Check out 'Check Please' to see Mt. Prospect's Flamingo's Seafood

Flamingo's Seafood Restaurant, 1590 S. Busse Road in Mount Prospect, will be featured on WTTW Channel 11's "Check Please" at 8 p.m. Friday.

Also, the restaurant's chef, Jorge Almaraz, will prepare a special recipe for TV personality Phil Ponce at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17.

Flamingo's fish tacos were featured in Chicago Magazine's list of top dishes.

The restaurant was opened in 2006 by Almaraz and Porfirio Gomez.

Library art: Mount Prospect artist Kathryn Kucera will feature an array of collages with materials collected from around the world at North Central College's first art exhibit of the new year, "Global Narrowing."

Kucera's artwork is on display from last Sunday through Feb. 4 in the gallery in the Oesterle Library, 320 E. School St. in Naperville

An artist's reception with refreshments will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Kucera, a frequent lecturer and critic for art schools and groups in the Chicago area, created her collages in her studio and during travels to China, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and throughout the United States.

Planning ahead: A new series of financial planning classes will be held on Tuesday evenings Jan. 15, 22, 29 and Feb. 5 for pre-retirees and retirees.

The topics include retirement planning, fixed income, annuities and insurance, stocks and mutual funds. Classes will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the village of Mount Prospect, 50 S. Emerson Street, 1st floor Community Center.

There is no charge, but advanced registration is required. Please call (847) 870-5680 to reserve a space.

Keep learning: The Alliance for Lifelong Learning at Oakton Community College offers the following new courses for hobby enthusiasts this month.

Introduction to Studio Recording Techniques provides a hands-on experience with an in-house sound engineer. The eight-week class meets 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Jan. 22, at Boocoo Recording Studio, 1823 Church St., Evanston. Course fee is $160.

Pet Photography provides tips and techniques to capture the beauty and personality of your pet. The class meets 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 22 at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston. Course fee is $29.

Easy Woking demonstrates Chinese stir-fry and other wok cooking techniques. Students also will learn about the major regions of Chinese cuisine, along with the history, culture and customs of China. The four-week course meets 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Jan. 23, at Evanston Township High School. Course fee is $90.

Other available classes include: poetry writing, bridge potpourri, small engine repair and Chinese I.

For a complete Alliance for Lifelong Learning class schedule, including registration and fee information, visit www.oakton.edu/all, or call (847) 982-9888, press 3.