Chicago Parent June 2018

JUNE 2018

| FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

90 ways to your

awesome summer!

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Discover your capable, confident Montessori child.

Children learn best when they’re working with activities they love. At Guidepost, your child will enter the wonderful world of Montessori lessons and learning materials designed to captivate and inspire. Montessori Spanish Immersion is now available for toddlers through kindergarten-aged children.

Visit us online to RSVP for an event or schedule a tour today.

Spanish Immersion programs now available!

GP050118

Toddler • Preschool • Kindergarten

guidepostmontessori.com/wicker-park (773) 663-4732 1530 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

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EXPLORE SCIENCE THIS SUMMER Help kids stay engaged during summer vacation with the Museum of Science and Industry’s Summer Brain Games program.

Discover ways to improve the planet with easy, hands-on experiments. Sign up at msichicago.org/summerbrain and you’ll receive a pass for one FREE Museum Entry ticket to MSI.

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Summer at the People’s Pier Aon Summer Fireworks May 26 – Sept. 1 Wednesdays, at 9:30pm Saturdays, at 10:15pm Live on the Lake!

May 25 – Sept. 2 Wednesdays – Sundays Wave Wall Wax May 26 – Sept. 1 Saturdays, 2pm – 4pm Rush Hour Fitness Presented by LifeStart

June 5 – Aug. 28 Rush Hour Workouts Tuesdays, at 6pm Wave Wall Sunset Yoga Tuesdays, at 7:30pm LatiNxt

Presented by Sol

June 15 & 16

June 18 – August 20 Mondays, at 7pm Wiggleworms

Presented in partnership with Old Town School of Folk Music

June 20– August 24 Wednesdays & Fridays 10am & 11am

This summer, fill every day with wonder.

There’s something new to discover every day at Navy Pier. Enjoy iconic landmarks like the Centennial Wheel and Polk Bros Park. Ride the waves aboard one of more than 20 daily boat cruises, delve into a world of shopping experiences or grab a bite at one of our amazing restaurants. And this summer, explore a full calendar of free programming including concerts, art installations and amazing cultural events.

Discover what’s happening today at navypier.org SPEC IAL THAN KS TO OU R N AVY PI E R PARTNE RS :

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Presented in partnership with the Chicago International Film Festival

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Water Flicks

Best Preschools in Chicago

2016

Rated top 17 out of 583 schools

LGTH in Evanston is now op en!

*we are proud to have 4 wonderful schools!*

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Specıal Parent CHICAGO

A Chicago Parent EMPOWERMENT GUIDE

Chicago’s only local magazine and resource guide to life for families who have children with special needs.

• 50,000 copies distributed in early intervention specialist offices, and local libraries • Expanded special needs resource directory online at ChicagoParent.com

Specıal Parent CHICAGO

WINTER 2018

AN EMPOWERMENT GUIDE FROM

Gold medal inspiration 100+

LOCAL RESOURCES YOU NEED

Special camps for special kids

BETTER TOGETHER

Special needs & marriage CSPdigital_0218_CV1.indd 1

Digital edition online now!

2/1/18 11:52 AM

For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com 4 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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contents EDITOR

Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy MANAGING EDITOR

Hillary Bird

DIGITAL EDITOR

Jackie McGoey ASSISTANT DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

Katina Beniaris ART DIRECTOR

Claire Innes EDITORIAL DESIGNERS

Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea IT AND DIGITAL DEVELOPER

Mike Risher

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Matt Boresi, Cheryl Eugenio, Keely Flynn, Cheryl Leahy, Melissa Silverberg, Marianne Walsh, Shannan Younger DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES

31

Annette Coffee, Christine Griffith, Lourdes Nicholls, Karen Skinner ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER

Philip Soell

ADVERTISING DESIGN MANAGER

Andrew Mead

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney JUNE 2018 | VOLUME 34 | NO. 6

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Jill Wagner

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

FEATURES

David Oromanor EVENTS COORDINATOR

18

Carmen Rivera

SOAK IT UP! Enough fun to fill every day

27 SUMMER WOWS

What’s new for families in Chicagoland

OUT AND 31 GET PLAY Nature playgrounds are all the rage with littles

LIFE IN CHI

BUSINESS MANAGER

Joyce Minich CREDIT MANAGER

10

INSIDE VOICE

11

FAILING WITH GUSTO

12

VIVA DADDY

14

YOU

Laurie Myers PUBLISHER

Dan Haley FOUNDERS

16

GET OUT OF TOWN

39

CALENDAR

Natalie Goodman, Carolyn Jacobs

HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-5555 ChicagoParent.com EDITORS

chiparent@chicagoparent.com TO FIND A COPY

circulation@chicagoparent.com JUNE 2018

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ADVERTISING

ON THE COVER

dhaley@wjinc.com

Cover kid: Mariella Simone Joesette

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

Fallon, 5, of Chicago Photography: Thomas Kubik of TK Photography Design: Claire Innes

90 ways to your

awesome summer!

Adorable pink tricycle provided by Radio Flyer. Find it at radioflyer.com.

Chicago Parent is published monthly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chicago Parent, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL, 60302. © 2018 Wednesday Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

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EDITOR’S NOTE SPONSORED

Guarding nature

Let the fun begin

Every day when you go outside, the trees are there, tall and shady. The squirrels are there, quick and busy.

The birds are there, singing in the trees.

The trees and squirrels and birds are all part of nature, just like we are. In fact, we are an important part—because the rest of nature needs us.

Trees need room for their roots and branches, so they need us to save open land where they can grow.

They also need clean water that is not polluted.

So do the squirrels and birds. (And even the fish and squid and shrimp and sharks in faraway oceans.) They all rely on us to defend the precious water.

Deer and wolves and owls and mushrooms need us to guard the forests. Butterflies and falcons and prairie dogs that rustle among tall grasses depend on us to protect prairies.

So how can one person (you!) help nature?

Encourage your family to recycle as much as possible.

Pick up garbage and don’t litter. Water trees in dry weather, even those in the parkway. Try not to waste water—don’t leave the faucet running. Be proud to be a guardian of nature, because we need nature and nature needs us.

You can learn more about being a guardian of nature when you visit the Troll Hunt exhibition at The Morton Arboretum this summer (mortonarb.org/troll-hunt).

TAMARA L. O’SHAUGHNESSY

My kids are getting seriously antsy about getting on with summer; they’ve been counting down the days until the end of school for months.

Summer always causes me more stress, though. I don’t want the girls stuck at home and sleeping away their days. So I start each summer with a plan to try to make the most fun memories possible.

Whether you fill every day with something new or load up the weekends like I do, luckily there is a Dog days ton of fun to be had Fun of summer with the kids in on the 220 winning ideas Chicago and all cheap around the subPicnics, urbs. So this year, putt-putt rather than keep puzzles my plan-making just to myself, I encouraged our new managing editor and mom to o two, Hillary Bird, to team up with our wonderful bloggers to create a plan all of you can use, too.

I hope her list, along with Pick up the summer issue the new things of Going Places for hundreds this summer in of more ideas to try with the Chicago—hello kids. And every day, our digital Máximo!—and gurus, Jackie McGoey and the scoop on the Katina Beniaris, are adding nature playnew ideas at family fun cengrounds springing tral, ChicagoParent.com. g up everywhere, will guarantee some really great moments for your family.

Enjoy these warm, less-scheduled days, and Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there.

Going Places FREE | SUMMER 2018

+

Want more fun?

4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, Ilinois 60532 mortonarb.org • 630-968-0074 6 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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ON THE WEB

Breathing in the summer breeze at ChicagoParent.com

Dedicated to dad Dad gives the best bear hugs, builds the coolest forts and scares away the monsters under the bed. Make his Father’s Day extra special this year with gift ideas, recipes he’ll love, the best dad jokes and more. Find them all at bit.ly/CPGoDadGo.

Sunshine days Summer officially begins at the end of the month and we. are. ready! Bring on the food fests, splash pads, baseball games and Popsicles for dinner.

Head to bit.ly/CPSummertimeChi for all that and more, including a roundup of free outdoor summer movies, easy ways to avoid summer brain drain and a summer reading list for parents.

JACKIE MCGOEY

Winning looks good on you The most adorable pink Radio Flyer trike featured on this month’s cover could be yours! Visit our Contests page to enter. And be sure to check back regularly this month; we’re also giving away family five-packs to see “Incredibles 2,” “Uncle Drew” and “AntMan and the Wasp” at Classic Cinemas.

®

is part of your favorite social networks

A WILD PLACE TO SHOP AND EAT ®

FREE KID'S MEAL!* Find us on Facebook Join the Twitter party!

Follow us @ChicagoParent On Pinterest pinterest.com/chiparent

*With the purchase of an adult entrée. Not valid with any other offer, discount or promotion including Landry’s Select Club. Offer valid at Downtown Chicago, Gurnee and Wooddeld Mall locations only. One coupon per table, per visit. Expires 12/30/18. Code: FreeKidsMeal DOWNTOWN CHICAGO 605 N. Clark St. (312) 787-1501

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Outcomes-focused therapy, designed to help your child achieve more in less time.

At Autism Home Support Services, we can help your child overcome the behavioral challenges that may be holding them back.

Our therapists provide customized therapy for individuals with autism and related disorders. Our outcomes-focused model can create a positive difference in your child’s overall development and long-term success by using the evidence-based practices of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

Call 844-AHSS-ABA (247-7222) or go to AutismHomeSupport.com to learn more!

AHSS Autism Center 8 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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COLOR

B

eauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but this summer, Shedd Aquarium is filling all of your senses with beauty.

Shedd’s new exhibit, Underwater Beauty, is teeming with thousands of animals that make our oceans and lakes so amazing.

Shedd describes it as its most diverse special exhibit in its 88-year history.

Each room has something not to miss: Shimmer—Tactile items let families feel the size, shape and texture of the animals in the exhibit.

Color—Look for the peacock mantis shrimp with colors you might not imagine.

Patterns—Try the fun digital interactive that shows you the fish matching your outfit.

Rhythm—Mimic and control the motion of animated animals, with a different soundtrack for each one. Favorites here will be the jellies and seahorses, of course.

And in the final room, find plenty of seating to enjoy serene freshwater fish and plants.

“Everywhere guests look, there will be something new to appreciate. We hope guests leave the exhibit feeling inspired by the amazing beauty found underwater,” says Kris Nesbitt, senior director of Exhibits and Experience Development at Shedd.

Life in Chi

A dive into

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INSIDE VOICE

Taking art to the streets

Old Town Art Fair

57th Street Art Fair

57th Street Art Fair Head to Hyde Park for the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest—and an absolutely astounding amount of glass, jewelry, leather, photography, print-making, painting, sculpture, digital arts, wood, ceramics and fiber.

Hungry? Grab a bite to eat at the Eat and Give Back food court, a partnership with William H. Ray Elementary School, with proceeds

gle

If you like accolades with your art, you’ll love the original Old Town Art Fair, voted America’s No. 1 Art Fair for the third year in a row (by ArtFairCalendar.com) and named by U.S. News & World Reports as one of Chicago’s favorite festivals. Strict guidelines only allow for Fine Art to be showcased at Old T own this one, and every single Tri an piece is an original.

Coinciding with the neighborhood Garden Walk, this is a great chance to stroll through one of Chicago’s prettiest neighborhoods— and into 50 gardens normally off-limits to the public. Tinies in tow? They’ll love the Children’s Corner, with a magic show, a Mad Scientist and enough Eco-Art to start them down the (green!) path toward their artistic futures.

June 9-10; Old Town Triangle Association building, 1763 N. North Park Ave., Chicago. oldtownartfair. org; $10 adults, kids free

Gold Coast Art Fair

directly benefitting the Ray PTA. Young artists won’t want to miss the Community Arts & Activities area (featuring all-ages fun provided by local community organizations), and their grownups won’t want to miss the 200 exhibitors—at least one of which is sure to have your home’s new favorite piece.

June 2-3; 57th Street at Kimbark Avenue, Chicago. 57thstreetartfair. org; free

Amdur Productions

Serving as a very important reminder that Chicago’s best art isn’t kept solely inside museum walls, I’m just going to go ahead and declare the month of June ‘Art Fair Season.’

Celebrate the beautiful KEELY FLYNN temps with even more beautiful creations—and plenty of opportunities for the whole family to get in the picture.

Regardless of the date on the calendar (or the temps on your weather app), true summer begins when Chicagoans head to Grant Park. The 61st annual Gold Coast Art Fair promises to bring even more loveliness to that experience with 300 juried artists from around the world and some downright incredible demonstrations and interactive art projects.

Live music, beer and food are featured in three oases, and gate donations go directly to the Chicago Park District’s art projects. Kids will show their true colors with a number of fam-friendly activities like spin art, art fest bingo and, true to the urban experience, a graffiti wall.

June 16-17; Grant Park’s Butler Field, corner of Monroe and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. amdurproductions.com/gold-coast-art-fair-atgrant-park; $5

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FAILING WITH GUSTO

Emergency uncertainty

MARIANNE WALSH

Ride. Slide. Laugh. Learn.

Chill. Cheer. Play. Stay.

My sons have been to the ER so many times, I am confident they funded the hospital’s new cardiac unit.

The early visits were always the scariest. There were high fevers that didn’t respond to medication and screaming infants who couldn’t tell me what hurt.

Dan was 5 when he put a screwdriver through his eye.

Jack once hit his head so hard that blood shot across the room with each rapid heartbeat.

It rather reminded me of a sprinkler.

As the boys grew older, the visits decreased. I stopped assuming every injury was life-threatening and instead embraced the wait & see approach.

The other night, I drove my son Dan home from a hockey game and asked about his wrist, which had been hit by a puck the previous week. He held it up for inspection.

The natural swelling was no longer soft. It was now hard to the touch.

IS THAT ACTUALLY A BONE??

Fearful that he was heading towards permanent disfigurement, I re-routed to the nearest hospital.

As we awaited X-ray results, the toddler in the next room began to wail. The poor baby cried for an hour straight. Finally, I heard the doctor talking with the parents.

Mom and dad were younger versions of myself, but with an added dose

of WebMD and a double espresso.

They peppered the man with 27 questions in a row.

Not that I was counting.

As the doctor tried to wrap things up, the young mother asked him to repeat everything to her own mother, who was now on the phone.

Dan looked at me and giggled.

When the doctor came in with Dan’s results (no break), I knew the script.

Follow up with an orthopedic doctor…blah blah blah… wear the brace…blah blah blah…could be the growth plate…blah blah blah…can’t It’s always recess in Warren County, Ohio! always tell.

Plan your getaway – not far away – today As the doctor headed at OhiosLargestPlayground.com. out to collect our discharge papers, the young parents from next door were waiting outside, ready to pounce.

They now had their pediatrician on the phone. 17WCC009 WCCVB 2018 Chicago Parent Ad_Apr/Jun_F.indd 1 And their midwife.

I suggested to Dan we skip the papers and make a break for it.

Every once in a while, someone reminds me of who I used to be and how far I’ve come. It’s not that I am a better mother now, but I am definitely less reactive. I’m also more prone to napping.

It really is the only way to stay out of that cardiac unit.

Summer Fun

12/19/17 11:33 AM

CHICAGO PARENT’S SUMMER ACTIVITIES GUIDE Continues in July For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com

ChicagoParent.com June 2018 11

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VIVA DADDY

Daddy-Daughter epic summer As a parent and as a Chicagoan, you have to make every moment of summer count. This year it snowed until May, and it’ll probably snow again in September. The days between school letting out and school supply lists arriving are few, and your vacation MATT BORESI days from work even fewer. If you aren’t panicking about packing enough fun into your calendar, you simply haven’t thought it through.

Fun for the whole family...

Scottish Festival & Highland Games

Don't miss the ever-popular Heavy Athletics Exhibition, the Celtic Rock stage, Highland Dancing, Pipe Band Competition, an action-packed kids' area with mini-golf, balloons, tattoos, mini athletics, and more!

JUNE 15 & 16 - ITASCA, IL. SCOTTISHFESTIVALCHICAGO.ORG

For me, there’s the added pressure that my 6-year-old daughter is in a sweet spot of emotional development. The endless tantrums and lizard-brained selfishness of babydom and toddlerhood are over, but the petulance and resentment of tweendom has not yet begun. Viva is currently affectionate, ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHEN SCHUDLICH empathetic and values my company.

Endless ink has been spilled on how daughters turn into eye-rolling, door-slamming machines once hormones get in the picture, but most of my friends tell me this turn to the dark side happens sooner than expected—that love leaves town in late elementary school.

I could spend forever having adventures with the current iteration of my daughter, and if this ride is going to end, I need to make the only summer she was 6 into 60-90ish days of memories.

My plan? Spoiling the Hell Out of My Child—Summer Edition. If I turn her into a Veruca Salt-y monster forever, at least we had this window of sunshine, rowdiness and grilled Polish sausage. Prepare for an embarrassment of beach days, baseball, bubble machines, water gun fights, street fests, theme parks, concerts, climbing and way more ice cream than I have the digestive enzymes to handle.

“But, Matt,” you cry, “how can you enjoy yourselves under that much pressure to enjoy yourselves?”

My reply? “La la la la I can’t hear you over our motorized scooters, the ‘80s cover band we’re watching and our mouths full of Pop Rocks.”

If there’s a summer fun hangover coming, we’ll deal with it in the fall when everything is grouchiness, math and sweaters.

Viva Vacation. Viva Viva. Viva Daddy.

12 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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THE PLACE WHERE AWESOME LIVES

rate ay b e l e C irthd b your ith us! w

Call (847) 832-6923 to learn more!

Explore our new exhibit!

EXPLORE NATURE’S WAY OF TEACHING.

Visit our popular Animal Secrets March 20 - August 26, to uncover hidden habitats of our furry and feathered friends.

Let curiosity be your guide and discover why we’re The Place Where Awesome Lives!

KOHL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF GREATER CHICAGO • 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview • (847) 832-6600 • WWW. KCMGC.ORG

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YOU

Summer

must-haves Every year in June, I feel this incredible pressure to create a bucket list and squeeze every last drop out of the precious liquid gold that is summer. Here’s the thing: I usually cobble together some random stuff from years prior for summer living—a beach bag that has seen better days, sunscreen that is older CHERYL LEAHY than my child, a bathing suit that has a saggy bum from hours of going down the water slide with my kids on repeat.

This year? I have a whole new arsenal of spectacular summer must-haves to make it the BEST. SUMMER. EVER. However you summer, celebrate the fact that you are out of hibernation and ready to shine!

Dress for success I usually have a summer momiform, and this season I am all about relaxed dresses that go from beach cover up to night on the town.

I found a cinched-waist dress with pockets from Peach (discoverpeach.com) that is so versatile I wore it from sun up to sundown a few days this week (shhhh). Find something comfortable that defines your gorgeous shape and swap flip flops + top knot or hair wrap for espadrilles + natural waves for an easy nighttime transition.

Totes adorable Last year, I hopped on the brightly colored pompom trend for my beach bag. One use in, however, and the pompoms popped off and the color transferred to my cover up. No bueno.

This year I went for quality and function but still

Sunshine day

I liberally apply sunscreen all over my body before heading out into the sun. But I rarely reapply, and if caught on the go, I am guilty of sitting on a patio for lunch with a cocktail sans sun protection.

A dermatologist recommended powder sunscreen and it changed my reapplication game.

Powder mineral sunscreens provide a physical barrier from the sun (versus chemicals as most lotions are) and are insanely easy to apply with the included brush. I toss one of these in my purse for post-makeup touch-ups as well as apply to my hair part—the No. 1 place on me that always gets burned.

managed to find a beach tote that measured up to my style expectations. This one from Scout Bags folds up into an attached pouch (which doubles as a clutch). I also bring a lightweight coated Tyvek zippered pouch along from Aloha Collections to transport wet suits—one of the most brilliant inventions ever.

Suited up

I went to Target last year for my annual painful pilgrimage to try on swimsuits.

The bottoms were all cheeky cut (seriously??), and the tops didn’t exactly support my sisters if you catch my drift.

This year, there seems to be a barrage of woman-friendly swim apparel from companies such as Swimsuits for All (I’m obsessed). As moms, I want to start a movement this summer: just wear the darn suit and move on. Let’s all agree that 99 percent of us are uncomfortable in something that covers us as much as underwear does, but it is kinda necessary to wear in the pool and at the beach.

14 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago specializes in the treatment of issues related to cerebral palsy.

It starts with a multidisciplinary team that creates customized

care plans to address the unique challenges facing each child.

Care plans may include a physical evaluation in our motion analysis center; physical medicine and rehabilitation to address physical symptoms; a therapy program to promote functional skills, posture and flexibility; fitted braces or splints to support joint alignment and proper positioning of the body; and surgical interventions, when recommended, to enhance overall results.

For families and children facing cerebral palsy, our comprehensive care approach offers hope.

We offer hope in our other areas of expertise as well. For over 90 years, parents and children in need of orthopaedic care, specialized plastic surgery, physical rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury care have seen their hopes realized right under our roof — by physicians, nurses, and specialists using the latest technology, innovative research, and a collaborative, family-centered approach. It’s how the 22 Shriners Hospital locations have provided care for over 1.3 million children.

Do You Know a Child For a consultation, or to refer a patient, call: Who Needs Expert Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago Specialty Care? 773-385-KIDS (5437)

facebook.com/shrinerschicago twitter.com/shrinerschicago shrinerschicago.org

2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707

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GET OUT OF TOWN

The place of dreams Museum ups its game

I

BY CHERYL EUGENIO f you haven’t been to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis lately, now’s the time to pack your bags for the three-hour drive.

As the world’s largest children’s museum, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has added another 7.5 acres to its already massive 500,000 square feet with the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legend Experience. It includes 12 outside sports experiences and three indoor exhibits, encouraging everyone to get et up and move. Not into sports? Don’tt sweat it—it’s all about having fun, connecting and getting active together as a family.

Photos by Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

And let me tell you, the outdoor space is just plain awesome! Each section offers rs something for everybody from om toddler to teens: u Challenge the family to a game of H-O-R-S-E on any of the four graduated hoops or take part in a shot clock challenge. Even my little one was able to shoot a couple baskets with a toddlersized hoop. u A miniature football field with turf awaits football enthusiasts. Kids can practice tackling wobbling players, throwing passes or kicking field goals. u Try to score a goal past the goalie

u 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis u childrensmuseum.org

at the Indy Fuel Hockey Experience.

Again, all ages can participate with small to large goals and toddler-sized hockey sticks. u Car racing rules in Indy and now kids are able to experience two racing areas. Pedal your way to victory at the Drag Strip Experience or at the oval Pedal Car Racetrack Experience. u Fore! Kids and grownups will appreciate the 9-hole golf area designed by golf course architects Pete and Alice Dye.

Each hole is a mini version from actual courses found around the country. If you have littles, there is a green for toddlers and a putting practice course. u Play ball! Grab a bat and get ready to hit the bases at the mini baseball field. u Bring your workout buddy and head to the fitness path. Parents and kids are encouraged to workout together, with kid-size fitness equipment along the fitness path. u The centerpiece of the area is the huge 60-foot treehouse that includes hidden slides, tunnels and viewing platforms. It’s completely accessible with an elevator.

Inside, with four floors and a variety of exhibits, you’re sure to find something to pique your children’s interests. DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers! opens June 16.

16 JJune 2018 Chi ChicagoParent.com g P t

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US FOR.. .

JOIN

In Connection with

JULY 14 - 15, 10 - 6

Visit

www.kidseatchicago.com for more!

ChicagoParent.com June 2018 17

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Soak it up!

Enough fun to fill every day

BY HILLARY BIRD

S

ome days, summer seems to flit by in an instant. Then there are the days that drag on and on. And filling the summer break calendar with things to do seems daunting.

We’ve done the work for you: Fun in and around Chicago to make 2018 the best summer yet.

Afternoon fix

Mariella Simone Joesette Fallon, 5, of Chicago Photo by Thomas Kubik

See a baseball game. The easiest parks to reach by bus or L are on the North and South sides (Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate fields). On Sundays, kids run the bases after seeing the White Sox play and the Cubs have summer camp days and back-to-school nights just for junior fans. There are another five parks that offer lower cost tickets and family fun. To watch future MLBers, trek out the Kane County Cougars in Geneva. To see former or future big leaguers, head to see teams in Schaumburg, Joliet, Crestwood and Rosemont.

Check out a Chicago Fire game. The U.S. won’t participate in the men’s World Cup this summer, so a trip to see the Fire at Toyota Park will help quench your “futball” thirst.

While in Bridgeview, head south on Harlem Avenue and spend some time at Haunted Trails, a putt-putt/go-kart/arcade combo.

Watch a Chicago Sky game. Summer is prime WNBA season.

Pick strawberries. Strawberries are at their best in mid-June. Because of the weirdly cold spring season, the growing schedule for fruits and veggies could be impacted, so check before going. In the suburbs, try Stade’s Farm in McHenry and Tom’s Farm Market in Huntley.

Bike the Lakefront Trail. With 17 miles stretching from Ardmore on the north to 71st Street on the south, the trail passes Lincoln Park Zoo, Soldier Field, Navy Pier

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and the Museum of Science and Industry, as well as a slew of parks.

Ride the rails at the Illinois Railway Museum. Climb aboard in Union. While there, check out the train-themed playground. Thomas the Tank Engine chuggs into town in July.

See the unusual. FermiLab in Naperville is known for its accelerator laboratory, but also has natural areas with a herd of bison.

Or head to Busse Woods to see a herd of elk.

Photo by Naper Settlement

Get in a full day of fun See a baby animal born. It’ll take some driving—be sure to pack snacks and at least one movie for the road—but a trip to Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana is worth the drive for the cheese, ice cream and the promise to see a baby animal born every day.

Eat a turkey leg at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Located in Wisconsin, visitors could spend a whole day just eating all the food offered. In addition to entertainment ranging from fire whips to daily troupe comedies to chalk art to actors’ fashion, there’s more than enough to do.

Be a pioneer at Blackberry Farm in Aurora.

The living history museum gives visitors a chance to ride a train, hay wagon, tractor, boat and pony. Free admission for Illinois residents runs on select Wednesdays through the summer (this month’s freebie days are June 6 and 20).

Head back in time to Naper Settlement.

Families can take a trip back to the days of settlers heading west for a different life.

Drive the coastline. One of the prettiest parts of the drive to St. Joseph is hopping off I-94 and traveling the coastline up Red

Arrow Highway. Stop off at a look-out point and you can see Chicago on a clear day. Once there, kids will love riding the Silver Beach Carousel. Spend some time at the Curious Kids’ Museum, a hands-on discovery center.

Scope out a factory tour Method’s South Side Soapbox is open for tours at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Wednesday. Reserve a spot at soapboxtours@peopleagainstdirty.com. While you’re on the South Side, tour the area to see artifacts from the Pullman Mansion or take a guided or self-guided walking tour.

Long Grove Confectionery Company. Take a trip through the factory that produces caramels, chocolates and turtles. A free chocolate treat comes at the end. Reservations required at longgrove.com; $2 to see the sweet treats factory.

Windy City Harvest Farm. For an urban farm, take a tour at the Harvest’s headquarters at Arturo Velasquez Institute at Richard J. Daley College. $5 student, $10 adults, available for walk-ins from 11 a.m.-noon on Fridays. You’ll see the greenhouse, hoop

house, aquaponics system and outdoor growing beds.

Jelly Belly (Wis.). Free tours include interactive exhibits and games good for all ages of jelly bean eaters. Tours include free samples and a ride on the Jelly Belly Express.

Eli’s Cheesecake World. Every day at 1 p.m., learn how to make cheesecake and best of all, sample a selection of desserts.

Free, but space is limited. Call ahead at (773) 308-7000.

Albanese Gummies

Albanese Confectionery. For gummies galore, head to Merrillville, Ind., for a selfguided tour at Albanese Confectionery to see how gummies are made, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

And since you are there anyway, if you have a family of thrill-seekers, travel just a few miles down the road to Edge Adventures Aerial Park. (Pro tip: Buy zipline tickets in advance at edgeadventureparks.com.)

Rainy day fun Take a Metra. Suburban Metra trains are a great way to get head out to the suburbs.

Train stops in Oak Lawn and Elmhurst are surrounded by activities that won’t require Wrigley Field Photo by Javier Govea

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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an Uber or a taxi. A quick dash up the block in Oak Lawn is the Oak Lawn Children’s Museum (open Tuesdays-Sundays), featuring exhibits for even the youngest adventure seeker. In Elmhurst, the History Museum (open Tuesdays-Sundays) is a half block to the east and the York Theatre (with $5 Tuesdays) is two blocks to the north.

Learn a new board game. Cat & Mouse Games in the West Loop holds a board game happy hour on Tuesdays, a First Fridays Family Game Night and Pokemon Card leagues on Saturdays. Coffee shops across the area are popping up with games available upon request.

Try out something old Take an architectural tour. Guided tours through the city are run by bus, foot and boat. Kids can learn about how the city was built—and then rebuilt after the fire—and how each generation of designers left their mark.

Shoot to the top of Willis Tower (Sears Tower to most) or 360 CHICAGO (aka, the Hancock Center) to see the city’s skyline and learn about its history. When the sky is

360 Chicago

bright, you’ll swear you can see Wisconsin.

Walk through the Water Tower. No, not the mall, the one across the street. The Historic Water Tower was one of the few buildings to survive the path of the 1871 fire.

The Museum of Science & Industry is one of the last standing buildings from the 1893 Columbian Exposition (the Field

Museum is the other). If you’re in for trying something “old”—or trying it again—take the U-505 tour to see the WWII sub.

Watch an “old” movie. Some of these titles might not seem so ancient, but the Rialto Square Theatre is hosting a #TBTuesday Summer Movie Series CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

A SUMMER OF FUN AND LEARNING Something for everyone— including children ages 5 and up.

• Day camps • Educational and enrichment programs • High school classes Summer programs begin in June.

New classes and camps start weekly.

cod.edu/youth

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STAY CONNECTED.

Summer Day Camp June 25 to August 3

*Late Summer Camps

August 6 to August 10 or August 17 (varies by park) *offered at select parks

Online & In-Person Registration is Now Open!

View programs and register today at ChicagoParkDistrict.com or at your local park. Spaces are limited!

Financial assistance is available for eligible Chicago residents. Learn more at:

ChicagoParkDistrict.com/day-camp/

Help send a kid to camp! Donate to the camp assistance fund at:

ChicagoParkDistrict.com/donate

City of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO

For more information about your Chicago Park District visit www.ChicagoParkDistrict.com or call 312.742.7529 or 312.747.2001 (TTY)

SUMMER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

of throw-back events: Independence Day, The Sandlot and Father of the Bride will appear on the screen.

Grab a brownie at Palmer House. Also part of the World’s Fair lore was the invention of the brownie. (As the story goes, Bertha Palmer asked the pastry chef to create a dessert suitable for ladies that could be carried.

The result: the brownie.)

Fun for the technologically advanced Take a class at The Laboratory.

Its monthly “night out” workshops give parents a chance to make sure the children are learning something while they’re out with friends or seeing a show. Programs require preregistration.

Build a robot at Robot City Workshop. The workshop has all manner of beginner and all-levels classes—including “Robot Date Nights” for parents Wednesday-Saturday. If you build it, your kids can, too.

Learn to Minecraft. Power Up Tech Academy in Chicago teaches kids how to play Minecraft so they can attend any of their other Minecraft events—or just play at home with friends.

Try a drop-in class at Adler Planetarium. The free classes with museum admission cover everything from how to

program a roving robot to testing space rocks. Free days for Illinois residents this summer are June 21 and Aug. 27-31.

Fun with furry friends Take a lakefront cruise.

Seadog Cruises—speedboat tours that launch from Navy Pier—lets pooches ride free as families see the city from Lake Michigan. Mercury has a canine-specific cruise that sails on Saturdays and Sundays beginning in July.

Bark at a baseball park.

Pups can be baseball fans, too.

Several area ballparks offer accommodations on special days to four-legged friends. The White Sox have one Sept. 24 and the Schaumburg Boomers have one for their 1 p.m. games on June 24 and Aug. 26.

Take your cat to Lady Gregory’s. Cats are welcome to sit with diners on the patio at Lady Gregory’s in Old Town. A gluten-free brunch is served on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Be water logged

Meet the whales at Shedd Aquarium. The 4D movies are worth the price of admission, and kids can touch stingrays, sturgeons and sea stars. There are six Illinois Resident Free Days in June (4-5, 11-12, 18-19).

It’s time for an adventure! The Little Gym’s summer camps help kids to exercise their muscles, and imaginations! Plus, flexible scheduling options allow you to sign your Super Kid up for several weeks, a single week or even just a day at a time!

NOW ENROLLING SUMMER CAMPS AND CLASSES The Little Gym of Chicago www.TheLittleGym.com/ChicagoIL (773) 525-5750

Shedd Aquarium/Photo by Ed Lines

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Photo courtesy of City of Chicago

Refresh in a water playground or park. Free water playgrounds can be found in 27 neighborhoods across Chicago from Uptown to Roseland. If you’re looking for more rapid waterways, take a trip north to Six Flags in Gurnee, south to the Joliet Splash Station or west to Raging Waves in Yorkville.

Cruise the river. A Chicago boat tour will show off the skyline and your kids will love the trips under the city’s many bridges.

Anchors away. The Chicago Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit lets kids check out boats— from the bow to the stern to the galley. Wheelchair accessible and hands-on, the boats are on display all summer.

Stake a chair for the Air & Water Show. Planes, skydivers and boats from the show can be seen from the North Avenue Beach, along the lakefront or even in boats on the water. This marks the 60th year of the free event.

Visit the waterfall at Lake Katherine Nature Center in Palos Heights. The summer also means family fishing day in June and stargazing at night in the gardens.

Clean up the beach. So, you’ve taken the kids to Shedd to see the fish, take them to a Shedd GLAD (Great Lakes

Action Days) event. These are good for families with kids old enough to help identify and clean (ridding the beaches of invasive plants, cleaning debris, surveying salamanders). There are dates and locations available all summer throughout the city and suburbs.

Swim at Pelican Harbor.

Bolingbrook Parks runs the aquatic facility that includes both indoor and outdoor pools and slides. The cost is less than $10 per person, even during peak hours (after 4 p.m. or on weekends and holidays). The indoor play areas are great, too, on rainy days.

Rent your own boat to see the Chicago River. If you have older, more experienced water farers, take a shot at renting your own vessel to traverse the Chicago River or one of the lagoons or lakes in the area. Check out Chicago River Canoe and Kayak, chicagoriverpaddle.com, or cut the cardio workout with Chicago Electric Boat Company, chicagoelectricboats.com.

Climb the steps at Grosse Point Lighthouse National Landmark.

Located in Evanston, there are 141 steps to the top of the light tower. The park district runs tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 2, 3 and 4 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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The Ultimate Guide to Family Fun!

National Museum of Mexican Art

Win with a Instagram scavenger hunt

Going Places FREE | SUMMER 2018

Dog days of summer 220 winning ideas

Picnics, putt-putt

Fun on the cheap

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For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com

Start at the “Route 66 Begins” sign. Located on the corner of Adams Street and South Michigan Avenue—across from the Art Institute. Before you move on, snap pics of the lions that guard the institute, then head to Buckingham Fountain and the Bean.

Walk/stroller the alphabet. Pick a five-block radius and use street and building signs to take photos of every letter of the alphabet.

Ask your kids to find the letters for you—the A from the Chicago Theatre, the B from NBC Tower...

Find the marquee at Wrigley Field. Iconic in movies and TV shows, even if you can’t stay for a game, have the kiddos stand in front of the sign that lives on the corner of Clark and Addison.

The “Chicago” mural in Logan Square. If you’re looking for a great summer postcard for the grandparents, park your children in front of the “Greetings from Chicago” mural at 2226 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Freebies!

See a movie at Millennium Park. The summer movie series gives film fans—and picnickers—a chance to enjoy movies at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. If you can’t get downtown, check out your local parks.

Sing along at the zoo.

Lincoln Park Zoo gives Mr. Singer a stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Main Barn.

Sit outside Wrigley Field for a concert or movie. The western gate at Wrigley Field is now called Gallagher Way, and the insurance company that bought the naming rights is making sure there’s a lot to do.

In addition to a farmers market and gathering place, there are concerts for youngsters and movies for fans all summer long.

Visit an exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Located on West 19th Street, the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday and is always free. It’s also a good rainy day option for art-loving youngsters.

Walk through history at the DuSable Museum. Located in Washington Park, the museum is free to all every Tuesday.

Make art at the Chicago Art Institute. Kids 13 and under are always free at the Art Institute (17 and under if they are Chicago residents) and the Ryan Learning Center has an artist’s studio open at 10:30 every morning.

Find your spirit animal. Head to Chinatown Square Zodiac statues (while picking up a little history) and let the kids run off the yummy bubble tea they just had to have.

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Fun for tweens and teens Take a hike. If you’re more of a landlubber, going for a hike makes for a great outing with older kids. It’s amazing how much kids will start to talk when they’re in the woods. Make a day of it at Starved Rock or Matteson State Park or just head to your nearest county forest preserve.

Watch the fireworks at Navy Pier. This is the best of both worlds. It’s fun to stay out late without a meltdown, and the look on your kid’s face gives you a glimpse back in time to when they were little. Fireworks are every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10:15 p.m.

Elevate your frozen treat consumption. While ice cream is amazing at any age, if your adolescent is working hard to eschew anything “babyish,” make it a special outing. Head downtown to Eataly for gelato or the Nutella Café.

Check out a college. Your kid

Back to School Education Guide Coming in August

For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit chicagoparent.com

The 606

doesn’t have to be ready to apply for you to visit one of the many great campuses nearby, including Northwestern, University of Chicago and DePaul. Check out the bookstore, take the tour and hang out on the quad.

Roam the 606. Check out the full 2.7 miles of elevated pathway and explore each of

the four Chicago neighborhoods it connects. Put your kiddos in charge of the trip and have them research where they’d like to stop along the way. (May we suggest a cookie from Roesser’s Bakery?)

Make a sugar crawl. If your tweens and teens have a sweet tooth, do a sugar crawl around

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Summer wows What’s new for families in Chicagoland

BY MELISSA SILVERBERG

S

ummer is all about getting out of the house, and with a host of new exhibits and activities from Chicago’s museums and cultural institutions, there won’t be any shortage of ways for families to get up close and personal with creatures large or small, real or imagined.

Photo by Thomas Dambo

Trolls in the trees

New dinos to love

Six giant, fantastical trolls take up residence at The Morton Arboretum starting June 22. The 20-foot-tall trolls are the first large-scale U.S. exhibition from Danish artist Thomas Dambo and will take visitors on a journey to find the larger-than-life guardians of the forest.

Some may be in plain sight, while others will be hidden off paths among the trees.

“His trolls and the story behind them— that they are protectors of our forests— will amaze and intrigue visitors of all ages, while drawing attention to how humans can better care for trees and the environment in which we live,” says Sue Wagner, vice president of education and information at The Morton Arboretum. mortonarb.org/events/troll-hunt

Meet the largest dino ever discovered this summer at The Field Museum.

The 122-foot-long titanosaur, Máximo will take up one-third of the museum’s Stanley Field Hall, with its head peeking over the 28-foot balcony to the second floor. Joining it will be life-size replicas of giant flying reptiles called pterosaurs.

“Our goal as an institution is to offer visitors the best possible dinosaur experiences, and we want that to start right when visitors first enter Stanley Field Hall,” says Field Museum President Richard Lariviere.

Bill Simpson, head of geological collections, says the museum worked CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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closely with the company that built ilt the pterosaurs, some with th wing spans that reach h 35 feet, to make sure they were scientifically accurate.

“They look ok wonderful.

They’re really colorful and will capture people’s imaginations,” Simpson says.

The hall will be filled with more than 1,000 hydroponic plants growing in inert volcanic rock as well as plants inspired by those that were alive at the time of the dinosaurs.

The new additions are part of the Field Museum’s 125th anniversary celebration. fieldmuseum.org

A maze of arachnids G cozy with 100 live arachGet nids. The fun crawls across three themed areas this summer at Art and Science of Arachnids at the Brookfield Zoo, highlighting the unique characteristics and significance of the eightlegged critters such as their influence in music, literature, film, mythology, science and medicine.

If parents—or kids—are a little squeamish, organizers say there’s no reason to be afraid.

“Fear of spiders is probably one of the most misguided issues and leads to a lot of

Photo by Build 4 Impact

misconceptions. ...We hope our guests will ... gain a better understanding of arachnids that could then lead to a greater appreciation for them,” says Andre Copeland, interpretive programs manager for the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo. Learn more during zoo chats or get hands-on with interactives like weaving a web, learning an Italian folk dance called the Tarantella and controlling the movements of a tarantula at

the Arachnid Mobility station.

Also new this summer is Mission Safari Maze, an educational and physical experience that connects guests to different species of animals at the zoo.

With 48 different missions and play-and-learn interactives, families can learn more with each trip through the maze.

Through Sept. 3 General zoo admission: $21.95 adults, $15.95 kids 3-11.

Amazing Arachnids: $5 adults, $3 kids. czs.org/arachnids

Photo by Field Museum

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Photo by Michael Malyszko

Chicago Parent is having a new baby, too!

The Science Behind Pixar Instead of watching the same movie for the millionth time, head to the Museum of Science and Industry for the new exhibit, The Science Behind Pixar, that teaches kids about the STEM influences behind their favorite films.

“As an institution dedicated to inspiring the inventive genius in everyone, we are excited to show guests the unexpected ways that the fundamental skills taught in science learning—problem solving, trial and error and

iteration—are utilized to bring these beloved characters to life,” says David Mosena, president and CEO of MSI. Expect more than 40 interactive elements that explain the creativity and artistry that goes into a Pixar film. Guests can even get their photo taken with human-size recreations of their favorite characters, including Mike and Sulley.

Through Jan. 6 $14 adults, $11 for children, plus museum entry; msichicago. org

New water park to love A piece of the Water Park Capital of the World is moving a lot closer for Chicago families.

The much-anticipated Great Wolf Lodge Water Park and Resort opens July 1.

With 80,000-square-feet of indoor water park space and more than 400 hotel rooms, Great Wolf can be a weekend

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The water park is for hotel guests only, but Great Wolf Adventure Park, which includes an arcade, ropes course, bowling, mini-golf and a rock climbing wall, is open for visitors.

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Take a walk into the past Did you know dinosaurs roamed Lake County? Or that the Potawatomi used to call the area home? Consider the new Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville your go-to place for all things Lake County history. And you don’t even need to be a Lake County resident to appreciate the museum.

The former Lake County Discovery Museum, now named after Lake County’s first official historian Bess Bower Dunn, offers a chronological walk of Lake County’s history from prehistoric times to the present.

Besides relocating to a more central location from Wauconda to Libertyville, the museum now offers more than twice the space for exhibits, a new public research center, plus dedicated teaching areas.

At first glance, you’d never imagine the former office space now houses a nationally accredited museum, a designation only 5 percent of museums get. The museum, operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves, is everything you would want in a museum—artifacts beautifully presented, interactive features for those curious hands, and of course,, a dinosaur! It’s a g great museum with plenty of learning experiences; a definite hidden gem Lake County should be proud of.

Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County u 1899 W. Winchester Road u Libertyville Cost: $6 adults; $3 kids 4-17 and students 18-25; free kids under 3. Tuesdays are discount days. Open after hours the first and third Thursdays of every month with free admission after 5 p.m., dunnmuseum.com

Don’t miss: View the world’s only scientifically accurate replica of a Dryptosaurus.

As you walk into the museum, dino lovers will roar in excitement once they see the fleshed out 20-foot dinosaur complete with protofeathers, razor-sharp teeth and large 8-inchlong eagle-clawed talons. Kids will love hunting for treasures in the dino dig.

Step inside a full-scale wigwam created with guidance from local Native American tribe members.

Pop in the wigwam to find replicas of items the Potawatomi made and used in the late 1700s and early 1800s. And yes, these items are

meant to be touched and handled, so go ahead and touch that fox quiver!

The wigwam will serve as a teaching space so look out for programs.

Scope out the giant fossil-covered rock that is 420 million years old.

Don’t even think about trying to lift it; it weighs 1,700 pounds!

Imagine learning in the one-room schoolhouse used by early settlers.

Then do as the school kids did in the past and play one of the old-fashioned games.

Pretend you are having a picnic aboard a replica boat used to take sightseers on tours to see lotus beds.

With the addition of the play food, the kids will never want to get off.

Cheryl Eugenio

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GET OUT and play Nature playgrounds are all the rage with littles

Lincoln Park Zoo, Photo by Lisa Miller

BY SHANNAN YOUNGER

P

laying with sticks and hopping across tree stumps among filtered sunlight under a canopy of leaves feels like an idyllic, essential part of childhood—at least it was when we were growing up.

Lately, nature play spaces are popping up all over to create just such unstructured and unplugged moments for our kids. With no walls or ceilings, kids can let their imaginations run wild.

Here are some great nature play spaces around Chicago. Find a new family favorite to frequent or visit them all over the course of the summer.

Wild Sapling Play Forest Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago Think city kids don’t spend time in nature? Think again. This organic space in a shaded corner of the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo encourages budding naturalists to get

hands-on, literally.

There are dig pits filled with finely grained dirt, sensory panels, a log tower and a tunnel made of metal vines. Kids can also zig-zag across a balance beam of boards placed between tree stumps.

Don’t forget to visit the bears next door.

Play & Grow Garden

Indian Boundary Park Nature Play Center

Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago Little ones are encouraged to play with toys that are actually plant parts scattered around this fun space.

They can also work on balance and strength on the stump obstacle course or use fine motor skills while playing with pebbles. Those activities will have kids feeling good about both themselves and the natural world.

It’s all outdoors, but if a storm pops up, there’s plenty inside the conservatory to keep families busy.

2500 N. Lunt, Chicago Mini-houses make great laboratories, forts, castles or whatever your kids want them to be. Opportunities to touch and explore texture abound. There are other options for interacting with nature around the park, whether kids want to search the prairie garden for bugs and butterflies, find frogs in the wetlands or spy surfacing turtles in the pond.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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NATURE

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Mud Kitchen & Word Garden

Morton Arboretum Mud Kitchen

Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle The Morton Arboretum has added not one but two nature play spaces. Mud pies and other dirt-based delicacies can be concocted in the Mud Kitchen, located near Parking Lot 20. It offers kids pots, pans and a tree stump stove. At the Word Garden, near Parking Lot 13, families will discover rocks painted with letters, words and images. Kids can express themselves and create stories inspired by nature.

Wahoo Woods 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee This space, named for a bird, is a great destination for bitty builders with a fort building area stocked with sticks, hay bales, loose stones and small branches. Kids will also find rock climbing features and trails.

It is located behind the Dundee Library so you can have a mix of both outdoor and indoor fun in one outing, but it’s best to hit the library first, then go get dirty.

233 W. 63rd Street Westmont 630.737.1110 westmontyard.com

Bison’s Bluff

1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg Whether it’s climbing the multi-tiered tree house, making music with chimes or investigating the beaver dam, kids will find lots of options for open-ended play that will help develop both agility and creativity in this Schaumburg Park District space.

The water features, including a stream, are popular, so consider bringing water shoes and/or a change of clothes.

And if it’s an abundance of nature you seek, Bison’s Bluff is located in Spring Valley, which has three miles of trails as well as the Vera Meineke Nature Center.

Welles Park NaturePlace 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago This brand-new area is located on 2.8 acres in the southwest corner of popular Welles Park, near the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

It features natural play features and native plants.

If the time in the great outdoors builds up an appetite, head to the other end of the park and grab some crepes at the Crepes in the Park stand.

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JUNE 4 - AUGUST 17 AGES K-14 FIELD TRIPS, SPORTS, ARTS & CRAFTS, FUN Come join our Summer Camps at Naperville Yard and Westmont Yard for a rockin’ time! Each facility has 50,000 square feet of indoor field space, a five-level play structure. two outdoor playgrounds, a nature area, outdoor field, and outdoor basketball court. Rain or shine, the kids are going to have a blast!

Our Fun Campers go on two field trips every week, plus a pool trip.

On other days, we play sports on our fields, explore our play-tower and inflatables field, and enjoy games, arts/crafts, science, reading. and projects in our huge game room. Our Sports Campers are immersed in non-stop sports action with rotating sports every week.

New this year, Fun Camp 2.0 for ages 11-14!

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Wander Woods Nature Play Space

Wander Woods Nature Play Space

Chicago Botanic Garden Nature Play Garden

Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park This new area was designed to promote a child’s sense of wonder and interest in discovery and built-in cooperation with the Chicago Wilderness organization. It is intended to be child-led and offers gentle nudges if necessary in the form of one-word suggestions and basic tools such as water, mud, sticks, wheelbarrows and shovels sprinkled among the trees.

Nature Play Garden Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe This space, with rolling hills that seem straight out of a storybook, and a multi-sensory garden in the Regenstein Learning Campus, is set to really shine this summer. There are places for

climbing, hiding, resting and more. The willow tunnel is a great place for kids to explore (and a cute spot for photos).

There are “rooms” defined by walls of arborvitae and hornbeams and water features like a runnel and boulder bubbler.

Shannan Younger is a suburban mom of one who blogs at ChicagoParent.com and Between Us Parents.

Safari Land

“I am a citizen of the world.”

Dual-Language Montessori Education for ages 3 to 12 Your choice of programs: Chinese Mandarin / English Spanish / English Japanese / English

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Indoor Amusement Park Come and explore 62,000 square feet of indoor rides and amusements including Illinois’ Largest Indoor Roller Coaster!

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Offer expires 7/31/18 • Not valid with other offers or promotions ChicagoParent.com June 2018 33

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camps // sponsored

Camps that will make your kid’s summer

C

amp and summer just go naturally together. But you put off finding a camp until now and suddenly realize a lot of the camp spots have been snatched up. Not to worry. We found four great camps your kid will absolutely will love. Best of all, they still have openings if you hurry.

LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE Language learning doesn’t seem like learning when you are having fun. And that’s just how Spanish Horizons’ Spanish immersion summer camps work, with plenty of music, dance, experiments, games and arts and crafts to teach kids 3-6 Spanish in a fun, organic way.

The summer camps are perfect for kids learning Spanish as foreign language as well as those who are bilingual because the kids learn so much from each other, Director Liliana Cortez says.

This summer’s week-long camps, led by Spanish Horizons’ native Spanish speaking, nurturing staff, are 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday June 11-Aug. 24, and include both indoor and outdoor activities conducted 100 percent in Spanish. Each week, the camps focus on a different theme and adventure and concludes every Friday with a fun fiesta.

But Cortez says all of the fun is built around the staff’s passion to create a love for the language and lifelong learning as well as building a community.

Spanish Camp is $250 a week with a small staff to student ratio. Find Spanish Horizons in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood at 2836 N. Southport Ave. Call (773) 348-7686 to register. spanishhorizons.com

LEARN A NEW SPORT

LEARN THE FREEDOM OF TWO WHEELS

Not only will kids attending the Deerfield Golf Club & Learning Center junior golf camps this summer learn life skills along with the scoop on making a perfect putt, they’ll have lots of fun doing it.

Trena McDaniel, LPGA, director of Instruction and U.S. Kids Golf certified instructor, says she and her staff use game-based education to help kids grow and get better in the no-stress camp. Think of a huge game of tic-tac-toe on the putting green (to improve distance control and accuracy) and balloon tosses on a hot day (to work on grip).

And with a 4 to 1 camper to staff ratio, there’s plenty of attention paid to every golfer, whether they are just starting out or can already chip and putt.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” McDaniel says. “Plus, our program teaches young kids important life skills; that’s what golf is all about. Integrity, honesty, teamwork and how to communicate with others, those are a big part of the journey.”

Camp is $350 half days, $550 full days TuesdaysFridays, lunch included. Deerfield Golf Club & Learning Center is conveniently located off I-94. Check out all available programs at deerfieldgolf.org.

Parents are their kids’ best teachers, but sometimes, it’s better to leave things to the experts. That’s the case when it comes teaching kids to ride a bike. Ben Hall, of Pedalheads, says he’s seen the rite of passage cause unnecessary conflict and stress between parents and kids.

Pedalheads’ Learn to Ride Program for kids 3-10 takes away that stress and brings kids together with the same goal: to learn to ride a bike. Not only do they shed their training wheels, they get well on their way to being ready for family bike rides, all while having a blast learning.

“Our focus is building kids’ confidence and their self-belief and getting them out being active,” Hall says.

As kids continue with the program, they’ll learn everything from fundamental skills to rules of the road. The camps successfully take newbies from training wheels to two wheels in an enclosed school yard. Other levels of the camp teach more advanced riders how to be safe on the road.

Full-day camp, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, is $469 or half-day camp is $229. Pedalheads offers four Chicago area locations this summer: Evanston, Lincoln Park, North Center and Norwood. pedalheads.com

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sponsored //

camps

LEARN SOMETHING NEW Summer is the perfect time to tap into kids’ excitement for learning and at Center for Talent Development’s summer Leapfrog program, students ages 4 through grade 4, will find plenty of fuel for their passions.

Leapfrog offers 70 different courses for kids to choose from, including math, language arts, science, technology, and engineering, meaning they can really dig into what interests them, says Leslie Morrison, Leapfrog program coordinator. In fact, it is one of only a few programs around that offers coding and robotics for pre-K students.

All of the programs are hands-on and collaborative. “This is a way for students to connect with others who are academically advanced and to take ownership for their own learning,” she says.

The camps draw families from around the country because the experience is unique for academically advanced students, she says. Many families return year after year.

“We hear from families that their students gain an added excitement for learning and new friends in these high-interest courses, whether it’s robotics, cryptography, or 3D Cell Biology,” Morrison says.

Options abound. Many families sign up for courses all four weeks or pick and choose from half-day courses. The Leapfrog program runs June 25-July 27 at locations in Chicago, Skokie, Lake Forest, Palatine and Naperville. Half-day courses are $345 for the first half-day course, and $310 for each additional half-day course, and full-day courses are $670. ctd.northwestern.edu/leapfrog

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ChicagoParent.com June 2018 35

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Thanks!

Thanks to our amazing readers and sponsors for making our Spring Playdates such a success!

Playdate Spring

Sunday, May 20 • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Stay tuned for...

Sunday, April 29 • 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fall

Playdate 2018

ChicagoParent.com June 2018 37

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Summer Fun // Directory to advertisers A Fairytale Ballet & Academy

Emerald City Theatre

The Little Gym of Chicago

Safari Land

Lakeview, Bucktown, Evanston (773) 477-4488 (LV & EV) (773) 606-0318 (BT) AFairytaleBallet.com

Summer Camp 2018 2936 N Southport Ave Chicago EmeraldCityTheatre.com

3216 North Lincoln Avenue (773) 525-5750 www.TheLittleGym.com/ChicagoIL

Chicagoland’s Largest Indoor Amusement Park

Ballet with stories, costumes, props & fun! Ages 2-16

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Offering programs that develop the happy, confident kid you love.

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Music Theater Works Summer Workshop

Scottish Festival & Highland Games

516 4th Street, Wilmette

June 15 & 16

Brickworld Chicago Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg (317) 572-5346 https://brickworld.com/ brickworld-chicago/ LEGO Exposition. Perfect for families with LEGO loving kids.

“Join us for a Wild About Habitats Summer!”

College of DuPage Youth Academy Kids entering grades K to 12 camps and classes.

Register today at (630) 942-2208.

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929 W Belmont, Chicago (773) 549-8080 www.cszchicago.com/ summer-camps

Runaway Bay, Jamaica (800) 654-1337 www.fdrholidays.com Your all-inclusive vacation will be a most memorable family experience!

(847) 920-5360 MusicTheaterWorks.com/summer

Kidwatch Plus

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3330 N. Lockwood Ave., Chicago (773) 539-5431 Kidwatchplus.com Join us for a Wild About Habitats Summer at Kidwatch Plus!

Kohl Children’s Museum 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview (847) 832-6600 kcmgc.org 17 exhibits including 2-acre outdoor Habitat Park and “Animal Secrets” through Aug 26!

Little Green Tree House Preschool and Childcare West Loop, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Evanston (312) 492-9876 littlegreentreehouse.com Facilitate the optimal growth and development of the whole child.

The PlayGround Games Inflatables, Bubble Soccer, DJ/ Emcee, Interactive Games, Indoor/ Outdoor FUN!

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Kankakee, IL (815) 932-2663 ReedsCanoeTrips.com Offering exciting and memorable trips seven days a week

38 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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calendar JUNE

1

With the weather finally warmer, our kids’ thoughts turn to what else? Ice cream. The sweet treat comes in so many options in the grocery freezer case: with nuts, without nuts, with chocolate, made with rice instead of dairy. While parents take a night away, drop scientists off at The Laboratory for The Science of Ice Cream. Before the experiments begin, the night starts with a slice of pizza. Kids 5-12 will learn the chemistry behind ice cream, performing ice cream analysis, before making their own batches. Parents then pick up their youngsters with heads filled with dairy knowledge and bellies full of summery goodness. $40.

6:15-9 p.m. June 4. The Laboratory, 2349 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 953-2996, thelaboratorychi.org.

2

How can a day of pony rides and jousting benefit local elementary schools? Thanks to the Family Fun Fest at the Do-Division Street Fest, proceeds go to the Friends of Pritzker School and LaSalle II PTO. Kids can have their faces painted, ride a pony and listen to rockin’ music. There is a sports zone, train rides, balloon animals, bounce house and jousting. For parents, the Do Division Street Fest is highlighted by plenty of cold drinks and a lineup of DJs and two stages for live music. $5 donation. June 2-3. Division Street between Damen and Leavitt, Chicago. (312) 850-9390. do-divisionstreetfest.com.

3

If the PyeongChang Olympics last February sparked your appetite for Summer 2020 in Tokyo, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has your answer. The federation announced a new format for its off-Olympic season tournaments: a series of round-robin competitions to crown an eventual winner. The FIVB Volleyball Nations League brings four national men’s teams to the Sears Center for a weekend of games, with the U.S. squad—ranked No. 2 internationally— highlighting the schedule. The Americans, with Wheaton natives Jeff Jendryk and Thomas Jaeschke expected to compete, will play against teams from Poland (No. 3), Iran (No. 8) and Serbia (No. 11). Young players, or even those newly interested in the sport, will have a chance to see former and future Olympians play. Ticket prices vary. 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 15; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 16; noon and 5:30 p.m. June 17. Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., Hoffman Estates.

(847) 649-2270, searscentre.com.

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CALENDAR 1 | FRIDAY TASTE OF WHEATON. Includes Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K/10K, arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival rides, children’s games, entertainment, beer garden and marketplace business expo.

Memorial Park, North Hale at West Seminary, Wheaton. wheatonpark district.com/taste.

FAMILY TWILIGHT ADVENTURES.

Go on a hike and do activities before going on a silent tram ride through the woods after dark to see which animals come out when people go home.

Roast marshmallows at the end of the evening. $19. 7-9 p.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

TASTE OF MEXICO. Highlights include a Restaurant Row, music and cultural stages. 3-10 p.m. June 1, noon-10 p.m. June 2-3. 26th Street and California, Chicago. (773) 8683010, chicagoevents.com.

Fron Fr on nti t er er Par ark Kite Ki te F est es sti tiv tiva va al See Ju Se See June nee 3

2 | SATURDAY CHICAGO 57TH STREET ART FAIR.

Chicago’s oldest juried art fair features hands-on activities for kids. Live music

by Buddy Guy’s Legends and more than 200 artists. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 57th Street from Woodlawn to Bixler Park.

57thstreetartfair.org.

DO-DIVISION STREET FEST. Food, crafts, live music and a huge sidewalk sale. Family Fun Fest activities include

pony and train rides, face painting, climbing wall, bounce house, jousting, kids’ music and talent show, sportsinfused activity area and family stage. $5 donation. Noon-6 p.m. Division Street from Ashland to Leavitt. (312) 850-9390, do-divisionstreetfest.com.

GOING GLOBAL: EXPLORING CREATIVE TRADITIONS. Take a trip

around the world to peek into the lives of our global neighbors through music, dance, film and technology.

About the calendar The deadline for submitting listings for the July issue is May 28. All events are subject to change. Please call the event sponsor at the number listed to confirm before you go. Events taking place on four or more dates during June are listed in Ongoing Events, beginning on page 49.

Searchable listings updated daily ChicagoParent.com/calendar

Reservations recommended. 2-4:30 p.m. The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. (773) 702-ARTS, logancenter. uchicago.edu.

TASTE OF WHEATON. See

June 1.

3 | SUNDAY CHICAGO

THE SCIENCE OF ICE CREAM WORKSHOP. Kids 5-12 can enjoy a

pizza dinner and conduct fun experiments learning the unique chemistry of ice cream, including making their own. $40. 6:15-9 p.m. The Laboratory Chicago, 2349 W. North Ave. (630) 880-6458, thelaboratorychi.org.

TASTE OF MEXICO. See June 1. Today’s times are noon-10 p.m.

SUBURBS LAGRANGE PET PARADE.

Features marching bands, kids showcasing their pets, floats and clowns.

Visit The Pet Parade Facebook page or email johnna@greatevent.com for participation registration. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Cossitt Avenue and LaGrange Road, LaGrange. (708) 352-7079, lgpetpa-rade.org.

READ AND BUILD. After a storytelling session, education department members lead kids 3-6 and their caregivers in a project based on the story. Explore architecture, design and the city of Chicago, and work with others to build something to take home. June book: “Ada Twist, Scientist.” 9 a.m.-noon, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 9223432, architecture.org.

“UNSTUCK” OCD MOVIE SCREENING. Screen the critically

acclaimed movie, Unstuck: An OCD Kids Movie, a light-hearted success story documentary made by children, for children. Includes a Q&A with expert panelists, as well as a “make-your-own squishy ball” fun craft activity for kids. Appropriate

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CALENDAR for 7 and up. Siblings encouraged to attend. $5. 4:30-5:45 p.m. Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. (773) 871-6604, musicboxtheatre. com.

57TH STREET ART FAIR. See

June 2.

DO-DIVISION STREET FEST. See

June 2.

TASTE OF MEXICO. See June

1. Today’s times are noon-10 p.m.

Emergency Response Team. For the kids, there will be antique fire truck rides, a mini firefighter challenge, K-9 demos and fire trucks, ambulances, ATVs and police cars to explore. $7, free kids 5 and under. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lake Zurich Fire Station #1, 321 Buesching Road, Lake Zurich.

LAMBS FARM CHAMPION CAR SHOW. Enjoy music, a beer and

food tent and vintage cars. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville. (847) 362-4636, lambsfarm.org.

SUBURBS

following the music. 10 a.m. Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St., Chicago. gallagherway.com/events

6 | WEDNESDAY HOMESCHOOL JOURNEY: ACORN EXPRESS ADVENTURES. A family-

friendly tram ride adventure through the arboretum, plus make a craft and explore nature topics. Gather with homeschool families and have a picnic in the Children’s Garden. $5. 9:3010:15 a.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org

TASTE OF WHEATON. See FRONTIER PARK KITE FESTIVAL. Enjoy gigantic kites, excit-

ing demonstrations, stunts and handson activities. Plus live music, games and giveaways and live performances.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville. (630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org.

ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST.

Breakfast supports the Community

June 1.

E. Monroe, Chicago. (312) 443-3600, artic.edu.

8 | FRIDAY ANDERSONVILLE MIDSOMMARFEST. Features

food, entertainment on five stages and family activities including a pet parade. The Swedish American Museum sponsors Swedish entertainment, music and dancing around the Midsommar Maypole. $10; free kids under 12. See website for schedule.

5200 N. Clark, between Foster and Catalpa, Chicago. (773) 728-2995, andersonville.org.

READ AND BUILD. See June 3.

5 | TUESDAY

7 | THURSDAY

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC AT GALLAGHER WAY. Wiggleworms leads kids in

PICTURE THIS. Celebrate some of

an interactive musical world with live music, shakers, bubbles, singing and dancing. Families are invited to stay for children’s movie screenings

your favorite children’s picture books.

Look and listen as you enjoy a story that relates to a work of art in the galleries. Designed for kids 3 and under. 11-11:30 a.m. Art Institute of Chicago, Modern Wing Entrance, 159

RIBFEST CHICAGO. Enjoy ribs and

top original bands while the kids hang out at “Kids Square” featuring entertainment, inflatables and games.

Plus, celebrity-judged “Best Ribs” award and professional rib-eating competition. Free; donation requested. Northcenter, Lincoln Avenue at Irving Park Road, Chicago. (773) 525-3609, ribfest-chicago.com.

SKOKIE SPORTS PARK Adventure Golf Batting Cages & Party Room

Golf Range PGA Pro Group & Private Lessons

“The teachers were amazing! We were very impressed by how much they accomplished in only two weeks!”

- Summer Camp Parent

For Ages 3.5-15 18 holes of around-the-world golfing adventure Enroll today at EmeraldCityTheatre.com or call 773.529.2690

3459 Oakton Street • Skokie (847) 674-1500 ext. 3100 • SkokieParks.org ChicagoParent.com June 2018 41

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CALENDAR

PS O H S K R WOR

2018

E SUMM

• No auditions • Every child gets a part • In Wilmette

Ages 8 to 13 The Sound of Music • July 9-14 Oklahoma! • July 16-21 The Addams Family • July 23-28 Once Upon a Mattress • July 30-Aug. 4 Mary Poppins • August 6-11 For teens Cole Porter’s Anything Goes youth production June 11-29 (audition required)

MusicTheaterWorks.com/summer • (847) 920-5360

La aGr Gra an n nge ge e Pet Pe et P Pa ara ad de e S e Jun Se Juune ne 2

9 | SATURDAY CHICAGO CHICAGO TRIBUNE PRINTERS ROW LIT FEST. This

two-day outdoor festival is devoted to the love of storytelling and the written word. Children’s programming includes storytelling, performances, sing-alongs and special activities.

Historic Printers Row, Dearborn Street between Polk Street and Congress Parkway and the Harold Washington Library. printersrowlitfest.org.

PILSEN FOOD TRUCK SOCIAL.

Fair features more than 20 food trucks and neighborhood restaurants.

A percentage of proceeds benefits St. Procopius Church Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. $5 donation. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 18th Street between Racine & Throop. pilsenfoodtrucksocial.com.

OLD TOWN ART FAIR. Juried art

fair features works of 250 artists, plus a music stage, kids’ art, activities at the Children’s Corner, garden walk, food court and vendors. $7 donation, free kids 12 and under. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Lincoln Avenue and Wisconsin Street.

(312) 337-1938, oldtownartfair.org.

Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 871-3000, victorygardens.org.

ANDERSONVILLE MIDSOMMARFEST. See June 8.

RIBFEST CHICAGO. See June 8.

SUBURBS DOWNTOWN AURORA MAGIC FESTIVAL. A community-based fan

festival celebrating wizards, witches and all things magical with classes, games and contests. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 kids 5 to adult, free kids 4 and under. Water Street Mall, 24 E. Downer Place, Aurora. downtown auroramagic.org.

ISLAND RENDEZVOUS.

Visitors will journey back to the 18th century and participate in games and activities including archery, French crafts, storytelling, a skillet toss, firestarting demonstrations, a petting zoo and more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free parking and shuttle service available. Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E. Romeo Road, Romeoville. (815) 886-1467, reconnectwithnature.org.

PLAY PALS. Kids 4-11 engage in

ST. NORBERT ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY. Features 5K fun run and Kids’

theater workshops from Emerald City Theatre while their parents attend performances at Victory Gardens Theater. $40 (one adult ticket and up to three student admissions to the theater workshop). 3 p.m. Victory

Dash at 8 a.m. Block party starts at 3 p.m. with live music beginning at 5 p.m., beer garden, food and kids’ corner with games, inflatables, face painting and entertainment. $5, $10 after 7 p.m. Meadow and Walters

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CALENDAR Avenue, Northbrook. (847) 272-7090, stnorbertblockparty.org.

10 | SUNDAY CHICAGO

featuring plenty of dairy items. There will be farm tours, demonstrations, hay rides and hands-on activities throughout the morning. $10 kids 11adult, $5 kids 2-10, free kids under 2. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Historic Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Road, Glenview.

(847) 657-1506, glenviewparks.org/ historicwagnerfarm.

PROMENADE OF ART ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. More than

BOING FESTIVAL. Festival features

unique family experiences for all ages including aerial circus arts, black light dance party, airbrush tattoos, and performances by The Happiness Club, Old Town School of Folk Music and Yuri “The Human Beatbox” Lane. $10. 12-4 p.m.

Chicago Children’s Theatre The Station, 100 S. Racine Avenue. (312) 374-8835, chicago childrenstheatre. org.

110 juried artists featured with live music, food and kids’ activities. Art enthusiasts of all ages can their mark on a graffiti wall. Stroller friendly.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. 121 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights. (847) 926-4300. promenadeofartarlingtonheights. com.

GREATER CHICAGO JEWISH FESTIVAL. Four stages of music

SECOND SATURDAY: FROM CANTIGNY FARM TO CANTIGNY PARK. Try making butter and carding

KIDS’ BAKING CLASS EXTRAVAGANZA. Learn to bake cake

wool, among other activities. This session focuses on Col. McCormick’s interest in farming and the environment. Noon-3 p.m. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

and dance, a children’s activity fair, a Kosher food fair and an art fair celebrate the Jewish culture. $5 donation, kids and seniors free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. St. Paul Forest Preserve, 6300 W. Oakton. jewishfestival.com.

pops and cookies. Includes handson instruction, recipes and baked goods to take home and a Sugar Bliss tote bag. Pre-registration required. $40. 1-2:30 p.m. Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, 115 N. Wabash, Chicago. sugarblisscakes.com.

Photo by Evan Barr

DAIRY BREAKFAST AND STOCK SHOW. Enjoy a farm-style breakfast

Boin Bo Boin ng F est Fe stiv tival al S e Juune 10 Se

CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL.

See June 8.

PILSEN FOOD TRUCK SOCIAL.

See June 9.

OLD TOWN ART FAIR. See June 9.

10 a.m.-6 p.m.

ANDERSONVILLE MIDSOMMARFEST. See June 8.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE PRINTERS ROW LIT FEST. See

June 9.

RIBFEST CHICAGO. See June 8.

ELDRIDGE ADVENTURE

Seee Ju June unee 21

PROMENADE OF ART ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. See June 9.

12 | TUESDAY OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC AT GALLAGHER WAY. See June 5.

13 | WEDNESDAY MUSIC BOX THEATRE MOVIES AT GALLAGHER WAY.

SUBURBS

Make Ma ke Mus u ic c Ch hiicago ca ago g

puppet friends at this family concert.

Lawn seating; chairs and blankets welcome. 11 a.m. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton.

(630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

DAY. Find bugs, exotic animals and explore Eldridge Park. Family activities include a fishing derby, carnival games, face painting and food trucks. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Eldridge Park, 363 Commonwealth Lane, Elmhurst. (630) 993-8937, epd.org.

FAMILY CONCERT: MISS JAMIE’S FARM. Sing, dance and

learn with Miss Jamie and her farm

Sundown movie of the week is “The Mighty Ducks.” Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St., Chicago.

14 | THURSDAY LOCKPORT OLD CANAL DAYS. Features a parade, carnival,

music, craft fair, family activities, horse-drawn wagon tours, tour of the 1907 Hydraulic Power Plant, food and entertainment. See website for schedule. Downtown Lockport. (815) 838-3357, oldcanaldays.com.

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CALENDAR OPEN PLAY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. Wonder

Works opens early kids up to 8 with special needs. They are then welcome to stay when the museum opens to the public at 10 a.m. $5.

9-10 a.m. Wonder Works Children’s Museum, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park. wonder-works.org.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS. Festival fea-

tures parade, music, carnival rides, Trading Post, food and fireworks. $6 in advance; $10 at event. Visit website for schedule. Settlers Park, East Hawick Street, Rockton. oldsettlersdays.com.

15 | FRIDAY FIVB VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE. Watch U.S. Olympic

medalists and Illinois natives of the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball team compete against Iran, Poland and Serbia. See website for prices. 5:30 p.m. Poland vs. Iran; 7:30 p.m. USA vs. Serbia. Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. (847) 649-2270. searscentre. com.

TASTE OF DES PLAINES.

Community festival features music, food and kids’ activities. 3-11 p.m. Downtown Des Plaines Train Station, 1501 Miner St., Des Plaines. desplaines.org.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT: TOUCH A TRUCK. Kids can enjoy Touch

a Truck and the First Division Museum’s inflatable obstacle course while the band, 7th Heaven, performs. 5-8 p.m. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton.

(630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

at 7:30 p.m. Movies begin at dusk, about 8:30 p.m. Wilder Park, 175 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. (630) 7391071, epd.org.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS. See June 14.

LOCKPORT OLD CANAL DAYS. See June 14.

16 | SATURDAY CHICAGO GOLD COAST ART FAIR AT GRANT PARK. Showcases the

work of more than 250 juried artists from around the world, plus live music, food and fun activities for kids, including an art scavenger hunt and interactive mural. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Grant Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive. amdurproductions.com/ gold-coast-art-fair-at-grant-park.

PUERTO RICAN PARADE.

Humboldt Park’s Puerto Rican community celebrates the anniversary of the People’s Parade along Division Street. 2 p.m. Division from Western to Sacramento. cityofchicago.org.

WHAT WHAT ARE ARE YOU YOU WAITING WAITING FOR?” FOR?” JOE M (TRIP ADVISOR) JOE M (TRIP ADVISOR) www.cszchicago.com www.cszchicago.com

“PERFECT FOR FAMILIES!

COMEDYSPORTZ GETS MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” JOE M (TRIP ADVISOR) www.cszchicago.com

CUSTER FAIR. Eclectic art festival with diverse works from 300-plus artists. Plus, unique folk and Native American music on two stages, an “EcoVillage” green vendor area, a children’s park with kids’ activities, and the cuisine from more than 30 restaurants. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 600 Main St., Evanston. (847) 328-2204, custerfair.com.

BRICKWORLD CHICAGO 2018.

MOVIES IN THE PARK: SING. Grab a picnic blanket and

head to Wilder Park for a showing of the animated classic “Sing.” Come early for family fun and food trucks

TASTE OF DES PLAINES. See June 15. 5K race 8 a.m. 12-11 p.m.

Highland dance competition, athletics competition, cultural exhibits, car show, kids’ crafts and activities.

Hamilton Lakes, Highway 290 and Thorndale, Itasca. chicagoscots.org.

COMEDYSPORTZ COMEDYSPORTZ GETS GETS MY MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS! HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS!

SUBURBS

Enjoy interactive activities, such as the Lego and Duplo play brick areas, fighting robots, seek and finds, etc. Buy your favorite Lego sets, minifigures and accessories from various vendors. $12, free kids 3 & under. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. (847) 303-4100, brickworld.com/brickworld-chicago.

HIGHLAND GAMES & SCOTTISH FESTIVAL. Events includes a

“PERFECT “PERFECT FOR FOR FAMILIES! FAMILIES!

REEDSCANOETRIPS.COM

Offering exciting and memorable trips

from a few hours to an entire day in length, on the clean and beautiful Kankakee River- some of the best fishing and canoeing waters in Illinois!

Trips available seven days a week.

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CALENDAR FIVB VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE. See June 15. Today’s

schedule: 2 p.m. Serbia vs. Iran; 7:30 p.m. USA vs. Poland.

FAMILY TWILIGHT ADVENTURES.

See June 1.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS. See June 14.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce

LOCKPORT OLD CANAL DAYS. See June 14.

HIGHLAND GAMES & SCOTTISH FESTIVAL. See June 15.

17 | SUNDAY CHICAGO GOLD COAST ART FAIR AT GRANT PARK. See June 16.

SUBURBS VIKING MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL.

Festival celebrates all things Vikingrelated and will focus around a 125-year-old Viking ship replica that was part of the World’s Columbian Exposition. $5, kids 12 and under free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive, Geneva.

(847) 845-2640, swedishday.net.

Sw S we ed dis sh Day Da ys s F es e ti tiva al SSeee Ju June ne 19

schedule: noon Poland vs. Serbia; 5:30 p.m. USA vs. Iran.

BRICKWORLD CHICAGO 2018.

LAMBS FARM FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH. Dad can choose from

hearty entrees or breakfast favorites, and top it off with desserts. Call for reservations at (847) 362-5050. $24.95 for adults, $10.95 for ages 2-12, and free for 23 months and younger. Seatings are 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville. (847) 3624636, lambsfarm.org FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH BY THE BEACH. In addition to a brunch,

families can participate in a speed baggo tournament, take pictures in the photo booth and speed test a fastball. Pre-registration required. $5 and up. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Elder Lane Beach, 299 Sheridan Road, Winnetka. winpark.org.

FIVB VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE. See June 15. Today’s

See June 16. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

CUSTER FAIR. See June 16.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS. See June 14.

LOCKPORT OLD CANAL DAYS. See June 14.

18 | MONDAY MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES. Bring

a blanket, picnic and enjoy a night of music at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. 6:30 p.m. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-1168, millenniumpark.org.

19 | TUESDAY GIRLS NIGHT OUT: SEX AND THE CITY. Author Jennifer Keishin

Armstrong, a native of the southwest suburbs, talks about her new book: “Sex and the City and Us.” $12. 6:30-8:30 p.m. American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan, 2nd Floor, Chicago. (312) 374-8790, americanwritersmuseum.org.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

Geneva celebrates its Swedish heritage with American and Swedish food, a 5K race, a craft beer tent, a carnival, kids’ day, “Geneva’s Got Talent” and Sweden Väst and the Grand Parade. Fees for some activities. Check website for schedule.

South Third Street and West State Street, Geneva. genevachamber. com/swedish_days.php.

21 | THURSDAY MAKE MUSIC CHICAGO.

Live, one-day music festival on the first day of summer. This year, music makers of all ages will gather for events throughout Chicago’s public spaces. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Various locations, Chicago. makemusic chicago.com.

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES.

Today’s performers: The Aces & The New Respects. 6:30 p.m. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-1168, millenniumpark.org.

THIRD THURSDAY THINKERS.

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC AT GALLAGHER WAY. See June 5.

20 | WEDNESDAY SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

See June 19.

Drop by Naper Settlement to experience history in unexpected ways.

Ride hobby horses and discover how horses helped early pioneers.

10:30-11 a.m. (kids 2-5); 2-2:30 (kids 5-7). Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. (630) 4206010, napersettlement.org.

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CALENDAR BEST OF THE BEST: THE EVOLUTION OF BROADWAY.

A fun musical revue of Broadway songs chronicling the story of the American musical theater.

Recommended for families with kids 4-16. $17, $12 youth. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., Chicago. (630) 587-8521, steelbeamtheatre.com.

KIDS NIGHT OUT: TENNIS, PIZZA & MOVIE. Parents can enjoy

an evening out while their children eat and play tennis. The night will include on-court activities followed by pizza and a movie. No tennis experience required. Good for kids 9-13. $35, $25 residents. 6-9 p.m.

A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center, 530 Hibbard Road, Winnetka. winpark. org.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

See June 19.

22 | FRIDAY SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK: A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Bring a blanket and your

own popcorn. 9 p.m. 50-Acre Park, 91st and Rockwell, Evergreen Park. evergreenpark-ill.com.

LONG GROVE STRAWBERRY FEST. Three days committed to

all things strawberry. Kid Zone has water balloon toss, flower crown arts, ballroom dancing and junior knight training. $5, free kids 12 and under. Long Grove Historic Village, 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove.

(847) 634-0888, longgrove.org.

OLD ST. PAT’S WORLD’S LARGEST BLOCK PARTY. Features

great music and entertainment for all ages plus food trucks. Saturday afternoon activities include bounce houses, face painters, games and more. $10, free kids under 5.

5-10:30 p.m. June 22; 2-10:30 p.m.

June 23. Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams St., Chicago. worldslargestblockparty.com.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

See June 19.

23 | SATURDAY presents

CHICAGO DRAGON BOAT RACE FOR LITERACY. Experience the excite-

ment as teams compete in a fastpaced race on the south branch of the Chicago River in decorated dragon boats. On-land spectacles include live musical and dance performances, vendors and special guest appearances. Proceeds donated to promote literacy. Free.

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th St. (312) 3265320, chicagochinatown.org.

OLD ST. PAT’S WORLD’S LARGEST BLOCK PARTY. See

June 22.

Join us for free family entertainment as the WTTW Kids Lab Guys share the recipe for a BIG IDEA.

Wonder, Watch, & Learn More!

Upcoming Shows: Wednesday, June 13 - 11 AM at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Foreman Pavilion Thursday, June 14 - 10:30 AM at Oak Park Public Library Sunday, June 24 - 10 AM at North Riverside Park Mall Friday, June 29 - 10:30 AM at Glen Ellyn Public Library For the 2018 schedule of FREE shows and to learn more visit:

www.com/BIGIDEA Follow us

@WTTWKidsBI

@WTTWKids

@wwwkidsbigidea

SUBURBS GLOBAL ARTS FESTIVAL (BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS).

Celebrate the diversity of Bartlett with a weekend of multicultural music, art, crafts, dance, food and yoga, drum circles and henna art. Booths and activities will be spread throughout Bartlett Park.

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Bartlett Park, 102 N. Eastern Ave., Bartlett. artsinbartlett.org.

FUNGUS AMONG US. Discover

the world of fungi during an exploration of mushrooms and their kin that help the forest thrive.

Recommended for 8 and older.

Pre-registration required. $6. 9-10 a.m. Pilcher Park Nature Center, 2501 Highland Park Drive, Joliet.

(815) 741-7277, jolietpark.org.

BEST OF THE BEST: THE EVOLUTION OF BROADWAY.

See June 21. 2 p.m.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

Join WTTW Kids on an accon-packed food adventure this summer at the all-new FUN FOOD FESTS. Learn lifelong healthy eaang habits through singing, dancing and accviies from our host and sampling from our sponsors.

Join us for the kick-off of our first shows in June: Wednesday, June 6 - 10 AM at Mariano's in Vernon Hills Thursday, June 7 - 10 AM at Mariano's in Lombard Saturday, June 9 - 10 AM at Jewel Osco in Aurora Wednesday, June 20 - 10 AM at Caputo's in Carol Stream Thursday, June 21 - 10 AM at Caputo’s in Addison Wednesday, June 27 - 10 AM at Heinen's in Barrington Look for the WTTW Kids Van! For our full schedule and to learn more visit: www.com/funfoodfest Follow us

@WTTWKidsFUNFOODFEST

See June 19.

BEST OF THE BEST: THE EVOLUTION OF BROADWAY. See

June 21. 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

LONG GROVE STRAWBERRY FEST. See June 22.

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CALENDAR

SURE, AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK

BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. SURE, BUT I TAUGHT HIM TO THROW A STICK AT FIRST WAS HANGING A LITTLEOUT TAKEN ABACK ANDI NOW WITH HIM

BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. BUT I TAUGHT HIM TO THROW A STICK AND NOW HANGING OUT —WITH HIM EINSTEIN IS THE BEST PART OFadopted MY DAY.12-09-10

24 | SUNDAY CHICAGO SUMMER MUSIC AT GALLAGHER WAY. Bring a blanket

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT. Hear John Williams’

and pack a picnic. Food and beverages also will be available for purchase.

Today’s guest: Classical music with Axiom Brass and Kenneth Olsen and special guests. 6:30 p.m. Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St. gallagherway. com/events.

iconic Oscar-winning score—from its triumphant opening fanfare to the ethereal Princess Leia theme—performed live by the CSO with the full feature film. $65-$180 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 2943000, cso.org.

SUBURBS

28 | THURSDAY

EVERYONE AT PLAY. In addition to

— EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10

“Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St., Chicago.

scaling down the stimulating sound and lighting elements of the museum and capping capacity, there will be a quiet room available for stimulation breaks. Free with museum admission. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kcmgc.org.

GLOBAL ARTS FESTIVAL. See

June 23.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL.

See June 19.

LONG GROVE STRAWBERRY FEST. See June 22.

26 | TUESDAY MILITARY SCIENCE: ROCKETS.

Middle school students learn about military rockets, experiment with the basic principles of rockery and launch model rockets. Added bonus: touching a WWII Super Bazooka, a Vietnam-era LAW and other modern rocket launchers. All participants take home an Estes rocket. Register in advance. $17. 10 a.m. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES. Bring

a blanket, picnic and enjoy a night of music. Today’s performers: Sons of Kemet & Melissa Laveaux. 6:30 p.m.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-1168, millenniumpark.org.

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT. See June 27.

29 | FRIDAY EYES TO THE SKIES BALLOON FESTIVAL. Features hot air balloon

shows and rides (weather permitting), as well as music, a special kids’ area, an arts and crafts fair, fireworks and a carnival. Carnival starts June 27. Festival runs June 29-July 1. See website for schedule. $8, free kids 6 and under. Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle. (630) 769-1000, eyestotheskies.org STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT. See June 27.

30 | SATURDAY EYES TO THE SKIES BALLOON FESTIVAL. See. June 29.

CIVIL WAR DAYS. See large-scale

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC AT GALLAGHER WAY. See June 5.

27 | WEDNESDAY MUSIC BOX THEATRE MOVIES AT GALLAGHER WAY.

Sundown movie of the week is

battle reenactments, explore camps and shops and meet various characters. $10, $5 kids 4-17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 30; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 1.

Includes museum admission and parking. Lakewood Forest Preserve, Rte. 176, west of Fairfield Road, Wauconda. (847) 968-3400, lcfpd. org/civilwar.

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ONGOING EVENTS

Wash Wa hed ed Ash shor shor o e: e: Art rt to o Sav ave th the S Se ea See th Se this hiss pag age

EXHIBITS BIRDS OF PARADISE: AMAZING AVIAN EVOLUTION. Features

crazy courtship dances and bizarre behaviors of the birds. Challenge each other to a bird-like dance-off in “Dance, Dance Evolution.” Free with museum admission. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (773) 7555100, naturemuseum.org.

THE BIRD HOUSE. Experience live, loud and beautiful macaws, stunning aracari, exotic serama chickens and native bobwhite quails.

Every day at 11:30 a.m., enjoy a live bird showcase. Free with museum admission. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (773) 755-5100, naturemuseum.org.

WHERE THE CHILDREN SLEEP. This multi-media exhibit

serves as a wake-up call about what is happening as Syrian children

are displaced. The conflict in Syria has claimed more than 480,000 lives. Free with museum admission. Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. ilholocaustmuseum.org.

West Coast beaches. John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 939-2438, sheddaquarium.org.

ART IS INSTRUMENTAL.

glimpse of the beauty beneath the waves as 100 species from around the world come together. Shedd Aquarium. 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 939-2438, shedd.org.

Activities include building a musical sculpture out of household items, playing a tune on a PVC pipe organ and conducting an “orchestra.”

DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. (630) 637-8000, dupagechildrensmuseum. org.

SNOOPY AND THE RED BARON.

ANIMAL SECRETS. Kids discover

Through June 17. The exhibit tells the full story of the charismatic and beloved character. Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. (630) 833-1457, elmhursthistory.org.

nature from an animal’s point of view in naturalistic environments, including a stream, woodland, meadow and cave. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kcmgc.org.

UNDERWATER BEAUTY. Get a

WASHED ASHORE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA. A traveling exhibit fea-

turing massive, colorful sculptures of ocean animals made entirely of plastic marine debris removed from

RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?

Exhibit tells the stories of race from the biological, cultural and historical points of view, and explores how they have shaped the history of this

country and society. Educational programs tailored for middle and high school students give youth the opportunity to talk about the history of race in Chicago, with help from facilitators, and how it continues to impact contemporary life. Free with museum admission. Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago.

(312) 642-4600, chicagohistory.org.

A HISTORY OF SWEDISH COMICS. Through June 24. Exhibit

features the work of Chicago-area artists who influenced comic strips and art from Mad Magazine to The Phantom. Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, (773) 728-8111. swedishamerican museum.org.

POP UP DESIGN STUDIO.

Explore and create with a series of free design workshops for all ages.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 9 a.m.-noon Fridays. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park. (708)

ChicagoParent.com June 2018 49

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ONGOING EVENTS 848-1976, flwright.org/programs/ popupstudio.

SEUSSICAL CHARACTER BRUNCH. Saturdays through June

9. Enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring a meet and greet with Seussical the Musical characters. $17, $13 kids 4-12, free kids 3 and under. 11:30 a.m.

Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111, drurylaneoakbrook.com.

OTHER EVENTS PIVOT ARTS FESTIVAL. The 10-day festival features music, theater, dance, puppetry, discussions, wine tastings, workshops, children’s performances.

Community Parade is June 3, kicking off at George B. Swift Elementary School. Prices vary. June 1-10. 1443 W. Norwood St., Chicago. (773) 6090782, pivotarts.org.

SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL. Geneva

celebrates its Swedish heritage with

ORY

a festival featuring American and Swedish food including a 5K race, craft beer tent, a carnival, kids’ day, “Geneva’s Got Talent” and Sweden Väst, musical entertainment and the Grand Parade. June 19-24.

South Third Street and West State Street (Rte. 38), Geneva. (630) 232-6060, genevachamber.com/ swedish_days.php.

CHICAGO SUMMERDANCE.

one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors and two hours of live music and dancing. ThursdaysSundays June 28-Aug. 25. Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 7424007, chicagosummerdance.org.

THURSDAY FAMILY NIGHTS.

Begins June 14. Enjoy live music, kid-friendly fare, and entertainment after-hours in the Children’s Garden. $5 after 4:30 p.m. 5-8 p.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

Pivot Ar A ts Festiv ival iv al S e thiss pag Se agee

SHADOW PUPPET STORY TIME.

Bill, the museum’s story time expert, and his trusty sidekick puts on a shadowy performance. Free with museum admission 11:30 a.m.

Mondays & Fridays. Wonder Works, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park. (708) 383-4815. wonder-works.org.

KIDS POKEMON LEAGUE. For kids 6-12 who enjoy collecting the cards and are serious about learning how to play the game. Participants need to understand the official rules and be

able to play independently. Must have a deck of 60 cards. 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays. Cat & Mouse Games, 1112 W. Madison St., Chicago. cat-n-mouse. com.

LITTLE SQUIRRELS STORYTIME.

Stories and songs celebrating classic literature for preschool-age kids. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan, 2nd Floor, Chicago. (312) 374-8790, americanwritersmuseum. org.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Pediatric dentistry

We take the fear out of dentistry for your child.

PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES, P.C.

George Lin, D.D.S. Anjali Talati, D.M.D. Carol Nixon, D.D.S.

• Dental care for children from infancy to adolescence • Specializing in patients with special health care needs • Modern child friendly office • Sedation dentistry available • Digital X-rays to reduce your child’s exposure to radiation • Pleasant, comfortable surroundings

Buffalo Grove Business Park 195 Arlington Hts Rd., Suite 150 Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

847-537-7695

College Hill Professional Building, 690 N. Route 31 Crystal Lake, Il 60012

815-459-2727

Ask about our NO SHOT & NO DRILL Laser fillings!

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DR. YAA N. McDONALD Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 16345 S. Harlem • Tinley Park

708-633-8700 • www.kidsdds.net

4801 W. Peterson Ave • Chicago, IL 60646

773-790-4282

50 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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PERFORMANCES STOMPING GROUNDS. Through

June 7. Citywide celebration of dance companies from a variety of world cultures, including American tap, Spanish, Mexican, African, Indian, Native American, Urban Hip Hop and Irish dance. Location changes weekly.

(773) 281-1825, chicagotap.org/ performances/stomping-grounds.

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Join Captain Nemo

and Professor Aronnax as they search for a sea monster and circle the globe in a submarine.

Recommended for families with kids 8 and up. WednesdaysSundays. Lookingglass Theatre in the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665. lookingglasstheatre.org.

2018 SIMPLY CLASSIC SERIES.

June 2. Alma Dance Theater presents excerpts from Majisimo, Peasant Pas de Quatre from Giselle and a Suite of Le Corsaire and will feature internationally renowned guest artists.

Djem Dj em mbe e! T Th he Sh Show ow Seee ppaage 52

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY pediatric dentistry

PEDIATRIC EYE CARE

Outstanding Pediatric Dental Care –

Pediatric Ophthalmologists

It’s at the heart of what we do.

Medical and Surgical Eye Care for Infants, Children and Teens

As an award-winning practice, we pride ourselves on providing the finest comprehensive dental care for the children in our practice so they leave with a healthy smile and positive attitude toward dental care as they approach adulthood.

Deena F. Leonard, M.D. Dana L. Kolton, M.D. Kathy Anderson, M.D.

Muscle Imbalance (Lazy Eye) • Blocked Tear Ducts • Premature Infants • Routine Eye Exams

1125 S. Harlem Ave., Forest Park (708) 386-5437 • (708) FUN-KIDS www.kidsdentistforestpark.com

Buffalo Grove 847-459-6060 • Barrington 847-382-4116

www.eyesbypremier.com

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PERFORMANCES $28, $20 kids 17 and under. 7 p.m.

McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. almadancetheater. yapsody.com.

HAIRSPRAY. June 8-24. The family-

friendly play tells the story of teen Tracy Turnblad whose only desire is to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” The theater does not allow children under 5. $25-$30.

8 p.m. Fridays; 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. brightsidetheatre.com.

THE PRINCESS WITHOUT POTS. June 9-July 1. Experience a

world in which fighting like a girl is something everyone aspires to do. $10 adults, $5 children 12 and under. 11 a.m. Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. Sundays. Laugh Out Loud Theatre, 3851 Lincoln Ave., Chicago. ghostlightensemble.com.

JUDY GARLAND: COME RAIN OR COME SHINE. June 10.

ORY

Award-winning dynamo Angela Ingersoll captures the vocal power of Judy Garland live in concert. Iconic songs include “Over the Rainbow,” “Get Happy” and “The Man That Got Away.” $35. 3-5 p.m. Paramount Arts Centre and Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com.

DJEMBE! THE SHOW. Begins June

13. Every audience member gets to be part of this U.S. premiere experience; they receive a djembe to play along with the world-class African and international musicians. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Apollo Theater Chicago, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, djembetheshow.com.

Science & Industry and the Tivoli Theatre. Recommended for families with kids 4-10. 10:30 a.m.; 10 a.m. at Tivoli Theatre. Check website for dates and locations. $8.50.

AlphaBet Soup Productions, P.O. Box 85, Lombard. (630) 932-1555, absproductions.com.

DISNEY’S ALADDIN JR. June 14-17. Infinity Arts Academy’s youth performance company, The Conservatory Company (ages 7-12), performs this family favorite with new additions from the Broadway version included. $20. 7 p.m.

Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

(773) 327-5252, stage773.com.

PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES.

AMIRA: A CHICAGO CINDERELLA STORY. June 15-17.

Begins June 13. Follow Peter Pan as he battles Captain Hook and his team of swashbuckling bandits.

Playing at Joliet Junior College, Moraine Valley College, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, Museum of

To kick off its 25th anniversary season, Hyde Park School of Dance reimagines the classic fairy tale as set in Hyde Park and showcases a variety of Chicago neighborhoods. $25, $15 kids 6-18 students, free

kids under 5. 7 p.m. Friday; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. (773) 702-ARTS, hydeparkdance.org.

MACBETH. Through June 24. Teller

(of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner reunite for Shakespeare’s haunting drama of political intrigue, a visual world where “nothing is but what is not.” Expect magic, witches, dark moors and stunning. Recommended for families with kids 13 and up.

Wednesdays-Sundays. Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier, Chicago. (312) 595-5600, chicagoshakes.com.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Through June 29. In this Chicago Kids Company’s original adaptation, Bella ventures from her little village to the Beast’s castle to save her Papa. Recommended for families with kids 2-10. Check website for schedule. Stahl Family Theater, 5900 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 286-8470, stpatrick.org.

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‘Princess’ kicks off new series for kids Imagination is the name of the game

A

dapted from a short story, “The Princess Without Pots” asks a lot of its audience.

Mostly, it asks a lot of the adults in its audience.

Writer and director Maria Burnham— who penned the original short story in Spanish and then translated the script to English—says she added liner notes to future casting directors to put anyone in any role he or she is qualified for.

Which is why the production opening June 9 has a female playing the role of a male. It would be the same if the title character, Cristina, were handing out roles to her pals on the playground.

“When kids play, when they reenact shows that they watch on TV or movies, they don’t think about gender involved in the character that they love, and I think that’s something along the way that we

lose as adults,” Burnham says. “It’s nice to remind the parents that this is fine, there’s nothing wrong with being whoever you want to be.”

The story tells the tale of Cristina, who prefers to be called Sweet Pea. The princess must find a suitor, but to win her heart, a prince must win a battle against Pea herself.

The production kicks off Ghostlight Ensemble’s new Nightlight Children’s Series. The company recently finished a run of Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband,” so this is a step to a little lighter fare for the cast and crew.

“The actors having fun telling these stories is part of what is so entertaining to watch,” Burnham says.

The set will be made to mimic the imagination of a child reenacting or telling a story, she says. Painted and stacked cardboard boxes will build Sweet Pea’s castle and primary colors will attract young audiences.

Photo by Maria Burnham

The Princess Without Pots u 11 a.m. Saturdays, 1:30 p.m.

Sundays in June u Laugh Out Loud Theater u 3851 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago u laughoutloudtheater.com The moral of Sweet Pea’s story is similar to the script in the casting notes, Burnham says: “It’s OK to use your imagination to be anything you want to be.”

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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS

American Writers Museum Head to the American Writers Museum and check out the Children’s Literature Gallery. Don’t miss the mural that shows 42 squirrels reading 34 books representing significant milestones in American children’s literature. Little Squirrels Storytime takes place at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays.

In addition, there are wonderful summer reading programs at local libraries. And don’t forget to check out local book stores, including Andersons Bookshop in Naperville and Downers Grove and the Book Stall in Winnetka, which often host children’s book authors.

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this summer

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eading never goes out of style. In fact, summer is the perfect time to get kids reading just for fun and encouraging them to write their own stories. Studies show that when kids see the adults around them enjoying books, they’re more likely to become readers, too.

So plan now for these events that will help ensure your family has a literary summer.

Printers Row Lit Festival The Printers Row Lit Festival in Chicago is the largest free literary festival in the Midwest. For more than three decades it has celebrated the written word, supported literacy and offered family fun for all ages.

The festival features Lil’ Lit Park, with a children’s stage and activity area. Kids and their grown-ups can enjoy performances by Justin Robert & the Not Ready for Naptime Players and Nili Yelin, the Storybook Mom. Cubs fans can see local authors Amanda ReCupido & Matt Lynch read from their children’s book, Anthony Rizzo is a Good Italian Boy. June 9-10; Printers Row neighborhood, Chicago

The Party That Shall Not Be Named Wands ready! Muggles and wizards alike will have a magical time when the Naperville Public Library staff transforms the Nichols Library in downtown Naperville into Hogwarts. It’s no coincidence that this happens right around the shared birthday of Harry Potter and author J.K. Rowling.

See into which house the Sorting Hat would place you, visit the fantastic beasts petting zoo and find your way out of a horcrux hunt escape room. There will also be Harry Potter crafts, storytime and trivia, as well as events in downtown Naperville.

Saturday, July 28; Naperville Public Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

Celebration of Authors Barrel of Monkeys honors young student-authors at its Celebration of Authors performance and brings to life stories written by kids in third through fifth grades. These fun tales will get kids giggling and may inspire them to write their own stories and plays.

The event is free, but reservations should be made at barrelofmonkeys.org/ coa or by calling (773) 506-7140.

June 12; Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago Shannan Younger

56 June 2018 ChicagoParent.com

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Learn about the filmmaking process through hands-on activities inspired by some of Pixar’s most treasured films.

Get tickets at msichicago.org.

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The Science Behind Pixar was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. Š Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

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