2nd Friday Potlucks are back!
Each month we gather to welcome new and existing members of our community. We invite everyone to come out to meet new friends and enjoy the company of old friends. You do not need to be a paid OPALGA+ member to attend one of our potlucks but we do expect you to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
The next OPALGA+ Potluck will be on Friday, September 8th from 7-10 pm at 220 Franklin Ave, River Forest hosted by Kendall Alexander, Dianet Giraldo and Robert Baker. Potlucks are BYOB drinks and a dish to share. All are welcome–members, guests, straight allies, etc. The more the merrier! See you on September 8th!
Save the date for our future Friday potlucks in 2023:
- October 14 (Saturday) – 528 Wesley Ave, Oak Park hosted by Kelly Soprych
- November 10 – 639 Fair Oaks Ave, Oak Park hosted by Ron Roman and Doug Cotsamire
- December 8 – 605 Iowa St, Oak Park hosted by Paul Loux and Brad Craig
A special thanks to 2022 hosts Mary Anne Mohanraj and Kevin Whyte who hosted OPALGA+ in April 2022; Kelly Soprych who hosted in May and again in September 2022; Ron Roman and Doug Cotsamire who hosted in June; and Rick Wagner and John Sahl who opened their garden to us in July; Bob Personett and Alan Hommerding who collected school supplies in August at their house; John Becvar and Jim Walsh who hosted outside in October; Paul Loux and Brad Craig in November; and Janice Marin and Bailey Abbe in December.
In 2023, we thank Cheryl Knecht for hosting February at the School House Kitchen & Studio in River Forest; Richard Marritt and Steve Oldham who hosted in their Frank Lloyd Wright home in Riverside in March; Sarah Corbin who hosted in April; Mary Anne Mohanraj family who hosted in May 2023; Rick Wagner and John Sahli who hosted in their house and backyard garden in June; Bob Stoner and Steve Haught who hosted over 50 of us in July; and Bob Personett and Alan Hommerding who helped us collect household supply donations for Sarah’s Inn during the August 2023 potluck they hosted.
Interested in hosting?
- Expect anywhere from 25-50 guests. A greeter will welcome guests to your home and give them a name tag. They will need a spot to sit at the entrance. It will be helpful if you have a small table. The greeter will tell the guests where to hang coats, place savory dishes, place desserts and place their beverages.
- If possible, we ask that you have separate tables for savory dishes and desserts. Please protect your tables with a tablecloth, hot pads, etc. Beverages are usually on kitchen counters so that sweating cold drinks don’t damage a wooden table.
- As hosts we ask that you provide:
a. 50 sturdy disposable plates for main dishes. Please do not use foam plates.
b. 50 smaller plates for desserts
c. Plenty of sturdy forks and knives for main dishes and plenty of forks for desserts
d. Napkins
e. Disposable wine glasses (9 ounce size is good)
f. Disposable soda/water glasses (12 – 16 ounce size)
g. On your table, have various serving spoons, forks, etc. available.
h. A bottle opener and corkscrew
i. A cooler filled with ice for guest’s drinks in warm weather months
j. Plastic wrap or aluminum foil for any leftovers - Place a garbage bag in an obvious spot. Be prepared to empty it several times through the night. If your household recycles, consider placing a sign on the receptacle of what can be recycled.
- If you are hosting a warm weather potluck and guests can be outside, let us know if we should advise guests to bring lawn chairs.