Friends' 10th annual Big Fish Ball was a smash success with hundreds of river-enthusiastic civic leaders enjoying fancy drinks, river animals, bat cave, delicious dinner, and an afterparty river cruise along the river at the Merchandise Mart on Riverside Drive.

Watch for beautiful blue lights illuminating Chicago buildings this month in honor of the 10th anniversary of Friends' Big Fish Ball. This gala event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for river improvements and created a network of river advocates who are Chicagoland's corporate leaders. 

June 1 kicked off Friends' summer lunchtime lecture series, Understanding the New Chicago River, taking place Mondays at our Bridgehouse Museum. Highlighting how much healthier and more accessible the river is now than it was a few decades ago, topics include river wildlife, water quality, river-edge parks and recreation and what's new with Asian carp.

This week The Forest Way, the on-line newsletter for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, ran a story about Friends' bat colony project. Friends has been working with Forest Preserve staff on habitat initiatives that help native species reproduce more effectively.

Check out this great river piece on Mike Stephen's Outside the Loop with Friends' executive director, Margaret Frisbie (the segment starts at minute 9:43).  Mike's piece captures the magic of the river and opportunity presented through Great Rivers Chicago where individuals from across the city and the region are invited to imagine a vision for Chicago's Rivers.

The banner's up for Friends' 10th Annual Big Fish Ball coming to the Merchandise Mart on Thursday, June 4. The festive event features river animals, delicious food, and festive cocktails complete with a river view. For tickets to the gala or the boat cruise after-party contact Archita Singh at (312) 939-0490, ext 10.

This weekend the second phase of the Chicago Riverwalk is set to open, providing riverfront access and amenities ranging from kayak rentals and "touch and go" boat parking to restaurants and wine bars. 

This week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a new feasibility study for an ecosystem restoration plan for the famed Bubbly Creek.

Despite the rainy conditions Friends of the Chicago River installed its first osprey nest to increase the reproductive success of our local osprey population.

Yesterday Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced “Great Rivers Chicago,” a new planning effort that will result in an action agenda for rivers in the City of Chicago.