Ever experienced the phenomenon I'm calling "Post Event Energy"? It's like waking up the morning after a party with a smile plastered on your face! This week's Speed Networking extravaganza left me buzzing with excitement. Seriously, Thursday morning felt like I'd chugged a gallon of cosmic coffee. Now, with that electrifying energy still crackling, we're diving headfirst into planning for Bite Nite and the Health and Wellness Fair. Hold onto your hats, folks, we're about to kick it up a notch! | |
Darien Marion-Burton
Executive Director
OPRF Chamber of Commerce
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Speed Networking 2024:
Thank you to our Sponsors!
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Thanks to the help with our sponsors, we had another amazing turnout at this years Speed Networking event! | |
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VENDOR SIGN UP -
Black Business Mini-Fair
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In honor of Black History Month, the Chamber is hosting a mini business fair, showcasing the best that our black community has to offer.
Twenty local black-owned businesses will be featured at this event which will be open to the entire business community to attend.
This event is in partnership with the Chamber's BIPOC Affinity Group.
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Join us as a Vendor!
Open to any black-owned business in our community, this inaugural mini-fair will allow you to feature your business, meet with other black-owned businesses, sample & sell your products and meet members of the Chamber community.
As a vendor you will receive:
- a 6' table and two chairs
- digital marketing of your business as part of this event
- hyperlinked listing as a vendor on the Chamber website
- shoutout on social media as an event vendor
As a vendor you will need to bring:
- table cloth and signage to identify your business
- engaging marketing products or activities for your table
- products to give away or sell to attendees
- business cards
Only 20 Vendor Spots Available
ONLY 20 VENDOR SPOTS AVAILABLE - so sign up early so you can get a spot!
Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis.
Registration will close once all the spots are filled.
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Don’t miss the finest foodie event of the season – 7th Annual Bite Nite 2024!
Stay warm this winter with a winning combination of food + drinks + live music, taking place Friday, March 1 from 5:30-9:30pm in the ballroom of The Nineteenth Century Club, a landmark Oak Park building.
The Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce has gathered 30+ local restaurants, caterers + food brands under one roof - for one night only - to welcome resident foodies with small sample mains + delectable desserts.
What your $60 event ticket buys:
- Admission to Bite Nite 2024 to sample gourmet food “bites” from 40+ local restaurants, caterers + food brands
- NEW! First floor dessert lounge
- “Ask the Chef!” – a chance to interact with local chefs and restaurant owners
- Live music
- 360 bar + dessert bar available for wine + beer. Pre-purchase pack of five discounted drink tickets for $35 to skip line + save. Drink tickets available night-of for $8/ticket. (1 ticket = 1 drink)
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Plan Your Week!
Like to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up over the next week so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event.
Come join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and continue to grow your business!
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Tuesday Feb 13, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM -
Business After Hours at Kribi Coffee Albion
Join us at our monthly networking event! Business After Hours (BAH) takes place on the second Tuesday of every month.
This month, in honor of Black History Month, we'll be gathering at Kribi Coffee in the Albion building in Downtown Oak Park, in the lobby area. Our host Jacques Shalo is one of our community's premier Black business owners. Kribi Coffee has established itself as a great place to hang out and a purveyor of fine coffee, unique in the marketplace in their air-roasting process to give the beans their fullest flavor.
You can also expect tasty hors d'oeuvres and beverages, raffle fun, and dozens of locals from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors, gathered to build relationships and enjoy a splendid evening together. Please join us!
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Friday Feb 16, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM -
Meet Me for Lunch / Madison Park Kitchen
Join us for a Chamber sit-down luncheon! A business lunch in a casual setting, with small group networking. Come enjoy the food while you connect and get to know Chamber members.
In February, we will visit Madison Park Kitchen in Forest Park. This is a cozy, vibrant cafe serving lunchtime sandwiches & a large choice of egg dishes for breakfast.
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Plan Your Month!
Like to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up over the next month so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event.
Come join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and continue to grow your business!
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Thursday Feb 22, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM -
New Member Breakfast February
Welcome New Members! Join us at our quarterly New Member Breakfast to introduce yourself and tell us about your business. This is an ideal opportunity to meet fellow new members, Chamber staff and Board leadership. You will also learn about your benefits, hear how you can get involved and get answers to your questions.
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Thursday Feb 22, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM -
FLEX (Young Professionals)
Stand-up Comedy Class at Comedy Plex
Come FLEX with us at our February outing to Comedy Plex! Located in the heart of Downtown Oak Park, this class is being exclusively offered for the FLEX affinity group of the Chamber! This meet up offers members a unique opportunity to explore the world of comedy and develop essential leadership skills through the medium of stand-up comedy.
The FLEX Stand-up Comedy Class is a tailored experience designed to empower future leaders within the Chamber's FLEX affinity group. Through interactive workshops and personalized coaching, participants will embark on a journey of self-discovery, gaining confidence, creativity, and effective communication skills while exploring the art of comedy.
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Tuesday Feb 27, 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM -
Ribbon Cutting at Publican Quality Bread
Come celebrate with us! Ribbon cuttings provide an opportunity to welcome and connect with a new business, network with other attendees, and celebrate our growing business community. Connecting business to business, and business to community.
This week we'll be celebrating the opening of Publican Quality Bread in Oak Park! We'll be celebrating this business, taking pictures of the ribbon cutting (in this case, a "bread breaking"), and enjoying a great networking opportunity! Come meet the staff and discover all the deliciousness they offer!
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Thursday Mar 7, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM -
Nonprofit Affinity Group / Marketing the Estate Planning Benefits of Charitable Giving
During this session, led by Estate Planning Attorney Tim O’Brien of O’Brien Estate Law, LLC, we will talk about various ways to include charitable giving in estate planning, some of the benefits of including charitable giving in estate planning and breaking this down into talking points that may be useful in marketing or individual donor outreach.
We will meet at Dominican University in the lower level of the Rebecca Crown library - see campus map link for details.
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Friday Mar 8, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM -
Women in Business Meeting / Achieving Harmony and Balance With Feng Shui
Are you interested in bringing more abundance, productivity, opportunity, or creativity into your business and life? Feng Shui is an ancient practice that brings harmony and balance to your surroundings, helping you feel your best as you work toward creating more of what you want. Come hear Meghan Eagan, a BTB-certified Feng Shui practitioner from Completely Radiant Feng Shui, talk about practical ways to apply feng shui principles to transform your home, workspace, and life.
As always, enjoy the company of fellow women from the local business, nonprofit, and government communities - this is a wonderful group and we're glad for you to be part of it!
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Sponsorship Now open for Health & Wellness Fair! | |
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Why Be A Sponsor?
Health Fair sponsorships include "CHOOSE YOUR OWN" BOOTH premium location, booth fees, and social media, online + print marketing. Sponsorships sell out quickly and are available on a first-come basis. Presenting sponsorship already sold for this event. Remaining available sponsorships range from $550-3,000 with varying benefit levels. Contact us to learn more.
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Celebrate Restaurant Week! | |
Mark your calendars and get hungry for Bite the Burbs, a new restaurant week initiative showcasing the amazing restaurants in Oak Park, Forest Park, Riverside and River Forest. Stop by any participating restaurant between Feb. 23-March 1 to take advantage of great food at great deals and support local business. Available offers include prix fixe menus, 15% off your check, and one free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of an entrée, depending on participating restaurants. | |
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Show us what you're eating by tagging #BitetheBurbs24 in your Instagram pictures, stories and reels. We can't wait to see what you order!
Bite the Burbs restaurant week is a collaborative effort brought to you by Visit Oak Park, Downtown Oak Park, the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce, the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce & Development, Takeout 25 and the village of Riverside. If you have any questions or would like your restaurant to participate, please email [email protected].
Continue celebrating good food and local business by registering for Bite Nite, a special evening full of great nibbles and nosh. You'll leave full bellied and full hearted.
Participating restaurants may impose dine-in only restrictions on Bite the Burbs offers.
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This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member in good standing as a member benefit. For information about the event described please contact the host. For information about joining the Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
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