Category: Hip Mommas & Pappas

Peter Cottontail is packing up his gear and is getting ready to make his annual appearance, hiding eggs in just about every nook and cranny! Here's a list of fun-filled events of a secular nature the whole family will enjoy!

Celebrate Easter in the Parks! - Now through Saturday, March 22nd!: Pick a spot and go! The biggest event is down at Soldier Field this Saturday before the St Pat's parade, making it an egg-sellent way to spend time together and revel in the festivities!

Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club - Saturday, March 22nd at 10am: I remember going to this event as a kid, and I can tell you it was A LOT of fun! It's on Irving Park Road next to the river, where that HUMUNGOUS carnival is held every year! Mom and Dad will be up to their long, floppy ears with all the eggs the kids will be bringing home on this one!

Lamb's Farm Bunny and Easter Brunch - Friday, March 21st – Sunday, March 23rd: If you've never been to Lamb's Farm before, this will surely be a real treat for you all! And Easter weekend is even better! It's just a hop, skip and a jump north of the city, making the drive on the expressway so very worth it. (It also helps benefit folks with developmental disabilities to lead personally fulfilling lives.)

Easter Bunny Photos at the HIP - Now through Saturday, March 22nd: This is probably one of the nicest Easter mall displays around, so if you want to get your kids' annual photo taken, check this one out!

Breakfast with the Bunny at Brookfield Zoo - Now through Sunday, March 23rd: All you can east buffets every weekend leading up to Easter, and on the Big Day, photo ops with The Bunny are included, along with visits from his furry friends from the children's zoo! Seating is limited, so be sure to make a reservation!

Odyssey Easter Brunch Cruise - Sunday, March 23rd: Looking to step it up a notch for Easter Brunch where the kids can have fun at the same time? Then this might just be the perfect combo. It launches from Navy Pier, so if you really want to go all out, you can also take part in all the fun activities that's going on there as well! And don't forget to visit the Chicago Children's Museum while you're there and perhaps catch a flick at the IMAX at Navy Pier, too!

With the American palate in a constant state of change, seeking out a unique dining experience can be a real challenge when the kids are in town. You need to keep it on a budget, the food has to be quick, and you need to be able to score a parking spot. At the same time, you also need to be assured families are indeed welcome and the restaurant has something on the menu the kids will actually eat! Well I have some great news for you! I compiled a brief list of places to satisfy that special craving you got a hankering for that has booster seats at the ready! And since I’m also a mom, I made sure every restaurant listed is finger food friendly, too!

Ras Dashen: This Ethiopian restaurant has lots of mild and not too spicy items on the menu for them, and plenty of heat for you! The tables are spread apart enough so you don’t have to fold up the stroller, and the larger dining hall in the back is perfect for tots who can get rather vocal, without you feeling like you got dumped off into no man’s land.

El Cid: Show me a kid that doesn’t like tacos, and I’ll show you a kid that will happily eat here! The location on Milwaukee is better suited for families, since things are spread out a little bit better, and the parking at the CVS can’t be beat! Oh and mom – everything is cooked in vegetable oil, so this Mexican restaurant is even a little on the healthy side!

Andies Restaurant: Mediterranean never tasted so good, and these guys are sure to please! A lot of kids like falafel once they try it, and hummus and pita bread is an easy switch from chips and dip. And who knows, with all that Nom Nom Nomm-ing going on from you, they might just want to sample off your plate, too! (The Lakeview area has more ample seating and better parking!)

Manee Thai: Kids love noodles, so Thai is pretty much a gimme! What sets this place apart from other restaurants in the city is its location when it comes to being on the kid friendly side, since it’s housed in what used to be a family pancake house…so you know there’s plenty of space! That, and the parking in the area is pretty reasonable! Also, if you tell these guys to go easy on the spice and oil, they actually accommodate!

Gulliver’s: Give that pizza-hustling rodent the boot, because this place is not only makes a great pie, but it has a million other items on the menu, perfect for even the pickiest eater! There’s ample, free parking, plenty of seating, and lots of stuff to look at! Be sure to stop by Indian Boundary afterwards!

This is probably the worst time of year for most kids here in Chicago, whether they attend school or are home schooled. The weather is at its coldest now and the holidays have become a distant memory, so cabin fever has definitely set in by now. What’s worse is us moms and dads are feeling the winter blahs right along with them. With at least a month to go before regular outside play becomes a reality, it’s time to start hitting all those wonderful indoor activities the city has to offer!

The first thing that comes to mind are all the great museums we’re so fortunate to have! Besides the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, places kids beg to return to again and again include the Museum of Science and Industry, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd is especially wonderful at this time of year, since there are a lot less tourists than in the summer, and getting even a taste of a warmer climate is just so good for the soul. Just keep in mind each one of these places can run the average family up to and possibly over $100 a day, so hitting the local library for a museum pass can really help curb the sticker shock!

On those rare winter days where the weather provides a spring sneak peek, go play hookie and head down to the zoo or the park! We have two major zoos in the area, the Brookfield Zoo and the Lincoln Park Zoo, which just so happens to be free! Getting out and walking around with the kids is good for getting in some much needed exercise, is educational and yes, it’s an excellent way to bond. If we get REALLY lucky and we get one of those freakish 60 degree days, take full advantage of it and head up north to Indian Boundary. If you’ve never been there, let m assure you it’s truly one of the city’s biggest hidden treasures for kids and is just so worth discovering.

If you feel like packing up the wagon and taking a drive, jump on I-94 and head due north. No, I’m not talking about the giant outlet mall, and Bugs Bunny is still in deep hibernation, though discount shopping is always tempting! What I’m talking about is Lambs Farm out in Libertyville. Besides having a plethora of wonderful family oriented things to do and places to eat, you’ll leave with a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that you directly contributed to helping a large group of special individuals.

So whatever it is you do, just be sure to get out there and have fun together!

What a beautiful, beautiful park - a place children will beg to return to again and again! Not only does it have a giant playground and spray pool, but it also has a lagoon where ducks and geese swim in and has a neat little zoo to boot! There is also a charming Tudor style field house on the grounds, picnic tables and even a performing arts building. This is probably the most unique park in all of Chicago! In fact, one has to wonder if that song “Saturday in the Park” was partially inspired by this place!

When the kids first start making a bee line for the playground, their eyes will glaze over like saucers - this wooden construction lot is HUGE, with lots to climb on and explore! It’s decked out like an old fort, perhaps granting a nod to the land’s history. Of course, one thing that’s always important with the kiddos is there are enough slides and swings around so they don’t have to wait to get on one - Indian Boundary does not disappoint. They will surely find lots of other kids to play with, because this playground is so very popular with the locals. In fact, many families come here in the summer with the intention of having a barbecue and making a day of it. It’s little wonder why so many groups opt to hold their social gatherings here.

If (not when!) the kids get tired of the play lot, go as a family and explore the rest of the park. The beautiful lagoon has plenty of vantage points to view the ducks and geese merrily swimming around. At the other end is where the small zoo and field house are located. While it’s a given with most people these days, a gentle reminder is posted to please not feed any animals, enclosed or otherwise. On top of everything else, there is a performing arts building and field house to check out as well, where just about every interest is catered. Be sure to stop in and see what’s on the calendar!

Getting to Indian Boundary is pretty easy, though it’s somewhat off the beaten path. Granted, parking in the area can be a little on the sticky side, especially on weekends, but I have personally never had to spend more than ten minutes of circling the park to scope out a spot. Just be on the lookout for the permit only and street cleaning signs and you’ll do just fine.

Where else in Chicago are you going to see fish that swim by and see you as dinner? Combine that with the fun dolphins, beluga whales, penguins and otters, on top of all those neat and bizarre fish from all over the world, and you will find yourselves at the Shedd Aquarium. It’s probably one of the best aquariums in the country, not to mention impressive, considering the nearest ocean is over a thousand miles away!

Besides what has already been mentioned, two other favorite spots include the delicate sea horses stingrays and the awe inspiring moon jellies. What I found to be particularly impressive is the tank with sturgeon, which are just now beginning to make a comeback to Lake Michigan, and watching scuba divers feed the animals is just plain cool, okay!

Free parking is available by the meters on Sundays, but since they’re in high demand, you need to get down there early to scoop one up! There is also a cash lot nearby, with cabs and public transportation always available. Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines! Sunday mornings are probably the best bet if a weekday isn’t practical, since the tourists haven’t gotten into town yet.

Because the Shedd is undoubtedly the most visited museum in the city, the lines here can get worse than camping out for Cubs tickets, especially in summer. The place is also on the pricey side of things, but is understandable due to the sheer magnitude of running such a facility. The Surroundings restaurant, while absolutely delicious and remarkable, is also on the expensive side, but offers a wonderful view of the skyline that makes up for it, and yes, they take reservations. Of course, locals know parking at the museum campus is tricky at best, but I fail to see how $25 valet parking is justified. I say go in winter, get the pass, pack a lunch and ride the bus or trolley!

What an exciting place to take the kids! There is just so much for them to see and do, all with a gentle slant that will leave you all with a passion for wanting to take charge in caring for the environment! And yes, you just might learn a thing or two as well! And, because it’s right by the beach, you can certainly make a day of your visit!

The largest exhibit they offer is outdoors called the Greening Project, which is really pretty and shows just how much they care about the environment. It’s also a recycling center, so feel free to bring your glass, plastic and paper along for the kids to contribute. An exhibit geared towards little ones is two stories tall, called the Hands On Habitat. It gives an inside view of various animal homes, which is always a big hit with the kiddos - climb up into the tree house, play with the water, ride down the slide, whatever! Another exhibit kids gravitate towards is the Mysteries of the Marsh, with creepy crawlies and swampy plants. Then there’s the Riverworks exhibit, another place to play with the water while learning a little something along the way.

Of course, one of the museum’s best assets is the butterfly room. Hundreds of beautiful butterflies merrily flutter around, many times landing on you. Some say it is a kiss from Nature, others a sign of good luck, so telling the kids those little tidbits ahead of time will make them even more eager to head in there! Just please remember not to touch them - let them touch you!

As far as the food goes, while it may be on the pricer side of things, you can be rest assured every item on the menu is all natural and home made and provided from local businesses, many ingredients local as well. Brown bagging is perfectly fine as well, with a group seating area on the first level over by the marsh exhibit. Please remember to use the recycling facilities! Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!

What other place in Chicago can be more fun to spend a day with the kids than this place! I promise, it is just as much fun as you remember, possibly for different reasons! From walking through the captured U-Boat, to boarding the Boeing 747, to the coal mine ride and the annual Christmas Around the World display, so many fond memories stir just thinking about this wonderful museum! And yes, it’s a place where the parents have as much fun as the kids.

It is literally impossible to list all of the things to see and do here, and for many people, a single day just isn’t enough. Besides the highlights already mentioned, other popular exhibits include the fairy castle dollhouse (every little girl’s dream!), a HUGE model train exhibit, the Old Chicago area and the adorable chick hatchery. Almost everything there is completely hands on, though some of the older exhibits are in dire need of update and repair.

I’m not going to kid you, this place can really start racking up money wise, because many of the best exhibits cost extra to see, especially the traveling ones and the OmniMax. Be sure to pack a lunch and check their site beforehand for special exhibits and pricing. There is free parking on the east side of the museum by the Lake Shore and Museum Drives if you get there early enough, and while the ice cream parlor in Yesterday’s Main Street may offer promise of excellent treats, they’re really not all that. (Buy the kids a cone on the way home. Trust me.

As always, the most memorable souvenirs are the ones your kids make for you. Bring a roll of quarters and run the die cast machines, collecting as many of those plastic novelties as possible. In our house, we actually transformed them into tree ornaments! And yep, you might just want to cave in at a soda or candy machine, too. Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!

This is Chicago’s largest library, and as far as I know, the only one open on Sundays. There is an over abundance of information here for all ages. There is plenty for kids to do - this isn‘t just a place for college kids! And, because it’s located just south of the Loop, the Washington Library is a great place to plan a day around!

The first stop should be to visit the librarian, ensuring your library card is up to date, as are your children’s cards. They are only good for two years, so getting that taken care of ahead of time is a very good idea! Trust me, it will save a lot of headache if you do this before you find the books you like! What? You don’t have one? Then be sure to bring a form of identification along with a piece of mail that proves you are indeed a Chicago resident. Even if you don’t plan on checking out any books that day, accessing many of their computers requires one.

After that is all squared away, it’s time to check out all those wonderful tomes! The Children’s Library is located on the second floor, which of course is the focus point for moms and dads. There are more children’s books here than anyplace else in the entire city - take that, Barnes and Noble! They have their own check out desk and bathrooms, as well as seating for up to 150, with tables and chairs just the right size.

On top of that, there are plenty of story time sessions and events for kids that many families visit every week. Many home schooling families get a lot of use out of this library, making this department of the library very safe and conductive for learning at any time of the day. In fact, there are so many events centered around children that it can be hard to visit only once a week. Be sure to grab an event flyer when you visit, as there is always something special going on! Be sure to head upstairs, too! On the ninth floor is the winter garden, which is simply stunning! It’s over 100 feet tall beneath a huge sky light, housing beautiful trees, with even more tables for reading - a wonderful way to top off the visit!

If your only experience at the Field Museum is with your fourth grade class, then you and your family are sorely missing out! Besides getting up close and personal with Sue, the most complete T Rex skeleton in the world, there are so many wonderful exhibits to explore, with lots of hands on stuff to keep the kids busy for hours on end. Be sure to bring the stroller, the comfy shoes and pack a lunch, because this place is probably bigger than you remember!

Besides the dinosaurs, the ancient Egyptian exhibit, complete with a real wrapped mummy, is very, very cool, with lots of hands on features! The entrance to that exhibit And yes, the precious gem exhibit is a great way to get your bling on while the kids marvel at all the shiny things right there with you! Of course, be sure to check their web site beforehand, to see if the featured exhibit is something you and your family would be interested in.

As far as food goes, there’s pricey vending machine fare, a McDonald’s and a Corner Bakery, but personally, I suggest to brown bag it and eat by the free picnic tables down by the narwhal display, timed when the field trippers are absent. Somehow, it just takes me back to when I was a kid, with my can of fruit punch wrapped up in tin foil, trading off half of my PB & J for a snack pack. That, and it’s a guarantee the kids in tow will get some reasonably priced nutrition in there, while spending some good bonding and down time together. Ah yes, it’s nostalgia at its finest!

Since school children tend to monopolize the museum in the early fall and late spring, and the tourists come in droves in the summer, on holidays and during winter breaks, plan your day around them all. If at all possible, go on a week day or when they offer extended hours, so you all can truly enjoy your visit.

Free parking is available by the meters on Sundays, but since they’re in high demand, you need to get down there early to scoop one up! There is also a cash lot nearby, with cabs and public transportation always available. Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!

While the name has changed from the Chicago Historical Society, the game is still the same, offering an in depth look into how our home town has begun and right up to the present. While it’s certainly not the largest museum in town and kids may want to leave after a couple hours, it’s right by the completely free Lincoln Park Zoo and the beach. Therefore, this museum is located in an ideal location for spending the perfect day with your family, providing perhaps a new appreciation for where we call home.

Exhibits include just about everything you could ever want to know more about, from how the settlers lived, dioramas regarding the Great Fire, to cool Al Capone type stuff and just about everything else. A lot of dedication is focused on Abe Lincoln as well, including the bed he died in. Exhibits like the race riots and footage from the notorious ‘68 Democratic Convention are also present, and while not pretty aspects of our history, are important nonetheless and offer learning opportunities.

Since its grand reopening, many new exhibits and features have been added to delight young and old. Seeing the first El Train is pretty cool, and the Children’s Gallery is a must see. Also, seeing stuff from the World’s Fair and the old Riverview Park is especially cool, as is the Jazz Room, as well as lots of other iconic imagery, including all the sports memorabilia!

What is truly impressive is how so many immigrants and minorities are thoroughly represented, offering a plethora of information for kids and perhaps will even swell their souls with pride. It is so refreshing to see a place that displays how important every contribution made has had a direct impact on our city.

As far as food goes, there is a Wolfgang Puck cafe inside, and while the food is absolutely delicious, I can’t see wrangling younger children in there, and it kind of breaks the budget for families anyway. Pack a lunch instead. Remember, you all can always enjoy it at the nearby zoo or beach!

Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!