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Things to Do with Young Children in Chicago – Feb and Mar 2010
Are you cooped up inside this winter and looking for things to do with toddlers and little children in Chicago? Why not make your way to the Garfield Park Conservatory for some free activities in February and March, 2010? Try the free Morning Glories program on Mondays! (see below).
Garfield Park Conservatory is a fantastic place to bring family members of all ages for free fun. Something’s always growing, and there’s always something new to discover! To make your “growing” experience here even more enjoyable, we offer a number of special educational opportunities free for kids and families! Come visit the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden, which is open during normal Conservatory hours, or visit us during one of our scheduled activity times.
Monday Morning Glories for Families
Every Monday Morning 
Date: Year Round
Time: Drop in anytime between 10 am – Noon
No registration required.
Location: Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden
Cost: $1 suggested donation per family
Adult supervision is required for participation in the Morning Glory Mondays Program. For more information call Kelly Katzmann at 773 638-1766 ext. 23 or email kkatzmann@garfieldpark.org.
Enjoy learning together with your preschooler during this weekly drop-in activity and storytime. Projects are fun, interactive, and encourage children’s curiosity about plants. Preschoolers and their care-givers participate within a group of children to complete a hands-on activity and listen to a related story. Each group session takes approximately 20 minutes. After completing your project, be sure to stick around to dig in the soil, shake musical plant instruments, or help water our plants. (interactives change weekly). We do suggest a donation of $1.00 to help cover the cost of materials.
* Morning Glories breaks for holidays and special programming. There will be no program on the following dates: Monday, February 15 (Presidents’ Day)
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Morning Glories Projects in February and March 2010
February 1
Cinnamon Heart Necklaces
Adorn yourself with a great-smelling Valentine necklace using a plant we can find right here in the Conservatory. Be sure to visit our cinnamon tree in the Sugar from the Sun Room.
February 8
Chocolate Chuckers
Wouldn’t it be great if chocolate grew on trees? Well, actually it does! Learn how chocolate is made from the seeds of the Cacao tree, growing right here in the Conservatory. Then, make a great smelling bean bag using chocolate hulls.
February 15
No Programs
No programs due to President’s Day.
February 22
Alphabet Dig & Letters
Hunt for the letters of the alphabet in our soil pit, then plant a grass seed letter.
March 1
Desert Terrariums
Learn about the amazing plants that grow in this harsh, hot and dry place. Then make a terrarium filled with succulents and a toy lizard to take home.
March 8
Nutty Fun
What can you make out of a walnut shell? Get creative with this plant part and make a cradle, boat, or even a mouse to take home.
March 15
Sugar and Spice Necklaces
Discover the more fragrant plants in the Conservatory’s collection, including cinnamon and orange trees. Then, make a necklace using parts of these plants to take home. Participants will also learn about the function of each plant part.
March 22
Beanie Babies
Plant a black-eyed pea in a pint-size bag, then wear it close to your heart to care for your Beanie Baby.
March 29
Jelly Bean Bags
Sort different types of beans, including jelly beans, by color and then make your own bean-er-rific bag to play our basket toss game.
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Did you know that Chicago’s botanical gem under glass, the Garfield Park Conservatory, has been home to rare tropical plants for over 100 years? (The Garfield Park Conservatory opened for free to the public in April of 1908.) The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance offers a number of exciting free programs year round that explore the power of plants. Be sure to check out our website for free program information and updates. For additional information please call 773-638-1766 ext 23.
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Plant’s Alive!
The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden
Open Every Day of the Year
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily; Wednesdays till 8 pm
Where: Inside The Conservatory — Southwest Wing
Cost: Free
Ages: All
The Children’s Garden is located inside the Garfield Park Conservatory, is open every day of the year to all visitors! Read on for important information and don’t miss out on our “Discovery Area” and free “Weekend Activity Time” sessions in the Children’s Garden..
Inside this botanical wonderland, a gigantic vine beckons children to trace it from root to blossom, while a 7-foot-tall seed waits to be climbed. Here, the curious can unravel the many mysteries of plant life, and the adventurous can hunt for some of the most unusual specimens found in the Garfield Park Conservatory (some of which are included on our downloadable Eye Spy Conservatory Hunt). Young explorers will encounter the Sensitive Plant, so shy that it cringes when touched, and the Balsa Tree, which emits a hollow sound when the trunk is tapped.
Free Scavenger Hunt Daily
Daily Program
Date: Year Round
Time: Scavenger sheet available during all exhibit hours.
Activity will be available at front desk
Location: Conservatory
Cost: Free
Fold and create a special origami toy containing hidden messages about plants. This educational and interactive scavenger hunt will lead you to discoveries in the Sugar from the Sun exhibit and around the Conservatory. When you’re done, take it home and use it again and again!
Free Snow Sculpting Competition – Jan 29-31
Bring the family out to see 15 professional artists in a free snow sculpting competition. The free SNOW DAYS CHICAGO returns from 4 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 30-31 in Grant Park (Balbo & Michigan), Chicago. Read more
Garfield Conservatory Hosts Free REI Wilderness Wednesdays – Jan 20, Feb 17
Come for this free event and join our special outdoor host, REI, as they set up camp on the grounds of the Conservatory. REI staff will provide this free program about enjoying the outdoors and exploring your wild side through their PEAK program (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids). Free program activities includes games and activities based on recycling, respecting wildlife, and more. Read more
Free Holiday Poinsetta Show – Garfield Park Conservatory
Come enjoy a traditional free Holiday Flower Show in the Show House, opening Nov 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You’re sure to marvel at the sheer number of poinsettias on display. The holiday scene is perfect for taking annual family photos or for just getting in the holiday spirit.
It will only be a couple of months until the the Spring Flower Show will open in February 2010, then the Summer Tropical Show will open in June. Watch our website for more detailed dates as the shows get closer.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily;
9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesdays
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave., 312-746-5100
All ages, free admission
“Young Mr. Lincoln” – Chicago Outdoor Film Festival – August 18
Join thousands of Chicagoans who take in a free movie in Grant Park at the free Chicago Outdoor Film Festival. Each Tuesday for seven weeks at dusk, the free Chicago Outdoor Film Festival features free classic movies and this Tuesday, August 18, come on down to enjoy “Young Mr. Lincoln”, an 1939 free film featuring Henry Fonda and Alice Brady. Read more
Chicago Park District: Free Movies in The Park – July
Looking for an inexpensive, fun activity with the loved ones? Check out the Chicago’s Free Movies in The Park, where the Chicago Park District’s annual series takes place in more than 125 neighborhood parks and makes a great cheap date or family night (just BYO picnic and blanket). Films start at dusk. Free movies still left in July are:
July 15 “Conozca La Cabeza de Juan Pérez” (Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St.)
July 15 “The Family That Preys” (Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St.)
July 16 “Ghostbusters” (Rainey Park, 4350 W. 79th St.)
July 16 “Kung Fu Panda” (Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.)
July 16 “The Longshots” (Galewood Park, 5729 W. Bloomingdale Ave.)
July 17 “The Dark Knight” (Meyering Playground Park, 7140 S. Martin Luther King Dr.)
July 17 “Igor” (Olympia Park, 6566 N. Avondale Ave.)
July 17 “Kung Fu Panda” (Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.)
July 17 “Hotel for Dogs” (Athletic Field Park, 3546 W. Addison St.)
July 17 “The Longshots” (O’Hallaren Park, 8335 S. Honore St.)
July 18 “Hancock” (Mandrake Park, 901 E. Pershing Rd.)
July 18 “Iron Man” (Loyola Park, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
July 18 “Iron Man” (Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave.)
July 19 “Snoopy Come Home” (Beverly Park, 2460 W. 102nd St.)
July 20 “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (Lincoln Park, 2045 Lincoln Park West)
July 21 “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (Austin Town Hall, 5610 W. Lake St.)
July 21 “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” (Bauler Playlot Park, 501 W. Wisconsin St.)
July 21 “The Wiz” (South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive)
July 22 “Yveete” (Calumet Park, 9801 S. Ave. G)
July 22 “The Longshots” (Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St.)
July 22 “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St.)
July 23 “The Dark Knight” (Horan Park, 3035 W. Van Buren St.)
July 23 “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (White Park, 1610 W. Howard St.)
July 23 “Iron Man” (Hoyne Playground Park, 3417 S. Hamilton Ave.)
July 24 “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (Moore Park, 5085 W. Adams St.)
July 24 “The Dark Knight” (Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.)
July 24 “Kung Fu Panda” (Haas Park, 2402 N. Washtenaw Ave.)
July 25 “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd.)
July 26 “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Churchill Field Playlot Park, 1825 N. Damen Ave.)
July 27 “Necessary Roughness” (Shabbona Park, 6935 W. Addison St.)
July 27 “The School of Rock” (Lincoln Park, 2045 Lincoln Park West)
July 28 “Little Giants” (Normandy Playground Park, 6660 W. 52nd St.)
July 28 “Lilies of the Field” (Palmer Park, 201 E. 111th St.)
July 28 “The Incredible Hulk” (Vittum Park, 5010 W. 50th St.)
July 29 “Open Season 2″ (Durkin Park, 8445 S. Kolin Ave.)
July 29 “To Sir, With Love” (Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.)
July 29 “Hancock” (Fuller Park, 331 W. 45th St.)
July 30 “The Wizard of Oz” (Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave.)
July 30 “Matilda” (Munroe Park, 2617 W. 105th St.)
July 30 “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” (Archer Park, 4901 S. Kilbourn Ave.)
July 31 “The Dark Knight” (Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L)
July 31 “Kung Fu Panda” (Kosciuszko Park, 2732 N. Avers Ave.)
July 31 “Kung Fu Panda” (Emmerson Park, 1820 W. Granville Ave.)
All of the movies are free admission and if you have questions, please call 312-742-7529
Reminder: Sunset Boulevard in Grant Park – July 14
The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival starts off with the classic Sunset Boulevard on July 14 on a gigantic screen plus a state-of-the-art sound system. Join thousands of Chicagoans who take in a free movie in the Park with Chicago’s magnificent skyline as your backdrop. Films are shown on seven consecutive Tuesday evenings in the summer at dusk. Please join the Opening Night festivities to kick off the 10th annual Chicago Outdoor Film Festival. The public is invited to join Ben Mankiewicz, daytime weekend host of Turner Classic Movies, as he introduces the opening night screening at 8:15pm.
Dates:
Weekly: Every Tuesday
From: Jul 14, 2009 to Aug 25, 2009
Hours:
Sunset on Tuesdays. Times and Films are subject to change.
Cancellations are due to severe weather only. NO rain dates.
Up First:
Sunset Boulevard (July 14)
Location:
Butler Field in Grant Park
Lake Shore Dr. & Monroe Dr.
Chicago, IL 60603
Free Admission!
Dusk Variations: A Free Chamber Music Series Starting June 15
Come to Millenium Park on June 15th as this new series of four free concerts of chamber music, inlcuding elements of electronic music, improvisation and rock and roll, combined with classical music. This new Monday series showcases smaller groups performing non-traditional fare for a broader audience and June 15th opens up with ChicagoCentric, an evening of music by four local chamber ensembles on June 15. Next month, the series continues with The Biava Quartet, a contemporary string quartet on July 6, composer/violinist DBR with DJ Elan Vytal on July 20, and Rachel Barton Pine, among others, on July 27. Read more
Free Concert by Million Dollar Quartet on June 2
Are you a big early rock’n'roll fan? The cast of the smash hit Million Dollar Quartet will be performing a free concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. Chicago’s beloved musical was inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n’ roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley.
The hour-long performance in Millenium Park will feature classic, crowd-pleasing rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from the musical, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” and “Ghost Riders,” among others. Featuring a treasure trove of the greatest songs ever recorded, the show “Million Dollar Quartet” captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry’s most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.
The background on the historical meeting that took place on 
December 4, 1956, is that an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The four legends-to-be united at Sam Phillips behest for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.
The Chicago production stars Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley, Lance Guest as Johnny Cash; Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis; and Rob Lyons as Carl Perkins. Chicago-based actress Kelly Lamont plays Elvis’ girlfriend Dyanne and Chicago’s own Brian McCaskill plays the “father of rock and roll” Sam Phillips. Billy Shaffer (drums) plays the role of Fluke and Chuck Zayas (bass) plays Jay Perkins.
The Million Dollar Quartet show is at the Apollo Theatre and tickets are currently on sale and available through the Apollo Theater box office, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave, (773) 935-6100. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for the regular run are $25-$64.50. Rush student tickets are available for $20.
Millennium Park, managed and programmed by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and the philanthropic community, the 24.5-acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. Among Millennium Park’s prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor’s hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Since its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has welcomed more than 16 million of people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.
For more information about Millennium Park, call 312.742.1168 or visit www.millenniumpark.org.
Free Admission on Thursdays at Notebaert Nature Museum
As we thaw out from winter and all the flowers and trees explode back into life, what better time to reconnect with nature at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The Nature Museum, offers free admission every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.! Nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park, awash with sunlight, the Museum offers stunning views of the lake, Chicago’s skyline, and North Pond. exhibits, programs, discussions, and field trips let you experience nature firsthand.
As you walk in, you will feel the serenity of the site, as more than one thousand butterflies of every color are there to greet you. Many informative exhibits, programs, discussions, and field trips let you experience nature firsthand.
There are lots of permanent exhibits available year-round, including a excellent greenhouse filled with more than 75 species of butterflies, a display that educates about almost 100 birds that are native to Illinois, a wilderness walk through how the Midwest once appeared, outdoor grounds that display a model of eco-friendly, energy-efficient technology, and so much more!
Special activities occur everyday at certain times, and upcoming exhibits are described on the museum’s website, so be sure to plan ahead! A gift shop and café are provided for your convenience. Don’t let city living stop you from appreciating worldwide nature.
SOME OF THE PERMANENT EXHBITS
Judy Istock Butterfly Exhibit Get up close to more than 75 species of butterflies in a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse filled with pools of water, flowers, tropical trees and 1,000 butterflies, including those never-before-seen in our region.
Did you know that butterflies are in the arthropod family, along with spiders, beetles, ants and other not-so-admired species? Chicago wildlife photographer Jim Rowan’s photos bring us into a miniature world that exists within our communal earth’s ecosystem.
Haven Birds of Chicago Learn about birds native to Illinois, with nearly 100 specimens on display that date back to the early 1900s. The birds range in age, size, color and rarity, showcasing everything from the large Midwest turkey and the common blue jay to the endangered prairie chicken. Touch screen kiosks provide visitors with additional information on the birds.
River Works Splash through this waterplay experience and learn about Chicago’s waterways and how they support plants, animals, and humans. Explore the dynamics of rivers by building dams, controlling water turbines, even changing the flow of a river itself.
Wilderness Walk Re-discover the Midwest region. Take a stroll through three meticulously re-created environments: a prairie, savanna, and dune, complete with true-to-life lighting, sounds and real live and preserved animals.
Hands-on Habitat This engaging, two-story learn-through-play exhibition takes budding naturalists (age 3 to 7) on an exploration of the secret world of animal homes.
Outdoor Exhibitions The Nature Museum building and grounds are a model of eco-friendly, energy-efficient technology in action: 17,000 square-feet of green roofs, Compost Corral, Rain Barrel Ranch the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Cliff Garden, Elizabeth Plotnick Prairie, and our largest exhibition – the restored native prairie.
HOURS: The Nature Museum is open every day except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and on Friday, May 1 for the annual Butterfly Ball. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note, the last admission ticket is sold at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30 p.m. on weekends.
LOCATION: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 North Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park, just off Lake Shore Drive at Fullerton, Avenue, across from the Lincoln Park Zoo.
MORE INFO: http://www.naturemuseum.org/
Free Birdwatching Workshop: “Home Tweet Home” – May 9.
It’s that time of year again when Chicagoans get a chance to watch local birds migrate back home home for the spring. During the spring migration seasons, the Chicago Park District hosts many free, informal morning bird walks led by seasoned leaders. The Chicago Park District also is putting on a birding workshop affectionately called “Home Tweet Home” on May 9th to help all interested to learn about birds, go bird watching and make a bird craft to take home. The event is free and registration is not required, but you can call (312) 742-5039 for details.
Chicago…….a Refuge for Birds
Chicago supports over 300 species of birds here. While some bird species live here, others just pass through during migrating season or stay for a year or two. Traveling thousands of miles, these migrating birds find places in our city to rest and refuel. Our parks, nature sanctuaries and lakefront are ideal stopovers for these tired migrants. Parks and nature sanctuaries offer water and shelter. Their trees, shrubs, ponds and lagoons brim with insects, berries, seeds and blossoms—great food for hungry birds. Lake Michigan itself is a source of food for many water birds. The long and practically unbroken stretch of open space along the lake is key to the survival of these migratory birds.
Date: 05/09/09
Start Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Schedule Notes: Meet on the Wooded Island (Science Drive behind the Museum of Science and Industry)
Cost: free admission
Location : Jackson Park
WHAT TO BRING
Bird watchers should bring binoculars, appropriate clothing for weather conditions and a keen eye to spot ducks, geese, redwinged blackbirds, grackles, chickadees and other species.
More infomation on CPD bird watching workshop
Botanic Garden opens Model Railroad Garden
The Model Railroad Garden: “Landmarks of America” opens for its tenth season at the free Chicago Botanic Garden, and runs May 9 through Oct. 25. Free admission to Botanic Gardens; this special Model Railroad Garden is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. This impressive family-centric area features model trains and miniature American landmarks made with natural materials, and colorful small-scale gardens. This year, visitors will see a new train on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad line chugging around the White House (that’s the train line that transported Abraham Lincoln).
The Model Railroad Garden encompasses more than 7,500-square-feet and features 17 G-scale trains on 1/3 of a mile of train track. This is fast becoming a Chicago tradition as train fans, young and old, return year after year for the delightful sights and sounds of the miniature trains traversing high and low through tunnels, across bridges, and around buildings — all intricately handcrafted with natural materials, including twigs, bark, leaves, acorns, and pebbles.
Included in the exhibit are more than 5,000 tiny trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowering plants in 250 varieties recreate the topographical landscape of America. The creators have developed little showcase vignettes of tiny people and animals which give the exhibit a real storybook feel.
At the free Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Open daily. $15 parking. (847) 835-5440 or www.chicagobotanic.org.
Check Out More than 1,000 Daffodils This Weekend
Spring is in the air!
Check out some beloved springtime bulbs this weekend at the AMERICAN DAFFODIL SOCIETY’S FREE ANNUAL SHOW AND CONFERENCE at the the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois, a near-north suburb of Chicago.
More than 1,000 daffodils will be on view at the free show’s juried competition. Lectures and workshops will cover growing tips, flower photography and flower arranging.
April 25, noon – 5 p.m., April 26, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission is free, parking is $20 for non-members. 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, (847) 835-5440, www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.
Check out free Lincoln Park Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears, not to mention klipspringers and pygmy hippos, boast one of the city’s best residential addresses, at the Lincoln Park Zoo in the heart of lakeside Lincoln Park. They may be a high-maintenance wild bunch, but admission is free.
Lincoln Park Zoo is a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Located within a verdant park just minutes north of Chicago, the zoo has been a natural, free oasis for generations of animal lovers, who come to hear a lion’s roar echo off nearby apartment buildings, see gorillas climb trees as the Sears Tower looms in the distance, or forget where they are as they immerse themselves in tropical rainforests, dry-thorn forests or spacious savannas.
Come check out the wildest spot in Chicago, where each year millions of visitors marvel at wild wonders as they play and learn about the natural world in a living, breathing, roaring classroom.
Ditto for the zoo’s adjacent Farm-in-the-Zoo attraction. A working replica of a Midwestern farm, it has domesticated animals, John Deere tractors (kids can climb on the thing), and a classic red-and-white barn. 2200 N. Cannon Drive, 312/742-2000.
Top 25 Things to Do in Chicago
1.Navy Pier has been a Chicago landmark since it opened in 1916.It now showcases a unique collection of restaurants, shops and plenty of entertainment. At Navy Pier you’ll find the Chicago Children’s Museum, an IMAX theater, Crystal Gardens (an indoor botanical park), the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows.
2.The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s great art museums, with collections dating from 3,000 B.C. through the present, including famous French Impressionist paintings and drawings; fine and decorative arts from America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America; photography, textiles and architectural works.
3.Explore a world-renowned garden located right in Chicago’s backyard. The Chicago Botanical Garden is a 385-acre, living Read more
