This review is specifically about the facility, the Prairie Lakes Theater. It's adjacent to the…read morePrairie Lakes Community Center and I presume there's a connecting interior hallway between the two. The theatre is part of the Des Plaines Park District and what a great asset for the city. There are a handful of organizations that rent space for their productions here I think, amongst them Big Noise Theatre, which I learned about at a Park Ridge summer event and that's how I found out there's a great black-box theatre in the suburbs. They've hosted various arts companies, including dance and opera. They're also available for rent by other parties as well. Prairie Lakes has just under 300 seats and the sight lines are good; I don't think there are any limited view seats in the place. Seats were very comfortable too. Parking is ample, given its location, and free.

We returned to this nice and intimate theatre to see Big Noise Theatre's kids musical 'Elephant &…read morePiggie's "We Are in a Play!"'. It was a most delightful play, and this is when I learned that the Big Noise Theatre company rents space from the Prairie Lakes Community Theatre for their productions. I guess some previous reviews allude to this arrangement, but I never paid attention until today on what "theatre name" was appropriate here. In any event, we're now 2 for 2 on 5 star outings at this venue.

A beautiful resource in an organized village…read more The Prairie Center for the Arts hosts a variety of performances and events throughout the calendar year! From local productions, children's camps, dance troupes, live bands, symphonies, and touring artists, PC has it all. While waiting for the Rudick Siblings to perform, the venue lobby and halls displayed a beautiful art gallery. The venue had comfortable seating, was clean and organized, and had adequate bathroom facilities, which was unusual for a theater. The space serves beverage concessions during intermission, and you can pick up a souvenir cup to take to the show. Thanks for a wonderful event experience; we hope to return soon.

This art festival takes place in Schaumburg on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the…read moreArts. It's a festival that has vendors ranging from the more arts and crafts end of the spectrum to fine art. There were lots of different categories of art represented, including photography, painting, jewelry, and then of course different forms within each category of art such as oil, paintings, watercolor, etc. There were crafts, including handmade hats, knit and felted items and other textiles and fiber art. There were folks selling soaps, a booth was selling plants and moss art, and a couple booths selling fudge and another selling cookies and baked goods. They had quite a few food trucks as well, at least half a dozen of different types, so a little bit of something for everybody. It was pretty extensive. At first glance when you come through the main entrance, it seems it's just a few booths that they have use their parking lot to host, but it goes all the way towards the back of the building down by the little pond and the grassy area. There were well over 100 artists showcasing their works here. They had a local blacksmith here with an outdoor forge both selling and demoing, and per their booth they also host classes if you are interested in learning how to forge metal here in the suburbs. Inside the art center building, they had cocktails and wine and alcoholic beverages. I believe they also had children's activities, but I'm not sure where those may have been. They had at least two spots with musicians, as we passed by someone playing a steel drum and then in another area saw someone playing the hammered dulcimer as well. Parking--at least this year--was directly across the street at the school district building, though it's possible that's not typical (I thought I saw some reference to construction changing the parking situation). There were Schaumburg police officers directing traffic to allow people to safely cross the road at various intervals. We went early to avoid crowds and to have the easiest time with parking and were successful on both counts, and were here about an hour. I really liked that this art fair is a bit more of a home grown fair and not one of the ones from local production company, since I see some of the same artists at those ones and I like that none of the artists I saw today were familiar.

What a gem! I pass the Oil Lamp Theater all the time, but never went. Purchased tickets for The…read moreOutsider during Chicago Theater Week and so glad I did! We are excited to attend more shows. When you first walk in, you're greeted by a hostess. There's a full service bar and various seating spots you can enjoy before and after the show and during intermission. The theater is cozy with 60 seats. They are moving across the street to a larger space, former Country Cobbler. Fun fact, I used to get my shoes there when I was a child. They are currently fundraising for the transformation. Check out their website to learn more. The Outsider was hilarious. The actors really brought this play to life. During this divisive political climate we are currently in, it was a refreshing perspective of politics and government. Everyone laughed throughout the entire show. I highly recommend checking The Outsiders out!!

I have never been to the Oil Lamp Theater before, but my parents treated the entire family to a…read moreshowing of It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play to cross it off of my bucket list. The parking was a little crowded for a Sunday night so my father dropped us off at the door and parked the car while we ventured inside. We got the warmest greeting from the person behind the desk who gave us instructions on how we could write our own shout outs to be read by the cast. (Probably more relevant to the patrons of the theater than the building itself, but they were a range of hilarious, heartwarming, and professionally personal!) There were free cookies available as well as a full bar menu. I don't drink so I always scope out the non-alcoholic options and I could have gotten a can of Diet Coke for $2--not bad! I did see that they did offer a curated drink that matched the show as well. I appreciate when small details like that are accounted for! I personally did not use the bathroom, but multiple members of our party did and I did not hear any complaints. The theater itself was very small, but it made sense for the show that we were attending? I am deathly curious (Pun not intended) to see how they will pull off Dial M for Murder in that space. I saw it in Oakbrook on a sprawling stage so my brain couldn't fathom how that would work. Anyhoo! Back to what I actually DID see. Again, the set worked for the show that we did see. It had a cool foley studio like I imagine radio stations did back in the day. My favorite contraption was the one that spun with a handle to sound like wind! So cool! The seats were black, plastic, chairs which I did not mind because I have proper posture. I didn't feel uncomfortable at any point during the 2 hour show. My grandma is shorty and had a hard time seeing at times, but luckily a radio play is more about what you hear over what you see. For your reference when picking seats, the the first row of every pair is the front row of another level. So Row A and Row B share a platform if that makes sense. Overall, I had a wonderful time (Again, pun not intended) and I signed up for the mailing list in the hopes that I can support again soon!

I never really spent time here until a few weeks ago, even though we go hiking at Ryerson Woods…read morepretty regularly. It's a cute building with rotating exhibits and they also have scheduled and open crafting hours. My sister and I participated in a wreath making create and sip last night which was so fun and extremely reasonable at $20/per person when they supply the materials. Since their supplies are donated, it was really interesting to see all the different styles of wreaths that were made. We would definitely come back for another craft and sip.

I never knew this place existed until my neighbor told me about Ryerson Woods a few weeks ago and…read moresuggested I go because it was peak autumn. She told me there is a gallery, too. I made it up just in time before they closed for the day. It's a cute building and they have various collaborations. The first time I went their featured art was from the Highland Park Art Center. This past weekend I went back for their Soundscapes exhibit, which is a partnership with various non-profits and focused on art made by veterans and their families. I went to the opening reception, which was free, and included performances/spotlights on the participating partner organizations and some of the artists featured. It was a moving event (especially being Veteran's Day weekend) and a powerful exhibit. This is a great space and I loved learning more about how they support the local community and partner with other non-profits to bring art to the space and make art accessible. Highly recommend. Also, the surrounding area is stunning, so being able to see art and enjoy nature is a double dose of joy.

Truly a wonderful organization. The owner and his wife are the nicest, and pure hearted persons…read more Though my child isn't currently participating, unfortunately because of other commitments. Her memories of the time spent there, were that she had an awesome experience. We will in the near future, seek out other opportunities to return.

A gem of a theater that deserves more notice! I have seen several productions at Vero Voce and I…read morecan honestly say that they are doing all the right things. As an adult theater - the shows range from safe to edgy, which is great to see as it appeals to a broad audience. I'd like to see more edge but all theaters have to keep the lights on, you know? They attract talented actors and directors. The black box is minimal in all senses of the word, but it never hurts the quality. I'd rather see a bare bones set if the show is done well than big budget designs with terrible direction or acting. As a children's theater - all efforts are made to teach their young performers more than just how to stand and look cute. The shows are fun and less "cheesy" than your average kids' productions. You can tell how much work goes into these shows, both on and off stage. Parking is free, there are plenty of refreshments that aren't priced to break the bank, and the staff is warm and welcoming. Sure, there is room for improvement. But for a theater company just now in the end of their second season, they are running like a well oiled machine. Seasoned professionals are behind this operation, and it shows. Check them out!!!

The North Shore Art League's current exhibition, "Summer Open," has been extended through August…read more24, 2026, making it the perfect destination for an inspiring summer outing. With the exhibition now spanning nearly the entire season, there's still plenty of time to experience this wonderful showcase of local artistic talent. Admission is free, and the gallery is open to the public every day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, even when the office is closed. Since 1924, the North Shore Art League has remained dedicated to its stated mission of "enriching the human spirit through art education and exhibitions". We found that the art gallery space of the North Shore Art League was bright, airy, and pleasant, with the exhibition thoughtfully and professionally curated. All the staff whom we had encountered were friendly and welcoming. If you are in the area, I highly recommend you stopping by the Northshore Art League, on the second floor of the Winnetka Community House, to see "Summer Open". Part of the exhibited art work were even for sale. There is a great variety of beautiful 2D art to choose from. A portion of all sales supports the North Shore Art League, a not-for-profit, 501©(3) organization.

My mother-in-law is on the board, so I'm a little biased, but we sent my daughter to art camp this…read moreweek and she's having an absolute blast! I'm so relieved because we pulled her from an Oak Park-area ceramics camp that just wasn't her thing. Great job of engaging the kids!

Fabulous studio and wonderful instructors! Incredible selection of tools to work with. Nurturing…read moreand inspiring environment.

The best studio !! I've had such a wonderful experience at this pottery studio. The entire process…read moreof learning pottery is explained in a way that makes it approachable, creative, and incredibly enjoyable. Whether you're brand new to pottery or have some experience, the studio encourages exploration and creativity while allowing you to move at your own pace. The instructors are exceptionally knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. They clearly have a deep understanding of the craft and do a fantastic job guiding students through each step of the pottery process, from shaping clay to glazing and finishing pieces. Their positive and encouraging approach makes the learning environment feel welcoming and inspiring. I cannot say enough good things about each and every one of them. One of the things I appreciate most is the open studio time. It allows students to come in and work independently, practice techniques, and develop their own style outside of structured class time. It really gives you the freedom to grow and experiment with your work. The community in the studio is also something special. Students range from beginners to advanced artists, yet everyone is supportive of one another. There's a genuine sense of encouragement and shared creativity that makes spending time there even more enjoyable. I'm at a point of my life where I am semi retiring, and needed a place to do the things I've always wanted to learn but never had time. Overall, this studio is a fantastic place to learn pottery, explore creativity, and be part of a positive, supportive artistic community.

We hosted our Quinceañera at the Highland Park Community House, and the Art Deco ballroom couldn't…read morehave been more perfect. The light-and-airy space comfortably fit 150 guests across 19 60" tables without feeling crowded at all. The layout worked seamlessly: the DJ took the stage, the center became our dance floor, and a separate room accommodated our bar and photo booth. The caterer was a food truck and they used the adjacent kitchen for staging. An antique entry table was ideal for gifts and cake. We received so many compliments on how elegant and sophisticated everything looked!

We had the absolute best experience having our wedding reception at Highland Park Community House…read more Truly, it was perfect. We attribute that to the fact that Wendy, HPCH's Executive Director, is such a gem of a person, so easy to work with, very communicative, doesn't nickel and dime you, allows for flexibility, is accountable, and makes you feel at ease every step of the way. It's very clear that the operation at HPCH is smooth and positive because you feel it as a client. Wendy and HPCH made our vision and dream to have a 70s disco themed wedding reception a reality, and we wouldn't have been able to pull it off without Wendy and the HPCH team. Thank you for everything you did for us to make our event life changing and memorable. Please run, don't walk, to schedule your next event at Highland Park Community House. You will not be disappointed!!!