Northwest suburban books & enrichment

Events related to books and events that enrich your mind, such as book signings, book club events, book sales, writers' group events, lectures, speakers, classes, forums and discussions. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Aug. 4

Class for retirees and pre-retirees: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25, village of Mount Prospect Community Center, 50 S. Emerson St. Topics include retirement planning, fixed income, annuities, insurance, stocks and mutual funds. Classes are free, registration required. Call (847) 870-5680.

Writer's Workshop: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Shoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Writers can share and critique each other's work in a supportive atmosphere. To reserve a spot and get more information Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Write it Now: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane. Creative writing support group for anyone who loves to compose and share works. (847) 259-6050.

Aug. 5

Library Resources for Small Business Owners: Noon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Librarian Terry Mills feeds your entrepreneurial spirit by providing his picks on the best business books and references available at the library while you brown bag lunch. Part of the Lunch and Learn Series. (847) 382-1300 or barringtonarealibrary.org.

Toddler storytime: 10-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Thursday, Aug. 6, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Shoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Storytime for children ages 18-36 months and their caregivers. Share stories, finger plays and songs to encourage listening and motor skill development. To register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Quilts - Fact or Fiction: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Arlington Heights Road. The 14 novels of the Elm Creek Quilt series will be discussed; the book discussion will also include quilt displays. Refreshments will be served and no registration is required. For information, call the Arlington Heights Memorial Library at (847) 506-2613.

Aug. 6

Gail Lukasik: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Author Gail Lukasik will discuss her book "Death's Door," with a book signing after the program. Register for the free lecture at www.ahml.info or (847) 392-0100.

Aug. 7

Pajama Storytime and Craft: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 13 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. The featured book will be "Goldilicious" by Victoria Kann. Free. For information, call (847) 259-5704.

Aug. 9

Author Signing: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Carl Smith will be signing copies of "The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City." For information contact the library at (847) 392-0100.

Aug. 10

Lapsit Storytime: 10-10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Babies, birth to 18 months, with their caregivers, can build language skills through songs, finger plays, rhymes and stories. Registration is required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 11

Class for retirees and pre-retirees: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays Aug. 11, 18 and 25, village of Mount Prospect Community Center, 50 S. Emerson St. Topics include retirement planning, fixed income, annuities, insurance, stocks and mutual funds. Classes are free, registration required. Call (847) 870-5680.

Book discussion: St. Cecilia Church will host a book discussion on the novel, "The Shack," from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, in the Parish Center, 700 S. Meier Road, Mount Prospect. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 1 - 2:30 p.m., Fr. Bill Zavaski, pastor of St. James Church in Arlington Heights will give his insights on the book and answer questions. Call the parish office, (847) 437-6208, to register for this free program.

Preschool Drop-In Storytime: 11-11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Aug 11, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Ages 3-5 can enjoy a short film and some stores. Parents and siblings are not allowed in story room. For information call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 12

Find Your Family Online: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Take your genealogical search online. Program includes demonstration of how to use databases like Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest, online newspapers, and genealogy Web sites. To register, barringtonarealibrary.org or (847) 382-1300.

Aug. 14

Pajama Storytime and Craft: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 13 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. The featured book will be "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett. For information call (847) 259-5704.

Aug. 18

Class for retirees and pre-retirees: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays Aug. 18 and 25, village of Mount Prospect Community Center, 50 S. Emerson St. Topics include retirement planning, fixed income, annuities, insurance, stocks and mutual funds. Classes are free, registration required. Call (847) 870-5680.

Mount Prospect Library Writers Group: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. Writers of all genres discuss thier works. Sponsored by Friends of the Library. $10 registration fee. Register and payment must be made in person. For information, (847) 253-56755.

Aug. 20

Adult Academy: Congregation Beth Judea, a Conservative synagogue that has been serving the Northwest suburban area since 1968, is proud to announce its first class in its Fall Semester Adult Academy. Are you curious about Judaism? Would you like to know about the basic customs and traditions of the Jewish people? Are you Jewish, but in need of a refresher? Beth Judea will be offering a weekly Introduction to Judaism course at 8 p.m. Thursdays beginning Aug. 20. The class will run for one hour. Free. To register, contact the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 or e-mail them at info@BethJudea.org. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

Aug. 21

Pajama Storytime and Craft: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 13 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. The featured book will be the "Mr. Men and Little Miss" books by Roger Hargreaves. For information call (847) 259-5704.

Aug. 25

Class for retirees and pre-retirees: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays Aug. 25, village of Mount Prospect Community Center, 50 S. Emerson St. Topics include retirement planning, fixed income, annuities, insurance, stocks and mutual funds. Classes are free, registration required. Call (847) 870-5680.

Aug. 28

Pajama Storytime and Craft: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 13 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. The featured book will be "The Frogs and Toads All Sang" by Arnold Lobel. For information call (847) 259-5704.

Aug. 30

Holocaust museum: Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will present a docent- lead tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum at 1 p.m. Aug. 30 at 9600 Woods Drive, Skokie. The cost of the tour is $10/adult or $8/senior (65+). Space is limited, reservations are required at rsvp@jgsi.org or call (312) 666-0100.

Sept. 6

Book discussion: The public is invited, free of charge, to discuss the book "Predictably Irrational: the Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions" by Dan Ariely, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, in Room 6 (north entrance) at Countryside Unitarian Universtalist Church, 1025 N. Smith Road in Palatine. In a series of illuminating, often surprising experiments, MIT behavioral economist Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. Blending everyday experience with groundbreaking research, Ariely explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities and how to break through these systematic patterns of thought to make better decisions. (847) 359-8440.

Sept. 15

Mount Prospect Library Writers Group: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. Writers of all genres discuss thier works. Sponsored by Friends of the Library. $10 registration fee. Register and payment must be made in person. For information, (847) 253-56755.

Challah baking: Add flavor to your holidays. Chabad Women's Circle presents a mothers and daughters Challah baking evening. Women of all ages are invited to make their own Challah. Learn the art of classic braiding and some specialties for Rosh Hashana. We will also explore the meaning and significance of the Mitzvah of Challah. The program is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Road, Northbrook. Suggested donation $8. For more information and to RSVP, call Miriam at (847) 564-8770 or www.ChabadNorthbrook.com

Ongoing

Literary Review Book Club: Call by mid-August to take part in events at noon Fridays, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Feb. 12, March 12 and May 14, Des Plaines Elks Club, 495 Lee St., Des Plaines. The Literary Review Book Club of Des Plaines will present five luncheon/book reviews. A limited number of memberships are available for the upcoming season. For information, call Jeanette, at (847) 635-6780.

1950s House: Open 1-4 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays, April through December; Rolling Meadows Historical Museum, 3100 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. For details, and to schedule tour groups, call (847) 577-7346.

Long Grove Art School: Spoerlein Commons S.C. Suite 209, Arlington Heights and McHenry roads, Buffalo Grove. Class instructions are in oil paint, acrylics, watercolor, and drawing one 2-hour workshop/class for adults in oil on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Four weekly classes are forming with a maximum of six students. Private instruction and open studio time. Four week classes for kids ages 7-12. (847) 634-2920 longgroveartschool.com.