While I am taking some time away with a girlfriend, my hubby took the girls to see Disney on Ice Dare to Dream.  I asked my husband, Kerry, to provide a short review of the show and his experience with the girls at the show.  I thought it would be fun to give a dad’s perspective for a change.  Take it away Kerry…

I never would have dared to dream that the girls and I could make it out to Allstate Arena for ‘Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream’ in 25 minutes at 5:30, but we did…and this was just the start of a great night.

There was a tense moment early on when the girls noticed a ‘mad guy’ (AKA The Princess & the Frog’s Shadow Man) in the program…Clare hid under my coat, but soon everyone was smiles as our hosts for the evening, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, skated onto the ice. Frogs, mice and horses were to follow as The Princess & the Frog, Cinderella and Tangled came to life…on ice.

Grace really enjoyed Cinderella, especially when her Fairy Godmother changed the pumpkin into a carriage and transformed Cinderella for the Ball. Tangled also stood out, from the Snuggly Ducking thugs rendition of ‘I’ve Got a Dream’ to the acrobats which made it seem like Flynn Rider and Rapunzel were flying.

Maybe if you’re really, really lucky and really, really close to the ice, Cinderella’s prince might choose you to try on the glass slipper or have a chance to help Flynn & Rapunzel with their floating lantern…if not, you’ll still have a great time, we did.    

Inside scoop:

• What – Disney On Ice Dare to Dream
• Where – Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL) & United Center (Chicago, IL)
• When – Allstate Arena – January 25-29 and United Center – February 1-12
• Cost – Tickets start at $15
• Insider Tip – Click here to get discounted tickets.  Get 4 tickets for $44 on Weekday Shows or Save $4 on weekend shows with code MOM.

Get all tangled up with the Disney on Ice’s performance of Dare to Dream! You and your little princes and princesses can watch your favorite Disney movies come to life including Tangled, Princess and the Frog and Cinderella!

One lucky on the go reader will be going to opening night (January 25th) for FREE! Simply comment below or email me at cindymccarthy@onthegoChicago.com by 5pm Wednesday, January 18th.  We’ll also be giving one second place winner a $40 gift card to Hair Cuttery good for the Ultimate Princess Package (see below for details)!

Show Description:

Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!  Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog, in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss.  And fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true.  All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime!  Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to your hometown!

Hair Cuttery Ultimate Princess Package:

Disney On Ice and Hair Cuttery have teamed up to bring you an enchanting offer in Chicago. The Disney On Ice Princess Package includes a shampoo, blowdry, updo and special princess finish with a tiara at your local Hair Cuttery salon. Also receive a savings coupon for Disney On Ice merchandise ($5 value). You can add the Princess Package to your order on Ticketmaster.

• What – Disney On Ice Dare to Dream
• Where – Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL) & United Center (Chicago, IL)
• When – Allstate Arena – January 25-29 and United Center – February 1-12
• Cost – Tickets start at $15
• Insider Tip – Click here to get discounted tickets.  Get 4 tickets for $44 on Weekday Shows or Save $4 on weekend shows with code MOM.  See the flyer below for more details!

Flynn Rider_Mom1_D32_Chicago 2012

Your little princess can build and color her own crown for the show too - The Gift of Memories – A Special Princess Day

The National Hellenic Museum opened earlier this month in Chicago, and the girls and I went for our inaugural visit last week. It truly is amazing the rich cultural life that Chicago has to offer local families, and the National Hellenic Museum is a great addition.  Although the entire museum is not completed yet, the first floor exhibit, Gods, Myths and Mortals, as well as the museum store is open.

Chicago has one of the world’s largest Greek populations, and the museum is located in the heart of Greektown.  Our government, language, architecture and theater all have their roots in ancient Greece. This new museum provides an excellent platform to learn about ancient Greece, and about the immigration of Greeks to America and subsequent impact Greek culture has had on Chicago.

The current exhibit, Gods, Myths and Mortals, is a wonderfully hands-on experience.  From the giant Trojan Horse that your kids can climb in and Greek Siren inspired karaoke to the more serious exhibit about the epic poem The Odyssey, the entire family will have fun learning about ancient Greece and Greek Mythology.

My girls loved the Siren Karaoke, although they ended up taking over the microphone for some non-Greek Myth inspired solos.  They also loved the cool pinball like exhibit.

Although the museum doesn’t plan to have a dedicated children’s section, they plan to incorporate hands-on components and gear their exhibits towards the whole family.  Gods, Myths and Mortals is a great example of this philosophy.  This exhibit was actually created by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and will be  at the National Hellenic Museum through August 2012..

We look forward to returning to the museum this coming summer when the permanent exhibit on the second floor and the rooftop terrace will be completed.

One word of warning, the parking is a bit challenging.  They have a very small lot behind the museum, but there is a public lot nearby that only charges $6 after 2pm and on weekends.  They are also accessible via the CTA.

Inside scoop:

• What – National Hellenic Museum
• Where – 333 S. Halsted St.
• Cost – $10 adults, $7 children 3-7 yrs
• Insider tip – The museum is located in the heart of Greektown, and surrounded by some of the city’s best Greek restaurants. Add to your experience at the museum by taking a culinary trip to Greece before or after your visit.

One of the things I love most about Chicago is the rich cultural life available.  It is truly amazing the quantity and quality of family theatre here in Chicago.  One of the best examples of family theatre here in the city is the Chicago Children’s Theatre.  Their mission is to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us.

The Chicago Children’s Theatre invited the girls and I to their latest production of Goodnight Moon at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre last week, and the show definitely inspired me.  The actors and sets were enchanting.  Goodnight Moon is one of our favorite books, and the Chicago Children’s Theatre brought the book to life.

From the moment Little Bunny, Alex Goodrich, stepped out on stage, my girls were enthralled.  His energy was infectious.  I especially loved Sara Sevigny’s portrayal of the  Old Lady Whispering Hush.  Any mother who has tried to get her kids to GO TO SLEEP will relate to her frustration and her inability not to get sucked into playing and laughing for just a few more minutes…

We saw the show on a weekday morning, and there were a number of school groups there.  I have to admit, it got pretty loud at times.  The cast encourages audience participation, which is part of the fun.  Plus,  as a mom of two toddlers, it was nice not to have to worry about them staying quiet during the entire performance.

Goodnight Moon is the perfect way to introduce your little ones to live theatre.  I highly recommend seeing the show, and can’t wait to see Chicago Children’s Theatre’s next production.

If you can make their Friday night performances on December 9th or 16th, dawn your favorite PJs and enjoy a pajama party complete with FREE cookies and milk after the show.  Even if you can’t make one of their pajama parties, bring a pair of fabulous PJs for Goodnight Moon’s Pajama Drive benefiting the pajamaprogram.org.  Plus,for every pair of new pajamas donated during the run of Goodnight Moon, Scholastic Books will donate an equal number of early learning books for disadvantaged youth.

Inside Scoop:

• What – Goodnight Moon
• Where – Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre (2433 N. Lincoln)
• When – Now through December 23rd
• Cost – adults $36, kids $26.  Click here to purchase tickets.
• Insider Tip – On the go readers can get $5 off with special discount code REDBALLOON (all one word).

Disclosure – On the go was provided tickets to the show for free, but was not paid to or required to write a review of the performance.  All opinions expressed in this blog are my own.

The girls and I were lucky enough to be invited to the media night at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus last night.  It was their first time at the circus, and my first time since I was a kid.  We had a great time.

My two year old started off a bit leary.  She was not quite sure what to make of the dark room, loud noises and flashing lights.  As soon as the elephant came out to help sing the national anthem, she was fully enthralled and smiling from ear to ear!

From the acrobats and aerialist to dancing elephants and the guy on fire being shot across the arena’s floor, there was non-stop excited.  My girls were especially enamored with the gymnast at the end of the show and the elephants.  I was mystified by the man in the small ring with 15 tigers.  It was thrilling to watch him work with them to lay down, roll over, and jump on to pedestals.  There was definitely a sense of suspense, especially when they would roar so loud it was picked up by the trainer’s microphone.

I was a bit worried my kids would fade given that the performance started about the time we usually start our bedtime routine, but the girls were on the edge of their seat the entire time.  As we were walking to the car, both of them were begging to come back again.  They’ve spent the morning recounting all of their favorite parts, as they take turns stomping around the house in the clown shoes we took home from the show!

On the go readers can get a special discount on tickets – 4 tickets for $44 on weekday shows or save $4 on weekend shows with promotion code MOM.  Simply click here to get your discounted tickets.

Inside Scoop:

• What – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Fully Charged
• Where – Allstate Arena & United Center
• When – The Circus will be at Allstate November 3rd though the 13th, and at the United Center from November 16th through the 27th.
• Cost – Tickets start at $13
• Insider Tip – Use promotion code MOM to get a special discount on your tickets. You can also print out this  Coloring Sheet for your little ones.

Disclosure: On the go was given free tickets to last night’s performance, but we were not asked to or required to write about our experience.  The review above is my honest review of our experience.

Well after seeing The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s new exhibit, I have to say…a lot of things!  Eww! What’s Eating you?, opened this past weekend, and the girls and I got a sneak peak last Thursday.  I have to admit that I was a bit leary about this new exhibit.  I wan’t sure I really wanted to know what’s eating me?  Plus, I wasn’t sure if my girls were too young for the concept.

I can assure you that kids of all ages and parents will be fascinated by the exhibit’s imaginative and fun way of showcasing parasites.  The entire exhibit is done in a carnival theme.  Comedian Carrot Top is the MC, and the interactive exhibits will teach you about everything from mosquitos to head lice.  Although there are plenty of “eww” moments, like watching the video of the guinea worm coming out of someone’s foot, the exhibit is more fun then gross.  Kids can play with a pinball machine to learn about the life cycle of specific parasites, spin the “Wheel of Misfortune”, see if they can jump as high as a flea and walk through “hair” to see how head lice live.

Dr. M Lee Goff, world -renowned forensic entomologist and technical consultant for CSI, is the exhibits curator.  During my walk through the exhibit, Dr. Goff shared with me that he hopes the exhibit demystifies the world of parasites, and educates parents and kids alike that parasites are everywhere, not just in developing countries…so wash your hands!

Inside Scoop:

• What – Eww! What’s Eating You
• Where – The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon
• When – October 22nd through January 29th
• Cost – Free with museum admission ($9 adults, $6 children 3-12, 2 and under are FREE)
• Insider Tip – The museum is free on Thursdays.  Plus, during the winter you can park for free in the lot across the street if there is no street parking left.

The Big Top is coming to Chicagoland!  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus newest show, Fully Charged,  opens on November 3rd at the Allstate Arena. The show features exciting acts like Tabayara, an animal trainer who can ride a rearing stallion at a full gallop, orchestrate four-ton elephants in a symphony dance and get eye to eye with tweleve tigers. They also have The Human Fuse, Brian Miser, who will rocket through the air from his self-made human crossbow, the juggling Fusco Brothers, the Negrey Troupe of acrobats, clowns and much more.

We will be going on opening night.  It will be my girls first time at the circus, and I can’t wait to see their faces light up, eat cotton candy and marvel at the acts.

On the go has been offered a family four pack of tickets to give away to one luck reader.  To be entered to win, simply email cindymccarthy@onthegoChicago.com or leave a comment below by end of day Wednesday, October 26th.  Winner can pick from one of five performances (see below).

Plus, on the go readers can get a special discount on tickets – 4 tickets for $44 on weekday shows or save $4 on weekend shows with promotion code MOM.  Simply click here to get your discounted tickets.

Inside Scoop:

• What – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Fully Charged
• Where – Allstate Arena & United Center
• When – The Circus will be at Allstate November 3rd though the 13th, and at the United Center from November 16th through the 27th.
• Cost – Tickets start at $13
• Insider Tip – Use promotion code MOM to get a special discount on your tickets. You can also print out this  Coloring Sheet for your little ones.

Performances available for the family four pack of tickets giveaway:

• Thurs. Nov. 3 @ 7:00 pm
• Wed. Nov. 9 @ 7:00 pm
• Wed. Nov. 10 @ 7:00 pm
• Wed. Nov. 16 @ 7:00 pm
• Thurs Nov. 17 @ 7:00 pm

Find yourself a babysitter, because one lucky reader is winning a great Mom’s Night Out including drinks, food, fun and even a new book!

Like the airlines always say, “Put your oxygen mask on FIRST before helping others.” I don’t know about you, but a fun night out with the girls always helps recharge my batteries.  Our friends at Macaroni Kid Chicago Loop are hosting a Mom’s Night Out next Monday, September 26th.

Mom and author, Amy Wilson, will read from and discuss her book, When Did I Get Like This?: The Screamer, the Worrier, the Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget-Buyer, and Other Mothers I Swore I’d Never Be. Plus, you will dine on yummy food from Dream Dinners, drink wine, go home with a copy of Amy’s book and possibly some free dinners from Dream Dinners.  (I actually made a pasta dish from Dream Dinner tonight, and it was delicious!)

One lucky reader will get TWO FREE TICKETS.  Simply email me at cindymccarthy@onthegoChicago.com or leave a comment below by end of day Wednesday, September 21st.  Good luck!

Inside scoop:

• What – A Mom’s Night Out with Amy Wilson
• Where – Dream Dinners (740 N. Damen Ave.)
• When – Monday, September 26th, 7pm
• Cost – $25.  Click here to reserve your ticket.

On the go was lucky enough to be invited to the premier of Disney on Ice Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey at the United Center last night.  My girls are big Mickey Mouse Club House fans, so they were quite excited.

For some reason I thought it would take me MUCH longer to get to the United Center at that time of day, so we ended up getting there pretty early.  It literally took us about 15 minutes from Lakeview.  Plus, the show has FREE parking. Woo Hoo!

The show basically follows Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy as they travel around the world visiting the characters from some of Disney’s most popular movies (Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch).

Each stop includes a mini performance of that story.  The skating was thrilling to watch, and the costumes and sets were really amazing.  My personal favorite was the pirate ship and crocodile from Peter Pan.  My kids laughed, clapped and were truly enthralled during the performance.  My youngest did get a bit scared by the sea witch during the Little Mermaid and Captain Hook during Peter Pan, but she quickly got over it and was back laughing and clapping.

If you have Disney fans in the house and are looking for something fun to do this week, check out Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey!

Inside Scoop:

• What – Disney on Ice Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey
• Where – United Center (1901 W. Madison St.)
• When – September 7th through 11th
• Cost – $13-$70.  Click here to buy tickets.
• Insider Tip – Bring a sweater, it was a bit cold inside. They serve hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, beer, etc. during the performance, so if you get there early or if you are running late you can grab dinner at the show.

Chicago parents just got a new, hip place to hang with their wee ones!  Kookaburra Play Cafe opened last Friday in Lincoln Park.  The space has a decidedly urban feel, with beautiful exposed beams and modern furnishings.  The cafe features free WiFi, delicious baked goods from Lovely Bake Shop, Metropolis coffee and the standard snacks and drinks for the little ones. The play space is open and geared towards toddlers to 5 year old kids.  It boasts equipment and toys that are eco-conscious and developmentally based including a reading corner, climbing structure, ballet bar, train table, giant doll house and much more.

In addition to offering indoor play, they will be hosting classes, birthday parties and supervised play.  Their party/class room is really spacious and continues the soothing colors and loft like feel of the cafe and play space.

Inside Scoop:

• Where – 2267 Clybourn Ave.
• Cost – Open Play $12/$7 sibling; 10 play punch card $100/$55 sibling
• Inside scoop – Parents of large families rejoice, 3rd or more child is FREE!

Are you looking for a fun way to spend a steamy summer morning without breaking the bank?  Check out the Camp Hollywood Family Film Series at the Davis Theatre (4614 Lincoln Ave.).  The Davis Theatre has been serving families in Lincoln Square for more than 80 years.  Each summer they host their Hollywood Family Film Festival.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday between June 14th and August 17th, you can enjoy a great family movie for only $1 or the combo (movie plus kids tray with popcorn, mini size drink, fun size bag of M&M’s) for only $3.  Doors open at 9:30 and movies start at 10:00.

Movies:

• June 14^th & June 15^th: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (PG)
• June 21^st & June 22^nd: How to Train your Dragon (PG)
• June 28^th & June 29^th: Yogi Bear (PG)
• July 5^th & July 6^th: Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore (PG)
• July 12^th & July 13^th: Nanny McPhee Returns (PG)
• July 19^th & July 20^th: Despicable Me (PG)
• July 26^th & July 27^th: Megamind (PG)
• August 2^nd & August 3^rd: Diary of Wimpy Kid 2 (PG)
• August 9^th & August 10^th: Rango (PG)
• August 16^th & August 17^th: **********Surprise Movie**********

Do you and your wee ones want to spend an evening with Elmo, Abby Cadabby and friends?  Sesame Street Live “1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends” is coming to the Chicago area, and on the go has TWO family four packs of tickets to give away!

You can sing and dance with Elmo, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby and the rest of your favorite characters from Sesame Street at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN (about 50 miles from Chicago) from Wednesday, May 4 through Sunday, May 8, and at Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL (about 15 miles from Chicago) from Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15.

To enter the TWO on the go drawings for a family four pack of tickets, simply send an email to cindymccarthy@onthegochicago.com by 5pm Monday, April 25th. Two winners will be pulled at random using random.org, and they can choose the show they want to attend.

Inside Scoop:

• Show Description – Sesame Street Live “1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends” is a high-energy musical that will transport audiences to far away places as Ernie captains the high seas, Elmo dances to the rhythm of the African rainforest and Bert meets an octopus who has the blues.  It’s a story of adventure and fun that teaches children they can be anyone, do anything and go anywhere with the power of imagination.
• Where – Star Plaza Theatre (8001 Delaware Pl., Merrillville, IN) & Rosemont Theatre (5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont, IL)
• When – Star Plaza – Wednesday, May 4 through Sunday, May 8 and Rosemont Theatre – Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15
• Tickets – Call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The family headed up to Andersonville this past Sunday to visit the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration which is located on the 3rd floor of the Swedish American Museum.  Although the Museum has a Swedish focus, the story of Swedish immigration parallels that of many other groups who left the old world behind and forged new lives in America.

The girls loved this hands-on look at immigration.  They started by exploring what life was like in Sweden on a small farm with pigs, cows and a wonderful cottage they played house in.  They had a blast making food in the kitchen, “milking” the cow and stacking firewood. Then you can ”buy tickets” for the boat to go to America.

After rowing the boat to America, they explored the “new world” including picking vegetables from the garden, using the fishing pole to catch fish off the bridge using magnets and playing in the small cabin. The entire museum is very hands-on, and the perfect place to explore on a cold or rainy day.

They are open limited hours during the week, because they host school tours during the mornings.  In addition to offering a number of educational and family friendly events during the year, they also have a party room you can rent out for private events and birthday parties.

Inside Scoop:

• What – Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration
• Where – Swedish American Museum (5211 N. Clark St.)
• Cost – $4 adults, $3 children, $10 family rate, semi-private party packages start at just $200 for non-members.
• Hours – Mon.-Thur. 1-4pm, Fri. 10-4pm, Sat. & Sun. 11-4pm
• Insider Tips – Join Frey the Viking for Swedish Pancakes, crafts, and games at the Viking Breakfast on June 4th.  The museum is free the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

The kids of Lincoln Square and the rest of the North Side of Chicago are celebrating!  There’s a new place to play, Pickles Playroom!  Located just east of Lincoln on Lawrence, Pickles Playroom offers indoor play, birthday parties, hair cuts and a small cafe.  We visited Pickles last Tuesday with a few friends, and fun was had by all.

One of the things that makes Pickles unique is their gigantic play structure at the back of the play space.  The mini rock-wall, bridge and slide are sure to entertain the more adventuresome older kids, while the train table, grocery store and GIANT doll house are crowd pleasers for the wee ones.  Pickles is the perfect place to go if you have both young school age kids and new walkers to entertain. One word of warning, the slide is quite steep and quick.  I would recommend having someone at the bottom to catch the little ones.

In addition to the fun new play space, they offer hair cuts (that come with 30 minutes of free play) and a small, but thoughtful selection of coffee, pastries and kid-friendly snacks (squeezable apple sauce, greek yogurt, etc.).  I also loved that they offer punch cards starting at just 4 visits.  I am not one to commit, so a four punch card offers us commitment phobes a chance to still save a few bucks!

Inside Scoop:

• What – Pickle’s Playroom
• Where – 2315 W. Lawrence
• Cost – Open Play – $12 ($9 siblings), Hair Cuts – $20 (includes 30 minutes of free play)
• Insider Tip – They offer semi-private parties.  Great way to save a few $$$ on your kids next birthday party.

The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) is one of our favorite places to visit.  The museum is huge and has exhibits geared to kids of all ages.  Best of all, many of them are hands-on!  In addition to their fab ongoing exhibits (Idea Factory, Baby Chick Hatchery, Science Storms, Zephyr and model trains are a few of our favs), they are always adding new exhibits and activities.  The two most recent, which we were lucky enough to be invited to preview, are Body Wolds and the Cycle of Life and Tornado Alley.

Tornado Alley premiered at MSI on March 11th, and will be showing on the giant screen (their Omnimax Theatre) until December 31st.  The movie follows Sean Casey (you may know him from the show Storm Chasers) and the researchers of VORTEX 2 (the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes).  Click here to watch a two minute preview of the film on the MSI site. As you will see in the preview, the movie is a “white knuckler”.  It is amazing to watch the power of these awesome forces of nature.  Although the film is appropriate for children of all ages, I would not bring small children who are easily scared by loud, sudden noises or the dark.

Body Worlds and the Cycle of Life opened to the public last Friday, and will be at MSI until September 5th.  I had not seen the VERY popular Body Worlds 1 & 2 when they came through MSI previously, so I was thrilled to be invited to preview the newest installment of this amazing exhibit.  The focus is on human development (birth to death) and the resilience and vulnerability of the human body during different stages of life and disease. It is truly an amazing and thought provoking look at the cycle of life.  You can’t help buy ask yourself questions about the beauty of conception and the development of a fetus, as well as wonder about the effects the choices you make everyday will have on you as you grow older.

I saw a number of parents using the exhibit as a great teaching tool for their kids.  Kids as young as seven were studying the more than 20 full-body plastinates pointing out kidneys and other body parts.  It was great to see the genuine fascination and wonder on their faces, and how thoroughly engaged they were in discussing how their bodies worked and the effects of what we eat and expose ourselves to have on us over time.  Donald, one of the museums facilitators, was also walking around the exhibit asking kids questions about the human body, and really getting the kids excited about what they were learning.

I found the exhibit to be fascinating and inspiring.  I walked away with a sense of wonder and determination to take better care of the body I have, so that it can better take care of me as I grow old.

Inside Scoop

• Where – Museum of Science & Industry (57th Street & Lake Shore Dr.)
• When – Tornado Alley is showing through March 11th, Body Wolds is on display until September 5th.
• Cost – Both are an additional charge and require a separate ticket.  Click here for details.
• Insider Tips – Buy your tickets online to avoid lines and guarantee entrance.  Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded.  Be sure to give yourself plenty of time.  The Body World’s exhibit is HUGE.

Last night my 3-year-old and I were invited to attend the premier of  Madagascar Live at the Rosemont Theatre.  It was the first big show of its kind that I’ve taken her too, and I was concerned that she would not have the attention span to enjoy the entire show. Boy was I wrong.  When the final curtain fell, she kept asking me if there was going to be more.  She did not want it to end!

She and her three year old BFF, were dancing and wiggling throughout the show.

Girls with their lion glasses

The costumes were great.  My personal favorite was Melman the giraffe.  He was the perfect “hypercon-giraffe”.

Just like the movie, the show has a nice mix of humor that adults and children will enjoy.  There were lots of fun songs, and they even invited everyone to dance in the aisles during the last act.   I also liked the imaginative use of the stage.  They did a great job of transporting the audience from the NY Zoo and subway, to a ship, the Arctic and finally Madagascar.

If you and your little ones like to “move it move it”, check out the show.  Madagascar Live is playing at the Rosemont Theatre through the 20th.

• Where – The Rosemont Theatre (5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont)
• When – Now through March 20th
• Tickets – Click here to purchase tickets
• Tip - If your child is sensitive to noise and flashing lights, make sure you let them know what to expect.  There are a lot of flashing lights and the roar of Alex the Lion can be quite loud and sudden at times.

Madagascar is one of those films that I enjoy as much as my kids, which is why I was especially thrilled to be invited to the opening night of DreamWorks brand-new family show Madagascar Live on March 16th.  Even better, we’ve been given a family four-pack of tickets to opening night (March 16th at 7pm) to give away to one of On The Go’s readers.

To be entered to win, simply email me at cindymccarthy@onthegochicago.com by 5pm on March 10th.  Winner will be pulled at random on the 10th!

Here is the inside scoop:

• Show Description - Madagascar Live is a wild new musical adventure based on the blockbuster DreamWorks film, the show features the lovable crack-a-lackin’ characters from the popular movie. Audiences will join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins, as they escape from their home at New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. This celebration of friendship is brought vividly to life by imaginative sets and costumes, action-packed adventure and spectacular new songs that will inspire everyone to “MOVE IT MOVE IT” in the aisles. “
• Where - Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd.
• When – March 16-20 for nine performances.
• Tickets – For tickets or more information, visit www. rosemonttheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

Looking for a fun way to burn off extra energy and shake your booties next weekend?  The Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN) is hosting their 3rd Annual Wake Up & Boogie Down Family Festival on Saturday, March 5th at the Cubby Bear.  Not only can your little ones spend the morning getting down with their bad selves, but they can get a rock-n-roll makeover (colored hairspray, glitter and temporary tattoos) courtesy of Cultural Care Au Pair, capture their new look with a complimentary photo by ThinkLeigh Photography, decorate cookies with Country Financial, play games and win awesome prizes.  Parents can enjoy coffee from Julius Meinl and 10-minute chair massages from Millennium Wellness…and of course, you can show your kids some new dance moves too!

This event is always a lot of fun for kids and parents alike, plus all of the proceeds raised will enhance NPN’s programs and member services.

NPN has given on the go FOUR tickets to give away to one of our lucky readers.  To be entered into the drawing, send an email to cindymccarthy@onthegoChicago.com by 5pm Tuesday, March  1st.  Good Luck!

Inside Scoop:

• What – Wake Up & Boogie Down Family Festival
• When – Saturday, March 5 from 9:30-12:30
• Where – Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison St.)
• Cost – $20 adults, $10 kids (non-members $25 adults, $15 kids), infants under 1 are free.
• Reserve tickets at www.npnparents.org

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I am a big fan of taking my kids out to see live music.  I love watching my kids innate reactions to music, and their lack of self-consciousness when they dance.  We recently had the pleasure of seeing the Boogers play at one of our favorite venues, Beat Kitchen (2100 W. Belmont).

It was our first Booger’s experience.  Not only do I LOVE the name (you can’t help but smile when you tell someone you are going to see the Boogers play), but we LOVED their Punk Rock take on children’s music.  Think Ramones meets nursery rhymes. Click here to see a short video taken at the show.

Tuesday I caught up with the leader of the band, Crusty Booger (AKA Paul), and asked him a few questions about his band and their unique spin on “family-friendly” music.  After watching Paul and the Boogers in concert I was struck by two things – the parents seemed to be enjoying the concert as much as the kids and the fast beat of their songs really got the kids moving.  There was literally a mosh pit of bouncing and twirling two to seven year olds within seconds of them taking the stage.

Paul started his music career as a traditional Punk Rock musician, but after seeing a band-mates toddler’s reaction to Punk Rock music, getting his PHD in Developmental Psychology and becoming a father he decided to focus his musical talents on making Punk Rock music the entire family can enjoy!  ”Kids don’t go to shows by themselves” said Paul. “Our goal is to entertain the entire family.”

Paul’s lyrics cover everything from traditional nursery rhymes to his kids’ love of PB&J.  ”I write punk songs the way a kid might” said Paul.

Well Paul, we could not agree more.  Your music had a great balance of kid appropriate lyrics and a beat our entire family really got into!  We can’t wait to see you again in concert, and given the fact that your CD is on repeat in our car this week, we’ll know all the lyrics by heart by then!

If your interested in seeing the Boogers live, send me an email at cindymccarthy@onthegoChicago.com.  One lucky winner will receive two tickets to their next show at the Beat Kitchen on April 10th! Winner will be pulled at random on Friday, February 18th.

Tickets are provided by the Beat Kitchen, one of our FAVORITE places to see kids shows.  Check out their awesome line up of family shows on their Facebook page.   Family concerts are held most Sundays at noon for only $5, and are followed by free take home arts and crafts provided by Unicoi Art Studio.  Plus, go a bit early and enjoy brunch.  I am a big fan of their breakfast wrap!

By now I am guessing you have heard of the AWESOME new play space, Little Beans Cafe.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak before they opened and also attended their launch party.  Both times I was impressed by not only the well planned out imaginative play space and beautiful cafe, but also their focus on the parents’ experience.  The owners carefully designed the space and services to ensure that kids and their parents have a great time.

In addition to the urban, loft like coffee shop, the play space has lots of tables and chairs ideally situated so you can watch your little ones play while enjoying a coffee with a friend or catch up on emails with their free wifi.  They also have a parents lounge with a comfy couch and flat screen TV.

Best of all they offer supervised play and classes for moms, tots or the entire family.  What a GENIOUS concept!

Supervised Play – For only $20, I can spend an hour and a half working in the cafe, while my daughter is supervised as she plays to her hearts content in the play space.

Classes – I have been wanting to add another yoga class to my workout routine, but have had a hard time finding the time.  Little Beans offers Yoga classes that include supervised play for the little ones.  Enjoy 8 weeks of yoga and play time for the kiddo for $185. They also offer family yoga, music and art classes for the little ones.

As a working mom of two toddlers I am all about multi-tasking.  Thanks Little Beans for helping me do two things at once!

Inside Scoop

• Where – Little Beans Cafe (1809 W. Webster)
• Cost – Daily Pass $12, Supervised Play $20, Class prices vary see site
• Insider Tip – They offer very generous sibling discounts!

If you are anything like me, you have been over indulging in cookies and under indulging in working out (once a week is not much of a workout routine!).  One great way to burn some calories and have some indoor fun, is to attend one of the three great kids concerts this weekend.  We are going to try and make the Mary Macaroni concert on Sunday at the Beat Kitchen (one of our fav venues and performers, plus the proceeds benefit one of my fav charities!)

SATURDAY (12/11)

The Boogers will be rocking Subterranean on Saturday.  Plus, I love that it is in the afternoon.  I always find it hard to fill that after nap before dinner time in the winter!

• Where – Subterranean (2011 N. Avenue)
• When – 3pm
• Cost – $5

December’s Festivals of Light: I’m Gonna Let it Shine -In this special workshop, veteran children’s music educators Sandy Lucas and Lenny Marsh pair up to share songs from the season’s celebrations and many traditions. Incorporating playful percussive instruments and large metallophones, children and families will sing, dance, and play together. The workshop culminates in a celebratory parade!

• Where – Old Town School of Folk Music (4544 Lincoln)
• When – 10:00am
• Cost – $5

SUNDAY (12/12)

Mary Macaroni (super fun musician/magician) will be playing a benefit concert for Bundle of Joy Diaper Bank.  Bundle of Joy collects and distributes diapers to the more than 30% of Chicago’s children living under the poverty line.  Proceeds benefit Bundle of Joy, and they will be collecting diapers (even loose diapers) at the door.

• Where – Beat Kitchen
• When – 12:00pm
• Cost – $5

Karen 4 Kids is playing at the Beat Kitchen this Sunday, November 14th at noon.  Tickets are $5 at the door and all proceeds go to one of my favorite charities, Bundle of Joy Diaper Bank.  Going to the Beat Kitchen for brunch and a show is one of our favorite winter time activities.  The food is delicious, and our kids get to dance and wiggle to some of Chicago’s best kids music for just $5 per person!  Such a deal.  If you want to snag a table for brunch, I recommend getting there when they open at 11.

Food, fun and a warm fuzzy feeling for supporting an amazing charity!  What more can you ask for on a Sunday morning!

• Where – Beat Kitchen (2100 Belmont)
• What – Karen 4 Kids Concert
• Cost – $5
• Insider Tip – Bring an extra package of diapers or even the leftover loose two small ones you have laying around the house.  Bundle of Joy supplies diapers to the more than 30% of Chicago’s children living under the poverty level!

Now that the weather has turned cold, the girls and I have been looking for fun, free, indoor activities, and storytimes are one of our “go to” morning activities.  Bellybum is a fantastic eco-friendly, yet chic boutique on Chicago’s North Side, and they have a storytime that is not only fun but also green!

Every other Friday at 11:15 you can visit Bellybum for Green Storytime with “Miss Alix” local author and illustrator of “Loui Saves the Earth.” Miss Alix will read the latest ‘green centered’ children’s books and lead your kids through an eco-friendly children’s activity.

• Where – Bellybum Boutique (4347 N. Lincoln Ave.)
• When – Friday, November 12th and every other Friday at 11:15am
• Cost – Free

My girls and I were lucky enough to get a sneak peak at the new exhibit, Exploring Trees Inside and Out, at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, which opened to the public this past weekend.  If your not already a tree hugger, you will be after exploring this exhibit.  They did a fabulous job of masking learning and information with fun!  Between the giant tree fort/slide and the touch, listen and smell opportunities, my family had an amazing time and learned a tremendous amount.

Another cool part of the exhibit is the Bird’s-Eye View.  Your kids can dress up in squirrel, bird and leave costumes, select a scene on the video monitor, and then watch themselves on the TV as they fly through the air or play on the trees.

This is the ninth stop for this exhibit presented by DoubleTree Hotels and the Arbor Day Foundation, but even though it is a traveling exhibit they managed to infuse local information about our native forests and trees. If you are looking for something new to explore that not only burns off some energy, but is educational too, check out Exploring Trees Inside & Out.

• Where – Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 Cannon Drive)
• When – Now through January 30th
• Cost – Free with museum admission ($9 adults, children 3+ $6)
• Insider Tip – Thursdays are suggested donation days

My girls and I were invited to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center earlier this week as part of an event they hosted for bloggers.  I had passed Legoland on my way to Woodfield Mall several times, and had been wanting to try it out.  Although my girls were a bit young for some of the attractions, there was still plenty to keep us entertained.  Plus, they gave me four free tickets for my readers!

I would describe Legoland as part amusement park, part indoor playground and party retail store.  From the moment we pulled into the parking lot my girls were mesmerized by the giant lego giraffe in front of the store.  We started our visit in the Miniland, which has an amazing scale model of the Chicago skyline made out of legos.  The walls of the exhibit are lined with fun facts about the city, so your little ones can learn a thing or two too.  Next we headed to the Jungle Experience, where we continued to be impressed by the larger than life animals and spiders made out of legos.  I couldn’t help thinking about how long it must have taken to build all of those models.  Crazy!

Next we headed to the Lego factory and then on to the play area.  My girls had a blast digging through the bins of legos to build towers.  My youngest also loved the giant soft lego pit.  She kept diving into them like they were a ball pit.

The food in the cafe was standard snackbar fare, but I particularly liked that the mini playground was within view of the tables so my older daughter could play while I finished eating.  We wrapped up our visit with a viewing of one of their 4D movies (which had awesome effects).  For older kids they had a couple rides and the opportunity to build more complicated lego models with “master builders,” which looked like a ton of fun for school age kids.

All and all we had a great time, and I look forward to going back especially as the girls get a bit older and can participate in some of the building opportunities.   As a parting gift, Legoland gave me four free passes to give away to my readers!  Simply send me an email (cindymccarthy@onthegochicago.c0m) to be entered into a drawing to win the passes.  I will pull the winner next Friday, October 8th.

• Where – 601 N. Martingale Rd., Schaumburg, IL
• Cost – Online weekday ticket $10 for adults and children, $15 on the weekends
• Upcoming Event – Toddler Tuesdays every Tuesday in October and November.  Doors open at 10am.  Cost is $14 for child and parent.  Your toddler can participate in creative challenges geared towards their age group on the second floor.

Following are a list of free days at Chicago Area Museums & Attractions this June.  Great for a rainy day!

• Field Museum –  June 14 (every second Monday is free) and June 2 & 3
• Adler Planetarium – June 7-11
• Chicago Children’s Museum –Thursdays from 5-8pm the museum is free to all.  Every first Sunday, 15 and under are free.  Plus, if you are a member of the DuPage Children’s Museum, you can always get in free.
• Museum of Science and Industry – June 7-11
• Art Institute – Every Thursday from 5-8pm
• Museum of Contemporary Art – Every Tuesday
• Chicago History Museum – Every Monday
• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Thursdays are suggested donation days
• Shedd Aquarium – June 14-18.
• Lincoln Park Zoo – ALWAYS free

One thing to note is that free days generally only include general admission.  If you want to see a special attraction or exhibit you normally have to pay a small fee. Also, free days tend to be crowded.  A lot of neighborhood schools do field trips on free days.

Parking

As a mom always looking to save a few bucks, I tend to scope out the cheapest parking options.  Here are a few insider tips on saving money on Chicago parking.

• Shedd, Adler and Field Museum Campus – If you get there early (before 10:30), you can almost always find a metered spot.  Drive past the normal parking and head towards the Adler.  Turn right down Solidarity Drive. Metered parking spots line both sides of Solidarity Drive.
• Art Institute – There is metered parking on South Columbus Drive directly behind the modern wing.  You can only stay a few hours without feeding the meter again, but, honestly, my kids only have a two-hour attention span anyways.
• Museum of Science and Industry – Don’t be fooled by the parking signs telling you to take the 57^th St. exit from Lakeshore Dr.  Instead, exit onto Science Dr. from Lakeshore.   There is a HUGE free lot.  I was told last week that they plan to eventually install meters, but even meters will be cheaper than the $16 underground lot.

If you are interested in learning more about being green and green companies, check out the Chicago Green Festival this weekend.

In addition to the more than 350 green business attending, you’ll also enjoy great how-to workshops, a Fair Trade pavilion, a Green Home pavilion, an Organic Food and Gardening pavilion, a Community Action and Green Careers pavilion, a Sweet Spot Café, a Green Kid’s activities and delicious organic beer, wine and cuisine.

Green Kids Zone activities include crafts, sing along, animal show, yoga, storytime and more.

• Where – Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
• When – Sat., May 22 from 10am-7pm, Sun., May 23 from 11am-6pm
• Cost – Adults $10, kids are FREE