Jefferson Park Forward

JPF July General Meeting + Community Stage Preview
2023-07-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Windsor Tavern and Grill, 4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Join us for our first summer meeting at The Windsor! Catch up on JPF activities and get a preview of the talented artists performing on the JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest this year, including Carey Anne Farrell and members of the Jefferson Park Songwriters group. This year’s Community Stage is generously sponsored by Gale Street Inn.

JPF Craft Collective at the Jefferson Park Sunday Market
2023-07-23 11:00 - 13:00
JPF Craft Collective will meet up at 11am at the next Jefferson Park Sunday Market on Sunday, July 23, 2023. We’ll gather near the market entrance closest to the playground for food, beverages, and good conversation while we knit, crochet, craft, read, work, create, whatever! The market is open from 9:30am – 1:30pm, so feel free to come early.

JPF July 2023 Walk - Humboldt Park
2023-07-29 09:00 - 14:00 | Weston’s Coffee & Tap Co., 2144, 4872 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
The July JPF Walk is here! While our end destination will be Humboldt Park, the route will be slightly different from previous HP walks which headed straight down Milwaukee.

We will head straight down Long (from Weston’s) all the way to Palmer St (2000N). With a little luck we’ll be able to visit for a bit at the Prosser Community Garden. It’s nice, we’ve visited it before. It’s directly north of the high school. After that, we’ll head straight down Palmer all the way to Palmer Square (passing Walt Disney’s birthplace on the way). From there it’s straight south on Sacramento to Humboldt Park for some lagoon/garden/sculpture exploring.

For refreshment, we’ll hit Aztec Dave’s Cantina on California. After the Cantina, it’s north on California to catch the Milwaukee bus/Blue Line for trip home. If people have interest and it’s after 2PM we can hit up The Freeze on Armitage for ice cream on the way.

Total distance around 7.5 miles.

1st Day of School Grown Up Meet Up
2023-08-21 08:30 | Weston’s Coffee & Tap Co., 4872 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Join your neighbors to celebrate the first day of school at a post-drop-off meet up at Weston’s!

JPF September 2023 Annual Meeting and Elections
2023-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Windsor Tavern and Grill, 4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Please join us for the JPF September 2023 Annual Meeting and Elections on Thursday, September 21, at 7:00 PM at The Windsor Tavern, located at 4530 N Milwaukee Ave. It’s an excellent opportunity to catch up on JPF activities and meet the slate of candidates for the 2023-2024 JPF Board of Directors.

Active, regular members (renew your membership here) will have the opportunity to vote on the slate of candidates. Following the elections, we will adjourn for a social hour to bid farewell to departing members of the JPF Board, including our last-remaining founding director, Rolando Rodriguez. Rolando may be retiring as Vice President, but he plans to remain actively involved with the JPF Social Committee and will continue as the JPF representative on the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce.

The JPF Board of Directors consists of nine elected representatives from the JPF membership. We hold board elections every September during our annual meeting. This year, we will be electing a new vice president, secretary, and three board seats. Candidate profiles will be published next week in preparation for the meeting.

JPF October 2023 General Meeting
2023-10-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Windsor Tavern and Grill, 4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Join us for our last general meeting of 2023! Hear about JPF’s plans for 2024 and upcoming events. Guest Speaker Paddy Lindley will share how Bring Chicago Home is fighting to end homelessness and what we can do to help.

JPF February 2024 General Meeting
2024-02-15 19:00 - 20:30
Join Jefferson Park Forward for our first General Meeting of 2024! We’re going virtual this month, so grab dinner from your favorite local restaurant and cozy up to your computer while we hear updates from the Ed Paschke Art Center, National Veterans Art Museum, The Gift Theatre, and Seventh Corner Gallery. All are welcome but registration is required. Click here to register.

JPF March 2024 General Meeting
2024-03-21 19:00
Join JPF for our March 2024 General Meeting! We’re going virtual again this month, so grab some dinner from your favorite local restaurant and join us online to hear legislative updates from Congressman Mike Quigley and news from JPF as we look forward to spring and summer in Jefferson Park. All are welcome, but registration is required. Register here.

JPF Forward March Pub Crawl 2024
2024-04-27 14:00 - 20:00
The JPF Forward March Pub Crawl is back! Join us for old favorites and some new stops in 2024. Tickets include our custom JPF scarf, transportation, drink specials, and food! All ticket sales support JPF activities throughout the year, including the JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest and Jefferson Park (Weston’s) Alley programming.

Grab your tickets as space is LIMITED this year! We can’t wait to once again spend a great day with neighbors supporting some of our great Jefferson Park businesses!

This year’s route is:2pm – Weston’s > 3:15pm – Ma O’Brien’s > 4:30pm – Vaughan’s > 5:45pm – The Brig > 7pm – Rex Tavern

Thanks to additional sponsors Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce, Qamar Group, Real Broker LLC, and Printer’s Row Brewing for helping make our pub crawl happen!

CODE OF CONDUCT

Jefferson Park Forward is committed to creating safe and enjoyable spaces for all members, attendees, and our partners. As a participant in our organization and our events, we ask that you treat everyone with respect and kindness, refrain from any form of violence, aggression, or harassment, and drink responsibly if alcohol is served. Please respect personal boundaries, keep the environment clean, and follow any guidelines provided by event staff. If you have any concerns or witness behavior that violates this code of conduct, please report it to a JPF board members who will be clearly visible. Violations may result in removal from the event. Thank you for helping us create a positive and inclusive environment for everyone.

VenueAddressTime

4872 N Milwaukee Ave 2:00 - 3:00 PM

JPF May 2024 General Meeting
2024-05-16 19:00 | Windsor Tavern and Grill, 4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Join us on Thursday, May 16, at 7pm at the Windsor Tavern (4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago) to hear about spring happenings in Jefferson Park! Guests include the Jefferson Park Sunday Market and Jefferson Park Pollinator Gardens, with more invited!

JPF May 2024 Walk
2024-05-25 09:30
Hey, a location we’ve never walked to…

For May we’ll we head east to check out Andersonville. We’ll walk E down Foster, possibly taking a quick detour into Bohemian Cemetery to check out some graves. After that we’ll continue eastward (possibly via Bryn Mawr) all the way to Clark St to explore Andersonville. Obviously refreshment will be involved with Simon’s Tavern and Hopleaf being options. Women & Children First is a worthwhile stop for book shopping. Middle East Bakery a good place to stock up on pita and falafel if you have interest.

For the trip home we can do either Foster or Lawrence bus. Total distance will be around 7 miles. Meet up for 9:30 departure at Weston’s.

Hope to see you there.

JPF Saturdays in the Alley: Music & Merriment!
2024-06-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Jefferson Park Alley, 4870 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60630, United States
Join Jefferson Park Forward SATURDAY, June 1 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Grab a snack and beverage at Weston’s and enjoy an afternoon of music and merriment with neighbors in the Jefferson Park Alley. The Alley is located on Milwaukee Ave, next to Weston’s Coffee & Tap & across from the Jefferson Park Transit Center.

JPF June 2024 General Meeting
2024-06-20 19:00
Join us on Thursday, June 20, at 7pm at the Windsor Tavern (4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago) to hear a legislative update from Illinois State Representative Lindsey LaPointe. Come early for dinner and stay after the meeting for a social hour (or two)!

JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest
2024-07-12 18:00 - 22:00
6-8pm: Join us for a JPF Happy Hour to kick off the Community Stage! Wear your JPF gear and come say hello!

6:00 pm – Sidehug

7:15 pm – Salisman

8:45 pm – Bloodhype

Want to volunteer for a shift at the beer tent to help raise funds so JPF can continue to bring great artists like these to your neighborhood? Sign up at our volunteer page.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Side Hug

Friday at 6:00

Bio: Amid the tapestry of Chicago’s indie rock scene emerges Side Hug, the sonic brainchild of Lyd Landor (vocals, guitar), Christian Ovalle (drums) and Allan Cardenas (lead guitar). After crossing paths working at a local ice cream shop on the North Side, the group formed their sound — a dreamy concoction of shoegaze and indie rock — highlighting sharp guitar work, raucous drums, and slacker-esque vocals with heartfelt lyrics. On their sophomore EP Wasted Summer, Side Hug brings a more complex and reverb-soaked sound, that is nostalgic like a double scoop with sprinkles melting in the midday sun.

Links: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook

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Salisman

Friday at 7:15

Bio: Salisman is a four-piece psychedelic indie-rock band with a sound they refer to as “western shoegaze.” The band features Travis Salisbury on pedal steel, Paul Foreman on guitar and vocals, Sean Burke on drums and Kevin Pulaski on bass. The songs tell the story a fictional cult leader who is forced to reinvent himself each time his followers lose faith and abandon him. This four piece plays with heavy dynamics and slide between hushed, country-tinged waltzes to aggressive, fuzz-drenched barn-burners.

Links:

Bandcamp: https://salisman.bandcamp.com/music

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salismanblessed/

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Bloodhype

Friday at 8:45

Bio: Bloodhype, originally created as a solo electronic project by Maureen Neer in 2011, was born in Athens, Ohio where it floated along the Hocking River to pick up rhythm and mixing mastermind Chris Lee. Like most weird, sci-fi-obsessed kids, Bloodhype (now more of a group project) made its way to Chicago, IL where it Kirby-inhaled Colin Mulhern, who occasionally adds additional instrumentation and mixes Bloodhype’s songs.

Bloodhype’s latest album, TRENDOIDS, is a dancey, electronic banger. You can probably tell from upbeat extraterrestrial and cryptid themes in “Encounter at Alpha 7 Quadrant” and “Night Crawler” that the album was conceived during COVID as a response to the need for silliness. TRENDOIDS is for fans of Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, The Talking Heads, and Devo

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodhype_chi/

Bandcamp: https://bloodhype.bandcamp.com/

Spotify:

JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest
2024-07-13 14:30 - 22:00
2:30 pm – Buzz Hunter

4:30 pm – Jessica Risker

6:30 pm – Blue Stevenson

8:30 pm – Thomas Comerford

Want to volunteer for a shift at the beer tent to help raise funds so JPF can continue to bring great artists like these to your neighborhood? Sign up at our volunteer page.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Buzz Hunter

Saturday at 2:30

Bio:

Buzz Hunter is a local musician who has been singing and writing songs since he was a student at St. Pat’s.

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Jessica Risker

Saturday at 4:30

Bio: Jessica Risker is a Chicago-based singer/songwriter and guitarist renowned for her unique blend of psychedelic folk music. Collaborating with talented bandmates Joshua Wentz (synths/electronix) and Brian Weza (bass) and drawing inspiration from Broadcast, Jessica Pratt, Laurel Canyon, and Beck, Jessica Risker crafts music that is both deeply introspective and expansively psychedelic. Jessica’s previous album “I See You Among the Stars” was released via Western Vinyl to critical acclaim.

Risker is currently recording a new album with Chicago engineer Dave Vettraino and bandmates Joshua Wentz, Brian Weza, Maria Jacobson, and Steve Plock.

Links: https://jessicarisker.com/

https://deadbeatbeatbeat.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/jessicarisker

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Blue Stevenson

Saturday at 6:30

Bio: Blue Stevenson is a songwriter and singer based in Chicago, IL. Inspired by the storytelling of pop artists like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, her work centers catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrical narratives,

Links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/21yRQpj7ZChZ1n1meeXHze?si=L0lmnVNSRXWav6OHG_Jo8A

Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blue-stevenson/1708046297

Instagram – @blue.stevenson

YouTube – www.youtube.com/@bluestevenson2407

Tik Tok – @bluestevenson_music

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Thomas Comerford

Saturday at 8:30

Bio:

Thomas Comerford is a Jefferson Park, Chicago-based singer-songwriter whose songs and singing have been compared to Jeff Tweedy and Tom Waits (“USA Today”) as well as Lou Reed and the Go-Betweens (“Chicago Reader”). He has released four studio albums and a handful of singles, including 2023’s “Spell of Protection” b/w “Those Who Fear Tomorrow” recorded at Electrical Audio. Currently, Thomas is recording an EP of new songs with his live band. He also plays in a rock n roll band, Glimmerwire, and a Velvet Underground tribute band, Another VU.

Links:

thomascomerford.net

thomascomerford.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/thomascomerfordmusic/

youtube.com/user/ThomasComerford/

JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest
2024-07-14 14:00 - 21:00
2:30 pm – Chicago Music and Acting Academy

5:00 pm – Citywide Symphony Orchestra Ensembles

7:00 pm – Jefferson Park Songwriters

Want to volunteer for a shift at the beer tent to help raise funds so JPF can continue to bring great artists like these to your neighborhood? Sign up at our volunteer page.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Chicago Music and Acting Academy

Sunday at 2:30

Bio: Chicago Music & Acting Academy will be taking the stage this year with a live band! Our students, ages 5-adult, will perform pop/rock and musical theatre hits through the decades.

Links:

www.chicagomaa.org

Facebook: Chicago Music and Acting Academy

Instagram: @ChicagoMusicandActing

Tik Tok: @chicagomusicandacting

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Citywide Symphony Orchestra Ensembles

Sunday at 5:00

Founded in 1947, The Chicago City Wide Symphony Orchestra is an all-volunteer community orchestra comprised of students and amateur, semi-professional and retired musicians of all ages from Chicago and the surrounding metropolitan area.

https://citywideorchestra.org

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Jefferson Park Songwriters

Sunday at 7:00

A group of talented local musicians will share their original songs. Don’t miss this!

JPF October 2024 General Meeting
2024-10-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join JPF for our next general member meeting on Thursday, October 17, from 7-8pm.

We are hosting our meeting in the back area of The Windsor. (Come early, grab a seat, grab some food, tip well!)

We’ll have a vote for proposed bylaw changes (you can review those here: https://www.jeffersonparkforward.org/proposed-2024-bylaw…/).

For October’s meeting, we will feature local businesses! Come meet and hear from some of our favorite new and established businesses in the area and see what they have coming up this fall and winter

Back Porch Music Series
2025-06-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-13 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-27 14:00 - 15:00
FREE CONCERT SERIES! Join the Jefferson Park Forward, and local co-sponsors as we present the Back Porch Music Series. This event recurs on select Sundays in Jefferson Memorial Park, featuring talented local artists who will entertain us from the porch of the Esdohr House (just south of the JMP Fieldhouse). Grab your lawn chair, a snack, and your listening ears for some summer fun in the park. NOTE: these concerts occur on the same day as the Jefferson Park Sunday Market, so make a day of it!

Thanks to the Jefferson Park Memorial Advisory Council and the Chicago Park District for making this event possible! These events are also sponsored by the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association.

JUNE 22: Buzz Hunter – Singer/Songwriter and Nashville recording artist, Buzz Hunter will be bringing his music to Jefferson Park. Buzz is a former high school principal, where a trip to his office could be a musical experience.

JULY 13: You Know Who – a neighborhood band of wise old owls playing decades of rock and pop favorites, and a cool deep cut or two. Flocking soon to the back porch of the Esdohr House.

JULY 27: +AXONS+ – Axons is the songwriting project of Jefferson Park community leader Adele Nicholas. Axons’ most recent album, I Object to Everything, is inspired by the true story of how two federal prisoners escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago by rappelling 17 stories down the side of the building on ropes fashioned from braided bedsheets sewn together with dental floss in December of 2012.

Jefferson Park Open Mic Night!
2025-07-07 19:00 - 22:00
Jefferson Park Forward is excited to extend our monthly open mic night in our neighborhood with our friends at The Brig!

Singers, songwriters, instrumentalists – all are welcome at the monthly Jefferson Park Open Mic at The Brig. Casual, friendly, and a great chance to play your music on a local community stage. Free to play, free to attend!

Monthly, every second Tuesday of the month. All ages!

JPF General Meeting
2025-07-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for our next JPF General Member Meeting on Thursday, July 17 from 7-8pm! We’ll be in the Gateway Lounge (Annex) at Copernicus Center.

Come meet your neighbors, grab a refreshment from the Gateway Lounge (bar will be open!) and join us for local updates including:

• Local Summer Events

• Legislative Update from Rep. Mike Quigley’s Office

• Update from Copernicus Center

• Preview of the Jeff Fest Community Stage – local musicians performing live!

Following the meeting, we’ll head to Rex Tavern for a social hour. Bring a friend and see you there!

JPF GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY, JULY 17

7-8 PM

COPERNICUS CENTER GATEWAY LOUNGE (ANNEX), 5938 W LAWRENCE

SOCIAL HOUR AT REX TAVERN TO FOLLOW

RSVP HERE

JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest
2025-08-01 18:00 - 22:00
Jefferson Park Forward is hosting the Community Stage at Jeff Fest for the 7th year! This year will feature 8 bands of all original songwriters and recording artists from Jefferson Park and the surrounding area. Come support live music, original music, and your neighbors at the JPF Community Stage!

FRIDAY 6-8pm: JPF Happy Hour at the Community Stage Beer Tent!

FRIDAY BAND LINE UP:6:00pm – Noiseland (https://www.instagram.com/noiseland_/ ?; https://noise-land.bandcamp.com )7:15pm – Miniskirt (https://www.instagram.com/miniskirt_chi/ ; https://miniskirtchi.bandcamp.com/album/miniskirt-s-t-ep )8:45pm – Josephine (https://linktr.ee/Josephineluhmusic )

JPF Community Stage at Jeff Fest
2025-08-02 13:00 - 22:00
Jefferson Park Forward is hosting the Community Stage at Jeff Fest for the 7th year! This year will feature 8 bands of all original songwriters and recording artists from Jefferson Park and the surrounding area. Come support live music, original music, and your neighbors at the JPF Community Stage!

SATURDAY LINE UP:1:00pm – Chicago Music and Acting Academy (https://www.chicagomaa.org)3:30pm – Jefferson Park Songwriters5:00pm – Michelles (https://michellesband.com )7:15pm – Surgery Cult (https://surgerycult.bandcamp.com )8:30pm – Baron Von Future (http://www.baronvonfuture.com )

Jefferson Park Open Mic Night!
2025-08-11 19:00 - 22:00
Jefferson Park Forward is excited to extend our monthly open mic night in our neighborhood with our friends at The Brig!

Singers, songwriters, instrumentalists – all are welcome at the monthly Jefferson Park Open Mic at The Brig. Casual, friendly, and a great chance to play your music on a local community stage. Free to play, free to attend!

Monthly, every second Monday of the month. All ages!

JPF Community Stage at Chicago Italian Beef Fest
2026-07-31 18:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-01 14:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-02 15:30 - 18:30
It’s that time again: Time for live, local bands at the JPF Community Stage in Jefferson Park! Grab a blanket, pull up a chair, or better yet, get on your feet and rock out to these original songwriters in a wide range of genre, all in the verdant cradle of Jefferson Memorial Park (on the Higgins Avenue side).

This year’s lineup is:

FRIDAY, JULY 31:6:00 PM • Ian McKinley – https://ianmckinleymusic.com/7:30 PM • Dexter – http://www.dexterchicago.com9:00 PM • Emily Jane Powers – https://emilyjanepowers.com/

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12:30 PM • DJ Sliam – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5k9hoBWDCQ3DUpgbgByZTV4:00 PM • 8-Bit Creeps – https://8bitcreeps.bandcamp.com/5:30 PM • The Prime – https://theprimechicago.com/7:00 PM • Salisman – https://salisman.bandcamp.com/8:30 PM • Little Church – https://littlechurch.bandcamp.com/

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23:00 PM • Chicago Music and Acting Academy – https://www.chicagomaa.org/5:30 PM • Jefferson Park Songwriters
