Weekend Family Fun - Chicago & Suburbs

SUMMER'S OVER....
Time to put away the white capris and start concentrating on apples, scarecrows and pumpkins. The fall festival season is gearing up, and kidwinks is the place to find those that are kid-friendly. You'll find a few listed below; check our family-friendly Events Calendar for the rest.
If any of you are visiting Kiddieland this weekend, look for us - we plan to be in the park, tattooing kids on Saturday. Stop by and say hi!
Sorry this newsletter is late - the week got a little away from me. But here are a few fun ideas for the family for the end of the week and weekend.

Thursday, September 10
Free Admission - Notebaert Nature MuseumChicago, IL Thursdays - Admission is FREE.
Eli’s/Wright Farmer’s Market Chicago, IL Fresh Produce, grilled market lunch and fun activities for the whole family! Check website …
Independence Grove Libertyville, ILTwo of our members suggested we add this park to kidwinks. It sounds very cool – check it out!
U Pick Various Cities, IL Try your hand at picking some fresh apples or berries. Check each farm to see what’s available.

Friday, September 11 – Patriots’ Day
Disney on Ice Chicago, ILJoin the celebration as 65 of Disney's characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in this …
Kids Club Schaumburg, ILProspective members are invited to join us for a fun morning of open play, crafts and circle time.
Festival of the Vine Geneva, ILThe Kids’ Patch offers a hay stack treasure hunt, tractor pull, gourd crafts, face painting and ...
Dave Herzog's Marionettes Park Ridge, IL Join us for this free family event. Dave is a professional puppeteer with 35 years of exper….
Growing Cents of Style New Mom Presale Barrington, IL New Mom Presale is open to women expecting or who have had a baby in the past 4 months.
Kids Flicks - Morton Grove Public Library Morton Grove, IL
Kids Flicks will be shown the second Friday of every month. Check library website for this ….

Saturday, September 12
Freedom Fest - Downtown Barrington Barrington, IL This family oriented festival is guaranteed to touch both heart and mind.
Nature Nights Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL Bring a picnic dinner and spend an evening in the Garden with your family. Explore and take part …
Deerfield Community Services Day Deerfield, IL Where can you go for FREE entertainment, demonstrations, information, and giveaways?
Forest Park Rib Fest Forest Park, ILThere will be activities for all members of the family, young & old alike. Bring your appetite.
Glenview Blades Equipment Resale Glenview, IL Buy gently used figure skating and hockey skates, apparel and equipment at bargain prices.
Park Ridge Community Wide Garage Sale Park Ridge, IL 3rd Annual Park Ridge Community Wide Garage Sale.

Sunday, September 13
Bear Awareness Weekend - Brookfield Zoo Brookfield, ILActivities will include special enrichment and Zoo Chats, training sessions and educational displays.
Corn Fest at Graue Mill Oak Brook, IL Celebrate the beginning of fall with an old-fashioned family picnic! This popular event has ...
Fall Harvest Day - Blackberry Farm Aurora, IL Come out on a beautiful Indian summer day for one of Blackberry’s most popular special events.
Free Showing of Charlotte's Web -- Tivoli Theater Downers Grove, ILThis free showing of the film is in conjunction with the Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival.
Public Safety Awareness Day Glenview, ILNIPSTA is open to the public for this one day of live demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Woofstock (Family & Dogs) Highland Park, IL Bring your four legged friends to Moraine Beach for an afternoon of family fun.
We add new listings continually, so make sure to check our family-friendly Events Calendar and our Ongoing Activities section frequently as you look for events and activities to enjoy with your kids. And when you decide to take the kids out to eat, please check our Kids Eat Free Calendar first, so you know where they can eat free or cheap. The calendar also lists restaurants offering special entertainment (like magicians) for kids.
ALWAYS make sure to verify our facts with the listing businesses' websites - they're only a click away. Details may change without our knowledge, or (gasp!) we could even make a data entry error.
Have a great weekend!

Labor Day Weekend Fun for Families in Chicago & Suburbs

First of all, we'd like to congratulate palvizu and tddalton, our two winners in our drawing for 5 free tickets to Kiddieland. Thank you to the 104 of you who participated - we love to see your pictures and learn more about you.

The long Labor Day Weekend is here, and there's all sorts of family-friendly events and activities going on all over Chicago and the suburbs. There are many festivals throughout the area, so rather than try to fit them into one particular day in my newsletter, I changed the format a bit. I've listed a few events for each day, and then listed some of the festivals separately. Most of the festivals run all weekend, but not all, so make sure you check the schedules for each.

Friday, September 4
Far Out Fridays - Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL Enjoy the spectacle of the starry sky as you experience Far Out Fridays at the Adler .
Happy Hour/Teddy Bear Dinner at Nibbles Play Cafe Wheeling, IL Happy hour starts at 5:00 with free kids appetizers and at 6:00 -bring your favorite …
Free Outdoor Movies Long Grove, ILTell your friends and bring your kids and neighbors to this fun event in the suburbs.
Taste of Polonia Chicago, IL
Families will enjoy a weekend full of exciting entertainment, our new Kids Stage, activities …

Saturday, September 5
Free Fishing for Kids Evanston, IL Equipment, bait and fishing expertise are provided for free at this popular event.
WFamily Free Events - Old Orchard Shopping Mall Skokie, ILActivities include storytelling sponsored by Barnes & Noble and make-it-and-take it crafts.
Braids and Bows American Girl Place Chicago, ILLearn the basics of braiding! Our Doll Hair Salon stylists will share secrets for pulling off a ….
Exploration Station - Oak Park Conservatory Oak Park, ILChildren are guided by docents through explorations of birds, plants and the ecosystems…

Sunday, September 6
Free Admission to Chicago Children's Museum Chicago, IL Target Free First Sundays. First Sunday of every month: Free admission for ages 15 and under.
Mary Poppins Sing-a-Long at Wilmette Theater Wilmette, ILMARY POPPINS SING-A-LONGMovie with live cast
Family Drop In Activities - Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, ILGet close to nature and discover where food comes from with fun, free activities.
County Farm Fair - Kline Creek Farm Winfield, ILBring the kids to experience an old-fashioned fair including blue ribbons, games, entertainment, …

Monday, September 7 – Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day Family Jump Chicago, IL Come bounce, climb and play on Labor Day. Open to all ages, 10am-2pm, cost is $10/child.
Carillon Concerts at Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL Enjoy an enchanting 45-minute musical performance of carillon bells on a warm ….
Sammy Starfish B-Day Bash Carol Stream, ILCoral Cove Waterpark will celebrate Sammy the Starfish's birthday with free admission all day.
Historical Chicago Tour American Girl Place Chicago, IL Spend a day with your girl in Chicago! Your experience begins with brunch and an intro…

Labor Day Weekend Festivals
Naperville Last Fling Naperville, IL The 2009 Last Fling is fun and exciting for the whole family! Parade, rides, entertainment …
North Shore Greek Fest Deerfield, IL
Authentic Greek food and pastries, live and DJ music, dancing, children's games and entertain...
Paula Red Festival 2009 Sturtevant, WI
This festival celebrates the beginning of apple picking season. Family fun activities, entertain…
Glen Ellyn Autumn Daze Glen Ellyn, IL
Kids rides, games and pony rides, Radio Disney Road Crew Shows, Art Show Music, live bands …
Schaumburg Septemberfest Schaumburg, IL
As always, admission and entertainment at Septemberfest are FREE to the public!
Fox Valley Folk Festival Geneva, IL
Concerts, topical song and story workshops, special activities and things for the kids, vocal...

We add new listings continually, so make sure to check our family-friendly Events Calendar and our Ongoing Activities section frequently as you look for events and activities to enjoy with your kids. And when you decide to take the kids out to eat, please check our Kids Eat Free Calendar first, so you know where they can eat free or cheap. The calendar also lists restaurants offering special entertainment (like magicians) for kids.
Enjoy your long weekend!

Nina Jean
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Kidwinks.com eNewsletter 8/30/2009

We had a marshmallow roast in our backyard last night, and my daughter wore her winter boots to keep her feet warm. Earth to Mother Nature: "It's August! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???"
Listen, we'd like to ask your help. Many of you have emailed us about all the fun new things and great restaurants you've found using kidwinks. Thank you for that - we love to know we're helping our fellow busy parents (and even grandparents!). So WE know how helpful the website is; and YOU know how helpful it is. It's time our listings businesses knew it too. Would you mind telling the manager the next time you visit a business or event after finding it on kidwinks? Honestly, they like to know how best to reach customers, and will appreciate your feedback. It will also help us gain advertisers (our only source of income), and hopefully open the door to some new prizes for us to offer you. Thank you in advance!
Since the coming weekend is a long one, I thought I'd just concentrate on the first part of the week in this newsletter, and send a separate one tomorrow covering the Labor Day Weekend. If you don't see something that tickles your fancy here, you can find lots more to choose from by clicking through our Events Calendar or browsing through the Ongoing Activities section. Don't spend more money than you have to when taking the kids out to eat: check our Kids Eat Free Calendar first.

Monday, August 31
End of Summer Concert - Millenium ParkChicago, IL Family Fun Festival Presents Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine/Bunny Clogs.
Monday Morning Playgroup - Morton Grove Library Morton Grove, IL Tots of all ages and their parents or caregivers can gather to meet new friends, play and have …
Mom & Tots Playdate - Pinstripes Northbrook Northbrook, IL Kids can enjoy a complimentary yogurt & fresh food buffet and a coffee station for moms & dads.
Movies in the ParkChicago, ILCatch a free outdoor flick at one of the Chicago Park District's many parks this summer.

Tuesday, September 1
Free Admission 2009 - Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL Museum admission is free today.
Summer Luau Niles, IL Put on your grass skirts and flowered shirts and enjoy a morning of games, songs, crafts and …
Matinee Movie Magic - Kerasotes Theatres Chicago Area, IL An opportunity for parents to attend first-run films in a baby-friendly environment, and …
Howling Hideouts - The Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL Sneak into the life of the coyote and learn about these smart but secretive howlers.


Wednesday, September 2
Cirque Shanghai - Navy Pier Chicago, IL Kidwinks’ members give this show a 5-wink rating. Read what they have to say.
Wild Wednesdays at Cantigny Park Wheaton, IL This is a hands-on, nature exploration geared towards preschool through elementary ages.
Apple Pickin' Family Festival - Apple Holler Sturtevant, WIFresh ripe apples, crisp fall air, families playing together in the great outdoors and enjoying family activities …
Cool Cars Under the Stars Elmhurst, IL This family-friendly classic car show will be cruisin’ away until next year after tonight.

Thursday, September 3
Free Admission - Notebaert Nature MuseumChicago, IL Thursdays - Admission is FREE.
Come Meet Frog and Toad Morton Grove, IL Arnold Lobel's lovable characters, Frog and Toad, will visit. Come hear a story, do a craft and …
Horse Drawn Hayrides Danada Forest Preserve Wheaton, ILEnjoy a 30-minute horse-drawn hayride through prairies and woodlands while learning about …
Movie/PJ Night at Nibbles Play Cafe Wheeling, IL Come in your pjs and watch some of your favorite children's movies with us every Thurs. evening!
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The Food Game By Dream Weaver

How many games do we play in order to get our kids to eat a decent meal? From empty threats to fancy presentations, I think I’ve tried it all. I have a negotiator who starts every meal by declaring how many peas she will eat, what portion of the chicken breast she will consume, and how much ice cream she will get in return. I have a sensitive artist who takes great delight in the presentation of the meal, and tries foods based on the appearance on her plate. For her, I arrange pasta in a semi-circle around the edge of the plate, add 3 meatballs for eyes and nose, and gently place peas across the bottom to look like a smile. Last, I have a picky eater who shrieks at the threat of being seated at the table for hours until the plate is clear. It never worked when I was a kid, and yet there I am telling my son that he can sit there until his peas are gone.

I was recently given a game called The Food Game that takes a new approach to an old problem. The game consists of placemats with color-coded squares that correspond to a type of food. Each person spins a spinner and moves his piece along his placement. If he lands on a green space, for example, each person at the table must eat a vegetable from his or her plate. Other colors translate to a protein or a starch.

Although I thought my 9 year old would consider herself too old or too cool for this game, I quickly realized that her hyper-competitive nature turned her into a policewoman who would evaluate whether others followed the rules and ate what they were supposed to eat. My other daughter treats it like an X game – Extreme Eating, the crazier the meal, the better. It was an instant hit with my 4 year old who likes to follow the rules that came with the game (as long as he wins - otherwise rules are added at the last minute to change the outcome). We read through the rules together the first time we played and we made a few changes such as dice instead of the spinner and a prize for the winner.

I started playing this game with meals I knew they would like, and I have gradually introduced new foods. We laugh throughout the game at the faces and methods used to down an unfamiliar vegetable or brown rice. With one hand placing a green bean in her mouth while the other hand is plugging her nose, my daughter grimaces and quickly chugs a shot of milk. I sometimes feel like I am preparing my children for a future on a reality TV show where they will be forced to eat gross things, because they often compare vegetables to earthworms, compost, or mud (I should note that I do wash my vegetables before I cook them). Sigh. Maybe they’ll just end up with an appreciation for broccoli…

If you think you’ve tried everything to get a healthy meal in your child’s belly, give this simple and fun Food Game a try. I would also recommend this game as a gift for a parent of young kids.

You can find out more about The Food Game on www.kidwinks.com.

Sometimes the Perfect Day does not go as planned… By Dream Weaver

My two daughters, who enjoy live theater very much, expressed an interest in seeing Mary Poppins this summer. When I looked at the available dates, I noticed that Kids Restaurant Week was the end of June and I was thrilled to pair an elegant dinner downtown with Broadway in Chicago. This was the rare occasion when my girls eagerly coiffed their hair and donned a fancy dress without any hassle from mom. We invited their cousins and grandma for a very fancy girls’ night out.

We started our night at Lockwood in the newly remodeled Palmer House Hilton. The young girls’ jaws dropped when we walked up the steps to the main level. From the fine furnishings to the well dressed hipsters milling about, it was one of their more memorable people-watching experiences. We requested the special menu for Kids Restaurant Week, which is an annual fundraising and awareness event for Green City Market in Chicago. Participating restaurants create three course meals for children to introduce them to new dishes made with ingredients from local and organic farmers. My girls still talk about last year - the edible flowers at Prairie Grass and the mini fish tacos at Blue Water Grill (now closed). The menu at Lockwood was disappointing because of the standard fare that was offered to kids. When my daughter ordered grilled cheese, I envisioned whole grain bread with an exotic cheese and baked sweet potato fries. Instead, it was American cheese on white bread with a side of deep-fried potatoes. My other daughter had a bowl of spaghetti with marinara sauce. Both choices were very bland – not what I was expecting from an upscale restaurant participating in Kids Restaurant Week. My niece started with a bowl of fruit that looked delicious, but it did not reflect what is in season right now. Although I was disappointed with the meal, the young girls were thrilled with the ambience and certainly didn’t complain about French fries for dinner.

We went to Mary Poppins at the Cadillac Theater in Chicago and we had a good view from our seats. Ten minutes into the production the curtains went down and the audience was told the show would be delayed due to technical difficulties. The girls were very well behaved for about 5 minutes before they started to fidget. We appeased them with some games on our cell phones and a quick tutorial on how to send a text message to Daddy. When that grew old, we left our seats and walked around the theater lobby enjoying the ornate decor. Almost an hour after the start, a man appeared on stage and said the show could not go on. Of course, the girls kept saying “the show must go on”, and I was thinking the same thing.
We stood there stunned for a few minutes and then started to file out of the theater. My darling 7 year old in her sparkling sequined dress looked up at me with her big blue and said, “Mommy, this sucks.” I asked where she learned that language and she said she heard it at a Blackhawks game. I didn’t bother reprimanding her. I held her hand as we walked into the pouring rain and said, “Yep. It sure does.”

Recycle Bingo By Dream Weaver

It has been a while since my last post, mainly because I was swept up in the end of the year flurry that I affectionately dubbed the storm before the calm. From the start of spring sports to the end-of-year recitals, the well planned class parties to the impromptu back yard barbecues, these last weeks of school have been a flurry of celebrations that seem to reflect the end of a very long winter.

I have to share our experimental and shockingly successful PTO-sponsored family event: Recycle BINGO. With a limited social budget and local shop owners (who have generously donated prizes in the past) squeezed in a tight economy, I was challenged with hosting a game night for elementary school kids with no prizes. I did not want to waste PTO money on cheap trinkets that would fall apart in one day.

I read many stories about the increased market for second hand goods, so I floated the idea of using old toys from families as BINGO prizes. Some parents turned up their noses, but many more jumped forward and offered to donate their gently used books and games.

The result was amazing! We collected entire book series (Magic Tree House, Mary Kate & Ashley, Boxcar Children) in mint condition. Families brought board games still in plastic wrap, complicated puzzles with all the pieces, and current video games. The children’s eyes lit up as they entered the gym and saw the prize table. Parents were thrilled to empty their closets and share old toys with new friends.

If you’re looking for a low-cost, earth-friendly summer activity for your community, block party, homeowners association, or other social network, consider Recycle BINGO. Remember to check the quality of donations before you put them on the prize table. Most important, be prepared for parents to gush about your brilliant idea.

Wanderlust - St. Louis

Every couple of months I start to feel the need to travel. It doesn’t matter where I go. I just have to go somewhere. A couple of things you should know about the way I travel 1) I am always on a budget. 2) I never make plans too far in advance. 3) I always take my two boys (now 7 & 9). 4) I love to see and do new things. 5) My husband usually doesn’t travel with my kids and I. With that said one of my favorite types of trips is the car trip. I totally enjoy driving for hours to somewhere I have never been before, singing songs from the 70‘s, and smoking….if I hadn’t given it up 15 years ago. That to me is freedom! Now that I have a mini van with a built in DVD player and my kids are a little older, I am totally in heaven. So the kids will never know what a real pig looks like :)

With that said let me get to the interesting stuff. One of my favorite driving trips was the one to St. Louis. Who knew??? But I am here to tell you that St. Louis is such a great city for kids. It is also very budget friendly. I think it took about 5 hours to drive there. On this particular trip my husband did join us. I booked a hotel through either hotwire or priceline. We got a great deal $64 per night (3 years ago) in the St. Louis Union Station Marriott. Our room overlooked the mall area, which was cool. The hotel has an outdoor pool that we couldn’t use because it was still too cold out. We stayed for 3 nights but we could have easily spent another 4 nights.

My all time favorite museum geared for kids of all ages is the City Museum. It is a bit pricey if you add in the aquarium. So unless they have changed the aquarium section within the City Museum I would suggest skipping it. Check the internet and some of the travel magazines, you might find a coupon for a couple of $$ off admission, this is true for all of the places in St. Louis. The City Museum is soooo amazing! We got there when it opened and we were the last ones to leave. Go on a day when you can spend some time in the outdoor area. Check out their website because I don’t know how to describe it properly.

We went to the Arch and rode to the top. That was neat and I would do it again. The Saint Louis Zoo was nice but it took a while to find parking. It was the first nice weekend so everyone had the same zoo idea. The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum is the best I have ever been to and I have been to a lot of Children’s Museums. The Butterfly House is huge and definitely worth a visit. 

One night we ate at Fitz's American Grill and Bottling Works. They brew both beer and root beer. You can see the brewing area from the restaurant. I had found 2 coupons for free ice cream floats. They let us use both coupons and brought us two floats that were as big as my head. Another night we went to Crown Candy Kitchen for ice cream sundaes. It is an old candy shop that opened in 1913 and still looks that same. I love that kind of stuff.

There are a ton of things to do that we skipped because we didn’t have enough time or our kids were a bit too young.

Here are some of the other sites and activities that we didn’t have time for Six Flags St. Louis, Steinberg Rink in Forest Park, Riverfront and KATY trails, Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis, Grant’s Farm, Purina Farms, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

St. Louis has a lot of free kid friendly places such as the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Grant’s Farm, Saint Louis Zoo, Purina Farms, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour.

If you have taken your kids to St. Louis, please share.
Do you know of a great driving trip from Chicago?
Want to hear about more great driving trips from Chicago?