Sure, we were hot, sticky, dirty, and tired by the end, but our 6 hours at Lollapalooza, most of them spent in Kidzapalooza, were well worth it. I think the Little Man may have had the best day of his life. He would probably now describe kiddie heaven as having a painting wall, an instrument tent, a mohawk hair station, a Ralph's World show, ice cream, various crafts, a break dancing floor, and a park shaded by giant trees. And we all got to do things we enjoy as mom and dad were able to catch a few good adult bands and didn't even have to leave Kidzapalooza to see a performance by Band of Horses. My husband and I have done Lolla many times solo and with a tot in tow, but the last time our son was there he was a baby. We would both say that seeing the Little Man breakdance and rock out at Lolla yesterday was our fondest memory to date. A tip for parents planning to go next year, wearing a white shirt could be the worst idea in festival history. Covered in paint, food, drink, dirt and grass, I looked more like I had spent a day in the mosh pit than the kids stage.
***Reminder: Chicago Park District Fall Classes are now available to view online. Make sure to put the classes you are interested in into your shopping cart for quick-clicking online registering on Monday 8/17 at 9am. Popular classes sell out in a matter of minutes. Click here for classes.***
THIS WEEK
Camp Hollywood Family Film Series at the Davis: Every Tuesday and Wednesday the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square is showing family films for $1 per person! This week the feature presentation is "Horton Hears a Who".
When: Tues and Wed • Doors at 9:30a/Movie at 10a
Where: Davis Theater • 4614 N Lincoln Ave
Hawaiian Musical Train: Kids who are into music and trains should head to the Kohl Children's Museum on Thursday for a little of both. Kids can ride the luau train through Habitat Park and play different musical instruments while on board.
When: Thursday 2:30p
Where: Kohl Children's Museum • 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview
Concert in the Park: Dave Rudolf performs kids' music at one of the greatest playgrounds in the city. Bring your swimsuit and towels and hit the water playground pre-concert.
When: Thursday 6:30p
Where: Adams Playground • 1919 N. Seminary
Chicago Air and Water Show: It's crowded but it is such a cool show to witness against the backdrop of Chicago's lake front and skyline. If you don't care as much about the water show and just want to see the planes, bring your blankets and chairs to the east side of Lincoln Park and avoid the huge crowd at the lake. If your kids don't like loud noises, make sure to pack the ear muffs mentioned in last week's blog!
When: Sat and Sun • Water Show at 9a and Air Show at 11a
Where: North Ave Beach, Chicago
Day Out with Thomas: Hopefully you purchased tickets for this event back in May when Windy City Tot posted a reminder for the first week of ticket sales. If not, there are still some time slots available for a ride on the Thomas Train. And even if you don't ride the train, Thomas fans will still have plenty to do as there is a Sir Topham Hatt meet and greet, clowns, puppet and magic shows, live music, story time, crafts, etc. The Railway Museum is a bit of a haul, but if your kid is a Thomas fan, this is one of the highlights of the year. Tickets are $18 for all riders over the age of 2. Click the above link to purchase tickets.
When: Fri 8/14 - Sun 8/16 and Sat 8/22 - Sun 8/23
Where: IRM is located in Union - west of Crystal Lake
Edison Park Fest: If you have never checked out the north side neighborhood of Edison Park, this weekend is the perfect time. This fest has everything from a parade and dog show for the kids to a beer garden and live music for the parents. There is also a kids' stage with music and magicians as well as a children's play area. Aside from taking place in cute downtown Edison Park, the best part about this fest is that it starts early on Saturday and Sunday so those of us with toddlers can hit it pre-naptime!
When: Friday 5p-11p • Sat 9a-11p • Sun 10a-10p
Where: Olmsted and Oshkosh Avenues, Chicago
North Side Summerfest: This street fest in North Center promises good food, good music and a kiddie festival.
When: Fri 5p-10p • Sat 12n-10p • Sun 11a-10p
Where: Lincoln at Irving Park
Green Music Fest: This inaugural West Town Fest looks to be very promising for the green-hipster parent set and fun loving, eco-friendly kid set as well. Things I love about this fest:
Food from good local restaurants: Swim Cafe, Mexique, Green Zebra, Flo.
Good music for parents: tapes 'n tapes and Lucero
Eco-conscious family area: yoga for kids, musical petting zoo, nature exhibits, gardening for kids, rainbarrel ringtoss, book swap, the Purple Asparagus, organic vendors.
Parents can enjoy a decent beer: Fat Tire and Sierra Nevada are sponsors!
I'll see you there.
When: Sat and Sun 12n-10p
Where: Eckhart Park • 1330 W Chicago
Red Stars Soccer Clinic: Chicago's Women's Professional Soccer team is holding a soccer clinic for kids at Chase Park this weekend. Bring your little soccer fans to Chase for tips, Q&A, and autograph signing. Cost is $25.
When; Sat 9a-10:30 for 8-11 year olds • 11:30a-1p for 12-16 year olds
Where: Chase Park • 4701 N Ashland, Chicago
Viking Breakfast: Head to Andersonville for a morning at the Swedish American museum which includes a Swedish pancake breakfast, crafts and a visit from Frey the Viking. Stick around to check out the museum where your kids can dress up as Swedish immigrants and sail a steamer ship towards America.
When: Sat 9a
Where: Swedish American Museum • 5211 N Clark, Chicago
ON GOING ACTIVITIES
The Alder Planetarium The Planetarium is currently showing One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure in which 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. The cost of entry plus the show is $19 for adults and $15 for kids ages 3-14.
Where: 1300 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago.
When: Mon-Fri 10a-4p • Sat-Sun 10a-4:30p
Barnes and Noble Story Time: Are you looking for a free activity for a rainy day? You can enjoy a latte while your kids enjoy story time at one of the Barnes and Noble city locations. 2-3 times a week the city locations offers a story time activity for children ages 0-3 years.
Where: Webster Place (1441 W. Webster) or State and Elm (1130 N. State)
When: Webster- Every Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am / State- Every Mon & Sat 10am
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
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
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.
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
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.
Lincoln Park Zoo's Edible Garden: Don't have room for a garden on your back deck? Bring your little ones to the Farm-in-the-Zoo's Edible Garden where kids get hands-on growing, weeding, compost making, and harvesting practice. Your kids may leave with an understanding that corn and tomatoes are grown somewhere other than Jewel.
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo Farm-in-the Zoo • 2200 N Canon Drive, Chicago
When: Garden is open Wed and Sat 10a-1p
Museum of Science and Industry: Bring your kids to see the Harry Potter exhibit, the Green Home exhibit, and to see live science experiments. June through October the museum will host a free farmers market on the first and third Fridays of the month from 7a-2p. The museum will always have free admission on farmers market Fridays. Otherwise, general admission is $13 for adults and $9 for kids ages 3-11.
Where: 5700 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago
When: Mon-Sat 9:30a-5:3op / Sun 11a-5:30p
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!
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
Where: The Shedd Aquarium • 1200 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago
When: Tuesdays • 9a-5p
