Arts and Eats: Oak Park Arts District next Third Friday event is July 19

By Cate Flahardy

Put your walking shoes on and head over to the Oak Park Arts District this Friday, July 19, for an evening with the arts. On the third Friday of each month, businesses in the Arts District hold special events from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. as many of the galleries and other businesses stay open late to treat patrons to art, food, workshops and other forms of entertainment.

Here’s a rundown of some of arts and eats Oak Park residents can expect to enjoy this Friday.

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Arts

At Harrison Works (17 Harrison St., Oak Park), Elizabeth Gaylord showcases “Baseball as Art,” which will feature baseball-themed paintings, drawings, assemblages and illustrations by various artists, including Gaylord herself, who is the gallery’s owner.

"Baseball as Art" will also feature work by former Patch illustrator and Oak Park artist, Charley Krebs.

Found object jewelry artist Lisa Nordstrom displays her crafts in her gallery, Art Gecko (21 Harrison St., Oak Park), which will stay open late.

Head over to The Third Friday Galley and Dancing Krow Studio (41-43 Harrison St., Oak Park) and check out “Incremental Proliferation” and “Things that Grow,” which is billed as a science show and will feature landscapes, flowers, thoughts and microbes.

Flavor City Studios (45 Harrison St., Oak Park) will be featuring original art work by Mike Bochner and Stephan Smith.

Creative Changes Studio (140 Harrison St., Oak Park) will present this year’s Digital Photography Apprenticeship Art Camp!’s achievements. Everything on display was shot by the 2013 camp participants and will be on display in this one-night only show (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Jewelry design shop Bead in Hand (145 Harrison St. Oak Park) hosts its monthly Third Friday Workshop—this time offering “Stretched Horizons.” The $10 workshop teaches participants how to bead with elastics (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.).

Eats

Eastgate Café & Gift Shop (102 Harrison St., Oak Park) offers up its traditional American fare and live music. Scheduled entertainment includes local jazz musician Lance Brown.

Enjoy a Cajun-inspired prix fixe dinner at The Buzz Café (905 S. Lombard St., Oak Park) and take in a live performance from Charlie Newman and The Lucas Ellman Jazz Quartet. Reservations are recommended and the café is BYOB.

Get your nosh on at Trattoria 225 (225 Harrison St., Oak Park), where you can enjoy beautiful artwork, food, drinks and outdoor seating.

Visit the Arts District’s events page for more information about the Third Friday event and a full list of participants and activities for July 19.