When I think of wonderful Christmas activities that I want to do with my daughters I always think about how perfect it would be to have afternoon tea with them. In my mind we are in a beautiful restaurant with holiday music in the background and the girls look and act like perfect little angels. Reality, I think would be pretty far from this picture. At three and six I thought maybe this year they were old enough but wasn't really willing to chance it at the Drake or another downtown hotel where the price for afternoon tea can be $40 per person. Hopefully in a few years we will be ready for that. Instead we decided to try the afternoon tea at the Celtic Knot located at 626 Church Street in Evanston.
Tea is offered at the Celtic Knot on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 2 and 4 PM. The price is $16.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids. We were offered either a common pot of tea for the table (I believe it was an blackberry flavored black tea) or a choice of individual tea bags. We all chose our own since my husband is partial to green tea and we wanted to get something decaffeinated for the girls. Everyone was able to find something they wanted, however, upon trying it, the girls didn't really like the tea. Not a big surprise. I'm not sure if the food is always the same, but we were presented with a three layer tray with sandwiches on the bottom, scones in the middle, and pastries on the top. There are three sandwiches provided per adult and two per kid and consisted of ham, salmon and dill, and egg salad. The scones (one per person) were a big hit at our table since they came with whipped cream and really delicious jam. Of course everyone enjoyed the desserts (two per person), which consisted on mini tarts, chocolate caramel bites, and a raisin cake. Service was a little slow for the girls. They kept asking when the food was coming and were having a difficult time waiting because other families were there having lunch off the regular menu. The pace was definitely better for a relaxing afternoon with adults instead of restless kids.
The Celtic Knot is an Irish pub but the interior is very cozy and family friendly. They suggest that you make reservations for tea and it probably is a good idea, however the restaurant was not busy at all when we were there at 2 on a Saturday afternoon. We were able to find street parking nearby fairly easily and the Davis stop on the Purple line is quite close. My girls are still maybe a little young for doing something like this since they weren't crazy about all of the food or the tea, however my husband and I enjoyed ourselves. It's definitely a great choice for a lower cost afternoon tea where you don't have to go downtown.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Big Cheese
We had been seeing the Coming Soon sign in the window of this restaurant (4229 N. Lincoln) for awhile and now that it is open we had to give it a try. We went on a Sunday afternoon around 12:30 and were able to easily sit down even though there are only about 10 tables in the restaurant. The setting is completely casual and perfect for grilled cheese loving kids. Parking out front is also super easy.
The menu at the Big Cheese has a selection of about 8-10 different grilled cheese sandwiches. I am not a huge grilled cheese person but all of the sandwiches on the menu sounded so good I had a hard time deciding. I had mushrooms and fontina on sourdough and it was really good. The sandwiches come with a choice of tomato soup or parmesan fries. I had the fries and they were also quite good. The kids menu includes a choice of classic grilled cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which comes with a choice of soup, fries, or fruit. The sandwiches range in price from around $6 to $8. Our food came out really fast, which is great for impatient kids. The Big Cheese also does take out and is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. It is a great new place to try for lunch if you are in the area.
The menu at the Big Cheese has a selection of about 8-10 different grilled cheese sandwiches. I am not a huge grilled cheese person but all of the sandwiches on the menu sounded so good I had a hard time deciding. I had mushrooms and fontina on sourdough and it was really good. The sandwiches come with a choice of tomato soup or parmesan fries. I had the fries and they were also quite good. The kids menu includes a choice of classic grilled cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which comes with a choice of soup, fries, or fruit. The sandwiches range in price from around $6 to $8. Our food came out really fast, which is great for impatient kids. The Big Cheese also does take out and is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. It is a great new place to try for lunch if you are in the area.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Allium
A few weeks ago we went out to a no kids, grown up dinner at Allium in the Four Seasons hotel downtown. The address for the hotel is 120 E. Delaware Place and that is where the entrance is but it is basically located on Michigan Avenue across the street from the Hancock Building. The restaurant is a bit more casual than what used to be in this space but it is still relatively fancy (you should dress up and probably not bring your kids) and expensive. The restaurant is on the same level as the hotel lobby, which is a few stories up. We took the train but I believe there is valet parking if you drive.
Most of the menu is made up of small plate type items, with a few entree sized items also included at the bottom. We ordered a bunch of small items to share and were super full and satisfied at the end, however our waitress acted like it was a little strange that we also didn't order from the entree section. She is maybe used to people who can afford to sample a lot of food without eating it all, which is not really in our budget. We shared a crab special, the cheese lavosh, cheese curd mashed potatoes, and the short rib sliders. This was plenty of food for us. Everything came in a good size portion, actually much bigger than we expected and that you find at other small plate restaurants, and was really delicious. The cheese curd mashed potatoes were especially yummy. Allium has a nice selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. When we went out, I wasn't drinking alcohol so I was very happy to also see several non-alcoholic options on the drink menu. I had a made in house soda that was really good and didn't make me miss a glass of wine too much.
Desserts continue the small plate theme with lots of cookie/candy options. Our waitress talked us into getting a bunch of desserts to share. We ordered the donut holes, peanut butter sandwich cookies, red velvet cupcake, and pretzel caramels. In addition, since it was our anniversary, they brought us a piece of chocolate cake, on the house. After a big meal, we finished maybe half of the desserts and took the rest home to enjoy the next day. As with dinner, everything was really good but if I was going to order just one dessert next time it would be the pretzel caramels.
Overall we had really nice evening. The food was great and we were able to sit next to the window for a nice view of the street below. The dining room seems a little overly formal and the bathrooms are kind of hard to find but we were definitely comfortable. The restaurant is fairly large but the tables aren't jammed close together to try to maximize the number of people they can get in the room. We would definitely go back without our kids for another special occasion.
Most of the menu is made up of small plate type items, with a few entree sized items also included at the bottom. We ordered a bunch of small items to share and were super full and satisfied at the end, however our waitress acted like it was a little strange that we also didn't order from the entree section. She is maybe used to people who can afford to sample a lot of food without eating it all, which is not really in our budget. We shared a crab special, the cheese lavosh, cheese curd mashed potatoes, and the short rib sliders. This was plenty of food for us. Everything came in a good size portion, actually much bigger than we expected and that you find at other small plate restaurants, and was really delicious. The cheese curd mashed potatoes were especially yummy. Allium has a nice selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. When we went out, I wasn't drinking alcohol so I was very happy to also see several non-alcoholic options on the drink menu. I had a made in house soda that was really good and didn't make me miss a glass of wine too much.
Desserts continue the small plate theme with lots of cookie/candy options. Our waitress talked us into getting a bunch of desserts to share. We ordered the donut holes, peanut butter sandwich cookies, red velvet cupcake, and pretzel caramels. In addition, since it was our anniversary, they brought us a piece of chocolate cake, on the house. After a big meal, we finished maybe half of the desserts and took the rest home to enjoy the next day. As with dinner, everything was really good but if I was going to order just one dessert next time it would be the pretzel caramels.
Overall we had really nice evening. The food was great and we were able to sit next to the window for a nice view of the street below. The dining room seems a little overly formal and the bathrooms are kind of hard to find but we were definitely comfortable. The restaurant is fairly large but the tables aren't jammed close together to try to maximize the number of people they can get in the room. We would definitely go back without our kids for another special occasion.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Once Upon a Child and Freecycle
I have finally gotten around to the enormous task of sorting and getting rid of all of my daughters' baby and toddler clothes. I've mainly used freecycle (www.freecycle.org) to pass these items onto families who could use them and keep them out of the waste stream. Freecycle, if you've never used it, is a really great organization that allows people to give away just about any item (except for food) to anyone who is interested and willing to pick up. Clothes are generally something that is easy to give away to friends and family or a charity but there are often lots of things that you are not really sure who would want them that usually ultimately end up in the trash. Freecycle helps you find a recipient for these items. Based on my observations, just about anything that is offered eventually finds a home. Freecycle is also a great place to find something you might want for free. Everything that I have given away I have left on my porch so there is no actual face to face interaction with the person picking up. They don't need to come into your house or speak with you so it feels a little bit safer than something like craigslist.
We did have a few things that were a bit nicer that I wanted to try to get a little money for such as fancy holiday dresses and winter coats. We decided to take them to the store Once Upon a Child. There are multiple locations of this store throughout the suburbs with the closest one for us located at 4616 N. Harlem in Harwood Heights. For other store locations and hours check their website www.onceuponachild.com. When we walked into the store we were immediately directed to the drop off location where I filled out a form and someone took our box to sort through. We were there around lunch time on a Saturday and were told it would take about 30 minutes to look at the clothing we had brought. They staff said we could either look around the store during that time or that would give us a call when they were done. The girls had a really good time browsing in the store especially in the toy section. We had to remind them that we were there to get rid of stuff not add more to our house. Most of the items in the store seemed to be in pretty good condition. In addition to clothes and toys, Once Upon a Child also buys and sells a wide assortment of baby gear, shoes, and books. When we were there they had a large number of Halloween costumes for sale.
From our box that we brought in, the store bought about half of the stuff for about $36. We were satisfied. It ended up being more money that we thought we would get and definitely more than we would have gotten for that stuff at a garage sale.
We did have a few things that were a bit nicer that I wanted to try to get a little money for such as fancy holiday dresses and winter coats. We decided to take them to the store Once Upon a Child. There are multiple locations of this store throughout the suburbs with the closest one for us located at 4616 N. Harlem in Harwood Heights. For other store locations and hours check their website www.onceuponachild.com. When we walked into the store we were immediately directed to the drop off location where I filled out a form and someone took our box to sort through. We were there around lunch time on a Saturday and were told it would take about 30 minutes to look at the clothing we had brought. They staff said we could either look around the store during that time or that would give us a call when they were done. The girls had a really good time browsing in the store especially in the toy section. We had to remind them that we were there to get rid of stuff not add more to our house. Most of the items in the store seemed to be in pretty good condition. In addition to clothes and toys, Once Upon a Child also buys and sells a wide assortment of baby gear, shoes, and books. When we were there they had a large number of Halloween costumes for sale.
From our box that we brought in, the store bought about half of the stuff for about $36. We were satisfied. It ended up being more money that we thought we would get and definitely more than we would have gotten for that stuff at a garage sale.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Novelty Golf and Games AKA the Bunny Hutch
Over the long holiday weekend we decided to get in one last summer activity and went miniature golfing at the Bunny Hutch, located at 3650 W. Devon in Lincolnwood. The Bunny Hutch offers two 18 hole miniature golf courses, batting cages, game room, and snack stand. We went to play miniature golf and had a really good time. Each hole has a theme and moving parts or some kind of tricky component, which kept the kids engaged and wanting to see what was at the next hole. We decided it would be best not to keep score since my kids are not the most coordinated (although my older daughter did get a hole in one) and had never played miniature golf before. At 3 years old, my younger daughter was probably too young to play but she still was completely engaged the whole time and hit the ball around at least a couple times at each hole. I'm not sure if we just got lucky, but it wasn't very crowded when we were there and we didn't have to wait at any holes, although the people behind us did have to wait for us. It was also fun to do an activity where both the kids and adults could participate.
Price changes depending on what day and what time you go miniature golfing but it ranges from $7-$9 per person for one of the 18 hole courses. They are open 7 days a week from April to mid-October. Check the website for exact hours: www.noveltygolf.com. There is a big lot out front with plenty of parking. The Bunny Hutch is a great way to spend one of the remaining beautiful days we have left this fall before winter sets in.
Price changes depending on what day and what time you go miniature golfing but it ranges from $7-$9 per person for one of the 18 hole courses. They are open 7 days a week from April to mid-October. Check the website for exact hours: www.noveltygolf.com. There is a big lot out front with plenty of parking. The Bunny Hutch is a great way to spend one of the remaining beautiful days we have left this fall before winter sets in.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Family Vacation - Mackinac Island
We recently got back from the last of our summer travels before school starts - a trip to Mackinac Island. We wanted to go somewhere that we could drive to, somewhere none of us have been to before, and somewhere that would be relaxing. We thought Mackinac Island would be perfect since there are no cars allowed on the Island, lots of horses, and cooler weather than we've been having this summer.
The drive is approximately 7-8 hours, depending on where in the City you are leaving from and traffic, to get up to either Mackinac City or St. Ignace, the two cities where the ferries depart for Mackinac Island. We spent our first night in Petoskey, a vacation town located at the top of Lake Michigan, to break up the trip a little bit and to be able to go to the beach. We were there for less than 24 hours but were able to take in the amazing views and have a good fish dinner.
The next morning we drove up to St. Ignace, which is about an hour from Petoskey. We chose to take a ferry from St. Ignace because the girls wanted to drive across the Mackinac Bridge (Mackinac City is on the Lower Pennisula side). There are three main ferry companies and they all leave from both cities. All three ferry companies, Shepler's, Arnold Transit, and Star Line, seem to be pretty interchangeable. The prices, schedules, and departure locations are very similar. I suggest buying your tickets online before you leave, where you can get a bit of a deal. Kids 4 and under are free and we were able to find a deal for 2 adults and 1 child for $48. These are round trip tickets and include handling of your bags from the ferry to your hotel once you reach the island. All of the ferry companies offer free parking at the dock. The ferry ride is about 30 minutes. The girls really enjoyed it. It is a very scenic trip.
On the Island there are lots of hotel choices ranging from very expensive to affordable. We stayed at the Harbor View Inn, which is located along the main road a little ways away from the bustling downtown area. It was perfectly nice, clean, and included a very good continental breakfast every morning.
After our exciting ferry ride to the Island and checking into our hotel, we decided to walk up the Grand Hotel to look around. The Grand Hotel is the most famous hotel on the Island. It was featured in the movie Somewhere in Time and claims to have the largest wraparound porch in the world. If you are not staying at the hotel you have to pay $10/adult to see the hotel and grounds. It is not a formal tour and gives you access to just about anywhere you want to go besides the guest rooms. The hotel is pretty historic and despite the steep price to see it we all had a good time looking around. The girls especially loved running around the grounds. When we walked through the dining area they were serving afternoon tea and it looked really amazing.
The next day we spent some time at Fort Mackinac. It is located right downtown. The Fort was built around 1780 and was interesting even for our daughters. Since this year is the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812, in which the Fort played a role, there were lots of interesting events scheduled such as a rifle firing demonstration, music presentation, canon firing, and children's program where a costumed guide explained what it was like for children at the fort and let them play with toys from that time period. We were actually quite surprised by how much the girls enjoyed the whole experience.
The one other big activity that we did, besides eating too much fudge and ice cream, was to go for a tour of the island in a horse carriage. The tour doesn't go completely around the island but through it. It is a mostly scenic tour with some commentary on the history of the Island and some of the landmarks you pass. I didn't think our tour guide was awesome but overall it was an enjoyable ride. Many people see the island on bike and my husband and older daughter did rent bikes for a short ride but given the age of our family and biking ability seeing the Island by carriage was our best option. If your kids are old enough to ride 8-10 miles on their bike I would probably skip the carriage ride and go by bike. You can rent bikes of all sorts for different durations just about anywhere.
There are lots of dining options on the Island ranging for very good to completely touristy. There were two restaurants that we ate at that were standouts for us: Mary's Bistro and the Cudahy Room at Inn at Stonecliffe. Mary's Bistro is located right on Main Street. There is indoor and outdoor seating and we were able to sit outside and watch the boats going in and out of the harbor. The signature dish is spit fired chicken, which is quite good. The restaurant has a kid's menu, is quite casual, and very family friendly. The Cudahy Room is a bit more formal and pricey. It is located in the Inn at Stonecliffe, which is located on the western side of the island a good distance from the downtown area. The Inn at Stonecliffe was about 2 miles from our hotel and we were planning to take a horse carriage to get there, which we thought would only take about 15 minutes. That was a big mistake. We found that if you want a private carriage, you need to request one about 30 minutes in advance and then it takes another 30 - 40 minutes to ride out to the restaurant. We got lucky and were able to grab the last seats on a shuttle going to the Woods restaurant, which is located right by the Inn at Stonecliffe. Even though it is a long ride, it is a scenic one and really a great way to spend an evening. The menu at the Cudahy Room includes fish, steak, and chicken dishes and there is a children's menu. The restaurant is a little fancier than where we would normally take our kids, however it didn't seem like a big deal that they were along. The food was really good and we had a very nice evening.
Mackinac Island was a great place for us to vacation. It was extremely family friendly and completely relaxing. Ever since the trip the girls have been asking when we will go back.
The drive is approximately 7-8 hours, depending on where in the City you are leaving from and traffic, to get up to either Mackinac City or St. Ignace, the two cities where the ferries depart for Mackinac Island. We spent our first night in Petoskey, a vacation town located at the top of Lake Michigan, to break up the trip a little bit and to be able to go to the beach. We were there for less than 24 hours but were able to take in the amazing views and have a good fish dinner.
The next morning we drove up to St. Ignace, which is about an hour from Petoskey. We chose to take a ferry from St. Ignace because the girls wanted to drive across the Mackinac Bridge (Mackinac City is on the Lower Pennisula side). There are three main ferry companies and they all leave from both cities. All three ferry companies, Shepler's, Arnold Transit, and Star Line, seem to be pretty interchangeable. The prices, schedules, and departure locations are very similar. I suggest buying your tickets online before you leave, where you can get a bit of a deal. Kids 4 and under are free and we were able to find a deal for 2 adults and 1 child for $48. These are round trip tickets and include handling of your bags from the ferry to your hotel once you reach the island. All of the ferry companies offer free parking at the dock. The ferry ride is about 30 minutes. The girls really enjoyed it. It is a very scenic trip.
On the Island there are lots of hotel choices ranging from very expensive to affordable. We stayed at the Harbor View Inn, which is located along the main road a little ways away from the bustling downtown area. It was perfectly nice, clean, and included a very good continental breakfast every morning.
After our exciting ferry ride to the Island and checking into our hotel, we decided to walk up the Grand Hotel to look around. The Grand Hotel is the most famous hotel on the Island. It was featured in the movie Somewhere in Time and claims to have the largest wraparound porch in the world. If you are not staying at the hotel you have to pay $10/adult to see the hotel and grounds. It is not a formal tour and gives you access to just about anywhere you want to go besides the guest rooms. The hotel is pretty historic and despite the steep price to see it we all had a good time looking around. The girls especially loved running around the grounds. When we walked through the dining area they were serving afternoon tea and it looked really amazing.
The next day we spent some time at Fort Mackinac. It is located right downtown. The Fort was built around 1780 and was interesting even for our daughters. Since this year is the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812, in which the Fort played a role, there were lots of interesting events scheduled such as a rifle firing demonstration, music presentation, canon firing, and children's program where a costumed guide explained what it was like for children at the fort and let them play with toys from that time period. We were actually quite surprised by how much the girls enjoyed the whole experience.
The one other big activity that we did, besides eating too much fudge and ice cream, was to go for a tour of the island in a horse carriage. The tour doesn't go completely around the island but through it. It is a mostly scenic tour with some commentary on the history of the Island and some of the landmarks you pass. I didn't think our tour guide was awesome but overall it was an enjoyable ride. Many people see the island on bike and my husband and older daughter did rent bikes for a short ride but given the age of our family and biking ability seeing the Island by carriage was our best option. If your kids are old enough to ride 8-10 miles on their bike I would probably skip the carriage ride and go by bike. You can rent bikes of all sorts for different durations just about anywhere.
There are lots of dining options on the Island ranging for very good to completely touristy. There were two restaurants that we ate at that were standouts for us: Mary's Bistro and the Cudahy Room at Inn at Stonecliffe. Mary's Bistro is located right on Main Street. There is indoor and outdoor seating and we were able to sit outside and watch the boats going in and out of the harbor. The signature dish is spit fired chicken, which is quite good. The restaurant has a kid's menu, is quite casual, and very family friendly. The Cudahy Room is a bit more formal and pricey. It is located in the Inn at Stonecliffe, which is located on the western side of the island a good distance from the downtown area. The Inn at Stonecliffe was about 2 miles from our hotel and we were planning to take a horse carriage to get there, which we thought would only take about 15 minutes. That was a big mistake. We found that if you want a private carriage, you need to request one about 30 minutes in advance and then it takes another 30 - 40 minutes to ride out to the restaurant. We got lucky and were able to grab the last seats on a shuttle going to the Woods restaurant, which is located right by the Inn at Stonecliffe. Even though it is a long ride, it is a scenic one and really a great way to spend an evening. The menu at the Cudahy Room includes fish, steak, and chicken dishes and there is a children's menu. The restaurant is a little fancier than where we would normally take our kids, however it didn't seem like a big deal that they were along. The food was really good and we had a very nice evening.
Mackinac Island was a great place for us to vacation. It was extremely family friendly and completely relaxing. Ever since the trip the girls have been asking when we will go back.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Memory Lane Stables
As I've mentioned a bunch of times, my older daughter is obsessed with horses. For her birthday we wanted to do something related to horses but she's at kind of a tricky age. At six years old she is a little bit young for horseback riding at most places but she is also getting kind of old to ride a pony around in a circle. We decided to take her out to Memory Lane Stables for a pony ride and she had a really great time.
Memory Lane Stables is located at 8290 Kean Ave. in Willow Springs and offers both horseback riding and pony rides. The pony rides are approximately 1 hour long and involve the parent pulling the horse (kind of like walking a dog) through a scenic forest preserve while the child rides. This is so far superior to your kid riding a pony in a small circle. My daughters actually felt like they were riding a horse. My six year old was the perfect age and absolutely loved the whole experience. My three year old also had a great time but she was a little small for the ride. They suggested that we pay to have an employee come along with us so that someone could pull her horse and someone else could walk beside her to make sure she didn't fall off the horse. It cost us an extra $5 but was definitely comforting in the beginning and once she got used to riding I was free to take a bunch of photos and enjoy the walk.
There is a small parking lot in front of the stables and then you walk right in to sign up for a ride. You don't have to make advanced reservations but I think they may only take cash. A one hour pony ride is $15 per child. Before it was time for our pony ride the girls were able to hang out in the barn and pet all the horses, which they enjoyed tremendously. The stable is open 7 days a week.
Memory Lane Stables is located at 8290 Kean Ave. in Willow Springs and offers both horseback riding and pony rides. The pony rides are approximately 1 hour long and involve the parent pulling the horse (kind of like walking a dog) through a scenic forest preserve while the child rides. This is so far superior to your kid riding a pony in a small circle. My daughters actually felt like they were riding a horse. My six year old was the perfect age and absolutely loved the whole experience. My three year old also had a great time but she was a little small for the ride. They suggested that we pay to have an employee come along with us so that someone could pull her horse and someone else could walk beside her to make sure she didn't fall off the horse. It cost us an extra $5 but was definitely comforting in the beginning and once she got used to riding I was free to take a bunch of photos and enjoy the walk.
There is a small parking lot in front of the stables and then you walk right in to sign up for a ride. You don't have to make advanced reservations but I think they may only take cash. A one hour pony ride is $15 per child. Before it was time for our pony ride the girls were able to hang out in the barn and pet all the horses, which they enjoyed tremendously. The stable is open 7 days a week.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Urban Belly
We're always trying to find restaurants that serve adult food where it is not that big of a deal to bring your kids. Urban Belly is one of those restaurants that we really enjoy going to. The restaurant is located in a strip mall (so keep your eye out or you will walk/drive right by) at 3053 N. California. The food is Asian fusion, I guess, and the menu is made up of dumplings, noodle dishes, and rice dishes. The dumplings are really good. We like the ones with duck and pho spices. What we really go for, however, are the noodle dishes. One order is plenty of food for my husband and I to eat so we always have a hard time deciding what to get. Usually we end up with the rice cake with chicken, mango, and Korean chili sauce but we've tried just about noodle dish and they are all good. The food is a bit spicy, however, for small children. The restaurant offers one kid's option, a noodle bowl (you choose the type of noodle) in a very mild, non spicy but also very delicious broth. My older daughter loves it and always eats just about the whole thing even though it is definitely big enough for a couple of kids.
There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, all of the seating is at four large communal tables. You are supposed to order at the counter first and then sit down. Wait staff will bring you your food and bus your tables when you are done. I wouldn't say the staff is the friendliest I've ever seen but they are not rude and the food more than makes up for it. Urban Belly is open from 11 AM - 9 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, all of the seating is at four large communal tables. You are supposed to order at the counter first and then sit down. Wait staff will bring you your food and bus your tables when you are done. I wouldn't say the staff is the friendliest I've ever seen but they are not rude and the food more than makes up for it. Urban Belly is open from 11 AM - 9 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Chicago History Museum
The Chicago History Museum, located at 1601 N. Clark, currently has a Magic exhibit that is a lot of fun. The exhibit is smallish with a short movie to watch and two rooms with local magic and magician related memorabilia. The best part, however, is that there is a magician who performs at the entrance of the exhibit. Every week there is a different magician. See the Museums website for a schedule of who will be there when (chicagohistory.org). We went back a couple times to see the magician perform while we were at the museum and every time he was doing different tricks that were really entertaining and totally engaging of the audience. We all had a good time and the girls loved when they got to be involved in the tricks. The magicians are at the exhibit daily from 11 until 3 during the week and until 4 on Saturdays and Sundays.
In addition to the Magic exhibit, the Museum has a lot of other interesting permanent exhibits. My favorite room has a bunch of very elaborate dioramas showing big events in the history of Chicago, such as the World's Fair and the Great Fire. The girls really liked an exhibit called Crossroads of America that included an old subway train you can walk through. In addition, there is the Sensing Chicago exhibit, which is more hands on, allowing kids to add toppings to a giant stuffed hot dog and smell different scents in the City and guess what they are.
The museum is free for kids 12 and under and $14/person for adults. Street parking can be tricky in this part of the City but there is a parking lot located at LaSalle and Stockton. It's just a short walk to the museum. Parking will cost you $9 at this lot but you have to make sure you get your parking ticket validated at the Museum to get this price. The Museum is also not too far of a walk from the Clark and Division stop on the Red Line. There is a cafe located inside the Museum that offers breakfast and lunch.
The museum is enjoyable in itself but if you have a child who loves magicians I suggest catching the Magic exhibit, which will be at the Museum through September 3rd.
In addition to the Magic exhibit, the Museum has a lot of other interesting permanent exhibits. My favorite room has a bunch of very elaborate dioramas showing big events in the history of Chicago, such as the World's Fair and the Great Fire. The girls really liked an exhibit called Crossroads of America that included an old subway train you can walk through. In addition, there is the Sensing Chicago exhibit, which is more hands on, allowing kids to add toppings to a giant stuffed hot dog and smell different scents in the City and guess what they are.
The museum is free for kids 12 and under and $14/person for adults. Street parking can be tricky in this part of the City but there is a parking lot located at LaSalle and Stockton. It's just a short walk to the museum. Parking will cost you $9 at this lot but you have to make sure you get your parking ticket validated at the Museum to get this price. The Museum is also not too far of a walk from the Clark and Division stop on the Red Line. There is a cafe located inside the Museum that offers breakfast and lunch.
The museum is enjoyable in itself but if you have a child who loves magicians I suggest catching the Magic exhibit, which will be at the Museum through September 3rd.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Superdawg Drive-In
Superdawg Drive-in is a Chicago classic and we finally made it there for Father's Day this year. The original Superdawg is located at 6363 N. Milwaukee and has been there since 1948 (they also have another location at 333 S. Milwaukee in Wheeling). The novelty of ordering and eating in our car was very exciting for our girls and of course a bit messy. When we arrived we pulled into an open spot and purused the posted menu, which includes mainly hot dogs and hamburgers. There is not a separate kids menu but plenty that kids will enjoy. Our car got a mix of hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes. We ordered through a speaker at our car like a fast food drive through (except we were parked, of course). After a short wait a waittress brought us our tray and attached it to our window. The food was decent, especially the milkshakes which were super yummy. When you are all done eating you push a button and a waittress collects your tray and you pay your bill. We all had a really good time since eating at a drive in is definitely not something you can you everyday. Depending on how messy your kid is, however, this might be the kind of activity good for kids who are a little bit older or won't get ketchup all over your car seats.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Whealan Pool Aquatic Center
We are in the midst of a hot summer. A very hot summer. The Whealan Pool Aquatic Center at 6200 W. Devon is a great place to go to cool off. The pool is run by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and, from June 9 through September 3rd, it is open from 11 AM until 7 PM. Our whole family had a great time when we went recently. The facility is really perfect for all ages. The pool is zero entry and quite shallow for a large portion. Our 3 foot tall daughter was able to run all over the place. On one side is a big spray pool for the smaller kids with lots of shooting water, a big structure to climb on, and a little water slide. There is also a separate toddler pool for kids four and under with a dedicated life guard even though the pool is only maybe a foot deep. The main pool also has a deeper (I say deeper because it is still only 5 feet deep) roped off from the shallower areas. In addition, there are two big water slides appropriate for older children or adults. They are pretty fun but my almost six year old thought they were a little scary. One side of the pool has lounge chairs for relaxing while the other side has a grassy area and is more shaded. There are multiple life guards located around the pool who keep a close watch and will definitely yell at you if you are not following the rules.
Admission into the pool is $5 per adult, $3 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under. A seasonal pass is also available if your family visits frequently. Food, drinks, and coolers are not allowed in the pool area. There is a snack stand available to purchase food and drinks. We were able to park right in front of the building on Devon, but there is also a parking lot located behind the building. I wouldn't say the lot is super convenient, however, so I would try to park on the street if possible.
We had so much fun at this mini water park, splashing around and going down the water slides. We will definitely be back this summer. In fact my daughters keep asking me when they can go again.
Admission into the pool is $5 per adult, $3 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under. A seasonal pass is also available if your family visits frequently. Food, drinks, and coolers are not allowed in the pool area. There is a snack stand available to purchase food and drinks. We were able to park right in front of the building on Devon, but there is also a parking lot located behind the building. I wouldn't say the lot is super convenient, however, so I would try to park on the street if possible.
We had so much fun at this mini water park, splashing around and going down the water slides. We will definitely be back this summer. In fact my daughters keep asking me when they can go again.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Honeycomb Project
Ever since I heard about the Honeycomb Project I've been waiting for an activity to come along that would be great for my family to participate in. The Honeycomb Project is a nonprofit organization that organizes volunteer events for families. The different types of activities range from beautifying a City park to packing groceries for a food pantry to packing school supplies for at risk youth, with about one offered per month.
This past weekend my family participated in a beach clean up event. A few days prior to the event I received an email reminding me that it was coming up, telling me where the group would be meeting, and what I should bring. This email was obviously very helpful when planning to go to an event with your children. When we got there we were given name tags and signed in. The event started on time and we were given a brief explanation of what we would be doing. We then went off in groups to collect and tally garbage from the beach and picnic areas. After collecting garbage for about 45 minutes we went back to the beach house to weigh how much we had collected. There were apples, granola bars, and water set out for snacking on. The event was very well organized. I only wish there was a little bit more of a sense of community or working together. Mostly it felt like we were picking up trash by ourselves.
On the organization's website (thehoneycombproject.org) there is a calendar of upcoming events and also a place to sign up for the newsletter. Registration for each event is done on the website and opens about a month prior to the event. Some events can be tough to get into and will fill up on the first day of registration. The first event I tried to sign my family up for was a work day at a park and registration was full by the end of the first day and we were not able to sign up. There is usually a wait list you can add your name to. When you sign up you are encouraged to donate some money towards the event. They have suggested donations to cover snacks or other materials that will be utilized during your activity, starting around $15. You do not need to give money in order to participate, however. The registration details generally provide a suggested minimum age for kids but you should keep in mind that you need to watch your kids during the entire time. Children will not be entertained in any way and should come prepared to participate.
My daughters may have been a bit young for the beach clean up event but I really want them to be exposed to volunteer work at a young age. Their favorite part of the day was when we were done and they got to go play on the beach but I still think it was good for them. I definitely recommend the Honeycomb Project if you are looking for a way for your family to do volunteer work together.
This past weekend my family participated in a beach clean up event. A few days prior to the event I received an email reminding me that it was coming up, telling me where the group would be meeting, and what I should bring. This email was obviously very helpful when planning to go to an event with your children. When we got there we were given name tags and signed in. The event started on time and we were given a brief explanation of what we would be doing. We then went off in groups to collect and tally garbage from the beach and picnic areas. After collecting garbage for about 45 minutes we went back to the beach house to weigh how much we had collected. There were apples, granola bars, and water set out for snacking on. The event was very well organized. I only wish there was a little bit more of a sense of community or working together. Mostly it felt like we were picking up trash by ourselves.
On the organization's website (thehoneycombproject.org) there is a calendar of upcoming events and also a place to sign up for the newsletter. Registration for each event is done on the website and opens about a month prior to the event. Some events can be tough to get into and will fill up on the first day of registration. The first event I tried to sign my family up for was a work day at a park and registration was full by the end of the first day and we were not able to sign up. There is usually a wait list you can add your name to. When you sign up you are encouraged to donate some money towards the event. They have suggested donations to cover snacks or other materials that will be utilized during your activity, starting around $15. You do not need to give money in order to participate, however. The registration details generally provide a suggested minimum age for kids but you should keep in mind that you need to watch your kids during the entire time. Children will not be entertained in any way and should come prepared to participate.
My daughters may have been a bit young for the beach clean up event but I really want them to be exposed to volunteer work at a young age. Their favorite part of the day was when we were done and they got to go play on the beach but I still think it was good for them. I definitely recommend the Honeycomb Project if you are looking for a way for your family to do volunteer work together.
Monday, June 4, 2012
National Hellenic Museum
I was super excited when I heard that we have a new museum in town, especially one that is kid friendly. I think the museums we have in Chicago are amazing with really interesting and ever changing exhibits but it is always nice to see something new. The National Hellenic Museum in located in Greektown at 333 S. Halsted St. The museum building is a really cool, modern looking structure that completely differentiates it from the surrounding buildings.
The Museum is four stories high. The first floor is currently dedicated to a temporary exhibit called Gods, Myths, and Mortals, which is perfect for children even as young as mine. My daughters actually spent a lot of time going through the whole exhibit, which is very hands on. They were able to crawl through a Trojan horse, arm wrestle a Greek wrestler, put on dress up clothes, and, their very favorite, sing into a microphone karaoke style. Luckily, the museum was pretty much empty when we were there so they were able to sing their hearts out. I'm pretty sure at least one of them is destined for the stage. The girls had a really good time in this exhibit.
Unfortunately there is not much to the rest of the Museum, yet. The second floor is a preview to the permanent exhibit, In Search of Home. It is supposed to show the process of creating the permanent exhibit but mostly it looks like empty warehouse space with information on the walls giving some details of what will actually be there when the exhibit is finished. The third floor is the library, which I assume you would only use if you were doing research, and the fourth floor is a rooftop terrace. You can get a great view of downtown from the fourth floor and it would be a great location for a private party or event.
Admission into the museum is $10/adult and $7/child. I think this seems a little high given that the museum is only partially finished. I don't know if the price will go up when it is completed. I highly recommend the Gods, Myths, and Mortals exhibit but be prepared for that to be really the only thing that engages your child. Through the summer the museum will be offering a story hour on Saturday mornings and arts and crafts on Thursday mornings. The Museum is closed on Mondays. Metered street parking is available or there are several parking lots nearby that are relatively reasonable. The Museum is also located a block from the UIC-Halsted Blue Line stop. While you are there don't forget to sample some awesome Greek food in Greektown!
The Museum is four stories high. The first floor is currently dedicated to a temporary exhibit called Gods, Myths, and Mortals, which is perfect for children even as young as mine. My daughters actually spent a lot of time going through the whole exhibit, which is very hands on. They were able to crawl through a Trojan horse, arm wrestle a Greek wrestler, put on dress up clothes, and, their very favorite, sing into a microphone karaoke style. Luckily, the museum was pretty much empty when we were there so they were able to sing their hearts out. I'm pretty sure at least one of them is destined for the stage. The girls had a really good time in this exhibit.
Unfortunately there is not much to the rest of the Museum, yet. The second floor is a preview to the permanent exhibit, In Search of Home. It is supposed to show the process of creating the permanent exhibit but mostly it looks like empty warehouse space with information on the walls giving some details of what will actually be there when the exhibit is finished. The third floor is the library, which I assume you would only use if you were doing research, and the fourth floor is a rooftop terrace. You can get a great view of downtown from the fourth floor and it would be a great location for a private party or event.
Admission into the museum is $10/adult and $7/child. I think this seems a little high given that the museum is only partially finished. I don't know if the price will go up when it is completed. I highly recommend the Gods, Myths, and Mortals exhibit but be prepared for that to be really the only thing that engages your child. Through the summer the museum will be offering a story hour on Saturday mornings and arts and crafts on Thursday mornings. The Museum is closed on Mondays. Metered street parking is available or there are several parking lots nearby that are relatively reasonable. The Museum is also located a block from the UIC-Halsted Blue Line stop. While you are there don't forget to sample some awesome Greek food in Greektown!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Morton Arboretum
This past weekend, before the weather got really hot, we were able to go to the Morton Arboretum. It is located in Lisle, which is a bit of a drive for us so I was a little concerned that the Arboretum would be worth the trip, but it totally was. Now I wish it was closer so we could go more often! The bulk of the Arboretum is nature trails for hiking, jogging, or biking and would be awesome if you were without kids or had a small kid in a backpack or on the back of your bike, but if you are coming with your kids it's best to just do things close to the entrance.
When you first walk in there is a really cool maze with tall hedges that is fun to run through. Midway through the maze there is a lookout you can climb up to watch others fumbling through the maze or locate your run away kids. Seriously, though, if you have really small kids do not let them take off running through the maze without you or you may have a brief panic attack when you can't immediately locate them.
Once you are past the maze there is an amazing Children's Garden. It's huge, 4 acres huge, with so many fun and interesting things for kids to do. Each time my kids thought they had found the funnest thing in the garden they discovered something new and better. There are little houses, sculptures, and playgrounds for the kids to climb all over. Some of the girls favorites were Wonder Pond, where they could take off their shoes and walk along rocks in a pond full of tadpoles, the Grotto and Secret Stream, where they could also wade in the water, and a suspension bridge the went through a small wooded area. Also, tucked in the middle of the Garden was a little shaded workshop area with tables and benches. The activities set our included a collection of edible plants to see and smell, a Velcro activity that allowed the children to see what ingredients are combined to make things like pizza and salsa, and a little craft where the kids could make seed necklaces. A great way to take a break between adventures. We were at the Arboretum for about 2.5 hours and basically spent the whole time in the Children's Garden.
The admission cost is $12/adult, $9 for children, and kids 2 and under are free. The Arboretum is open every day, year round. The hours for the Children's Garden are 9:30 AM - 5 PM March through October and 9:30 AM - 4 PM the rest of the year. There is a restaurant located inside the Arboretum that serves breakfast and lunch options including sandwiches, salads, and kid stuff like chicken fingers and hot dogs. The menu is available on the Arboretum website (www.mortonarb.org). We did not eat in the restaurant so I can't comment on the quality of the food. There are also lots of good spots to set up a picnic, as well. You are allowed to bring in food and drinks. If you've got small ones, definitely bring a stroller or wagon.
We had two sets of grandparents in town this weekend for my daughter's birthday and it is always difficult to find an activity that 6 very different adults and two small kids will all enjoy. The Morton Arboretum was perfect. The girls were able to run around and the Children's Garden was interesting enough to hold the aduts' interest too. The Arboretum has lots of children's programming so definitely check the website to see what kind of cool activities are coming up. There is also a new exhibit called Treehouse Tales that opens June 15th and will include six treehouse structures. If it is anything like what is already at the Arboretum, I'm sure it will be very fun.
When you first walk in there is a really cool maze with tall hedges that is fun to run through. Midway through the maze there is a lookout you can climb up to watch others fumbling through the maze or locate your run away kids. Seriously, though, if you have really small kids do not let them take off running through the maze without you or you may have a brief panic attack when you can't immediately locate them.
Once you are past the maze there is an amazing Children's Garden. It's huge, 4 acres huge, with so many fun and interesting things for kids to do. Each time my kids thought they had found the funnest thing in the garden they discovered something new and better. There are little houses, sculptures, and playgrounds for the kids to climb all over. Some of the girls favorites were Wonder Pond, where they could take off their shoes and walk along rocks in a pond full of tadpoles, the Grotto and Secret Stream, where they could also wade in the water, and a suspension bridge the went through a small wooded area. Also, tucked in the middle of the Garden was a little shaded workshop area with tables and benches. The activities set our included a collection of edible plants to see and smell, a Velcro activity that allowed the children to see what ingredients are combined to make things like pizza and salsa, and a little craft where the kids could make seed necklaces. A great way to take a break between adventures. We were at the Arboretum for about 2.5 hours and basically spent the whole time in the Children's Garden.
The admission cost is $12/adult, $9 for children, and kids 2 and under are free. The Arboretum is open every day, year round. The hours for the Children's Garden are 9:30 AM - 5 PM March through October and 9:30 AM - 4 PM the rest of the year. There is a restaurant located inside the Arboretum that serves breakfast and lunch options including sandwiches, salads, and kid stuff like chicken fingers and hot dogs. The menu is available on the Arboretum website (www.mortonarb.org). We did not eat in the restaurant so I can't comment on the quality of the food. There are also lots of good spots to set up a picnic, as well. You are allowed to bring in food and drinks. If you've got small ones, definitely bring a stroller or wagon.
We had two sets of grandparents in town this weekend for my daughter's birthday and it is always difficult to find an activity that 6 very different adults and two small kids will all enjoy. The Morton Arboretum was perfect. The girls were able to run around and the Children's Garden was interesting enough to hold the aduts' interest too. The Arboretum has lots of children's programming so definitely check the website to see what kind of cool activities are coming up. There is also a new exhibit called Treehouse Tales that opens June 15th and will include six treehouse structures. If it is anything like what is already at the Arboretum, I'm sure it will be very fun.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Brookfield Zoo
We've been to the Brookfield Zoo on a few occasions and visited again this past weekend for Mother's Day. It was a really nice day and very busy but you don't generally feel like you are tripping over people at the zoo because it is so spacious. We all really enjoyed seeing the kangaroos, hippos, zebras, and giraffes in their nice spacious homes. It seems like whenever we go to the zoo the animals are always just laying about but this time they were very active, which was fun to see. It has been a few years since we last have been to the Brookfield Zoo and in that time a new bear exhibit has opened. As part of the Great Bear Wilderness area there are buffalo, eagles, and different types of bears. It is a very nicely organized area and I would recommend checking it out while you are there.
We did not eat at the zoo during this visit mainly because we had such a bad experience last time. The food was not good and not cheap. It seems as though a few more dining options may have opened up since we were there last time but I would still recommend a picnic or eating before or after your visit. You are allowed to bring in food and there are several large areas throughout the zoo with picnic tables where you can dine. There are two large, nice playgrounds located at opposite ends of the zoo with picnic tables next to them that make a really nice place for lunch.
My one complaint with the zoo is price. First you have to pay $10 for parking. Then general admission is $15 per adult and 10.50 per child 3 and up. That's just to see some of the exhibits. In order to see the Dolphin Show, Stingray Bay, Children's Zoo, Family Play Zoo, Butterflies and to ride the carousel you have to pay extra for each. The total price can really add up. When we went, we did not pay for any of the extras except for a couple of carousel rides ($2.50 per kid) and we were able to see plenty of interesting stuff. I'm sure the attractions that you pay extra for are really good, however it becomes really expensive for a family to visit the zoo when these costs are added on to admission and parking. As with all of these type of places, the zoo offers a yearly membership that could be a more economical option for your family if you go multiple times throughout the year.
Overall, we had a really great time at the zoo last weekend. The girls really enjoyed seeing the animals and riding on the carousel. We were there for a couple of hours and didn't come close to seeing everything so you definitely don't need to pay for the special exhibits to have a full day at the zoo. It ended up being a great way to spend the day.
We did not eat at the zoo during this visit mainly because we had such a bad experience last time. The food was not good and not cheap. It seems as though a few more dining options may have opened up since we were there last time but I would still recommend a picnic or eating before or after your visit. You are allowed to bring in food and there are several large areas throughout the zoo with picnic tables where you can dine. There are two large, nice playgrounds located at opposite ends of the zoo with picnic tables next to them that make a really nice place for lunch.
My one complaint with the zoo is price. First you have to pay $10 for parking. Then general admission is $15 per adult and 10.50 per child 3 and up. That's just to see some of the exhibits. In order to see the Dolphin Show, Stingray Bay, Children's Zoo, Family Play Zoo, Butterflies and to ride the carousel you have to pay extra for each. The total price can really add up. When we went, we did not pay for any of the extras except for a couple of carousel rides ($2.50 per kid) and we were able to see plenty of interesting stuff. I'm sure the attractions that you pay extra for are really good, however it becomes really expensive for a family to visit the zoo when these costs are added on to admission and parking. As with all of these type of places, the zoo offers a yearly membership that could be a more economical option for your family if you go multiple times throughout the year.
Overall, we had a really great time at the zoo last weekend. The girls really enjoyed seeing the animals and riding on the carousel. We were there for a couple of hours and didn't come close to seeing everything so you definitely don't need to pay for the special exhibits to have a full day at the zoo. It ended up being a great way to spend the day.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Smoque
If you like barbecue and you haven't been to Smoque, you should get up from your computer and go there now. The food is that good here. There have been a lot of barbecue places opening up in the City over the last couple of years but this restaurant was around long before it became trendy. Smoque is located in Old Irving at 3800 N. Pulaski.
As I mentioned, the food is really great and there are a lot of choices. The menu is printed on a big chalkboard that you can see when you walk in and usually the line is long enough to make your decision before its time to order. You are given a number after you order that is called when your food is ready. You then go up to the counter to pick it up. The ribs are awesome, the fries are great. There is a childrens' menu with three items on it: a mini pulled pork sandwich, a mini brisket sandwich, and mac and cheese. My finicky daughters don't like the mac and cheese there and I guess pulled pork and brisket is a little too far out of their comfort zone so last time we ordered the half chicken for them to share off of the regular menu. They loved it. They also go crazy for the corn bread and the french fries.
Inside there are a bunch of tightly packed tables where everyone sits communal style. Don't pick out a seat before you order. Someone who works there will find out how many people are in your party and find a place for you to sit while you order and wait for your food. I've been there when there has been a line out the door and also when there has been no line at all. Somehow they always seem to be able to seat everyone. The last time we were there I noticed that they have added outdoor seating as well. The restaurant also does a lot of take out.
The restaurant is really casual. It is always really noisy with lots of kids there. High chairs and booster seats are available if you need them. Smoque is located just a couple of blocks from the Irving Park Brown Line stop. Finding free parking on Pulaski usually isn't too difficult.
As I mentioned, the food is really great and there are a lot of choices. The menu is printed on a big chalkboard that you can see when you walk in and usually the line is long enough to make your decision before its time to order. You are given a number after you order that is called when your food is ready. You then go up to the counter to pick it up. The ribs are awesome, the fries are great. There is a childrens' menu with three items on it: a mini pulled pork sandwich, a mini brisket sandwich, and mac and cheese. My finicky daughters don't like the mac and cheese there and I guess pulled pork and brisket is a little too far out of their comfort zone so last time we ordered the half chicken for them to share off of the regular menu. They loved it. They also go crazy for the corn bread and the french fries.
Inside there are a bunch of tightly packed tables where everyone sits communal style. Don't pick out a seat before you order. Someone who works there will find out how many people are in your party and find a place for you to sit while you order and wait for your food. I've been there when there has been a line out the door and also when there has been no line at all. Somehow they always seem to be able to seat everyone. The last time we were there I noticed that they have added outdoor seating as well. The restaurant also does a lot of take out.
The restaurant is really casual. It is always really noisy with lots of kids there. High chairs and booster seats are available if you need them. Smoque is located just a couple of blocks from the Irving Park Brown Line stop. Finding free parking on Pulaski usually isn't too difficult.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Revolution Brewing / The Whistler
We had an awesome dinner at Revolution Brewing this past weekend and while our dinner was adults only, there were a decent number of children dining here and I would take my kids if it was a little more convenient for us. The restaurant, a brewpub located in Logan Square at 2323 N. Milwaukee, definitely has an adult atmosphere but it is so big and loud I don't think most other diners really notice the kids.
The food is so good at Revolution Brewing. The restaurant, obviously highlights beer from their brewery located at 3340 N. Kedzie (soon to be open for tours) but the food is definitely not an afterthought here. To start, we had soft pretzels with cheese and mustard for dipping and bacon fat popcorn. Both were really enjoyable as we caught up with old friends and enjoyed our beers. Our waitress didn't rush us at all even though the restaurant was pretty busy. For dinner, I had the farm burger with beets, arugula, horseradish cream sauce, and a fried egg on top. It was hard to eat because it was so big and messy but so good. Others at our table had burgers and pizza - everything was great. I am not a beer expert by any means but the house beer on tap (there were about 10 beers on tap) was really good.
The restaurant is two stories high (with a bar on each level). When we first arrived (Saturday night around 7) we were told there would be a 25 minute wait. We ended up waiting only about 5 minutes, which was a wonderful surprise. It is a big restaurant and if you do end up having to wait there is a decent amount of room by the bar. I have heard that it can get really crowded there.
Revolution Brewing obviously has a beer focus and is loud and crowded but it is definitely a place you can bring your kids if those things don't bother you. We saw several families dining there. The restaurant does offer a kids menu. I am not sure what exactly is on it since we weren't with kids but I saw some kids getting mini burgers and fries that looked really good. My guess is that they have a few standard kid items.
Service was pretty good. Our waitress was nice and while she didn't know the answers to a couple of our questions about drinks she asked the bartender and we received plenty of information and good recommendations. Revolution Brewing is located just a couple minute walk from the California Blue Line stop. I highly recommend it for a fun night out with friends.
After dinner we went to the Whistler for some drinks located at 2421 N. Milwaukee just a block or two away. On a side tangent, Logan Square is not my favorite neighborhood. I know it is really cool and they have a lot of great restaurants but I'm just not hipster enough to blend in. And I don't generally find the hipster attitude of being too cool for everything very appealing. In addition, the last couple of times we've been in the neighborhood it's been impossible to get into the restaurants we wanted to go to (Longman and Eagle and Kuma's just to name a couple). Two hour waits are ridiculous and we just don't have the time or patience any more. In other words, I am getting old. But enough ranting about Logan Square and how uncool I've become (I can blame the kids, right?). My point is that this bar is very representative of this neighborhood and a lot of the Logan Square pretentiousness is present here. Given that, however, the drinks are really good. The Whistler was listed as one of the 100 best bars in Chicago magazine in 2010 and the description of it is pretty accurate - Violet Hour type drinks at Logan Square prices. The cocktails range in price from about $8-$12. I had their punch of the week and it was very good, came in a cute tiki glass with a paper umbrella I could take home to my daughters. If you are with a group of people who don't like cocktails or are not adventurous at all (like some of the people in our group who just could not believe that the Whistler did not have Bacardi) it may not be the best choice. The bar is definitely on the small side. There is only a handful of tables plus seats around the bar. On the night we were there, a DJ was just getting started when we were leaving at around 9 PM. At that time it wasn't crowded at all and we were able to find a table. We had to order our drinks at the bar. There was a waiter type person wandering around but he did not seem interested in speaking to us. In summary, the drinks were really good and the atmosphere was a little mixed.
The food is so good at Revolution Brewing. The restaurant, obviously highlights beer from their brewery located at 3340 N. Kedzie (soon to be open for tours) but the food is definitely not an afterthought here. To start, we had soft pretzels with cheese and mustard for dipping and bacon fat popcorn. Both were really enjoyable as we caught up with old friends and enjoyed our beers. Our waitress didn't rush us at all even though the restaurant was pretty busy. For dinner, I had the farm burger with beets, arugula, horseradish cream sauce, and a fried egg on top. It was hard to eat because it was so big and messy but so good. Others at our table had burgers and pizza - everything was great. I am not a beer expert by any means but the house beer on tap (there were about 10 beers on tap) was really good.
The restaurant is two stories high (with a bar on each level). When we first arrived (Saturday night around 7) we were told there would be a 25 minute wait. We ended up waiting only about 5 minutes, which was a wonderful surprise. It is a big restaurant and if you do end up having to wait there is a decent amount of room by the bar. I have heard that it can get really crowded there.
Revolution Brewing obviously has a beer focus and is loud and crowded but it is definitely a place you can bring your kids if those things don't bother you. We saw several families dining there. The restaurant does offer a kids menu. I am not sure what exactly is on it since we weren't with kids but I saw some kids getting mini burgers and fries that looked really good. My guess is that they have a few standard kid items.
Service was pretty good. Our waitress was nice and while she didn't know the answers to a couple of our questions about drinks she asked the bartender and we received plenty of information and good recommendations. Revolution Brewing is located just a couple minute walk from the California Blue Line stop. I highly recommend it for a fun night out with friends.
After dinner we went to the Whistler for some drinks located at 2421 N. Milwaukee just a block or two away. On a side tangent, Logan Square is not my favorite neighborhood. I know it is really cool and they have a lot of great restaurants but I'm just not hipster enough to blend in. And I don't generally find the hipster attitude of being too cool for everything very appealing. In addition, the last couple of times we've been in the neighborhood it's been impossible to get into the restaurants we wanted to go to (Longman and Eagle and Kuma's just to name a couple). Two hour waits are ridiculous and we just don't have the time or patience any more. In other words, I am getting old. But enough ranting about Logan Square and how uncool I've become (I can blame the kids, right?). My point is that this bar is very representative of this neighborhood and a lot of the Logan Square pretentiousness is present here. Given that, however, the drinks are really good. The Whistler was listed as one of the 100 best bars in Chicago magazine in 2010 and the description of it is pretty accurate - Violet Hour type drinks at Logan Square prices. The cocktails range in price from about $8-$12. I had their punch of the week and it was very good, came in a cute tiki glass with a paper umbrella I could take home to my daughters. If you are with a group of people who don't like cocktails or are not adventurous at all (like some of the people in our group who just could not believe that the Whistler did not have Bacardi) it may not be the best choice. The bar is definitely on the small side. There is only a handful of tables plus seats around the bar. On the night we were there, a DJ was just getting started when we were leaving at around 9 PM. At that time it wasn't crowded at all and we were able to find a table. We had to order our drinks at the bar. There was a waiter type person wandering around but he did not seem interested in speaking to us. In summary, the drinks were really good and the atmosphere was a little mixed.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Make a Messterpiece
My almost 3 year old daughter loves to paint. She wants to paint every day. I feel like I am pretty indulgent usually allowing her to paint whenever she want to, however sometimes I get tired of the mess and the clean up. I have been meaning to take her to Make a Messterpiece to indulge her artistic interests and we finally made it there last week. Make a Messterpiece is located at 2050 Tower Drive in Glenview (right by the Kohl Children's Museum) and is a large art space where kids can do a variety of creative activities.
The facility is made up of several different areas or stations where the kids do specific projects. I think the specific activity at each station changes frequently. The areas include the Creative Kitchen, Experimentation Station, Lil Sprouts, Drum Roll, Bubbleology, and the Spat-tacular tables, plus there are two little play areas in the back, one with a slide and blocks and the other with baby toys. All of the stations involve a mini lesson or learning component and a short activity. In the Creative Kitchen kids participate in an edible activity. When we went recently, the activity leader discussed where worms lived and what they ate and then the kids made a "worm" snack that involved sprinkling hot chocolate mix over popcorn to create dirt and then adding a gummy worm. Maybe not as interesting for an older kid but my daughter enjoyed it - well she enjoyed eating the gummy worm anyway. There is a little cafe area in the back where the kids can eat their snack.
At the Experimentation Station, kids explore a science related topic. My daughter did not participate in this activity but, when we were there, it involved learning and experimenting with how frogs use their tongues to catch flies.
The intention of the Lil Sprouts station is to do activities that promote sustainability, recycling, environmental consciousness, that kind of thing. Based on the activities my girls did at that station the two times we've been there, I don't think that theme is strongly conveyed but the art projects are still pretty fun. When we went a year ago, my older daughter did a painting with a bean bag type thing. They dipped the bag in paint and then stood up and dropped it onto paper making a cute painting that sort of resembled flowers. When I went with my younger daughter this past week she made a spider web by rolling around black paint spots on a paper plate with a ball. Then she glued on a spider that she made from pom pom balls for the body and pipe cleaners for the legs. Both were cute projects.
Drum Roll is for a little bit older kids. It involves putting on a rain poncho and going into a room (by themselves) and pounding on paint filled drums. Neither of my girls have done this activity but it looks like it could be a lot of fun.
The Bubbleology station is included with the two preset admission packages (see below) and, I think, ended up being my younger daughter's favorite activity. If your child is participating in this activity, you are given a large piece of card stock at the admission desk. Your child places the paper under the bubble machines, pushes a button and colored bubbles come out, leaving cool patterns on the paper. When we went last year there were a bunch of stencils your child could choose from to make designs on your paper but this time we could only find a couple of stencils and no tape to hold them in place. Lots of fun for any kid who loves bubbles.
Finally, the Splat-tacular tables are a group of about three or four tables and some easels. The tables have a selection of art supplies, such as paint, stencils, glue, paper, and other items, for self directed creating. All activities at these tables are included with general admission. You can do as much art work in this area as you want but it's really nothing that you wouldn't be able to do at home. It's definitely a fun area for kids who like to create but I wouldn't bother to come just to do these tables - unless you live nearby and prefer not to have a mess at home. In other words, the best part of Make a Messterpiece are the other activities listed above, which unfortunately cost more. There is a table set up with a wide variety of wooden items, such as bird houses, flowers, and picture frames, that you can purchase and then your child can paint there.
Throughout the facility there are drying racks to store your child's creations while they dry and while your child works on other activities. Don't forget to take everything home!
There are a few different package options when you pay for admission. General admission, which is different prices depending on the age of your child, gives your kid access to the painting tables in the Splat-tacular area and both the baby and bigger kid play areas. The Messy Package for $15 allows your child to pick any two activities to do and the Messiest Package, for $22, includes 4 activities. Both packages include Bubbleology, Splat-tacular tables, and the play areas. You can also pay $5 per activity, in addition to the general admission, if the pre-set packages don't work for you or your children. I recommend paying only for general admission if you have a kid under 2, but kids older than that will probably be able to do the other activities and enjoy them. You can either choose what activities you want to do when you first come in and pay or they will let you walk around to see what the activity is at each station before you decide. Once you have decided, however, you should go back and sign up for everything you want to do because they assign you a time when you get to do each activity in order to control the number of children in any given session. If you get signed up right when you come there is usually very little wait time. When we went the first time I didn't quite understand the system so we did a bunch of painting, bubbles, playing on the slide, and my daughter's first activity before we signed up for the second one. We were going to go home after this last station and they told us the first time we could do the one she wanted to do (Experimentation Station) would be in an hour. We opted to sign her up for the Lil Sprouts activity, which only had a 20 minute wait, and she enjoyed it but it was a little disappointing not to be able to do what she wanted. Each activity is designed to last about 15 or 20 minutes and are scheduled every 20 minutes. Once you have paid, the staff will give you a large sticker with your child's name on it and a time for each of the activities that you have signed up for. At the appropriate time, you report to each station and the activity leader will check that activity off of your child's tag. Make sure you check the times right away. When we went last week we were signed up for an activity that started pretty much when we walked through the gate and I almost didn't notice.
The staff at Make a Messterpiece can be a little spotty. The activity leaders are generally really good at working with the kids and conveying the associated ideas. However the floaters, the helpers that are there to help in Bubbleology and the Splat-tacular tables, tend to be less helpful and often just missing. I feel like some of the things there are not completely intuitive and whether you are allowed to participate in certain activities. It would be nice to have more people there to provide guidance.
There is free covered parking behind the building. I have never had any trouble finding a close parking spot and there is a convenient entrance to Make a Messterpiece from the parking garage. Make sure your kids wear clothes that they can get paint on. There are full length smocks available for the kids to wear but somehow they always end up with paint on their clothes. Overall, Make a Messterpiece is a great place to go if you have a child, like my daughter, who likes to do art projects all day long.
The facility is made up of several different areas or stations where the kids do specific projects. I think the specific activity at each station changes frequently. The areas include the Creative Kitchen, Experimentation Station, Lil Sprouts, Drum Roll, Bubbleology, and the Spat-tacular tables, plus there are two little play areas in the back, one with a slide and blocks and the other with baby toys. All of the stations involve a mini lesson or learning component and a short activity. In the Creative Kitchen kids participate in an edible activity. When we went recently, the activity leader discussed where worms lived and what they ate and then the kids made a "worm" snack that involved sprinkling hot chocolate mix over popcorn to create dirt and then adding a gummy worm. Maybe not as interesting for an older kid but my daughter enjoyed it - well she enjoyed eating the gummy worm anyway. There is a little cafe area in the back where the kids can eat their snack.
At the Experimentation Station, kids explore a science related topic. My daughter did not participate in this activity but, when we were there, it involved learning and experimenting with how frogs use their tongues to catch flies.
The intention of the Lil Sprouts station is to do activities that promote sustainability, recycling, environmental consciousness, that kind of thing. Based on the activities my girls did at that station the two times we've been there, I don't think that theme is strongly conveyed but the art projects are still pretty fun. When we went a year ago, my older daughter did a painting with a bean bag type thing. They dipped the bag in paint and then stood up and dropped it onto paper making a cute painting that sort of resembled flowers. When I went with my younger daughter this past week she made a spider web by rolling around black paint spots on a paper plate with a ball. Then she glued on a spider that she made from pom pom balls for the body and pipe cleaners for the legs. Both were cute projects.
Drum Roll is for a little bit older kids. It involves putting on a rain poncho and going into a room (by themselves) and pounding on paint filled drums. Neither of my girls have done this activity but it looks like it could be a lot of fun.
The Bubbleology station is included with the two preset admission packages (see below) and, I think, ended up being my younger daughter's favorite activity. If your child is participating in this activity, you are given a large piece of card stock at the admission desk. Your child places the paper under the bubble machines, pushes a button and colored bubbles come out, leaving cool patterns on the paper. When we went last year there were a bunch of stencils your child could choose from to make designs on your paper but this time we could only find a couple of stencils and no tape to hold them in place. Lots of fun for any kid who loves bubbles.
Finally, the Splat-tacular tables are a group of about three or four tables and some easels. The tables have a selection of art supplies, such as paint, stencils, glue, paper, and other items, for self directed creating. All activities at these tables are included with general admission. You can do as much art work in this area as you want but it's really nothing that you wouldn't be able to do at home. It's definitely a fun area for kids who like to create but I wouldn't bother to come just to do these tables - unless you live nearby and prefer not to have a mess at home. In other words, the best part of Make a Messterpiece are the other activities listed above, which unfortunately cost more. There is a table set up with a wide variety of wooden items, such as bird houses, flowers, and picture frames, that you can purchase and then your child can paint there.
Throughout the facility there are drying racks to store your child's creations while they dry and while your child works on other activities. Don't forget to take everything home!
There are a few different package options when you pay for admission. General admission, which is different prices depending on the age of your child, gives your kid access to the painting tables in the Splat-tacular area and both the baby and bigger kid play areas. The Messy Package for $15 allows your child to pick any two activities to do and the Messiest Package, for $22, includes 4 activities. Both packages include Bubbleology, Splat-tacular tables, and the play areas. You can also pay $5 per activity, in addition to the general admission, if the pre-set packages don't work for you or your children. I recommend paying only for general admission if you have a kid under 2, but kids older than that will probably be able to do the other activities and enjoy them. You can either choose what activities you want to do when you first come in and pay or they will let you walk around to see what the activity is at each station before you decide. Once you have decided, however, you should go back and sign up for everything you want to do because they assign you a time when you get to do each activity in order to control the number of children in any given session. If you get signed up right when you come there is usually very little wait time. When we went the first time I didn't quite understand the system so we did a bunch of painting, bubbles, playing on the slide, and my daughter's first activity before we signed up for the second one. We were going to go home after this last station and they told us the first time we could do the one she wanted to do (Experimentation Station) would be in an hour. We opted to sign her up for the Lil Sprouts activity, which only had a 20 minute wait, and she enjoyed it but it was a little disappointing not to be able to do what she wanted. Each activity is designed to last about 15 or 20 minutes and are scheduled every 20 minutes. Once you have paid, the staff will give you a large sticker with your child's name on it and a time for each of the activities that you have signed up for. At the appropriate time, you report to each station and the activity leader will check that activity off of your child's tag. Make sure you check the times right away. When we went last week we were signed up for an activity that started pretty much when we walked through the gate and I almost didn't notice.
The staff at Make a Messterpiece can be a little spotty. The activity leaders are generally really good at working with the kids and conveying the associated ideas. However the floaters, the helpers that are there to help in Bubbleology and the Splat-tacular tables, tend to be less helpful and often just missing. I feel like some of the things there are not completely intuitive and whether you are allowed to participate in certain activities. It would be nice to have more people there to provide guidance.
There is free covered parking behind the building. I have never had any trouble finding a close parking spot and there is a convenient entrance to Make a Messterpiece from the parking garage. Make sure your kids wear clothes that they can get paint on. There are full length smocks available for the kids to wear but somehow they always end up with paint on their clothes. Overall, Make a Messterpiece is a great place to go if you have a child, like my daughter, who likes to do art projects all day long.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Angel Food Bakery
This cafe is just so cute! We recently stopped by Angel Food Bakery (1636 W. Montrose) for some dessert to go, but we've also eaten here for lunch a couple of times. The restaurant, which has about five or six tables and is decorated all in pastels with a collection of easy bake ovens, is completely family friendly. It is open for breakfast and lunch six days a week (closed on Mondays) plus has a bakery case full of delicious treats. The Bakery's hours are Tues. through Fri. 7 AM until 5 PM, Sat. 8 AM until 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM until 2 PM. Lunch includes a selection of sandwiches and salads. I had the BLT focaccia the last time I was there and it was really good. The girls have had peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese on past visits. They definitely enjoyed the food but also really loved the paper umbrellas that came stuck in the sandwiches.
The real draw for the girls, of course, are the bakery items. Angel Food Bakery specializes in retro treats like homemade Twinkies and whoopie pies. They also have a large assortment of cupcakes. It is really difficult to decide what you want because everything looks so good. When we were there last week we got cupcakes ($3 each or $2.50 each if you get six or more) and they were OK. I remember them being better so maybe we just didn't get the best batch. In the past we have sampled cookies, a Boston Cream cupcake, and an igloo, which is chocolate cake with cream filling and a marshmallow topping. All have been delicious.
We've been there during the week and also on the weekend and have never had any trouble finding parking along Montrose (metered spots).
Angel Food Bakery is a really fun place to grab lunch or a special treat.
The real draw for the girls, of course, are the bakery items. Angel Food Bakery specializes in retro treats like homemade Twinkies and whoopie pies. They also have a large assortment of cupcakes. It is really difficult to decide what you want because everything looks so good. When we were there last week we got cupcakes ($3 each or $2.50 each if you get six or more) and they were OK. I remember them being better so maybe we just didn't get the best batch. In the past we have sampled cookies, a Boston Cream cupcake, and an igloo, which is chocolate cake with cream filling and a marshmallow topping. All have been delicious.
We've been there during the week and also on the weekend and have never had any trouble finding parking along Montrose (metered spots).
Angel Food Bakery is a really fun place to grab lunch or a special treat.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Oberweis Dairy
It can be hard to get some ice cream in the middle of winter since a lot of the really great places are closed, but just because it is cold outside does not mean we don't want our frozen treats. One place that always stays open and has great ice cream is Oberweis Dairy. There are Oberweis stores located throughout the suburbs but I believe there is only one in the City located at 1293 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park. We always go to the store in Lincolnwood. The company's website (www.oberweis.com) has a list of all the locations.
Mainly, Oberweis sells milk that comes from cows living on family farms, that have not been treated with artificial hormones. Also, the milk comes in awesome glass bottles that you return when you are done with them. When you stop by a store, however, you can also purchase ice cream made from this milk. Prepackaged ice cream is available by the quart or you can order from an extensive menu of ice cream treats made while you wait. The ice cream is really good by itself but also totally delicious in sundaes, shakes, or blizzard type items called frostbites. There is a kids' menu, which is great because the normal size items can be quite large. Usually our girls usually just get a scoop of their favorite ice cream in either a cone or a cup.
The store that we go to in Lincolnwood has plenty of seating, is always clean, and has a friendly staff. The stores also offer a birthday party package, which includes a sundae bar and seems like it could be a lot of fun. Oberweis also offers Kids Club Cards where you purchase either a cone, shake, or sundae club card and your child gets two of the selected treat for free twice a month for a year. If you go to Oberweis a lot these cards could save you some money. We've considered getting these cards for our daughters for Christmas or a birthday but you can't use one card for two kids and we were uncertain of how a good of an idea it would be to guarantee the girls two ice cream cones a month, every month for a year. Maybe a little much for kids their age but might be a good idea when they get older.
Since we have had such a mild winter this year, it has been nice to be able to go to Oberweis to get our ice cream fix..
Mainly, Oberweis sells milk that comes from cows living on family farms, that have not been treated with artificial hormones. Also, the milk comes in awesome glass bottles that you return when you are done with them. When you stop by a store, however, you can also purchase ice cream made from this milk. Prepackaged ice cream is available by the quart or you can order from an extensive menu of ice cream treats made while you wait. The ice cream is really good by itself but also totally delicious in sundaes, shakes, or blizzard type items called frostbites. There is a kids' menu, which is great because the normal size items can be quite large. Usually our girls usually just get a scoop of their favorite ice cream in either a cone or a cup.
The store that we go to in Lincolnwood has plenty of seating, is always clean, and has a friendly staff. The stores also offer a birthday party package, which includes a sundae bar and seems like it could be a lot of fun. Oberweis also offers Kids Club Cards where you purchase either a cone, shake, or sundae club card and your child gets two of the selected treat for free twice a month for a year. If you go to Oberweis a lot these cards could save you some money. We've considered getting these cards for our daughters for Christmas or a birthday but you can't use one card for two kids and we were uncertain of how a good of an idea it would be to guarantee the girls two ice cream cones a month, every month for a year. Maybe a little much for kids their age but might be a good idea when they get older.
Since we have had such a mild winter this year, it has been nice to be able to go to Oberweis to get our ice cream fix..
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Chicago Center for Green Technology
This post isn't really about something to do with your children (although they can tour the LEED Platinum certified building here) but more about the free programming offered at the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT) that could be beneficial for your family. The CCGT is located at 445 N. Sacramento, right by the Garfield Park Conservatory and offers an extensive catalog of courses for adults on the environment, conservation, and sustainability. Some of the classes are definitely more technical than others but CCGT also offers some really great seminars for home owners and gardeners. For example this semester some of the courses include "Safe and Effective City Biking", "Sustainable Backyard Workshop", "Indoor Composting", "Renewable Energy Options for Homeowners", and "Greening a Renter's Lifestyle", just to name of few. Most of the classes are free and are offered on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6:00 - 8:00 PM or on Saturdays either from 10:00 - 12:00 AM or 1:00-3:00 PM. I have found that the courses are taught by knowledgeable people in the industry, doing work directly related to the course topic.
If you are a professional working in a related industry the CCGT also offers continuing education credits and program certificates. There are six different areas in which you can earn a certificate from the CCGT (architecture, building and construction management, engineering, green business, green home and garden, and interior design) and the program schedule is color coded to show which courses are applicable to each area. In order to earn a certificate, you must first fill our a very brief enrollment form on the website and then you have 12 months to attend six seminars that are related to the subject area you selected. Anyone pursuing a certificate, regardless of subject matter, must attend the course titled "Ecology of Design Part 1: Concept". I think this course is offered every semester.
This semester, the CCGT is also offering what they call a Green DIY Series. They are partnering with Green Depot, Rebuilding Exchange, and Neighborhood Housing Services to offer workshops mostly related to renovating your home or doing home repairs but also offer a couple of classes on wood working and hand tools. Most of these courses are also free and are either at the CCGT or one of their partners listed previously.
Information on the individual courses can be found on the CCGT website: www.chicagogreentech.org. You must register for each course you attend but registration is super easy to do at the website. Some of the courses do fill up quickly so if there is something you really want to attend you should sign up right away. There is a small parking lot available in front of the building and then a larger one in the back. You can enter the building either from the front or the back and then you must sign in at the front desk. Classes are usually held in one of the classrooms upstairs. There are bathrooms located right by the classrooms.
I have really enjoyed the courses that I have taken. I found them to be quite informative with great instructors. I spend so much time worrying about what classes my kids should be taking that sometimes it is nice for me to learn something new too.
If you are a professional working in a related industry the CCGT also offers continuing education credits and program certificates. There are six different areas in which you can earn a certificate from the CCGT (architecture, building and construction management, engineering, green business, green home and garden, and interior design) and the program schedule is color coded to show which courses are applicable to each area. In order to earn a certificate, you must first fill our a very brief enrollment form on the website and then you have 12 months to attend six seminars that are related to the subject area you selected. Anyone pursuing a certificate, regardless of subject matter, must attend the course titled "Ecology of Design Part 1: Concept". I think this course is offered every semester.
This semester, the CCGT is also offering what they call a Green DIY Series. They are partnering with Green Depot, Rebuilding Exchange, and Neighborhood Housing Services to offer workshops mostly related to renovating your home or doing home repairs but also offer a couple of classes on wood working and hand tools. Most of these courses are also free and are either at the CCGT or one of their partners listed previously.
Information on the individual courses can be found on the CCGT website: www.chicagogreentech.org. You must register for each course you attend but registration is super easy to do at the website. Some of the courses do fill up quickly so if there is something you really want to attend you should sign up right away. There is a small parking lot available in front of the building and then a larger one in the back. You can enter the building either from the front or the back and then you must sign in at the front desk. Classes are usually held in one of the classrooms upstairs. There are bathrooms located right by the classrooms.
I have really enjoyed the courses that I have taken. I found them to be quite informative with great instructors. I spend so much time worrying about what classes my kids should be taking that sometimes it is nice for me to learn something new too.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Kiddie Kingdom
Over the weekend we visited Kiddie Kingdom, which is located at 7411 N. Milwaukee in Niles, and is similar in concept to Chuck E. Cheese. You purchase a bunch of tokens to play a variety of arcade type games, which spew out tickets that you can eventually cash in for prizes. My daughters love to go to Chuck E. Cheese with their grandparents so it was no surprise to us that they had a really great time at Kiddie Kingdom. Since my daughters are young, what they were most attracted to were the things they could ride on such as the three horse carousal, spinning tea cups, and helicopter that goes up and down. My older daughter was also pretty obsessed with a photo taking game and also one where you could color /design a picture on a computer screen. A lot of the other games were too difficult or physically impossible for them, like the car racing game that required that they sit on our laps so that we could push the peddles while they turned the steering wheel. We had no problem, however, going through 100 tokens, between the two of them, over the course of about 1.5/2 hours with a break to eat lunch. That seemed to be plenty for us. By the time the tokens were all used up the girls were ready to go, however older kids may burn through tokens a lot faster.
Kiddie Kingdom is located in a little strip mall with a parking lot out front. When we arrived there were no spots available but there is additional parking in the back. Even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon, in the winter Kiddie Kingdom was not that busy. The girls didn't have to wait in line to really do anything. It is open seven days a week, 11 AM - 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM - 11 PM Friday and Saturday and 11 AM - 9 PM on Sundays.
Food is available here and the menu is actually quite extensive. There are a bunch of appetizer type things like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and chicken tenders, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. We had pizza when we were there and, while it wasn't amazing, it was fine. Drink options include soda, milk, and beer for the adults.
Before going, definitely check the website (www.kiddiekingdomfun.com) for coupons. Current coupons include $20 for 100 tokens and a large pizza, $25 for 160 tokens or $36 for 280 tokens.
Overall my girls had a really good time. Note to parents: there are a lot of flashing lights and noise. If this drives you crazy you will not want to go here. Otherwise it is a good place to take the kids when winter boredom sets in. I would say Kiddie Kingdom is best for kids between 4 or 5 years old and 12 or 13 depending how into video games the kid is. My 2 year old did go and have a good time but I think if the oldest kid you are taking is 2 years old this wouldn't be the best place to go.
Kiddie Kingdom is located in a little strip mall with a parking lot out front. When we arrived there were no spots available but there is additional parking in the back. Even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon, in the winter Kiddie Kingdom was not that busy. The girls didn't have to wait in line to really do anything. It is open seven days a week, 11 AM - 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM - 11 PM Friday and Saturday and 11 AM - 9 PM on Sundays.
Food is available here and the menu is actually quite extensive. There are a bunch of appetizer type things like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and chicken tenders, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. We had pizza when we were there and, while it wasn't amazing, it was fine. Drink options include soda, milk, and beer for the adults.
Before going, definitely check the website (www.kiddiekingdomfun.com) for coupons. Current coupons include $20 for 100 tokens and a large pizza, $25 for 160 tokens or $36 for 280 tokens.
Overall my girls had a really good time. Note to parents: there are a lot of flashing lights and noise. If this drives you crazy you will not want to go here. Otherwise it is a good place to take the kids when winter boredom sets in. I would say Kiddie Kingdom is best for kids between 4 or 5 years old and 12 or 13 depending how into video games the kid is. My 2 year old did go and have a good time but I think if the oldest kid you are taking is 2 years old this wouldn't be the best place to go.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
City Provisions
I love delis and I am always excited when a new one opens up in the City. This one has been open for a couple of years but we finally just made it there this week. Straight ahead, when you walk in the door, is a counter where you can get a variety of coffee drinks and a few bakery type items. As you move to the right there is the deli counter where you can order sandwiches for lunch or items from the case, such as different types of salads and mac & cheese squares, which I believe change a bit depending on the season. As you continue around the corner there is a selection of cheeses, wine, and other specialty items. Next to the cheese is the register where you pay for your food.
When we first came in everyone who worked there was very nice to us but, I have to say, it seemed as though the other customers were less than thrilled that I was in there with a child. I only had one of my daughters with me and she was very well behaved the whole time we were there but I think with some people the sight of a child annoys them. No other children were in the restaurant the entire time we were there (probably about 45 minutes), which was a little weird to me since a few blocks away in Lincoln Square there were probably kids having lunch in every restaurant. The crowd was kind of hipster, which was weird to me in that neighborhood. There were people "working" there who really just looked like they were hanging out. They had their laptops out but mostly were just talking to other people so really how much could one child be bothering them.
I ordered a smoked turkey sandwich with Gouda and rosemary mayo to share with my daughter and a cup of chicken noodle soup (one of the soups of the day) for her. The food was really good, especially the chips. My daughter downed her soup. However, when I paid the bill it was $15! And we didn't even get drinks. I know you are paying for high quality ingredients but it seemed a little high for this neighborhood. Although, I have to say, we were there at lunch time on a week day and it was decently busy. There are a few communal tables when you first walk in and then counter seating and two small tables in the other room. My daughter and I tried to sit at one of the communal tables but the people who were already sitting there (only one person per table with seating for 6) were giving me the "I don't like kids" look so we sat in the other room at the counter. It actually worked out OK since we could look out the window and see the Brown Line trains going by and luckily she did not fall off the stool. I think when it is warm out there is also outdoor seating.
The hours here are great. The shop is open from 8 AM until 8 PM Tues. through Thurs. (closed on Mondays), 8 AM until 9 PM on Fridays, 9 AM until 9 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM until 3 PM on Sundays. City Provisions is located at 1818 W. Wilson. Parking is relatively easy along Wilson. We parked for free just a block down from the restaurant. Also the Damen Brown Line stop will get you relatively close.
I think City Provisions could be a great place to hang out, have brunch or dinner (they have beer on tap) with your adult friends but it just isn't a great place to take small children for lunch.
When we first came in everyone who worked there was very nice to us but, I have to say, it seemed as though the other customers were less than thrilled that I was in there with a child. I only had one of my daughters with me and she was very well behaved the whole time we were there but I think with some people the sight of a child annoys them. No other children were in the restaurant the entire time we were there (probably about 45 minutes), which was a little weird to me since a few blocks away in Lincoln Square there were probably kids having lunch in every restaurant. The crowd was kind of hipster, which was weird to me in that neighborhood. There were people "working" there who really just looked like they were hanging out. They had their laptops out but mostly were just talking to other people so really how much could one child be bothering them.
I ordered a smoked turkey sandwich with Gouda and rosemary mayo to share with my daughter and a cup of chicken noodle soup (one of the soups of the day) for her. The food was really good, especially the chips. My daughter downed her soup. However, when I paid the bill it was $15! And we didn't even get drinks. I know you are paying for high quality ingredients but it seemed a little high for this neighborhood. Although, I have to say, we were there at lunch time on a week day and it was decently busy. There are a few communal tables when you first walk in and then counter seating and two small tables in the other room. My daughter and I tried to sit at one of the communal tables but the people who were already sitting there (only one person per table with seating for 6) were giving me the "I don't like kids" look so we sat in the other room at the counter. It actually worked out OK since we could look out the window and see the Brown Line trains going by and luckily she did not fall off the stool. I think when it is warm out there is also outdoor seating.
The hours here are great. The shop is open from 8 AM until 8 PM Tues. through Thurs. (closed on Mondays), 8 AM until 9 PM on Fridays, 9 AM until 9 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM until 3 PM on Sundays. City Provisions is located at 1818 W. Wilson. Parking is relatively easy along Wilson. We parked for free just a block down from the restaurant. Also the Damen Brown Line stop will get you relatively close.
I think City Provisions could be a great place to hang out, have brunch or dinner (they have beer on tap) with your adult friends but it just isn't a great place to take small children for lunch.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Portage
We're always on the look out for a restaurant that has really good food, is a little bit upscale, and is totally kid friendly since we often have grandparents or childless friends in town and we want to go somewhere nice with them while not having to get a babysitter. We went to The Portage (3938 N. Central) this weekend when we had some guests in town and we had a really great meal.
When we first walked in, and during the entire meal, everyone was super nice to us. It is a really small restaurant so I would recommend a reservation if you are coming with a group. We had a reservation for six so they sat us in the backroom, which they call the library. This room is separate from the rest of the dining room and gets in name from a couple of shelves full of books on one wall. We were told they have a give a book, take a book policy. It was like having our own private dining room, which was great.
When we sat down we were given a kids' menu and offered a booster seat - two good signs that kids are OK here. The kids' menu included basic kids fare like mac & cheese, a hamburger, and chicken fingers, which, of course, is what my kids ordered. The kids' meals come with a drink, choice of vegetable or french fries, and ice cream. The vegetable that night was brussel sprouts so the girls went with french fries. The meal that they got was definitely better than your average kids chicken fingers and the french fries were really good. The ice cream choices were raspberry, chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough, and buttered popcorn. I tried to convince one of them to get the buttered popcorn but was unsuccessful. They went with chocolate and chocolate chip cookie dough and were very happy.
The food off of the regular menu was super good, too. We started with a gnocchi appetizer with a delicious mustard sauce. I had the Kobe meatloaf with mashed potatoes and carrots that I really enjoyed and my husband had the burger and he said it was great. The drink menu is pretty extensive with specialty cocktails and a decent selection of beer and wine. Overall we had a really delicious meal and felt totally comfortable with our kids there.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and opens at 5:00 PM Tues. through Sun. Parking is available on the street.
When we first walked in, and during the entire meal, everyone was super nice to us. It is a really small restaurant so I would recommend a reservation if you are coming with a group. We had a reservation for six so they sat us in the backroom, which they call the library. This room is separate from the rest of the dining room and gets in name from a couple of shelves full of books on one wall. We were told they have a give a book, take a book policy. It was like having our own private dining room, which was great.
When we sat down we were given a kids' menu and offered a booster seat - two good signs that kids are OK here. The kids' menu included basic kids fare like mac & cheese, a hamburger, and chicken fingers, which, of course, is what my kids ordered. The kids' meals come with a drink, choice of vegetable or french fries, and ice cream. The vegetable that night was brussel sprouts so the girls went with french fries. The meal that they got was definitely better than your average kids chicken fingers and the french fries were really good. The ice cream choices were raspberry, chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough, and buttered popcorn. I tried to convince one of them to get the buttered popcorn but was unsuccessful. They went with chocolate and chocolate chip cookie dough and were very happy.
The food off of the regular menu was super good, too. We started with a gnocchi appetizer with a delicious mustard sauce. I had the Kobe meatloaf with mashed potatoes and carrots that I really enjoyed and my husband had the burger and he said it was great. The drink menu is pretty extensive with specialty cocktails and a decent selection of beer and wine. Overall we had a really delicious meal and felt totally comfortable with our kids there.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and opens at 5:00 PM Tues. through Sun. Parking is available on the street.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Amy's Candy Bar
We decided to stop by this little candy shop in search of some fancy lollipops for Valentine's Day. The store is located in Ravenswood at 4704 N. Damen and is just the cutest thing. It is very small on the inside but the shelves are packed with the yummiest looking candy all displayed in glass containers that make the candy look beautiful. Immediately upon entering we were greeted in a very friendly way and were offered samples. Then we were left alone, which is nice in such a small store because being followed around can make you feel uncomfortable. I could immediately see that the store did not have exactly what I was looking for, however since we were in a candy store there was no way we were leaving empty handed. My daughter picked out some heart shaped Valentine's candy that she gobbled right up. I had a hard time deciding between all of the gummy flavors and shapes, taffy, and chocolate covered stuff. I finally settled on brightly colored, candy coated pretzel balls. They were so pretty in the plastic bag they come in and tasty as well. A little on the pricey side, though. I think all of the candy is priced around $2.25 per 1/4 pound and, at least in this house, a 1/4 pound doesn't go very far. Amy's is also known for its caramels, which we didn't have the opportunity to try.
The store is open seven days a week from 11 AM until 8 PM. It is located right off of the Damen Brown Line stop and there is metered parking out front. This candy shop would be a really awesome place to shop for birthday party favors or a baby shower (so many cute pastel colored candies) if you have the right budget, which, sadly, I never have.
The store is open seven days a week from 11 AM until 8 PM. It is located right off of the Damen Brown Line stop and there is metered parking out front. This candy shop would be a really awesome place to shop for birthday party favors or a baby shower (so many cute pastel colored candies) if you have the right budget, which, sadly, I never have.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Explore and Much More
Explore and Much More is located at 3827 N. Southport. My older daughter loves this play place and is always begging to go back. I think it is a great place to play for kids between ages 2 and about 6. When you first walk in the door there is an area to take off coats and shoes (socks only past the entrance) and the desk where you pay. There is a little area for strollers but if they run out of room they have another area where they store strollers. The play space has two levels. The first level has two climbing/sliding structures - one for toddlers and one for older kids. It's nice because you can watch two or more kids of different ages at the same time. Underneath the larger play structure there is a little play kitchen and also a reading nook. Along the wall is one of my daughters' favorite things, a series of tubes with air blowing through them. When you put a ball or scarf in the contraption they fly through and shoot out one end. You see these a lot at museums but not at play places very often. Downstairs is a bit more spacious for kids to run around. There is a bounce house, a toddler play area, a place to throw balls, and a couple of things for kids to climb on. Downstairs is also where the art room is located. There are drop in art classes on Thursdays at 10:00 AM. The art class (more like just a project for the kids to do than a class) is included with admission. They also offer a Creative Movement Class on Wednesdays at 10:30 that is also included with admission.
This play space does not have a coffee shop, like so many of them do, but they do offer free coffee from 9:30-10:30 Monday through Friday. You can bring snacks for your kids but can only eat them in a designated room, not within the play area.
Admission is pricey at $12 for the first kid and $9 for siblings but adults are free, as are children under 1 year of age, and you can play for as long as you like. Parking can be a bit difficult. Every time we have gone, we've found free street parking a few blocks away after searching for a couple of minutes. You can also park at a meter on Southport. On weekends or days when there is no school you can park in the Blaine school parking lot for $5 but you have to pay inside the play place. Explore and Much More is open from 9-5 Monday through Friday. They are also open on weekends as long as they don't have a party scheduled. Check their website to see a calendar (www.exploreandmuchmore.com) which indicates what hours they are open over the weekend. Explore and Much More does get quite crowded so I would recommend going when it first opens or in the afternoon when a lot of the kids in the neighborhood are down for their naps. My girls always have a really good time here but we don't go as often as they may like because of the high admission price.
This play space does not have a coffee shop, like so many of them do, but they do offer free coffee from 9:30-10:30 Monday through Friday. You can bring snacks for your kids but can only eat them in a designated room, not within the play area.
Admission is pricey at $12 for the first kid and $9 for siblings but adults are free, as are children under 1 year of age, and you can play for as long as you like. Parking can be a bit difficult. Every time we have gone, we've found free street parking a few blocks away after searching for a couple of minutes. You can also park at a meter on Southport. On weekends or days when there is no school you can park in the Blaine school parking lot for $5 but you have to pay inside the play place. Explore and Much More is open from 9-5 Monday through Friday. They are also open on weekends as long as they don't have a party scheduled. Check their website to see a calendar (www.exploreandmuchmore.com) which indicates what hours they are open over the weekend. Explore and Much More does get quite crowded so I would recommend going when it first opens or in the afternoon when a lot of the kids in the neighborhood are down for their naps. My girls always have a really good time here but we don't go as often as they may like because of the high admission price.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Family Grounds Cafe
When this cafe, located at 3652 N. Lincoln, opened a few years ago, I had a three year old and a newborn baby and we went there all the time. For me, the Cafe was a really great place to relax with the baby and also a fun place for my preschooler to play. It's been awhile since we've been there, however, since my older daughter has pretty much outgrown the place in the last couple of years. Now that she's back in school, though, I decided to go back with my two year old this week because I think she is the perfect age, I wanted to see if we would enjoy it as much as we used to, and I needed a latte.
I really think Family Grounds Cafe is an enjoyable place to spend a morning or afternoon when you have young kids. I think probably under three is the most appropriate age. When we were there my 2.5 year old was pretty much the oldest kid there. It's a relatively small space with not a lot of room for older kids to run around and really no other kids their own age to interact with.
There is a decent size, free parking lot out front. As you walk in the door, to the right, is a large area for strollers and coats. Then you enter the first part of the cafe, which is separated by a door from the play area and is mainly for those without kids who want to enjoy a cup of coffee or for families to hang out while waiting for their turn to play if the cafe is really busy. It is also in this first room, at the counter, that you pay to play. Admission is $6 per person including adults but non-crawling babies are free. Charging adults is a pet peeve of mine but at least at this play room, at times, space can be an issue. Your admission price covers about 90 minutes of play. The time that you arrive is written on your child's name tag so they know when it's time for you to leave.
Inside the play area it is socks only. A portion of the room has tables and chairs for parents to sit and have a coffee and for kids to have a snack. The rest is play space. The play area isn't huge but one of the best parts about the play area at Family Grounds is that they change the look frequently. Sometimes just subtly but it is enough to feel new to kids. There are two decent size playhouses that my daughter loved. One is always set up with a kitchen, dolls, and dress up clothes and the other one changes. We've been there when it was a play flower shop, farmer's market, and this week it was decorated like the jungle with a toy jeep to sit in and jungle animal themed toys. In addition there is a train table, balls to play with, books to read, and a little baby area for the youngest kids. Sometimes there is an art project for the kids to do, I think depending on the number and age of kids who are there. We've also been there when they've done face painting. On Saturdays they have live music. For the rest of January they are having pajama Mondays and on Thursday afternoons are offering free hot cocoa. The cafe offers just enough change, either through seasonal decorations or activities or with new toys or events, to stay fresh for families who go there frequently. We will definitely be back sometime soon.
No outside food is allowed. In the cafe you can get the usual types of drinks you would find at a coffee shop plus they have milk, juice boxes, and snacks for kids like Goldfish crackers. In addition, the cafe offers bagels, muffins, and a short menu of sandwiches and salads for lunch.
There are certain blocks of time during the week when Family Grounds takes reservations for play time through their website www.familygroundscafe.com. You don't have to make a reservation and you may not need one but it is an option. You never really know when it will be really crowded there and when it won't be. I've been there at times when the outer seating area was jammed with people waiting to get inside and other times, like this week, when there were only about 10 kids playing in the room for the morning session and only a few kids who came in later. In this situation, we were told that even though our time was up we were welcome to stay and play since they weren't busy. Just to be safe I would definitely make a reservation on a Saturday or if I was meeting a group of friends. There are other blocks of time during the day that are completely open play when you can't make a reservation.
In addition to having a parking lot and a large area to park strollers, the cafe is also located right off of the Addison Brown Line stop. The Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 6 PM and on Saturdays from 8 AM - 2PM.
I really think Family Grounds Cafe is an enjoyable place to spend a morning or afternoon when you have young kids. I think probably under three is the most appropriate age. When we were there my 2.5 year old was pretty much the oldest kid there. It's a relatively small space with not a lot of room for older kids to run around and really no other kids their own age to interact with.
There is a decent size, free parking lot out front. As you walk in the door, to the right, is a large area for strollers and coats. Then you enter the first part of the cafe, which is separated by a door from the play area and is mainly for those without kids who want to enjoy a cup of coffee or for families to hang out while waiting for their turn to play if the cafe is really busy. It is also in this first room, at the counter, that you pay to play. Admission is $6 per person including adults but non-crawling babies are free. Charging adults is a pet peeve of mine but at least at this play room, at times, space can be an issue. Your admission price covers about 90 minutes of play. The time that you arrive is written on your child's name tag so they know when it's time for you to leave.
Inside the play area it is socks only. A portion of the room has tables and chairs for parents to sit and have a coffee and for kids to have a snack. The rest is play space. The play area isn't huge but one of the best parts about the play area at Family Grounds is that they change the look frequently. Sometimes just subtly but it is enough to feel new to kids. There are two decent size playhouses that my daughter loved. One is always set up with a kitchen, dolls, and dress up clothes and the other one changes. We've been there when it was a play flower shop, farmer's market, and this week it was decorated like the jungle with a toy jeep to sit in and jungle animal themed toys. In addition there is a train table, balls to play with, books to read, and a little baby area for the youngest kids. Sometimes there is an art project for the kids to do, I think depending on the number and age of kids who are there. We've also been there when they've done face painting. On Saturdays they have live music. For the rest of January they are having pajama Mondays and on Thursday afternoons are offering free hot cocoa. The cafe offers just enough change, either through seasonal decorations or activities or with new toys or events, to stay fresh for families who go there frequently. We will definitely be back sometime soon.
No outside food is allowed. In the cafe you can get the usual types of drinks you would find at a coffee shop plus they have milk, juice boxes, and snacks for kids like Goldfish crackers. In addition, the cafe offers bagels, muffins, and a short menu of sandwiches and salads for lunch.
There are certain blocks of time during the week when Family Grounds takes reservations for play time through their website www.familygroundscafe.com. You don't have to make a reservation and you may not need one but it is an option. You never really know when it will be really crowded there and when it won't be. I've been there at times when the outer seating area was jammed with people waiting to get inside and other times, like this week, when there were only about 10 kids playing in the room for the morning session and only a few kids who came in later. In this situation, we were told that even though our time was up we were welcome to stay and play since they weren't busy. Just to be safe I would definitely make a reservation on a Saturday or if I was meeting a group of friends. There are other blocks of time during the day that are completely open play when you can't make a reservation.
In addition to having a parking lot and a large area to park strollers, the cafe is also located right off of the Addison Brown Line stop. The Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 6 PM and on Saturdays from 8 AM - 2PM.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Ice Skating Fun
My daughters are still quite young and I'm really no Michelle Kwan myself, so, for us, what constitutes a great ice rink is the one that is not the coolest, most popular place in town. The ice rink in Millennium park looks so fun but we definitely need a few years practice before we'll be there and the rink at Wrigley just seems too crowded. We've found a couple ice rinks in the City that are less crowded or if they are crowded everyone else is a beginner too.
Midway Plaisance Park (1130 Midway Plaisance North)
Hours: Mon. - Fri. and Sun. 12-7, Sat. 1-9.
The skating rink is located on the University of Chicago's campus but open to the public. We've been here a couple times, once with the girls, and it has never been super crowded. Skating is free during the week but costs $5/person on the weekend. There is a little building where you can rent skates, purchase snacks (coffee, chips, soda, that kind of thing), and warm up a little bit. Skate rental is about $6. Parking is available on Midway Plaisance (going either direction) for free. On the weekends and afternoons it is usually decently easy to find parking - basically anytime you're not fighting with students for spots. Driving is your best bet, since taking public transportation to Hyde Park can be tricky. They also offer Skating lessons at the park on Saturdays and Sundays.
Warren Park (6601 N. Western)
Hours: Wed.-Sun. 12:30-2:30, 3-5, 5:30-7:30
At the opposite side of the City, Warren Park offers another good place to ice skate. When we went over Winter Break it was pretty crowded but the majority were families with kids who were just learning to skate. Skating is free here if you have your own skates and I believe skate rentals are around $6. This rink also had a little building to warm up in, however they do not sell snacks. The park has a large, free parking lot right by the ice rink. I believe the gaps in skating time is when the ice is cleared of skaters for the Zamboni machine.
American Heartland Ice Arena (7374 N. Lincoln, Lincolnwood)
This skating facility does not currently offer open skating to the public (public skating will resume in the summer) but they do offer plenty of skating lessons. The arena has two skating rinks. The larger, nicer rink is used for hockey leagues and the smaller rink is used for ice skating lessons. They offer a lot of different lesson options depending on skill level for kids starting at 3 years old. Their website provides details on all classes (www.heartlandicearena.com). The tot classes, which my daughter has taken, are 30 minutes long and then they allow the kids 15 minutes afterward for free skate, which you can join your kid for if you have skates. Skate rental for kids in classes is $2. You can watch your child through large windows in a heated room or out in the rink just off the ice (which is quite chilly). My daughter has really enjoyed her classes at this facility. The teachers are super nice and incredibly patient. There is probably about one teacher for every 4 kids for the very basic classes with a lower teacher/child ratio for more advanced classes. Your child doesn't need to have any skating ability to take the introductory class. There is a snack bar with drinks, candy, and other snacks, plenty of room to sit and wait for your child's class to finish, and a large parking lot adjacent to the rink.
Midway Plaisance Park (1130 Midway Plaisance North)
Hours: Mon. - Fri. and Sun. 12-7, Sat. 1-9.
The skating rink is located on the University of Chicago's campus but open to the public. We've been here a couple times, once with the girls, and it has never been super crowded. Skating is free during the week but costs $5/person on the weekend. There is a little building where you can rent skates, purchase snacks (coffee, chips, soda, that kind of thing), and warm up a little bit. Skate rental is about $6. Parking is available on Midway Plaisance (going either direction) for free. On the weekends and afternoons it is usually decently easy to find parking - basically anytime you're not fighting with students for spots. Driving is your best bet, since taking public transportation to Hyde Park can be tricky. They also offer Skating lessons at the park on Saturdays and Sundays.
Warren Park (6601 N. Western)
Hours: Wed.-Sun. 12:30-2:30, 3-5, 5:30-7:30
At the opposite side of the City, Warren Park offers another good place to ice skate. When we went over Winter Break it was pretty crowded but the majority were families with kids who were just learning to skate. Skating is free here if you have your own skates and I believe skate rentals are around $6. This rink also had a little building to warm up in, however they do not sell snacks. The park has a large, free parking lot right by the ice rink. I believe the gaps in skating time is when the ice is cleared of skaters for the Zamboni machine.
American Heartland Ice Arena (7374 N. Lincoln, Lincolnwood)
This skating facility does not currently offer open skating to the public (public skating will resume in the summer) but they do offer plenty of skating lessons. The arena has two skating rinks. The larger, nicer rink is used for hockey leagues and the smaller rink is used for ice skating lessons. They offer a lot of different lesson options depending on skill level for kids starting at 3 years old. Their website provides details on all classes (www.heartlandicearena.com). The tot classes, which my daughter has taken, are 30 minutes long and then they allow the kids 15 minutes afterward for free skate, which you can join your kid for if you have skates. Skate rental for kids in classes is $2. You can watch your child through large windows in a heated room or out in the rink just off the ice (which is quite chilly). My daughter has really enjoyed her classes at this facility. The teachers are super nice and incredibly patient. There is probably about one teacher for every 4 kids for the very basic classes with a lower teacher/child ratio for more advanced classes. Your child doesn't need to have any skating ability to take the introductory class. There is a snack bar with drinks, candy, and other snacks, plenty of room to sit and wait for your child's class to finish, and a large parking lot adjacent to the rink.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Chinatown
I've mentioned in the past that my daughters are very picky eaters and have very low attention spans, so I have to say I was quite surprised when they both greatly enjoyed a trip to Chinatown recently. Our first stop was Three Happiness (209 W. Cermak) for lunch. Everyone in the restaurant was eating dim sum. We lamely asked for menus assuming that our daughters wouldn't eat anything off the dim sum carts. To our surprise, as my older daughter saw what the options were, she decided to give it a try. The food was really good and while my daughter only really ate two things, noodles and shrimp egg rolls, we considered the dining experience a success since she tried some new things. We ended up ordering won ton soup off the regular menu for our other daughter and she went to town on it. There were lots of other kids in the restaurant and they have high chairs - our kids were definitely not out of place. Lunch was around $30 for the four of us.
After lunch we just walked around and looked in all the different shops along Wentworth. The girls loved all the little nick knacks and strange things hanging in some of the store windows. There are several spots to buy smoothies and when my daughter was so thirsty that she couldn't go on, we got a strawberry one. I was actually surprised by how good it was. We also purchased the ultimate tourist item - a big bag of fortune cookies.
It's super easy to get to Chinatown. The Red Line drops you off right there. We drove down and parked in a parking lot right by the Red Line stop. If you get your parking ticket validated at a store or restaurant, the price to park is $2 for three hours. Strollers can be difficult in this part of the City. The sidewalks are narrow and it is hard to navigate a stroller in the shops. It would be better to bring a carrier for getting around with a baby.
The weather was quite nice when we went and we ended up having a really nice afternoon just wandering around. There are some great parks in Chinatown, too, but January isn't really the time to explore them.
Claim token: SUW733XV2P4J
After lunch we just walked around and looked in all the different shops along Wentworth. The girls loved all the little nick knacks and strange things hanging in some of the store windows. There are several spots to buy smoothies and when my daughter was so thirsty that she couldn't go on, we got a strawberry one. I was actually surprised by how good it was. We also purchased the ultimate tourist item - a big bag of fortune cookies.
It's super easy to get to Chinatown. The Red Line drops you off right there. We drove down and parked in a parking lot right by the Red Line stop. If you get your parking ticket validated at a store or restaurant, the price to park is $2 for three hours. Strollers can be difficult in this part of the City. The sidewalks are narrow and it is hard to navigate a stroller in the shops. It would be better to bring a carrier for getting around with a baby.
The weather was quite nice when we went and we ended up having a really nice afternoon just wandering around. There are some great parks in Chinatown, too, but January isn't really the time to explore them.
Claim token: SUW733XV2P4J
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Monkey Island
In the middle of winter, when the kids are starting to go crazy indoors and they need a place to run around, Monkey Island is a good option. This facility is really big and has quite a few different options for kids. The first room you see when you walk into the warehouse size building has 3 or 4 large bounce houses with slides, a decently sized toddler play area, and a large climbing gym with tube slides. Kids need to take there shoes off to play on any of the equipment. My daughters had a lot of fun bouncing and climbing in this first room. My two year old was a little young for the climbing gym. Sheer willpower got her up to the top so she could play with the big kids. Given that, I would suggest bringing kids three and older to Monkey Island. Especially since they have a policy (posted on big signs throughout the facility) that parents are not to go into the bounce houses with their children. My younger daughter climbed up to the top of one of them to go down the slide and just froze. I went up and got her - this was really the only option - and someone who worked there said it was no big deal to go in with little kids when it's not busy. Younger siblings could have a good time in the toddler area but this area is not fun enough for the admission price so I wouldn't come with only a toddler. There is a second huge room located in the back that has a couple more bounce houses, arcade type games, and a mini indoor soccer field.
In the first room you can buy food that includes pizza, nachos, hot dogs, juice boxes, and coffee. I'm just going to say we decided to eat somewhere else for lunch. The website refers to the "coffee lounge" where you can hang out while your kids play. This area is just a bunch of tables and folding chairs, not nearly as relaxing as a lot of the other smaller play place/cafes in the city. You are not supposed to bring in outside food and drinks.
Monkey Island is located at 2100 N. 15th Avenue in Melrose Park. You may feel like you are driving through a bunch of warehouses and you can't be in the right spot but you are. There is plenty of parking out front. Price is $8.40 per kid and $4.20 per adult. I hate when places like this charge for adults since they aren't doing anything but standing around and watching their kids. Anyway, be prepared and leave the extra adults at home.
My girls had a great time when they were here. It's a really great place to run around when it is too hot or too cold to go to the park.
In the first room you can buy food that includes pizza, nachos, hot dogs, juice boxes, and coffee. I'm just going to say we decided to eat somewhere else for lunch. The website refers to the "coffee lounge" where you can hang out while your kids play. This area is just a bunch of tables and folding chairs, not nearly as relaxing as a lot of the other smaller play place/cafes in the city. You are not supposed to bring in outside food and drinks.
Monkey Island is located at 2100 N. 15th Avenue in Melrose Park. You may feel like you are driving through a bunch of warehouses and you can't be in the right spot but you are. There is plenty of parking out front. Price is $8.40 per kid and $4.20 per adult. I hate when places like this charge for adults since they aren't doing anything but standing around and watching their kids. Anyway, be prepared and leave the extra adults at home.
My girls had a great time when they were here. It's a really great place to run around when it is too hot or too cold to go to the park.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Field Museum - Whale Exhibit
Over winter break we went to the Field Museum. In addition to all the wonderful things that are there to look at, we also went to the Whales Giants of the Deep exhibit, which is only there until January 16th. It was a hit with everyone in our family. There was a good balance between informative details for adults and hands on activities for kids. The exhibit included a really interesting display of the evolution of the whale, and interactive elements about the size of whales, how they communicate and how they find food. In addition, the exhibit went into a lot of detail about how whales get stranded on beaches and how they are rescued. My kids loved the giant whale heart model that you can climb into.
For adult admission, I believe you pay and extra $7 over the basic admission to see a special exhibit and it is an additional $5 for children. I think this exhibit is worth seeing but you have to go now because it closes January 16th. Just a note, you are not allowed to bring strollers into the exhibit. I would know since I got yelled at for trying to do it. They have a blocked off area where you can leave your stroller.
For adult admission, I believe you pay and extra $7 over the basic admission to see a special exhibit and it is an additional $5 for children. I think this exhibit is worth seeing but you have to go now because it closes January 16th. Just a note, you are not allowed to bring strollers into the exhibit. I would know since I got yelled at for trying to do it. They have a blocked off area where you can leave your stroller.
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