I love Halloween and Halloween is coming early early to the Lincoln Park Zoo's Spooky Zoo Spectacular on Saturday, October 24 at 11:00am.  The Auxiliary Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo invites children to celebrate Halloween at a free, family-friendly event at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Come dressed in your favorite costume and make crafts, visit the Education Zone, and trick-or-treat with the animals.  There will be entertainment throughout the zoo.   Dont miss out on this free, spooktacular opportunity to celebrate Halloween with the Lincoln Park Zoo.     

 Would you like to experience another culture, eat exotic food and shop in a souk?  You don't have to travel far and you don't need to break the bank.  Just head down to Daley Plaza at 50 W. Washington Street where you'll find the third annual Chicago Arabesque in full swing.  From Wednsday, June 24 until Saturday, June 27 Daley Plaze will be transformed into a mecca of Arabic culture.  Watch fashion shows of Arabic style, listen to both traditional and modern middle eastern musicians, sample a variety of Arabic cuisine,  and enjoy all kinds of entertainment and artesian demonstrations.  Bring the kids along as well because  activity booths will feature story tellers, a magic show, face painters, henna tatoos, and more.   Imerse yourself in Arabic culture as you peruse the booths in the souk, otherwise known as a bazaar where jewelry, artwork and crafts will be for sale.  The hours are 10:00am till 3:00pm on Wednsday through Friday and 11:00am-7:00pm on Saturday. For a program schedule click here.   This festival is presented by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Arab Affairs.

Take a walk on the wild side this weekend at the Chicago Park District's City Wilds Festival.  Explore the North Park Village Nature Center, the city of Chicago's first nature center.  Get familiar with some of the natural habitats in the city.  Guided walks will be offered through four different habitats; prarie, woodland, wetland, and savanna.  The festival will be held from 10:00am - 10:00pm on Saturday, June 13 and from 10:00am-3:00pm on Sunday, June13.  Saturday features workshops on landscaping with native plants and composting.  Don't forget to take the kids.  There will plenty of activities to keep the kids busy including nature crafts and a storyteller.  On Sunday naturalist Beth Wagner will do an interactive educational live animal presentation with "Tales and Scales Traveling Zoo".  The nature center is located at 5801 North Pulaski Road. It's all for free!

Have you been to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago lately?  Now is the perfect time to go.  You can take advantage of free days at the Museum of Science and Industry now through Friday, June 5.  During this time general admission to the museum is free to the public.  Learn about tomorrow's inventions at the Fast Forward - Inventing the Future exhibit.  See the Swiss Jolly Ball, the world's largest pinball machine.  Imerse yourself in fantasy in Coleen Moore's Fairy Castle. Explore space in the Henry Crown Space Center.  Bring the little ones to the Imagination Staion to splash, build and create.  Enjoy these exhibits and more for free at the Museum of Science and Industry.  The hours are 9:30am - 5:30pm Monday thru Saturday.  If you miss out this week there will be another  free day on June 19.  When was the last time you went to the Museum of Science and Industry for free? 

Lions and Tigers and BEARS, Oh my!  It's bear awareness week at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  On May 15 and May 16 learn all about the lives of bears.  Though they are big and strong, you'll learn it's not easy being a bear.   Find out about the challenges bears face in the wild.  Activities will be hosted throughout the zoo.  Try on a blubber glove, create enrichment items for the bears and watch them play, attend chats with the keepers and more.  Activities run from 10:00am until 2:30pm and are free!  Call (312)742-2000 for more information.     

Are you looking for a fun and inexpensive way to wrap up the week?  On Friday, May 15, Columbia College is celebrating creativity and the work of seniors and graduate students with the Manifest Urban Arts Festival.  Festivities run from 11:00am until 10:00pm and include performance art at various locations, an art walk through area galleries, an art sale at the student art store, music, and more.  The official festival kick-off is at noon and with give aways and music from Mucca Pazza, a punk marching band.  At 6:45pm until 7:45pm students will be marching in a parade featuring giant puppets created by students and faculty.  Columbia College is located at 640 South Wabash Ave.  Admission to the festival is free and open to the public.  

Check out the Manifest Urban Arts schedule page for a complete schedule, location of events.  What a great way to party and get those creative juices flowing!   

 

 

Although this event is a bit north of Chicago, in Highland Park, it's easy to get to and a great opportunity to experience the work and meet over 35 professional artists,  and 25 talented art students, all in one place.  On Tuesday, April 28 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM as part of the Focus on the Arts Program,  Highland Park Highschool invites the public to view works and presentations by a variety of artists including Cat Chow, Lara Miller, David Gista, and Matthew Lew.  Art mediums will include fashion design, photography, ceramics, painting, mixed media, sculpture, performance art and more.   Highland Park Highschool is easily accessible from Chicago either by car (a 20 minute drive) or by Chicago METRA.  Get off at the Highland Park stop and walk two blocks north on St. John.  Don't miss this chance to soak in the art of so many talented local and national artists at once!  The only cost to you is transportation.       

Celebrate our earth by taking part in Loyola University's North Shore Earth Day Celebration.  It takes place on Saturday, April 25th from 9:00AM till 4:30PM in the Quinlan Life Sciences Building at Loyola.  Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky will kick off the festivities with the morning address and State Senator Heather Steans will present the afternoon address.  The festival will feature guest speakers, presentations, workshops and displays.  Kids can keep busy at the kids corner for children ages four through twelve.  A green fair will be featuring displays and vendors selling enviro friendly items.  Local restaurants are donating food and diners are encouraged to bring their own reusable dining ware.  Visitors can ride their bikes, walk, or take public transportation to reduce gas usage.  Admission is free, although participants will be asked to commit to at least one activity to decrease their carbon footprint within the next year. 

It's springtime in Chicago but that doesn't always mean balmy weather.  In fact, sometimes it's downright chilly, damp and grey.  No matter, you can still stop and smell the flowers. 

A couple of days ago, when the kids were squirrley and out of school and my house was full of out of town guests I had to escape to someplace warm.  I thought of booking a last minute flight to Mexico or stowing away on a Caribbian cruise, but somehow that didn't seem very cost effective.  Instead, I remembered the Lincoln Park Conservatory where I hadn't been in years.   I grabbed my camera, three kids and my Sis and headed East to Lincoln Park and the Lakefront.  We lucked out with a good parking space, braved a half block walk against the north winds blowing off the lake and arrived at the doors of the Lincoln Park Conservatory.  We opened the doors and were transported to tropical bliss.   The smell of flowers and the peaceful sound of indoor fountains made us feel as if we stepped into paradise.  The Annual    Chicago Park District Spring Flower Show was in full bloom and runs now through May 10, 2009.  The Conservatory is open daily from 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM.  It's relaxing, the flowers are stunning, and it's free!    

 

         

Attention all artists, arts organizations, and arts related businesses.  On Saturday, April 4, 2009 the 6th Annual Chicago Creative Workshop will be presented at the Chicago Cultural Center.  It's a free workshop for everyone in the business of the arts.  Over 20 workshops, 100 vendors, and 40 consultants will be featured at the workshop.  For a schedule and list of participants click here.  It's a great way to connect with those in the Chicago arts community and brush up on your business skills as well.  The hours are 10:00AM - 4:00PM.  Whether you are a painter, actor, writer, or gallery owner, don't miss this opportunity to network, learn and see what others are doing.