Wednesday, Nov. 26: If you’re free from kitchen duty and want to bring in the holiday with live rock, you do have a local option. From 8:30 p.m. to midnight, the nightclub at La Bella Bistecca in Forest Park is hosting classic rock by 1969 downstairs and acoustic rock by The Shaggers upstairs. $5 cover. 410 Circle Ave., Forest Park. 771-8466, www.labellabistecca.com
Thursday, Nov. 27: Since going to press with our Holiday Food guide last week, we found an addition to the list of local options for dining out on Thanksgiving. This find isn’t traditional turkey fare, though. It’s a traditional Cajun brunch. Yes, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Chef Tim Shanahan will be serving up crab mornay omelettes, voodoo steak Benedict, eggs Sardou and breakfast po’ boys. Shanahan’s Cajun Creole is at 7353 W. Madison in Forest Park. 366-0775
Friday, Nov. 28: To help kids find another community activity-and exercise-on a day they’re out of school, the park district of Oak Park is adding public skate hours at Ridgeland Common Park: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you don’t have a season pass, the fee is $5. A season pass to the Paul Hruby Ice Arena is $40 for Oak Park residents and $60 for others. 415 W. Lake, Oak Park. 848-9661, www.oakparkparks.com
Monday, Dec. 1: Get ready to have your say with our folks in Springfield-and to hear them out, too. You’ve got two hours to push for answers on funding for schools and the arts, on grants to our village government, on cuts for human services, and on the fate of pensions, roads and state parks. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., you’ll find Sen. Don Harmon, Sen. Kimberly Lightford, Rep. LaShawn Ford, Rep. Deborah Graham and Rep. Karen Yarbrough all in the Veterans Room at the main branch of Oak Park Public Library. You can thank the League of Women Voters, the legislative committee of the Oak Park Teachers’ Association, and Oak Park Public Library.