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!
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