Briefs: Des Plaines concerts start
Des Plaines' weekly Friday night concerts start tonight at Metropolitan Square. The Des Plaines Special Events Commission invites the public to attend the Friday Night Live On Metro Square entertainment series from 6:30 to 9:45 p.m. today, June 27, July 11 and July 25. Tonight, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Choir perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by Arkady Bodner: Music from Around the World, Fil-Am Club of St. Peter (Skokie) Dance Group and Six Foot Ceiling. On June 27, Trinity United Methodist Church will perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by Artistry in Motion/AIM 2 Dance Companies, comedian Kevin Cunningham, and Tripple Shot. For more concert info, visit desplaines.org.
Metra station now wireless
The Wheeling Metra station now offers free wireless Internet access, courtesy of the village. The village is touting it as a benefit to commuters, who will be able to check their e-mail or connect their handheld devices to the internet while waiting for the train.
Nature walk Saturday
Barrington's Citizens for Conservation hosts its first nature walk of the summer at 8 a.m. Saturday. David Johnson, recently retired from the Wild Bird Center in Fox River Grove, will lead the walk to look for butterflies and late breeding birds. The walk starts at Citizens for Conservation headquarters at 459 W. Route 22 in Barrington. Those who attend are encouraged to bring binoculars. For more information or to RSVP call (847) 382-7283.
Promo with charity tie-in
To celebrate the first day of summer, and also raise funds for a local family in need, Barrington's Tropical Smoothie Café is offering free drinks Saturday. The first 500 customers who come in wearing flip-flop sandals will receive a free 24-oz Jetty Punch smoothie. Saturday also wraps up the store's monthlong fundraiser for Camp Sunshine in Maine. Using money raised between May 23 and Saturday, the store is sending a Wheeling family to Camp Sunshine, which provides a retreat for children coping with life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, kidney disease and lupus. Tropical Smoothie Café is located at 500 N. Hough St. The store opens at 8 a.m. For more information, call Tropical Smoothie Café at (847) 277-7590.