including dinner, live auction and musical entertainment. Benefits Camp Kesem. 7-11 p.m. Redmoon Theater, Chicago. themagicball.org. Museum of Contemporary Art – March 10-August 16. “Fadeem Majeed,” Chicago-based sculptor whose work transforms overlooked & devalued materials such as scrap metal and wood into art. Chicago. 312280-2660.
City Events
CHIditarod: The Chicago Urban Shopping Cart Race
– March 7. Costumed teams of four pullers and one musher race shopping carts filled with donated food. Benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Chicago. info@CHIditarod.org. Creative Chicago Expo – March 14 -15. Keynote speakers in Arts, Fashion, Culinary Arts & Film. Workshops, vendors, networking and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Chicago Cultural Center. St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March 14. One of the country’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades. 12:00 p.m. Begins at Balbo & Columbus Dr., proceeding north through Grant Park. Chicago Flower & Garden Show – March 14-22. Gardening-related displays (featuring two rose gardens), seminars, vendors and food. Sun-Wed. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Navy Pier. 312-241-1250. Greek Independence Day Parade – March 30. Enjoy free museum admission & watch the parade from
The Orchid Show – Through March 15. More than 10,000 tropical blooms on display, especially featuring vanilla, the seedpod of an orchid. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Chicago Botanic Garden. Glencoe. 847835-5440. 15th Annual Chicago Polar Plunge – March 1. Participants brave the elements to dip their toes in the cold waters of Lake Michigan. Benefits Special Olympics Chicago. North Avenue Beach. Chicago. 312-527-3743. The Magic Ball – March 7. An adults-only evening
with prize-filled eggs. Ages 0-10 years. 10 a.m. Terrace View Park, Oakbrook Terrace. Register: 630-627-6100. CHILDREN Bunny Meet & Greet – Bring a basket to fill with prize-filled eggs. 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Fitness Center Gymnasium, Oakbrook Terrace. Register: 630-627-6100. FAMILY Bunny Brunch – Brunch buffet, music, crafts, games & visit with Easter Bunny. 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Prisco Community Center, Aurora. Register: 630-859-8606. FAMILY When Darkness Falls – Night Hike. Ages 6 & up. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Waterfall Glen, Darien. 630-933-7248. PETS Doggie Egg Hunt – When your dog touches an egg with his nose, into your basket it goes. 2-3 p.m. St. Charles. 630-513-6200. PETS Doggie Egg Hunt – Treats, prizes & more for your canine friend. 9 a.m. Terrace View Park, Oakbrook Terrace. Register: 630-627-6100. FAMILY Earth Hour – Earth awareness event. Fun filled, no- lights evening. Games, storytelling, yoga, drum circles & more. 630 p.m. Batavia. 630-454-2000. ADULTS Snowball Dance – For singles over 40. 7 p.m. First Church of Lombard. 312-805-6706.
APRIL THURSDAY, APRIL 2
CHILDREN Underwater Eggstravaganza – Entertainment, games & prizes. Scheduled pool egg hunts per age group. 6-8 p.m. Schaumburg. 847-490-7020.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
CHILDREN Hoppy Easter – Stories, songs & crafts about bunnies, eggs & chicks. Ages 3 to 5. 1-2 p.m. Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-260-8162.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
CHILDREN Easter Eggstravaganza – Outside easter
46 great events
egg hunt & photos with the Easter Bunny. Ages 2-4 at 9:4510:25 a.m. Ages 5-7 at 10:30-11 a.m. Varble Park, Bensenville. 630-766-7015. FAMILY Hippity Hop Egg Hunt – Uncover eggs filled with candy & prizes. Ages 1-9 & parent. 10 a.m. Vaughan Athletic Center, Aurora. 630-907-9600. FAMILY Egg Hunt – 100’s of eggs on the McCormick Museum lawn during this Open House style hunt. All ages. 9 a.m- 12 p.m. Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-260-8162.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
LECTURE Erik Larson – NYT bestselling author discusses his new book. 7 p.m. Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville. 630) 355-2665.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
CONCERT Stories & Songs by Ken Medema – Nationally-known blind singer-songwriter performs. 7:30 p.m. Wheaton College. 630- 752-5010.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
PERFORMANCE NCHS Drumshow– High energy drumming in the style of BlueMan Group & STOMP by high school percussionists. 7:30 p.m. Also 4/11 at 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Naperville Central High School. 630- 752-5010.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
CONCERT Men’s Glee Club–7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Pierce Chapel, Wheaton College. 630- 752-5099. FAMILY Laura Ingalls Wilder Day – Pretend to live like Laura & her family did with candle dipping, cooking, sewing & more. 12 – 3 p.m. Blackberry Farm, Aurora. 630-892-1550. FAMILY Earth Day Celebration – Rain barrels for sale, green education, recycling & more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Peck Farm Park, Geneva. 630-232-7494.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
CONCERT Gavin Coyle, Carlyn Lloyd & Jon Warfel suburban family | subfam.com
the rooftop terrace. 2-4 p.m. National Hellenic Museum. 312-655-1234. Museum of Science & Industry – April 4-12. Robot Block Party. Demonstration of different robots along with workshops and hands-on activities. Chicago. 773-684-1414. Antiques, Garden & Design Show – April 17-19. Find inspiration among display gardens and gardenrelated merchandise. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Chicago Botanic Garden. Glencoe. 847-835-5440. Chicago Maritime Festival – April 18. Music, seminars and workshops plus ship models, displays, and demonstrations related to maritime life. Old Town School of Folk Music. Chicago. 773-576-7245 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo – April 2426. Comics, movies, video games featured through exhibits, autograph sessions and film screenings. McCormick Place. www.c2e2.com The Art Institute of Chicago – Through 5/31. “Eldzier Cortor Coming Home: Recent Gifts to the Art Institute”exhibit. Chicago. 312-443-3600. Adler Planetarium – “Welcome to the Universe” A 3D guided digital simulation to experience cosmic destinations first-hand. Chicago. 312-922-7827. Shedd Aquarium – “Caribbean Reef.” Take a 360-degree tour of an underwater reef community. Chicago. 312-939-2438.
–3 p.m. Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-260-8162. CONCERT The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra – The legendary dance band performs. 3 p.m. McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn. 630-942-4000. SHOW Wedding Walk – Showcase of wedding venues, products & services. 12-4 p.m. Begins at Veiled By Cha Cha, 524 Duane St. Downtown Glen Ellyn. downtownglenellyn.com LECTURE History Speaks: Forever The Tramp – Terry Lynch as Charlie Chaplin looks back on the actor’s legendary career. 4-5 p.m. Naper Settlement. 630-420-6010.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
LECTURE Your Brain on Music – Best-selling scientistauthor David Levitin talks about music, memory & technology. 7:30 p.m. McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn. 630-942-4000.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
LECTURE How the Civil War Changed Chicago – The role of the war in modernizing the city. 7:30 p.m. Glen Ellyn History Center. 630-469-1867. LECTURE Medical Malpractice, Tort Reform & the Health Care Crisis in the U.S. – Presented by Stephen Thompson, PhD. 5:30 p.m. National Louis University, Chicago. RSVP at nl.edu/PublicPolicySeries.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
FAMILY Flashlight Egg Hunt – Dinner, music, hayrides, & egg hunt. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Blackberry Farm, Aurora. 630-892-1550. FUNDRAISER Family Shelter Service Gala – Entertainment, raffles, auctions. 6:30 – 11:30 p.m. The Abbington, Glen Ellyn. 630-221-8290 x7107. SHOPPING Spring Festival – Huge arts & crafts fair. Over 350 artists & vendors. 4/17-4/19. Odeum, Villa Park. 402-331-2889. SYMPOSIUM Spotlight on Child Hunger – Daylong event to elevate food insecurity as a public health crisis. Includes breakfast, networking & presentations. 7:30 March/April 2015