September 2009

Spooktastic Free Halloween Events for You and Your Little Goblins!

Posted in holiday/seasonal | September 29, 2009

Once you decide which costumes your kids are going to wear and buy some jumbo bags of candy, you have to decide how to celebrate. Like all holidays in Chicago, the city really goes all out for Halloween. Between neighborhood parties, Franken Plaza (Daley Plaza) and trick-or-treating, you and your kids have a lot of partying to do!

To help you start planning all the fun, I’ve put together the following list of FREE events happening this October.

ALL OVER CHICAGOLAND

Chicago Park District Halloween festivities include more than 67 parties, fun runs, pumpkin patches, haunted houses (and not so haunted houses) and haunted drive-in movies. Many of the pumpkin patches also have pony rides, pumpkin decorating, petting zoos, and more. Nominal fees apply for activities. Click on the link above to find out what is happening at your local park.

DOWNTOWN

Franken Plaza (Daley Plaza):

Pumpkin Decorating & Halloween Crafts – October 24 & 31 from 11am-3pm
Costume Contest, Trick-or-treating & Hayrides – October 24 from 12:30-3:30pm
Movies in the Plaza – Gremlins at 6:00pm on October 24 and Young Frankenstein at 6:00pm on October 31.
Midnight Circus, high flying aerial entertainers - October 23 at 12pm, 2pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, October 24, 26, 27, 28, 31 at 11:30am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, October 25 at 11:30am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, October 29, 30 at 11:30am, 12:45pm. 2:00pm, 5:30pm
Pyrotechniq specialize in fully immersive fire and ultraviolet kinetic performances - October 23, 31 at 7:30pm, October 29, 30 at 6:30pm and 7:15pm
Harvest Market - October 26-30 from 7am to 3pm

State Street Halloween Happenings Parade is on Saturday, October 24 at 12:00pm. Parade starts at the corner of State and Randolph. Kids can march in costume as part of the parade to Franken (Daley) Plaza where they can enjoy a costume contest, performance by Midnight Circus and more (see above).

Halloween Halls at the Chicago Cultural Center will be held on Saturday, October 31 from 10:00am-1:30pm. Kids can make masks and costumes, participate in an acting workshop and enjoy performance by Barrel of Monkeys.

HYDE PARK

Spooky Science at The Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is free weekdays through October 30th. Many of your favorite attractions have been transformed including the Haunted Coal Mine, Haunted Zephyr, become a spooky scientist and create your own green slime, build your own bat kite, spooky morse code, pumpkin smashing, and much more. The museum also offers trick-or-treating on Halloween, but admission is regular price on the 31st.

GOLD COAST

Trick-or-Treat at “Ghouly” Park Saturday, October 31st from 4:00-7:30pm. Gold Coast neighbors will turn Goudy Park (Astor and Goethe) into “Ghouly” Park for a Halloween party. In addition to trick-or-treating, there will also be a puppet show, stilt walkers and jugglers.

STREETERVILLE

Carnival of Curiosities at Navy Fear (Pier). Every Friday (5:00-10:00pm), Saturday (2:00-10:00pm) and Sunday (1:00-6:00pm) October 2nd through October 31 a traveling sideshow will transform Dock Street and Pier Park. Don’t forget to stay for the free fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:00pm.

BUCKTOWN

Wicker Park & Bucktown ‘Boo-palooza’ will be held on Saturday, October 31st from noon to 4:00pm. There will be trick-or-treating at the local stores. Wicker Park will have hayrides, a monster mash, pumpkin decorating and other fun activities will be offered. Pulaski Park will also have fun Halloween events for the entire family.

West Bucktown Neighborhood Association’s Annual Halloween Party will take place on Saturday, October 24th from 4:00-6:00pm at St. John’s United Church of Christ (2442 Moffat).

Stroller Strides Second Annual Halloween Bash will be held on October 30th at 11:00am. Event includes a Halloween themed wicked workout, followed by refreshments, enrollment specials and a costume contest. The class is FREE! Class starts at 11:00am, but first timers should arrive early.

LINCOLN PARK

Spooky Zoo Spectacular at the Lincoln Park Zoo on October 24th. Family entertainment starts at 11:00am and from noon to 2:00pm you can enjoy a haunted house, arts and crafts, educational activities and trick-or-treating.

Tricks & Treats on Armitage is taking place on Sunday, October 25th from 11:00am-3:00pm. In addition to trick-or-treating at local business, there will be doggie and children costume contests, games, spooky stories and face painting at the Bridgeview Bank parking lot (south west corner of Armitage and Halsted).

Halloween Sing Along at the Pottery Barn kids at 2111 North Clybourn. Ricky Kelley is performing two shows at 10:00am and 11:00am on October 29th.

NORTHCENTER

Annual Trick-or-Treat and Costume Contest in Town Square will be October 31st at 11:00am. Event will include trick-or-treating, refreshments, entertainment and a costume contest.

LAKEVIEW

13th Annual North Halsted Halloween Parade will be held on October 31 at 6:00pm. This parade draws thousands of spectators, so be prepared for big crowds. Kids can also trick-or-treat on Halsted (Grace to Belmont) from 3:00-5:00pm. Kids must register for the parade if they plan to participate, and can do so during the kids event at Space Park from 4:00-6:00pm

Friends of Agassiz Halloween Party for Children at Agassiz School (2851 N. Seminary) – Face painting, pumpkin decorating contest, and other activities for kids. Festivities start at 10AM and run until noon.

Trick or Treat Stroll on Southport on Sunday, October 25th from 1:00-5:00pm at participating shops from Belmont to Byron.

Party at Sheil Park (3505 N. Southport) from 12:00-1:00pm just prior to the trick-or-treating. Prizes, haunted halls, goodies & entertainment.

The South Lakeview Playground (1300 W. Wolfram) is having a Halloween party on Saturday, October 10th from 10:00am-12:00pm. I went to this party last year, and it was lots of fun for the kids. Activities include face painting, pumpkin decorating and other fun Halloween activities.

East Lakeview’s 6th Annual Halloween Hoopla will be on Sunday, October 25th at the Nettlhorst School (3252 North Broadway) from 12:00-6:00pm. Activities include hayrides, face painting, cookie decorating, costume parade and more.

Jacks Bar & Grill Family Halloween Party will be held on Saturday, October 31st from 11:00am-2:00pm. There will be a pumpkin carving contest, spooky children’s buffet and costume contest with prizes. DJ Colin Anderson will be providing music. Kids always eat free at Jack’s.

ROSCOE VILLAGE

Annual Roscoe Village Halloween Parade will be held on October 25th at 2:00pm. Parade starts at Leavitt and Roscoe and marches to Damen.

BUENA PARK

Buena Pumpkin Neighbors will be held on October 31st from 5:00-7:00pm. Event includes trick-or-treating on Kenmore between Irving Park and Montrose and a performance by the National Pastime Theatre in the Buena Circle Play Lot.

LINCOLN SQUARE

Lincoln Square’s Halloween Happenings will be on Saturday, October 31st from 10:00am-4:00pm in Lincoln Square. Trick-or-Treat at participating Lincoln Square business and participate in lots of other fun, free, ghoulish activities.

ROGERS PARK

Halloween in Rogers Park will be on October 31st from 4:00-8:00pm. Activities include a fortuneteller, cookie decorating, games, face painting, story time, pumpkin decorating and more.

ANDERSONVILLE

Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest and Parade for Dogs will be held in Andersonville on Saturday, October 31st from 1:30-2:30pm. Parade will go up and down Carmen between Ravenswood and Paulina.

Kid’s Trick-or-Treat & Costume Contest will be held at the Cheetah Gym in Andersoneville on October 31st from 3:00-5:00pm. Fist prize for the costume contest is $200! You must register by 2:30. Tirck-or-Treating will take place on Clark Street. Trick-or-Treaters must register.

Gethsemane Gardens Annual Fall Children’s Festival is from 11:00sm-4:00pm on October 31st. Admission is free to this festival with theatre performances (3pm), petting zoo, animal show, pony rides, face painting and more.

FURTHER AFIELD

Trick-or-Trees celebration at the Morton Arboretum features live music, candy, pumpkin play, Haunted Maze, crafts, free candy and cider, ghoulish games and other bat-tacular events . Trick-or-Trees will take place on October 25 and 26 from 11:00am to 4:00pm

Halloween Scary Skate at the Centennial Ice Arena in Highland Park will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 2:00-3:20pm. It’s free if you are dressed in your costume.

Trick-or-Treat Trails at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 3:00-5:00pm. Activities include trick-or-treating and hay rides along fun, interactive trails. There will also be games, crafts and refreshments inside.

Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles, IL is packed full of free family fun. It is about 44 miles from Chicago, but should be worth the drive. Hundreds of hand-crafted scarecrows are on display. Kids can also make their own scarecrows and there is live music and dancing all day long. Festival runs October 9-11.

If I missed any FREE Halloween activities, please let me know so we can share them with other Chicago moms. Look for additional posts in the next two weeks on pumpkin patches and other non-free Halloween events.

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Are You Stuck in a Park Rut?

Posted in go play - outside | September 28, 2009

Do you find that you go to the same playground over and over again, even though there are at least ten within walking distance of your house? I know I sure do. As a city dweller, my outdoor space is limited so I take my kids to the park on a daily basis. Although I occasionally go to a new park for an event, I find that my stroller ends up on auto-pilot and we head to the South Lakeview Playlot each afternoon.

Over the last several weeks I have explored four new parks with my girls. Not only has it been fun to mix it up a bit, but I have found some really great parks that have different equipment/facilities than my park (sandbox, water playgrounds, toy trains, etc.). In fact, we have gone back to two of them several times.

To find new parks in your area, visit the Chicago Park District website, and utilize their “Find a Park” widget. You can search by zip code, park name and by facilities offered (basketball, water playground, etc.). Let me know about the new parks you find or about your local favorite.

Here is a little bit about the four parks I recently checked out.

DSC07448 150x150 Are You Stuck in a Park Rut?

Fellger Park

- Fellger Playlot is located at 2000 West Belmont. It is a large, grassy and completely enclosed park. My girls and I headed to Fellger after grabbing a few cupcakes across the street at the Bleeding Heart Bakery (buy one, get one free on Mondays). This park offers something for kids of all ages including a play train, lots of slides and even a water feature during the summer. Grace had a blast climbing on the train and trying out each of the MANY slides.

Adams Water Playground

- Adams Playground is located at 1919 North Seminary. We have actually been to Adams three times in the past few weeks. Our first visit was for a Chicago Park District kid’s concert. I was astonished at the size of the water playground and at all the great equipment. We did not bring our swimsuits on that trip, so we listened to the concert and played in the enormous playground. They have a cool mini rock wall, these one-man merry-go-rounds that my daughter became obsessed with and a HUGE sandbox. The following weekend we returned with bathing suits in tow. Wow…what an amazing water playground. Hours of fun to be had! Our last visit was for a birthday party. They have a great indoor room available for parties. Plan ahead, it books up fast.

- Wicker Park is located at 1425 Damen. My husband and I road our bikes down with the girls a few weekends ago. Wow, what a great park. Although the park is quite large, it maintains a quaint neighborhood feel. It offers equipement and facilities (basketball, etc.) for kids of all ages. My daughter loves tunnels and bridges, and this park has plenty of them to offer. There is even a small farmer’s market every Sunday (7am-2pm) until the end of October.

Jonquil Park

- Jonquil Park is located at 1023 Wrightwood. This park just opened a couple months ago, so the equipment is amazing. There is a huge grassy area for picnics. The park has equipment for kids of all ages including lots of great climbing features and these cool spinning things your kids can use to spin up and down a pole. Hard to describe, but my daughter was entertained forever on them.

I look forward to hearing about your park explorations.

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Diaper Bag First Aid – What you need in your bag to tend to boo boos on the go!

Posted in inside scoop | September 16, 2009

When my daughter first started walking I suddenly realized that I needed to trade out the binkies and bottles in my diaper bag for bandages and Neosporin. Although there are some prepackaged kits available, all of the ones I found online or in stores were either too bulky, not made for children and/or infants or not inclusive enough.

After talking to some fellow moms and researching the topic extensively online, I compiled the following list of must haves to tend to your little one’s boo boos on the go.

Emergency Information – On a piece of paper or index card write down:
- Children’s names and date of birth
- Your mobile
- Spouse’s mobile
- Pediatrician’s name and number
- Poison Control (The American Association of Poison Control Centers’ national emergency hotline: (800) 222-1222.)
- Any allergies
- The proper doses for the medications included in your kit.
First Aid
- (5) 3/4 “ X 3” self adhesive bandages (average self stick bandages)
- (2) 3” knee & elbow bandages
- Sting/pain relief spray or pads (Benadryl makes one and there is a CVS brand that is much les expensive) The CVS brand relieves the itching and pain from minor cuts, burns, scrapes, rashes (e.g. poison ivy) and insect bites.
- (4) 2”X2” gauze pads
- (4) Antiseptic wipes
- Antibiotic ointment – Neosporin makes a convenient spray on version (Neo To Go). I have also found a CVS generic version. Target’s regular price on the Neo To Go was less than the CVS brand.
- Tweezers (splinters)
- iPhone App – I have a first aid app on my phone. Not sure if I would have time to use it in case of a real emergency, but figured it could come in handy in case of a broken bone, nose bleed or burn.
Over the Counter Medicines – Keep in separate zip lock to avoid messes caused by spills. Always check proper dosages based on your child’s age and weight. When in doubt, consult your child’s physician or pharmacist.
- Fever reducer – Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Upset stomach medication – Kids Tums or Little Tummies (I put 5 in a small baggie to save space)
- Anti-allergy – Benadryl for allergic reactions. Make sure you buy one made for kids and review the proper dosage. Benadryl makes these convenient single shots for kids. I would never have thought to bring this, but I have a friend who found out on vacation that her child had a nut allergy. Luckily she had Benadryl with her. My sister had a similar incident with her eldest daughter and an allergic reaction to a bee sting.
Stickers and Lollipop – I added a few stickers and a lollipop to my kit. My little patient sometimes needs a distraction after getting a skinned knee!

I set a reminder in my calendar to check all of my first aid kits once a year to make sure they are stocked and none of the contents have expired.

If you haven’t already, sign up for an infant/child CPR class. It is a good idea to have your nanny become certified too. For a list of local Red Cross Infant/Child CPR classes click here.

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Brats, Beer and Folk Dancing – The 89th Annual German Fest is This Weekend!

Posted in go play - outside | September 8, 2009

I don’t know about you, but my family loves going to Chicago Street Festivals. When I first moved here five years ago, it took me a few festivals to appreciate the beauty of standing on hot blacktop, drinking beer and listening to cover bands. These days, I don’t think it would feel like summer without going to festivals.

I find the ethnic festivals to be among the most fun to visit with our kids. Chicago is so diverse that you can travel around the globe without leaving the City. We were eating pierogi and Polish sausage at Taste of Polonia last weekend, and plan to fill up on brats and German beer at the 89th Annual German American Festival this weekend.

The festival is loacted in Lincoln Square (Western, Lincoln and Leland Avenues) and runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13th. I spoke to one of the organizers this afternoon, and her family friendly recommendations included the parade at 2:00 on Saturday and the traditional folk music and dancers all Sunday afternoon. BEST OF ALL…IT’S FREE!

My daughter Grace loves to walk around our house in the wooden shoes we got her at the Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan. Who knows, she might be dancing around in lederhosens come Monday!

What are some of your favorite festivals to visit with your kids?

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Strollers and the CTA…Enjoy the Journey!

Posted in inside scoop | September 2, 2009

I am sure you have all heard the addage, “Enjoy the journey…” When you take the CTA with your kids, the journey can be as much fun as the destination!

I took the train yesterday when I headed to Millennium Park for the free Wiggle Worms class I mentioned in my blog last week, “Five FREE Things You Should Check Out Before Summer Ends.” My daughters had as much fun on the train as they did at the class. For those of us toteing toddlers, the CTA is actually pretty stroller friendly and becoming more so with each newly renovated station.

Being a LA native, we never had the option of public transportation. When I moved here five years ago, I started taking the train to the loop every day for work. It was a real novelty and a bit surreal. Many a time I would think to myself, ”were not in Kansas anymore Toto.”

Five years later and the novelty has not worn off. Some how I have managed to hang on to that childlike wonder of taking a bus or a train. My kids love taking the CTA too. My daughter has taken on the role of official welcoming committee. She waves and says hello to every new passenger. Most adults try to avoid making eye contact with each other on the CTA, but kids feel it is their duty to make sure they greet or at least smile at everyone on the train!

My nanny does not drive, so she and the kids take the bus to the Zoo every Wednesday for story time, and in the winter they went to a number of free admission days at the Shed Aquarium and Field Museum. I simply got her a Chicago Card tied to my credit card and printed her out directions using the CTA’s Trip Planner. The city is now at her beck and call.

Following are a few tips I have picked up while traveling with strollers on the CTA.

Kids under seven ride FREE!
Utilize the Trip Planner functionality. It is now powered by Google Transit, and it is a great tool for navigating the CTA. They even have a mobil phone application.
If your kids are still in a stroller, handicap accessible stations are your friends! Dragging strollers up and down stairs is not fun…I know from personal experience! The CTA is upgrading stations to be handicap accessible, but currently not all stations have elevators. I’ve noted the handicap accessible stations below.
All 153 Bus routes are driven by busses that can lower down. This functionality was installed for wheelchairs, but makes getting your stroller on and off the bus MUCH easier. Simply ask your driver to lower the ramp. Most of them do it automatically.
Get a CTA Chciago Card for you and your nanny (if you have one). The fares are less expensive with a Chicago Card, and it is certainly easier than fumbling with cash while wrangling your children on to the bus.

Train Stations With Elevators

• Brown Line – Kimball, Kedzie, Francisco, Rockwell, Western, Damen, Montrose, Irving Park, Addison, Paulina, Southport, Wellington, Diversey, Armitage, Sedgwick, Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Washington/Wells, Library-State/Van Buren, Clark/Lake.

• Blue Line – O’Hare, Rosemont, Cumberland, Harlem (O’Hare), Jefferson Park, Logan Square, Western (O’Hare), Clark/Lake, Jackson, UIC-Halsted, Medical District (Damen Entrance), Kedzie-Homan, Forest Park.

• Green Line – Ashland/63rd, Halsted, East 63rd-Cottage Grove, King Drive, Garfield, 51st, 47th, 43rd, Indiana, 35th-Bronzeville-IIT, Roosevelt, Clark/Lake, Clinton, Ashland/Lake, California, Kedzie, Conservatory-Central Park Drive, Pulaski, Cicero, Laramie, Central, Harlem/Lake (Marion entrance).

• Orange Line – Midway, Pulaski, Kedzie, Western, 35/Archer, Ashland, Halsted, Roosevelt; also Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells, and Clark/Lake.

• Pink Line – 54th/Cermak, Cicero, Kostner, Pulaski, Central Park, Kedzie, California, Western, Damen, 18th, Polk, Ashland, Clinton, Clark/Lake, Library-State/Van Buren, and Washington/Wells

• Purple Line – Linden, Davis, Howard, Wellington, Diversey, Armitage, Sedgwick, Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, Library-State/Van Buren, and Washington/Wells.

• Red Line – Howard, Loyola, Granville, Addison, Chicago, Lake, Washington (temporarily closed for renovation), Jackson, Roosevelt, Sox/35th, 47th, 69th, 79th, 95th/Dan Ryan.

• Yellow Line – Howard, Skokie