🍦South Suburbs Scoop

November 21th, 2025

John Sintich
November 21, 2025

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend!

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

Dimes Coffee Lounge Opens Today in Frankfort
New Lenox’s Waffles Kafe Expanding to Frankfort
Orland PD to Hire More Police Officers
3rd Coffee Shop Coming to Frankfort - Sparks Coffee
Illinois Now Offering Digital IDs
Numerous Thanksgiving & Christmas Events in Our Area
Additional Local Events, Area Live Music and Sports

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

📍 Dimes Coffee Lounge Grand Opening Today in Frankfort - Details

📍 Frankfort’s Former Lume’s Restaurant to Become Waffles Kafe - Details

📍 Sparks Coffee Coming to Frankfort Near Emagine Theater - Details

📍 Board Approves New Coffee Shop “Solyne” in Frankfort Square - Details

📍 Orland Police Department to Hire More Officers - Details

📍 Frankfort’s New Development at Elwood and White Streets - Details

📍 Frankfort’s Town Center Bank Named 2025 Business of the Year - Details

📍 Digital IDs Now Available in Illinois - Details

Waffles Restaurant Expanding to Frankfort in Former Lumes Space

Sparks Joining Emagine Center in Frankfort

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

📍 Frankfort Board Approves Phase 2 of New Crystal Brook Subdivision - Details

📍 Frankfort Board Approves Final Plan for Copper Creek Subdivision - Details

📍 Metra Passes 2026 Budget with No Fare Increases or Service Cuts - Details

📍 Orland PD Launches Drones as First Responders - Details

📍 Tinley Park to Debut New Ice Rink in Harmony Square - Details

UPCOMING THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS EVENTS, ETC.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

📍 Starting Nov 29 - Meet The Grinch at Joey’s Red Hots (Multiple Locations) - Details

📍 Upcoming Holiday Events with Kozy Knits (Multiple Locations) - Details

📍 Ongoing - Thanksgiving Catering Menu from Martinelli Meats (Serving Multiple Locations) - Detail

NEW LENOX

📍 Nov 30 - Meet Santa at Gost Coffee - Details

📍 Dec 2 - Remembrance Event: Ornament Making for Those We’ve Lost - Details

📍 Dec 5 - Frosty the Snowman Workshop at Millie’s Filling Station - Details

📍 Dec 7 - Supper with Santa at North & Maple - Details

📍 Dec 13 - Santa Appearance at First Bank of Manhattan - Details

📍 Dec 14 - St. Jude School Breakfast with Santa - Details

FRANKFORT

📍 Ongoing - Where to Send Letters to Santa - Details

📍 Nov 29 - Teddy Bear Ornament Making at Home Depot - Details

📍 Dec 4 - Lighting of the Green at Breidert Green - Details

📍 Dec 4 - Create Your Own Gingerbread House - Details

📍 Dec 5 - Storytime with Santa at the Park District - Details

📍 Dec 5 - 44th Annual Candlelight House Walk - Details

📍 Dec 6 to Dec 14 - Beyond the Nutcracker Performance - Details

📍 Dec 7 - Holiday Christmas Market - Details

📍 Dec 9 - Wreath Bar and Chef Dinner at Social 45 - Details

📍 Dec 9 - Free Christmas Stand-Up Comedy at The Stray Bar - Details

📍 Dec 12 - 30th Annual Midnight Madness Shopping Event - Details

📍 Dec 12 - Jingle Jam Drop Off Party at the Square - Details

📍 Dec 13 - Santa Appearance at Tiny Tots Play Cafe - Details

📍 Dec 14 - Frozen Themed Party at Social 45 - Details

📍 Dec 17 - Senior Breakfast at the Square - Details

📍 Dec 19 - Jingle Jam Drop Off Party at the Square - Details

MOKENA

📍 Nov 22 - Holiday Market at Watershed Cafe - Details

📍 Nov 22 - Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights - Details

📍 Nov 23 - Wreath Sale with Scouting America Troops 40 & 41 - Details

📍 Dec 6 - Santa’s Secret Workshop Returns - Details

📍 Dec 6 - Christmas Nativity Hike, Crafts, Petting Zoo, etc. - Details

📍 Dec 6 - Evergreen Centerpiece Making Workshop - Details

📍 Dec 14 - Donuts with Santa at St. John’s UCC - Details

📍 Registration Open for 3-Day "Holiday Make & Take” Workshop - Details

ORLAND PARK

📍 Mental Health Center Seeking Donations for Holiday Season - Details

📍 Nov 23 - Turkey Trot Party Camp at Wish Dance Academy - Details

📍 Starting Nov 24 - Thanksgiving Break Youth Activities - Details

📍 Nov 26 - Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale & Fundraiser - Details

📍 Dec 6 - Storytime with Santa at Buona - Details

TINLEY PARK

📍 Nov 21 - Debut of New Ice Rink in Harmony Square - Details

📍 Nov 21 - Tree Lighting Ceremony at Harmony Square - Details

📍 Nov 23 - A Winter’s Dream Festival at iCan Dream Center - Details

📍 Dec 5 - Pizza Party with Jack Skellington - Details

📍 Dec 6 & 7 - Winter Holiday Market - Details

📍 Dec 14 - Breakfast with Santa - Details

MANHATTAN

📍 Dec 1 - Jangles the Elf Lands - Details

📍 Dec 6 - Christmas on State & Parade of Lights - Details

CHICAGO & MORE

📍 Until Jan 2 - Village Festival of Lights (Romeoville) -Details

📍 Nov 21 - Christmas Evening with Chris Young at Rialto Square (Joliet) -Details

📍 Nov 25 to Nov 30 - A Magical Cirque Christmas (Chicago) - Details

📍 Nov 28 to Dec 31 - Second City Rudolph Runs Wild Kids Show (Chicago) - Details

📍 Dec 5 to Jan 4 - Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier (Chicago) -Details

📍 Dec 13 - The Rat Pack is Back for the Holidays at Rialto Square (Joliet) -Details

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

📍 Police Department to Hire More Officers (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Village PD Hiring Crossing Guards (Mokena) - Details

📍 Part-Time Seasonal Snow Plow Driver (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Volunteers Needed for Warriors Walk - Details

FOR THE KIDDOS

📍 Little Free Art Nook Available for All Kids (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Free Hot Dog For Kids w/ “Straight A” Report Card at Nicky V’s (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Wednesday Art Classes at Creative Artist’s Studio (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Kids Eat Free Wednesdays & Sundays at North + Maple (New Lenox) - Details

THIS WEEK’S UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS & OFFERINGS

📍 Board & Brush’s November Events Calendar (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Thursday Ladies Nights at Bow Doc Archery - Details

📍 Nov 21 - E.J. Pierogi Food Truck at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 22 - “Wicked” Trivia & Meet and Greet at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 23 - Community Open Gym & Swap (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 25 - “Gilmore Girls” Trivia at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 25 - Tuesday Night Poker Night at Jamo’s Live (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 25 - Open Mic Night at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 26 - Line Dancers Anonymous at Jamo’s Live (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 26 - Trivia Night at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Dec 3 - AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Classes (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Dec 6 & 7 -Board & Brush’s Studio Closing Sale (New Lenox) - Details

CHEAPEST GAS IN THE SOUTH BURBS!

PRICES AS OF 11/20 - Website

📍 Manhattan - $3.05 - ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 New Lenox - $3.45 ⬆️ From Last Week

📍 Mokena - $3.49 ⬆️ From Last Week

📍 Frankfort - $3.49 ⬆️ From Last Week

Get Access to Homes You Won’t Find Online!

🔒 The best deals never hit Zillow or Redfin.
I’ll send you private listings you won’t see anywhere else.

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL LIVE MUSIC

📍 7TH HEAVEN LIVE - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$12.55 | 📅Fri, Nov 21 | 9PM

📍 THE BLUE FIDDLES LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Nov 21 | 6:30PM

📍 REPLAY LIVE - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Fri, Nov 21 | 7PM

📍 RAY LOFREDDI LIVE - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Nov 22 | 7:30PM

📍 80s HAIR METAL TRIBUTE - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$12.55 | 📅 Sat, Nov 22 | 9PM

📍 ROCK HOUNDS DUO LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Nov 22 | 6:30PM

📍 OPEN MIC NIGHT - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Tues, Nov 25 | 6:30PM

GREATER CHICAGOLAND LIVE MUSIC

📍 Nov 24 & 25 - Paul McCartney at the United Center -Details

AREA SPORTS & MORE

📍Bears Hosts Steelers on Sunday; Bulls Hosts Heat and Wizards This Weekend; and Blackhawks Hosts Nashville on Friday

📍 This Weekend’s College Football: #21 Illinois Heads to Wisconsin; Northwestern Hosts Minnesota; and #9 Notre Dame Hosts Syracuse. Check out the full college football schedule here!

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Real Estate Roundup

This week, the Chicagoland area including Cook and Will county have 10,347 available homes for sale. That is a slight decrease from last week's total of 10,550 homes available for sale.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate as of today is: 6.36%.

Mokena - Just Listed: 14 ⎸ Closed: 4
New Lenox - Just Listed: 12 ⎸ Closed: 10
Tinley Park- Just Listed: 25 ⎸ Closed: 10
Frankfort - Just Listed: 15 ⎸ Closed: 13