Cook County briefs
Prospect Hts. Taste, bike fest:
The Taste of Prospect Heights will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, and Bike Fest 2009 will be held Sunday, Sept. 13, both at Rocky Vanders, 698 N. Milwaukee Ave. Taste hours Saturday are 2 p.m.-midnight, with food from Monica's, Heffe's, Famo's, Bob Chinn's, Uncle Tom's Kabobs and more; games; live entertainment from the bands The Afrodisiacs and Hyperflo. The Chicago Harley-Davidson and Rocky Vanders Bike Fest 2009 will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, with a custom bike show, trophies and prizes, music by the band C-Factor and pig roast. For details, call (847) 459-9678.
Firehouse open house:
The Palatine Rural Fire Protection District hosts an open house 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the station at Ela and Palatine roads, Inverness. The event includes a helicopter landing, display of emergency vehicles and an 11 a.m. performance by the Fairlanes, which plays 50s music. There will also be a blood drive, and nonperishable food items will be collected for charity. Parking is at Holy Family church at 2515 Palatine Road, with a free shuttle to the firehouse. Information is at (847) 991-8700.
Bands battle it out Saturday:
Eight local bands will battle for the title of "Capannari's Coolest Crew," at Capannari Ice Cream's Battle of the Bands, 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in Moehling Park, adjacent to Capannari's, 10 S. Pine St., Mount Prospect. Each band will sing three songs, including one original. Co-sponsors are B&E Accounting, Byte Me Computers, Picket Fence Realty, Pro-Mix Audio & Lighting and El Rey Music Center. Capannari's also hosts its last Concert in the Park of the season with The Henhouse Prowlers at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, co-sponsored by Mark Kloss of Coldwell Banker.
Crime writers workshop held:
Writers and readers are invited to join the Chicago chapter of Sisters in Crime for a full day of writing workshops, author presentations and book signings Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Schaumburg Township District Library. "Coffee, Tea and a Smoking Gun" is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the central library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. No registration required, and attendees can drop in or leave at any time. A schedule of presenters and workshops is at the Reader Services Desk in the library's New Books and Fiction Room.