday Murder Mystery Club
2026-03-05 10:00 - 11:30 | IL
Do you love True Crime? Then this is the perfect club for you. Limited to 7 participants, join fellow True Crime afficianados as we delve into The Thursday Murder Club series, written by acclaimed author, Richard Osman. Registering for the book club is a 5 week commitment.
Our Thursday Murder Club meets every other Thursday in January. In February, we’re shaking things up and meeting every Thursday. Two of those February sessions will feature Marsha Dowd, who will share true crime stories, mysteries, and insights into crimes solved using DNA and identity forensics.
Register today by calling 773-248-9700 or emailing info@thevillagechicago.org! Space is limited.
Please note: Registration is for the entire series.
January 8th – The Thursday Murder Club (Book 1)
January 22nd – The Man Who Died Twice (Book 2)
February 5th – The Bullet That Missed (Book 3)
February 19th – The Last Devil to Die (book 4)
March 5th – The Impossible Fortune (Book 5)

Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
2026-03-05 17:00 - 18:00 | IL
Members & guests–free. To RSVP, please scroll down. The day before each discussion, registered attendees will receive a confirmation email with a link to join via Zoom.
RSVP to Join! This is an ongoing discussion group. After you register, you will receive weekly emails with Zoom details and a link to that week’s story. While the group meets weekly, members and guests are welcome to drop in for one or all discussions.
This week the group is reading:
The Purple Jar (1796): “The Purple Jar” | Fairy Tales and Other Traditional Stories | Maria Edgeworth | Lit2Go ETC includes audio

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies
2026-03-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom, Chicago, IL, United States
Members & guests–free
Every Saturday afternoon, join fellow film aficionados of the Village for an in-depth organic discussion of films new and old. Watch the selected film any time–or enjoy the discussion and be persuaded to view it after!
Oscar nominated short live action: 2025, three films are streamable on YouTube, one film is free on Netflix

The five Oscar-nominated 2025 short live action films are: The Singers (free on Netflix); A Friend of Dorothy (free on YouTube); Jane Austen’s Period Drama (YouTube); Two People Exchanging Saliva (YouTube), and Butcher’s Stain (I cannot find it streaming, if anyone finds it, please let us know). When you open YouTube, simply type the title in the search window within the app.

Sunday Social at Guthrie's Tavern
2026-03-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Guthrie’s Tavern, 1300 W Addison, Chicago
Drinks and snacks: Self-hosted. Guthrie’s has a limited snack menu but allows outside food to be brought to or delivered to the restaurant. D’Agostinos and many other restaurants are a block away on Southport Avenue.
Introducing, Sunday Social Hour with the Village. Join fellow members each month for a lazy Sunday afternoon of board games, socializing and crafting (bring your own knitting or crochet supplies) at a beloved Lakeview neighborhood gem, Guthrie’s Tavern. Conveniently located near multiple CTA stops, come enjoy a couple hours with friends. The bar has some games on hand, but feel free to bring your favorite to the event.

Conversational Spanish
2026-03-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Village Office, 2502 N. Clark, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Location: The Village Chicago office (2502 N Clark St)

Members & guests: free

Join member Ray Enriquez for a welcoming and informal Spanish conversation class. Various levels are welcome – this is a place to practice your spoken Spanish whether you are just beginning or more advanced. Space is limited – register now!

Happy Hour with the Life 3.0 Committee
2026-03-10 17:00 - 18:30 | Bad Apple Lincoln Park, 658 W Belden, Chicago, IL
This month the group is meeting at the Bad Apple in Lincoln Park. (658 W Belden)
Food and drinks, self hosted.
Members and guests: Members $5 / Non-Members $7 (Click to purchase your ticket)
You may have noticed a new fee attached to Life 3.0 events. This fee ensures a commitment to attend the event and helps cover administrative costs.
Join us for a casual, member-organized happy hour at a different location each month, with no agenda other than great conversation.
This is a recurring, in person event; once you sign up, you will continue to receive emails for upcoming events.
Life 3.0 is a lively, welcoming group who are exploring together how we want to live and work as we move into retirement and beyond. But mostly, we like getting together for some really good times!

Curious Village
2026-03-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Belmont Village Lincoln Park, 700 West Fullerton, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Join this in-person group for a lively discussion and presentation each month Hosted by Belmont Village on Fullerton in Lincoln Park, all are welcome!
Join us this month for a presentation on Robotics and an AI update, by Durk Mueller.

Dirk Mueller will return for the third time to provide an update on the rapidly changing world of Artificial Intelligence.

Since this time last year capabilities of AI systems have increased significantly, and some of the previous liabilities, such as halucination have been reduced, but not entirely eliinated

AI models have advanced from merely responding to questions posed in prompts to becoming agents capable of carrying out tasks on their own. (Agentic AI) The ability of AI systems to take over many white-collar jobs is becoming increasingly apparent.

There have also been significant improvements in AI-enabled robots.

On the other hand, the growth of AI systems requires a substantial number of hyperscale data centers. These data centers will consume huge amounts of electricity. The planned large data centers will consume as much as 1 gigawatt of electricity, about as much as a large nuclear power plant produces. They can also use billions of gallons of water for cooling. All that energy eventually turns into heat, which must be removed. Some of them are planning to build their own gas-fired power stations or even use diesel-powered generators, either of which will produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and noise. Data centers are facing significant pushback wherever they are proposed.

Memoir Workshop: From Memory to Story
2026-03-12 15:00 - 16:30 | The Village Chicago Office, 2502 N Clark, Chicago, United States
A six week series
Thursdays from 3-4:30pm
Members: $60. Non-members: $90 (click here to register)
Do you have stories you’ve been meaning to write down, but aren’t sure how to start? This memoir class uses guided prompts to generate new material, short mini-lessons on craft, and easy revision tools that show what’s working and what to strengthen. Sharing is always optional. By the end, you’ll have a small portfolio of revised, reader-ready pieces plus a practical method you can use anytime to turn memory into story.

The full list of dates are March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 16

Space is limited – register now!

Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
2026-03-12 17:00 - 18:00 | IL
Members & guests–free. To RSVP, please scroll down. The day before each discussion, registered attendees will receive a confirmation email with a link to join via Zoom.
RSVP to Join! This is an ongoing discussion group. After you register, you will receive weekly emails with Zoom details and a link to that week’s story. While the group meets weekly, members and guests are welcome to drop in for one or all discussions.
This week the group is reading – Life of Ma Parker.(1921); (audio: Bing Videos)

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies
2026-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom, Chicago, IL, United States
Members & guests–free
Every Saturday afternoon, join fellow film aficionados of the Village for an in-depth organic discussion of films new and old. Watch the selected film any time–or enjoy the discussion and be persuaded to view it after!
Hamnet: 2025, 122min, streamable on Amazon & others for $10-20

The Oscars are Sun, 3/15/26, and Jesse Buckley (Lost Daughter, Wild Rose) is the favorite to win best actress. Hamnet is also nominated for 7 other Oscars, including best picture, director (Chloe Zhao, Nomadland), and screenplay. As Rotten Tomatoes describes, it tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Continuing our discussion of the live action shortTwo People Exchanging Saliva, here’s a link to an explanation. Summed up, it’s a futuristic Paris where “violence is normalised and intimacy is absent.” https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2025/11/22/two-people-exchanging-saliva/

DePaul University Opera Theatre with The Life 3.0 Committee
2026-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Jarvis Opera Hall, Holtschneider Performance Center, DePaul University, 2330 N Halsted, Chicago, 60614
Registration for this event is now closed.
DePaul University’s Opera Theatre will present Engelbert Humperdink’s beloved Hansel and Gretel, in English, in a Sunday afternoon matinee. 5 tickets are available at $10.00 each for this opera, based on the Grimm Brother’s fairy tale. The opera features several memorable arias and duets, telling a tale of poverty, harsh parents, disobedient children and confrontation with a ravenous witch.
We will gather for a self-hosted brunch at The Bad Apple at 12:30 pm before the performance.
