🍦South Suburbs Scoop

September 19th, 2025

John Sintich
September 19, 2025

Happy Friday! Looks like we’re staring down the barrel of another horrific Bears season. Buckle up. At least there’s college football..

Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods:

Breaking News on Frankfort Water!
Mokena Miracles
Southside Pizza Staple Expanding to New Lenox
Pickleball Continues to Grow

To Our Readers: What would you like to see more in the newsletter? Email [email protected] to provide your feedback!

Let’s Get Into It!

-John

WHAT’S NEW IN THE SOUTH ‘BURBS

📍Village of Frankfort Water Source Update - Details

📍Update on New S&T Pizza in New Lenox - Video

📍More New Pickleball Courts Coming to Orland Park - Video

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

📍9K SF Nonprofit Thrift Store Coming to Frankfort - Details

📍New Arrowhead Smoke Works Restaurant in Manhattan - Details

📍New Gastro Pub to Open in Downtown Tinley Park - Video

📍New Edward Jones to Open in Frankfort - Details

📍New Businesses to Open in New Lenox - Jack In the Box and S&T Pizza - Details

📍132 New Single Family Homes Coming to Lockport - Video

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL LIVE MUSIC

📍90s POP NATION - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$9.35 | 📅Fri, Sept 19 | 9PM

📍TODD BEEBE LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Sept 19 | 6:30PM

📍MEL & TOM - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Fri, Sept 19 | 7:30PM

📍NATE VENTURELLI LIVE - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$9.35 | 📅Sat, Sept 20 | 9PM

📍JACK BYRON LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Sept 20 | 6:30PM

📍JAZZ BAND - Harmony Square (Tinley Park) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Sept 20 | 6PM

📍MATT KAVANAUGH TRIO - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Sept 20 | 7:30PM

📍OPEN MIC NIGHT - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Tues, Sept 23 | 6:30PM

GREATER CHICAGOLAND LIVE MUSIC & MORE

📍 Sept 19	Luke Bryan	Prairie Grove - Details
📍 Sept 20	Lee Brice	Rosemont - Details
📍 Oct 2	Bob Seger Tribute	Joliet - Details
📍 October 10	Jordan Davis	Rosemont - Details
📍 October 17	Lainey Wilson	Rosemont - Details
📍 October 17 - 19	Disney’s Descendants	Elkhart, IN - Details
📍 October 18	Brett Michaels	Joliet - Details
📍 October 20	Adam Sandler	Chicago - Details
📍 October 23	Nate Bargatze	Chicago - Details

Cheapest Gas in the South Burbs!

PRICES AS OF 9/18 - Website

📍 Manhattan - $3.37 - ⬆️ From Last Week

📍 New Lenox - $3.03 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 Mokena - $3.28 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 Frankfort - $3.28 ⬇️ From Last Week

VOLUNTEER & JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ETC.

📍 Fire District Accepting Applications for Firefighter/Paramedic (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Mokena Miracles Seeking Nominations Ahead for Holidays (Mokena) - Details

📍 Numerous Student & Adult Opportunities at Thrift Home Restoration (Frankfort/Orland) - Details

📍 Fire Protection District Now Accepting Applications (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Francis Field Youth Foundation Seeking Volunteers This Sunday (New Lenox) - Details

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL EVENTS & OFFERINGS

📍 Sept 19 - Friday Fish Fry at the VFW (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 19 - Shop-Snack-Sip Craft Fair (Homer Glen) - Details

📍 Sept 19 - Soup and Song Anniversary Party (Lemont) - Video

📍 Sept 19 & 20 - Oktoberfest at Embers (Lockport) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Pumpkin Succulent Class at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Blood Drive at VFW (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Farmer’s Market (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - 46th Annual Old Campground Fest (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Free Community Event w/ Pony Rides (Joliet) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Art & Wine Paint and Sip (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Oktoberfest 2025 at the Forge (Lemont) - Tickets

📍 Sept 20 - Free Fruit/Veggies Event for Will County Residents (Monee) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Taste of Lockport (Lockport) - Details

📍 Sept 21 - Fall Farmers Market (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 21 - Kozy Knits Project with Alsip Park District (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 21 - Sensory Sundays with Hawaii Fluid Art (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 22 - Lord of the Rings Trivia Night at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Sept 23 - Tuesday Poker Night at Jamo’s Live (Mokena) - Details

📍 Sept 24 - Trivia Night at Hickory Creek (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 24 - Adult Bus Trip to “Come From Away” in Aurora (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 25 - 4th Annual Paws & Butts Golf Outing Fundraiser (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 25 - Arts Association Sip & See at Studio C w/ Social 45 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 25 - Friends Trivia Night at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Sept 25 - Singo Bingo Night at Hickory Creek (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Registration Open for Scary at the Prairie (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Scarecrow Contest Open - Due Oct 9 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Kozy Knits Upcoming Events (Multiple Locations) - Details

📍 Board & Brush’s October Calendar is Now Live! (New Lenox) - Details

THE KIDDOS

📍 Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit at the Children’s Museum (Chicago) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Books & Ballerinas Program in Harmony Square (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Sept 20 - Konow’s Corn Maze (Homer Glen) - Details

📍 Sept 21 to Oct 4 - Creepy Crawly Critter Classes (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 26 - Movie Night “Honey I Shrunk The Kids” in Harmony Square (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Sept 27 - Friends of the Park Empty Bowls Event (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 2 to 5 - Halloween Hallow Carnival at The Oaks (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 2 to 5 - Used Kids’ Clothing, Toys, Etc. Sale (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 2 to Nov 1 - Jack O’ Lantern World at the Forge (Lemont) - Details

📍 Oct 13 - Free House of Frights (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 17 - Halloween Bash (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Halloween on the Farm at STRIDES (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Parks Fall Programs: Mokena | New Lenox | Frankfort

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

📍 Sept 26 - Freebyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd Roof Top Event (Joliet) - Details

📍 Sept 26 to 28 - District-Wide Student Performances of “Guys and Dolls” (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Sept 27 - 2nd Annual Glow Ride with Police Department (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Sept 27 - Pupper Pop Up at SunKissed Greenz (Mokena) - Details

📍 Sept 27 - Last Call Before Fall Market & Music (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Sept 27 - St. Joseph’s Pints & Pork Event (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Sept 28 - 13th Annual Wine & Ale Walk (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 2 - Cigar & Whiskey Night at CD&ME (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 3 - Fall Fest (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Oct 4 - Taste of Fall Event (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Oct 4 - NAWS Craft Fair Event (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 5 - Kozy Knits Workshop at Social 45 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 5 - Fall Adoptapalooza 2025 & Fire Zone 5K Run (Lockport) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - 9th Annual Pours for Parks Events (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Nov 9 - Winter Craft Market via Francis Field Youth Foundation (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Dec 6 & 7 - Village Seeking Vendors For Winter Market (Tinley Park) - Details

Get Access to Homes You Won’t Find Online!

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AREA SPORTS & MORE

📍Bears Host Cowboys on Sunday; White Sox Head to The Bronx; Cubs Clinch & Host Mets; and Fire Heads to Minnesota. Bulls Start Preseason Oct 7 Against Cavs!

📍 This Weekend’s College Football: Illinois Heads Indiana; Northwestern Takes a Bye Week; and Notre Dame Tries to Redeem Against Purdue in South Bend. Check out the full college football schedule here!

📍HS Football: East Heads to Lockport; West Plays Central at West!

📍 Sept 20 - White Sox Half Way to St. Patty’s Day Party (Chicago) - Details

📍 Oct 4 - Heritage Hustle 5K/1M Walk/Run (Lockport) - Details

ADOPTION PET OF THE WEEK! Meet Zenith!

Check out Zenith and other adoptable pets! Visit the NAWS website for more information!

Find Your Dream Home — Faster.

🔍 Stop wasting time scrolling outdated listings.
Use my real-time search tool and get instant access to the newest homes in our area.

Real Estate Roundup

This week, the Chicagoland area including Cook and Will county have 10,886 available homes for sale. That is a slight increase from last week's total of 10,827 homes available for sale.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate as of today is: 6.37%.

Mokena - Just Listed: 7 ⎸ Closed: 8
New Lenox - Just Listed: 6 ⎸ Closed: 13
Tinley Park- Just Listed: 16 ⎸ Closed: 20
Frankfort - Just Listed: 4 ⎸ Closed: 6