On Sundays,  take a few minutes to stop and smell the flowers with a free 20 minute guided walk through Lurie Garden in Millenium Park.   Learn about the art and architecture in the park and about the design of Lurie Garden and how you can apply it to your home garden.

Take a stroll in the park with a Master Gardner from the University of Illinois extension Master Gardner program who will  serve as a volunteer guide through the landscape of Lurie Garden.  These tours take place from 10:00AM until 3:00PM beginning at the south end of the Lurie Garden boardwalk.  Volunteer guides will be available every Sunday until September 20th.  What a great way to spend a Sunday in the park!

Everybody deserves to be pampered so when it's free why pass it up?  Renew Spa at 980 N. Michigan Ave is Celebrating it's grand opening on Thursday, May 7, 2009.  Drop by between 6:00PM and 9:00PM and enjoy cocktails and a fashion show of sustainable clothing from  Bucktown's Roslyn Botique.  Indulge yourself with free mancures, pedicures, mini-facials, chair massages, make-up, and more.  What better way is there to destress after a long day without stressing about the price?  

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. 

Have you lost your job on or after March 31, 2009?  If you have been treated at one of Walgreens Take Care Health Clinics, you may be qualified to receive free health care through Walgreens Take Care Recovery Plan.  Walgreens Take Care Health Systems is providing free health care for families who have lost health insurance due to job loss.  It's free for patients who have been treated at one of the clinics prior to job loss.  Others must pay for the first visit.  For more information and to obtain an application visit www.takecarehealth.com.  The program runs through 2009. 

Have you ever wanted to skate with a Chicago Blackhawk hockey player?  Here's your chance!  Blackhawk players Kris Versteeg, Troy Bower, and Colin Fraser will be skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Milleneum Park on Thursday, March 5.  Join these Blackhawks at 6:00pm - 6:30pm for a freeskate around the rink.  Autograph signing will follow from 6:45pm-8:00pm.  The skating is free and skates are available for rental for $10.00.

Make like a polar brrrrr, oops I mean bear and take a plunge into Lake Michigan.  On Sunday morning at 10:00 you can support the Special Olympics and bring your team to North Beach for the annual Polar Plunge.  Each participant is asked to raise at least $100.00 with the top three fund raisers taking home prizes.  Afterwards, from 11:00 - 2:00 join in the fun with a meltdown party in a heated tent to take the chill off of the day.  Registration is at 9:30 am with the plunge taking place between 10:00 and 11:00.  Attendance is free.  Take a leap and help the Special Olympics, or land lubbers can just sit on the beach and watch the fun.  

 

Enjoy the last few weeks of winter on the ice.  Bring your skates to  the McCormick Ice Rink (daily from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm) or the Daily Bicentennial Plaza (M-F 8 am - 10:00 pm, Sat,Sun 9 am - 5 pm).  Enjoy downtown Chicago while gliding across a smooth sheet of ice.  If you don't  have skates, they are available to rent.  The McCormick Ice Rink, located at 201 E. Randolph is open through March 15.  The Daley Bicentennial Plaza, at 337 E. Randolph is open through February 28.

 When you combine Bingo and Tango what do you get?  Find out on the second Tuesday of every month at the MCA.  Hosted by Jason Pickelman from 6:00-8:00, this spicy mix includes filling Bingo cards with shapes based on works in the MCA collection.  In between games, you can learn how to tango with professional Argentine dance instructors.  For more information go to www.mcachicago.org.

 

Start the month off with relaxation and yoga on the first Thursday of every month at REI on Lincoln Park, 1466 N. Halsted.  From 6:30-7:45 a yoga instructor will be teaching a free class for all levels of experience.  Stretch both your mind and your body at the next class on March 5 at REI.