I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend! I was lucky enough to escape to Florida with some college girlfriends. While Florida wasn't as sunny as I hoped, it was great to have a weekend off from mom duties and time to catch up with friends who reside far from Chicago. Remind me to do this again when we are not all pregnant. The key lime pie tasted amazing but the key lime martini is what mama could really use on her weekend off.
THIS WEEK
Baby Animals: Toddlers are invited to participate in this indoor and outdoor class at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Your babies will discover and learn about animal babies during the class activities. The cost is $7 for members and $9 for non-members.
Where: 2430 N. Canon Drive, Chicago.
When: Ages 1-2 Wed 5/27 9:30a • Ages 3-4 Thur 5/28 9:30a
Tots on Tuesdays at the Shedd: Every Tuesday the Shedd Aquarium offers activities devoted to toddlers and pre-schoolers. There are story times, crafts, animal touch programs, videos and costumed characters.
Where: The Shedd Aquarium • 1200 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago
When: Tuesdays • 9a-5p
Garfield Park Conservatory: Every Wednesday through the fall is Little Green Thumb Wednesdays at the conservatory. Little gardeners can unite to dig in the soil, plant pretend veggies, play with wheel barrels, and other gardening activities. No registration required. FREE!
Where: 300 N. Central Park Avenue, Chicago • Outside in the Demonstration Garden (moves indoors to the Children's Garden in bad weather)
When: Every Wednesday through 10/28 • 3p-6p
Dozin with the Dinos: Friday night is an overnight family adventure at the Field Museum. Families with kids age 6-12 are invited to spend a night in their sleeping bags amongst the ancient creatures who reside in the museum. There will be family workshops, activities, and performances as well as a flashlight tour of some exhibits. The cost is $60 per person or $72 each for an upgraded package. The price includes an evening snack and breakfast in the morning. Click the above link to purchase tickets.
Where: The Field Museum
When: Friday 5/29 • 5:45p-9a
Color Play at the Kohl Children's Museum: this exhibit allows visitors to experiment with color through activities and play. There is a soap bubble window, a color play house, a kaleidoscope, and more. Included with admission price.
Where: 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview When: Daily 9/6/09 Mon-Sat
When: Daily through 9/6/09 • Mon-Sat 9:30a-5p Sun 12n-5p
Where: Navy Pier • 700 E. Grand Ave, Chicago
When: Starts Sat 5/30 and runs through 9/7 • Daily hours are 10a-5p / 10a-8p on Thursdays
Do-Division Fest: Festival season in Chicago has begun! Kick it off with the Do-Division fest in Wicker Park. New to the fest this year is the Family Fun Fest which includes a stage devoted to kids bands, a bounce house, arts and crafts, face painting, a petting zoo, and pony rides. (Did you ever think you would see a G-Rated petting zoo on Division Street?) My family attended this fest (sans Family Fest) last year and had a blast. All of the stores along Division Street have sidewalk sales and deals during the fest. I bought my son a pair of See Kai Run sandals at an awesome price during this fest last summer
Where: A 10-block stretch starting at Division and Damen
When: Sat 5/30-Sun 5/31 • Family Fun Fest is 12n-6p
Family Day at Arlington Racecourse: Every Sunday is Family Day at the tracks! Each Sunday features a petting zoo and pony rides plus a different theme each week. The theme this Sunday is the Schaumburg Flyers (minor league baseball team) and on 6/7 it is Legoland Day. Where: 2200 W. Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights
When: Sundays 11a-6p
The Alder Planetarium is showing One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure staring, you guessed it, your kids' favorite Sesame Street characters. Big Bird, Elmo, and a friend from China, discover fun facts about the stars, planets, sun and moon. Weekday shows are at 1p and 2:30p and weekend shows are 12n and 3p. Tuesday 5/26 is a free admission day at the planetarium. Otherwise the cost of entry plus the show is $19 for adults and $15 for kids ages 3-14. 1300 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago.
Brookfield Zoo: In the Dinosaurs Alive! exhibit, the Brookfield Zoo has created a Jurassic Park experience minus all the scary stuff. Kids can touch and control the movement of life-sized dinosaurs along a wooded path in an outdoor forest setting. The exhibit also features a dig site that allows visitors to find replica dinosaur fossils. General zoo admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children 3-11. Admission for Dinosaurs Alive! is an additional $5 for adults and $3 for children 3-11. The exhibit runs through October.
Chicago Botanic Garden -Model Railroad Garden: Starting this week, the Botanic Garden is featuring an area devoted to model trains. Seventeen trains travel across bridges, through tunnels, and around various American landmarks in a miniature garden setting. Admission to the Botanic Garden is free but there is a $20 per car parking fee. There is an additional fee of $5 for adults and $3 for kids for the Railroad exhibit.
Where: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
When: Daily 5/9-10/25 • 10a-8p
Green City Market: Visit Chicago's largest Farmer's Market in the heart of Lincoln Park every Wed and Sat through October 31st. Be sure to stop by the Growing Home booth for your organic produce. My son loves to run around the park and boogie to the live music while I shop for our groceries.
Tip: if you are not a zoo member, consider becoming one. why would i pay to join a free zoo, you ask? zoo membership gives you free parking adjacent to the zoo and a short walk to the farmer's market (as well as a short walk to the nature museum, the beach, etc). plus zoo membership is tax deductible. we usually get an early start on saturday mornings and hit the farmer's market and then make a stop at the zoo. this makes for a full morning of outdoor activities that the entire family can enjoy!
Where: The south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton.
When: Every Wednesday and Saturday 7a-1p
The Kids' Table offers cooking classes for 2-3 year olds almost every day of the week. Classes for 4-6 year olds, 7-10 year olds, and 11-16 year olds are offered several days a week as well. The classes for toddlers and kids are one hour and cost $25. The classes for teens are 1.5 hours and are $110 for a series of four. 2337 W. North Avenue.
Pump It Up: when it is too hot or cold to play outside, Pump It Up offers indoor play in Chicago and the suburbs. Kids can jump, slide, and climb on giant inflatables during Pop-in Playtime on the weekdays. The city location also has a separate area designed for little kids age 1-4. Pop-in playtime is $8 -$10 for 1.5 hours. Hit their website for hours and the address of the location nearest you. Locations include: Chicago, Glenview, Elmhurst, and Vernon Hills. Don't forget socks!
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