Indoor Water Parks in northern Illinois

If you’d like to get out of the cold for a while without going to the expense of traveling to a warmer climate, head to one of northern Illinois’s indoor water parks for a day of beach fun in summer-like weather.

Indoor water parks are generally part of a hotel or resort; however, you don’t always have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy a water park because some offer day passes.

Mayan Adventure Indoor Waterpark, Elmhurst, IL

Forgot the cold and enjoy the constant 82° temperature at Chicago’s very first indoor water park (and the closest to Chicago) - the Mayan Adventure Indoor Waterpark, located in the Holiday Inn Chicago-Elmhurst Hotel.

Mayan Adventure has 24,000 square feet of water activities with something for all ages.  For the more adventurous, try the Grand Mayan Falls Tube Slide and the Howling Monkey Body Slide.  If you just want to relax, get an inner tube and drift lazily through the OogabooLazy River.  If you have a competitive streak, try a game of water basketball.  Try your climbing skills in the Parrot Island Interactive Play Station where you can get soaked by 300 gallons of water in the Mayan Head Dumping Bucket.

The Island Breeze Bar & Grill offers food and drinks without having to leave the water park.  When you want a break from the water activities, test your skills on the games in the Mayan Mania Arcade.

The water park is always open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  Availability varies for Monday through Thursday.  Click here to see the complete schedule.

Prices are $20 for ½ day pass (9am-3pm or 4pm-10pm) and $30 for a full day pass.  (Note:  Day passes will not be sold for December 31 or January 1.)

Make sure to bring towels with you, because they are not provided (the park is going green and reducing its washloads).

Holiday Inn Chicago-Elmhurst Hotel is located at

624 North York Road, Elmhurst, IL

.  For information about the water park or to make hotel reservations, calls 630-279-1100 or 1-866-358-6255 (toll free).

CoCo Key Water Resort – Rockford, IL

CoCo Key Water Resort is adjacent to the Clock Tower Resort in Rockford.  This Key West-inspired park contains over 60,000 square feet of water fun.  Enjoy its pools, river, waterslides, interactive Adventure Island, giant whirlpools, a dip-in movie theater, and more in a constant 84° environment.  For the adults, there’s also an on-site day spa and the Wet Rooster Bar.

Twilight Pass is good on weekdays.  $20 (adults and children).  May not be available during school breaks and holidays.

Full Day Pass is good for weekends, school breaks, and holidays.  $25 (adults and children).

Annual Pass offers unlimited access for one full year (only two blackout dates:  New Years Eve and New Years Day).  $69.95 (adults and children).

CoCo Key Water Resort is located at

7801 E. State Street, Rockford

.  For information or to make reservations, call 866-754-6958.  Click here for directions.

Lost Paradise Waterpark at Key Lime Cove Resort, Gurnee, IL

It’s always 82° at Key Lime Cove’s Lost Paradise Waterpark, a Florida Keys-inspired park with bright tropical colors and a laid-back atmosphere (and lifeguards on duty).  The Wild Rides include a swirling whirlpool ride and four giant body slides.  If you want to take it easier (or your children are less than 42”), grab a tube and float around the park in the KeyLime Creek, float on a raft in the wavepool, or let the kids play in the interactive water play structure (or the play pond with mini-slides for the little members of the family).  Adults can enjoy some grown-up time in the adults-only whirlpool spa area.

Although you do have to be a registered guest to enjoy the water park, the resort offers Daycations rates that include use of a guest room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and full access to all that KeyLime Cove Resort has to offer during that time.

KeyLime Cove Resort is located at

1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee, Illinois

.  For more information or to make reservations, call 877-360-0403.

Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Enchanted Forest Indoor Amusement Park at Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort, Utica, IL

The 24,000 square foot water park features slides, a lazy river, a play structure, wave pool, tot pool, adults-only spa, and a snack shop.

In addition to the water park, there is also a 36,000 square foot indoor amusement park with full-size amusement park rides and video games.

You must be a registered guest of the resort to use this water park.  However, the indoor amusement park and the outdoor miniature golf are open to everyone.

Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort is located at 2643 N. IL Rt. 178 (next to Starved Rock State Park) in Utica, IL.  For more information or to make reservations, call 866-399-3866 or 815-667-3866.

All information was correct at the time of publication.  However, resorts do change their rates and requirements periodically, so please call ahead to confirm information before driving to any of these resorts.

Kwanzaa 2010 celebrations in Chicago

Kwanzaa, the seven day African-American celebration of family, community, and culture began on Sunday and continues through Saturday, January 1.

Kwanzaa originated in the U.S. in 1966.  While the celebration looks to the past as it honors ancient African traditions and cultures and offers African Americans knowledge of and pride in their ancestry, it also focuses on the future with its emphasis on family and community ties.

The seven day holiday, which begins the day after Christmas, is a cultural, not religious, holiday, and is intended to be an addition, rather than an alternative, to Christmas.  Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili and is based on the first harvest celebrations celebrated in Africa.

While Kwanzaa features African American roots, the celebration is open to everyone.

Malcolm X College (1900 W. Van Buren) has one of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations in the entire country.  It continues through Saturday, and admission is free for everyone.

The celebration at Malcolm X begins at 10am each day when the African Marketplace opens for guests to shop for traditional clothing, food, and beauty items.  Then, the program is opened by the drum call, a trio of drummers that parade through the building to lead the guests to the auditorium for the dedication of the Kwanzaa principle of the day and the lighting of the kinara, the traditional candle holder, followed by the cultural entertainment.  Here’s the complete schedule:

Sunday, December 26:  Umoja (Unity).  Program begins at 2pm.  Cultural line-up includes Najwa Dance Corps; Melvia “Chick” Rodgers; Bill McFarland & the Chicago Horns; and African Fashion Show.

Monday, December 27:  Kujichagulia (Self‐determination).  Programs begins at noon.  Cultural line-up includes Julia Huff; Spiritual Journey; Ayodele Dance and Drum Ensemble.

Tuesday, December 28:   Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility).  Program begins at noon.  Cultural line-up includes Alyo’s Children’s Dance Theatre; Walter King, Jr “Spellbinder”; Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavunduka.

Wednesday, December 29:  Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics).  Program begins at noon.  Cultural line-up includes Darrell Wilson “Sax Preacher”; Armen Rah; Joan Collaso.

Thursday, December 30:  Nia (Purpose). Program begins at moon.  Cultural line-up includes Fred Baker’s West Indies Folk Dance Company; Kaotic Drumline; Corey Wilkes Quartet.

Friday, December 31:  Kuumba (Creativity).  Program begins at noon.  Cultural line-up includes Kelan Phil Cohran; Prince Ravanna Bey/Kerry Willis and the “Thunder Sky Drummers”; Maggie Brown.

Saturday, January 1:  Imani (Faith).  Program begins at noon.  Cultural line-up includes Ugochi Nwaogwugwu; M.A.D.D. Rhythms; Ari Brown Quartet; Minianka African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

Kwanzaa celebrations are also going on at DuSable Museum of African American History this week (all part of the “Holiday Penny Cinema” series):

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 10:30am-12:30pm:  Seven Candles for Kwanzaa

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 10:45am-12:45am:  Rugrats Kwanzaa (Children’s Film)

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 10:30am-12:30pm:  Holidays for Children-Kwanzaa

Thursday, Dec. 30, 10:30am-12:30pm:  Kwanzaa: A Cultural Celebration

Recap of Chicago's best holiday events (through January 9)

If you have family or friends coming from out of town for the holidays or are looking for things to do with the children in your life while they’re on school break, there is plenty going on around the city to keep everyone entertained.  Here’s a recap of some of Chicago’s best holiday events that I’ve written about over the past month (they are arranged according to ending date):

Welcome Yule! at Symphony Center through December 23

Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza through December 24

Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker through December 26

Free days at Chicago museums through December 31

A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theater through December 31

2010 Holiday Theater Guide

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier through January 2

Wonderland Express at Chicago Botanic Garden through January 2

Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo through January 2

Holiday Flower Shows at Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory through January 9

Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Lights at the Museum of Science and Industry through January 9

Ice skating at Millennium Park through March 13

Finally, for the procrastinators among you, if you still need to find your live tree, consider making it a family or friend event by cutting down your own tree at one of Illinois’ tree farms.

Last minute Christmas gift ideas from the best of Chicago’s cultural scene

Are you having trouble deciding what to buy for some of the people on your Christmas shopping list?  Here are some perfect last minute gifts for those who enjoy Chicago’s cultural activities:

Gift certificates:

Broadway in Chicago order online or call 800-775-2000
Chicago Jazz Orchestra (gift certificates are not available but you can buy concert tickets as gifts)
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Comedy Sportz Call the Box Office at 773-549-8080
Court Theatre
Goodman Theater
Hubbard Street Dance Call 312-850-9744 to order tickets
Joffrey Ballet
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Second City  

Museum memberships:

Adler Planetarium
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago History Museum
DuSable Museum of African American History (includes reciprocal membership to Adler Planetarium)
Field Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Museum of Science and Industry
National Veterans Art Museum Purchase a “You are not forgotten” t-shirt or make a donation in someone’s name
Shedd Aquarium
Smart Museum

Memberships for the nature lovers on your list:

Chicago Botanic Garden (includes year-round free parking and free admission to 200 botanic gardens nationwide)
Lincoln Park Zoo (membership includes free parking passes)
Morton Arboretum (Arboretum members receive free parking at Chico Botanic Garden and reciprocal privileges at more than 200 arboretums nationwide)

Chicago’s Conservatory Holiday Flower Shows bring beauty and holiday cheer to the season

If all of the holiday madness is getting to you, try to find some time to break away for a few hours and surround yourself with beautiful holiday flowers and decorations at one of Chicago’s conservatories.

Garfield Park Conservatory’s Holiday Flower Show (located in the Show House) features fir trees decorated in holiday lights surrounded by hundreds of bold and bright red poinsettias along with ornamental peppers, plumbago, and Jerusalem cherries.

If you’re bringing children with you, they’ll enjoy the model trains that wind through the holiday flowers and miniature villages at Lincoln Park Conservatory.  There are several model trains, including an old-fashioned steam engine, freight train, and trolley that make their way through miniature Chicago-style homes and famous buildings such as the neighborhood bungalow, Chicago Theatre, and

Chicago Water Tower Place

.   Before entering the room with the holiday decorations and flowers, you can also enjoy tropical-like weather as you stroll through the hundreds of plants and trees that are growing in the conservatory.

Admission to both holiday shows is free.  The shows continue through January 9, so if the holiday season is just too busy for you, you’ll still have a week or so in January to enjoy the decorated trees, holiday flowers, and miniature trains.

Garfield Park Conservatory is located at

300 N. Central Park Avenue

.  Lincoln Park Conservatory is at

2391 N. Stock Drive

.   

Both conservatories are open every day of the year (including Christmas), from 9am to 5pm, with extended hours at Garfield Park Conservatory only on Wednesdays until 8pm. 

Directions

Garfield Park Conservatory is located west of downtown. From I-290, exit

Independence Avenue

(3800 west) and head north. Turn east onto

Washington Blvd

, then north onto Central Park Avenue (3600 west). The parking lot is on the left, just before the conservatory.  Parking is free.  You can also use the CTA Green line and exit at

Conservatory/Central Park Drive

.

Lincoln Park Conservatory is located north of downtown and adjacent to Lincoln Park Zoo.  From

Lake Shore Drive

, exit

Fullerton Avenue

and travel two blocks west. From I-94, exit

Fullerton Avenue

and travel two miles east. The Conservatory is located on the southeast corner of Fullerton and Stockton.  If you’re lucky, you may find free parking along

Stockton Drive

; otherwise use the paid parking lot for the zoo.

JASC Tsukasa Taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

JASC Tsukasa Taiko, Chicago’s leading taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble, will be performing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago this weekend.

Taiko Legacy 7 features three generations of performers from Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago in a combination of thunderous drumming, jazz improvisations, and stylized kimono dance. 

Taiko Legacy was invented in Chicago and remains the country’s only collaboration of this scale.

What is Taiko?

JASC Tsukasa Taiko’s website (http://tsukasataiko.com) explains that taiko means “drum” and that taiko is known for:

“its thunderous sound and stunning, stylized choreography. With a 2,000 year-old history, taiko has its roots in Japanese court, theater, religious/ceremonial and festival music, where the taiko was just one instrument of many that comprised the ensembles that performed this music. In the mid-20th century, the kumi-daiko style evolved, which featured ensembles made up solely of drums.”

The Taiko Legacy 7 schedule is:

Saturday, December 18, 7:30 pm (purchase tickets online or call the Box Office at 312-397-4010)

Sunday, December 19, 3 pm (for tickets, call the Box Office at 312-397-4010 as there are only a few seats left)
Tickets are $15 ($12 for MCA members)
Children under 12 are free with paid adult tickets (must reserve in advance) 
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is located at 220 E. Chicago Ave. (one block east of Michigan).  Get parking information here.

Cabaret with a View brightens the winter season at Millennium Park

The sultry sounds of cabaret are coming to Millennium Park with an all-new winter series, Cabaret with a View.

As with other cold weather performances at Millennium Park, the audience will be on the stage with the performers behind the glass doors of the Jay Pitzker Pavilion, thus allowing for a more intimate musical performance than is available in the summertime.

This new series kicks off with Suzanne Petri in a one-woman tribute to screen legend Marlene Dietrich called “Celebrate the Holidays with Marlene.”  Petri will perform Dietrich classic songs, including “Boys in the Backroom,” “Falling in Love Again,” and “Jonny,” joined by Jim Cox on bass and Dez Desormeaux on reeds with Bob Moreen as Musical Director.

Suzanne Petri has established herself as one of Chicago’s premier entertainers, performing at some of the city’s top venues.  She is also a nationally recognized cabaret artist whose performances include an appearance at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.  An ensemble member of American Blues Theater, she has produced, directed and appeared on dozens of Chicago stages including The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Victory Gardens and Northlight Theatre.  Petri has been honored with Chicago’s “After Dark” Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist and CCP’s Gold Coast Award. 

Complete schedule for Cabaret With a View:

Monday, December 20, 7:30-9:00 pm:  Suzanne Petri

Monday, January 24, 7:30-9:00 pm:  Hollis Resnik

Monday, February 14, 7:30-9:00 pm:  Shelley Macarthur

All tickets are $15 and are avaiable online or by calling 312.742.TIXS (8497).

Millennium Park is located between Randolph Street (north) and Monroe Avenue (south) and Michigan Avenue (west) and Columbus Drive (east) in downtown Chicago.  Click here for driving directions and parking and public transportation information.

Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of Chicago’s best holiday offerings

The Joffrey Ballet’s annual production of the Nutcracker is now appearing at the Auditorium Theater, and this is one holiday tradition you absolutely should not miss.

Few things in life match the splendor of a great ballet performance.  If you’ve never been to the ballet and feel a bit intimidated by your lack of knowledge or have some preconceived ideas about this art form, set all ideas aside long enough to see for yourself what the fuss is all about.  Professional ballet dancers have mastered the rare combination of athletic prowess with extreme gracefulness and incredible strength with the ability to convey precision and beauty, and the Joffrey Ballet exemplifies these qualities in abundance in the Nutcracker.

The settings and costumes in this year’s production of Nutcracker are gorgeous and create a visually stunning backdrop fitting for the exquisitely beautiful dancing.

This production dazzles your senses from the beginning. The first half of the production has so much taking place on stage that no matter where you look, you’ll find a feast for your eyes.  There are a lot of “special effects” in this production that significantly add to the visual imagery of this production.

Each dancer performed his or her role with near flawless execution.  I saw just one error, and I point it out only to highlight the level of skill and professionalism in this dance company.  When one dancer dropped a hand-held prop, she retrieved it so quickly and fluidly that it left the audience wondering for a moment whether the drop was part of the performance.  One of the marks of a skilled professional is the ability to not only quickly recover from an error but to find a way to weave the error into the performance, and this dancer did so beautifully. 

Because each dancer performed so exquisitely, I hesitate to highlight any one individual dancer, but there are a couple worth noting.  Ricardo Santos, who performs the role of Fritz, Clara’s brother, is so much fun to watch.  He perfectly captures the extreme excitability and impatience of children at Christmas to the point where their uncontainable excitement spills over into misbehavior.  In using his movements as a tool to convey this excitement, his entire body quivers with the exhilaration and anticipation that children feel on that special day.

Christine Rocas, who performs the roles of the Snow Queen and Coffee from Arabia, has a flexibility that has to be seen to be believed.  The quiet gasp in the audience attested to the audience’s amazement as she performed with a limberness that most people can’t imagine having.

The Battalion of Mice brings a touch of playful comedy to the production with their performance, and the children in this year’s production are, of course, adorable (I especially liked the little gingerbread man).

Tchaikovsky’s familiar musical score is beautifully performed by the Joffrey Ballet’s resident orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta.  Russian composer Peter Tchaikovksy wrote the score for the original performance of Nutcracker 118 years ago.  If you’ve never seen the Nutcracker before, you may be surprised to learn how many of the pieces you’ve heard before.   

The Nutcracker will be performed Thursdays through Sundays from now through December 26 (no performance on Christmas).  Tickets can be purchased online. 

If you’d like to learn about the story upon which the Nutcracker is based, click here.  

The Joffrey Ballet performs in the beautifully restored Auditorium Theatre at

50 E. Congress Parkway

(between Michigan and Wabash) in downtown Chicago.  Click here for directions and parking and public transportation information.

Wonderland Express at Chicago Botanic Garden is a holiday delight

Bundle up and head to Chicago Botanic Garden for its beautifully festive Wonderland Express taking place for the holidays through January 2.

750,000 outdoor lights greet you upon your arrival and as you make your way over the bridge and through the Heritage Garden (where the ponds have been drained and filled with festive green junipers), the West and East Courtyards, and the Esplanade, where you’ll see a 40 foot multicolored Wonderland Express spruce tree on display.

Indoors, in the Regenstein Center, a 10,000 square foot exhibition of miniature trains winds over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls, and through more than 80 mini-replicas of Chicago's favorite landmarks, including Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Chicago Stadium, Millennium Park, the Field Museum, and the Kenwood home of President Obama and his family.  New to the exhibition this year is the Stanley Cup in honor of the Chicago Blackhawks championship.

Also indoors is a gallery of decorated trees, a gingerbread village, holiday activities for the kids, and family entertainment.  Those willing to venture outdoors will find kids activities outside as well.

On select days, you can enjoy carolers as part of the Wonderland Express:

Saturday, December 18, 10am-noon:  The Music Institute of Chicago (instrumental)

Sunday, December 19, 10am-noon:  The All Village Singers

Wednesday, December 22, 4-4:45pm: Little OL Korea Children’s Choir

Family drop-in activities take place in Burnstein Hall where children can explore snowflakes, discover conifers, and create small bird feeders to take home.

General admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free, but there is a charge for the Wonderland Express.  Ticket prices are $12 (adults), $9.50 (seniors and children over two).  However, admission to both the Garden and Wonderland Express is free on Tuesdays through December 21.  If you use a Discover® card to purchase tickets, you’ll get two-for one (this offer is valid only for tickets purchased at the Garden with a maximum of two complimentary tickets per purchase).  To order tickets, click here.
   

Nonmembers also need to pay for parking, which is $20 per car or $25 per van.  On Tuesdays, parking is only $7 for senior citizens.  If you are a member of the Morton Arboretum, you always get free parking, any day, at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

The Garden is open 10am-6pm daily.  It will close at 3pm on December and remain closed on Christmas.  Click here for directions to the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Cut your own Christmas tree at Illinois Christmas tree farms

We all know that artificial Christmas trees are very convenient, but there’s nothing like the aroma of a freshly cut, live tree.  Just walking through a Christmas tree lot brings back all kinds of Christmas memories from years past.

If you’re willing to maintain a live tree, head to a Christmas tree farm and start a new tradition with family or friends this year by cutting down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas tree farms in the greater Chicagoland area.  To get more information about any of the listed farms, just click on the name.  Please call BEFORE driving there to get directions and hours and to ask about prices and types of trees available.  Also make sure that saws are provided, and ask if tree shaking (to remove loose needles) and baling (to compress and bundle the tree) are available.  Some farms also offer activities for the kids, so if you’re bringing children, ask about that as well. 

DeKalb County

Larson’s Family Farm.  http://www.larsonfamilyfarm.com  Cut your own tree.  Saws provided and trees bagged.  Also available for purchase are Christmas wreaths and decorations. 

4404 Somonauk Road

, Sandwich.  815-786-2249.

DuPage County

Marmion Abbey http://www.abbeyfarms.org/Abbey_Farms/Home_.html offers cut-your-own and pre-cut trees.  Proceeds support the various ministries performed by the Monks at Marmion Abbey. 

850 Butterfield Rd.

  Aurora.  630-897-6936.

Kane County

Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm http://honeybeeacreschristmastreefarm.net/.  Family-run business.  Cut your own tree, which is then put through a tree shaker to remove as many loose needles as possible.  Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm.  41w072

Bowes Rd,, Elgin

.  847-464-9627.

Kuipers Family Farm.  http://www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com/  Cut your own tree.  1N318

Watson Road

, Maple Park.  815-827-5200.

Lee’s Trees.  http://www.leestreesusa.com/ Cut your own tree.  Saw provided.  They will shake it clean, bale it, and help you load it.  Also have pre-cut trees and holiday decorations for sale.  45W002

Lees Road

, Lily Lake.  630-365-2116

Spring Bluff Nursery.  http://www.springbluffnursery.com/ Cut your own tree.  Free loading and baling available.  Fresh, handmade wreaths, boughs, swags for sale.  Free hayrides to and from field.   41W130

Norris Road

, Sugar Grove.  630-466-4278.

Kankakee County

Cupola House Tree Farm.  http://www.cupolahousetrees.com  Cut your own pesticide-free tree .  Wreaths and garlands for sale.  Free hot spiced cider and hayrides.  Saws and ropes provided for tying tree to your car.  4030 N. 3000W Road, Bourbonnais.  815-932-NOEL (6635).  

Lake County

Gengel Tree Farm (no website).  Cut your own or pre-cut trees available.  Saws provided.  Trees bagged and tied to car.   Wreaths and Christmas decorations for sale.  38614 North Fairfield, Lake Villa.  847-356-5661.

Lake Cuchicachi Tree Farm (no website).  Cut your own tree.  Saws, tree shaking, baling, and tying provided.  Gift shop and refreshment stand. 

19505 West State Line Road, Antioch

. 847-395-7919.

McHenry County

Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm.  http://www.benstreefarm.com  Pesticide-free trees you choose and cut.  Free tree shaking and baling.  Free horse-drawn wagon rides.  Wreaths, garlands, boughs and swags for sale.   Farm animals for the kids to visit.  In the country at the very end of a dead-end road. 

7720 Ryan Road

, Harvard,  630-279-0216.

Cal & Shan’s Christmas Tree Farm.  http://www.calandshans.com/  Cut your own or choose a pre-cut tree.  Saws and tree baling and tying provided.  Christmas decorations for sale. 

14216 Thayer Road, Woodstock

.  815-648-2300.

Pine-Apple Tree Farm.  http://www.pine-applefarm.com   Cut your own tree.  Saws, shaking, baling, string, and loading provided.  

309 Three Oaks Road, Cary

.  847-639-3248.

Richardson Christmas Tree Farm.  http://www.richardsonadventurefarm.com  Cut your own tree or purchase a pre-cut tree.  Free tree shaking and baling.  Free wagon rides to the trees.  Wreaths, garlands, and freshly made donuts and kettle corn for sale. 

9407 Richardson Road

, Spring Grove.  815-675-9729.

Will County

Bengston Tree Farm.  http://www.treefarmusa.com/  Cut your own tree.  Saws provided.  Print coupon on website for free tree shaking and baling.  Accept only cash or check.  10919

W. Wilmington Road

, Peotone.  708.258.9610.

Green Garden Christmas Tree Farm (no website).  Cut your own tree.  Saw and hand cart provided.  Free tree shaking and baling. Free wagon ride to field.  Complimentary coffee, cocoa, juice, and cookies. 

11615 Pauling Road, Manhattan

.  815-469-2233.

Tammen Treeberry Farm.  http://www.tammentreeberryfarm.net/btammen  Cut your own tree.  Baling and tree shaking available. 

37131 Essex Road, Wilmington

.  800-892-5989 or 815-458-6264.

To care for your live Christmas tree, the National Tree Association recommends the following:

Before you cut, walk around the tree in a circle several times and look at it from different angles to make sure the trunk is straight.

Make a horizontal cut across the base, leaving 6 to 8 inches of trunk so the tree will sit properly in the stand.

Take advantage of the shaking and baling services at the farm to remove any dead needles or debris and protect it from the wind on the ride home.

Once home, place the tree in its stand and keep the reservoir filled with tap water to keep it fresh. No special preservative needed.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry’s 69th annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light will delight your senses and fill you with the holiday spirit as you walk among the museum’s 50+ trees all beautifully decorated for the holiday season and enjoy musical and dance performances by many of Chicago’s talented singers and dancers.

The Museum’s 45-foot Grand Tree takes center stage in the Rotunda with more than 30,000 lights and 1,000 ornaments while.  Enjoy intermittent falling “snow” while strolling through the more than 50 smaller trees surrounding the Grand Tree, each beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities to represent their various cultures and holiday traditions.

In conjunction with the tree exhibit, performances include school choral groups during the week and ethnic song and dance performances on the weekends. 

The museum’s Grand Tree and Rotunda will be decked out in colorful puppet splendor in honor of the museum’s special temporary exhibit, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, an exhibit exploring the amazing career and imagination of the master puppeteer and creator of the Muppets.

2010 Performance Schedule

All performances take place in the Holiday Stage area off the Museum's Grainger Court, Main Level.  (Please note that the schedule is subject to change; check the schedule at the Holiday Stage for up-to-date information.)

Saturday, Dec. 11
11 a.m. — Filipino American Dance Arts of Chicago (Philippines)
12:15 p.m. — Classic Act Choral Ensemble (USA)
1:30 p.m. — Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers (Scotland)
2:45 p.m. — Chicagoland Festival Chorus (Springbrook Community Church)
4 p.m. — Colombian American Cultural Center Choir (Colombia)

Sunday, Dec. 12
12:15 p.m. — Tierra Colombiana Folkloric Dance Company (Colombia)
1:30 p.m. — Iskra School of Ukrainian Dance; Cherubic Voices, Ukrainian Children’s Choir (Ukraine)
2:45 p.m. — Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association, USA (India)
4 p.m. — Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society (Greece)

Saturday, Dec. 18
11 a.m. — Ke Kula Kupa’a O Ka Pakipika, Kupa’s School of the Pacific (South Pacific Islands)
12:15 p.m. — Society of Danube Swabians (Germany)
1:30 p.m. — Alioni Georgian Choir of Chicago (Republic of Georgia)
2:45 p.m. — Acapellago
4 p.m. — Belizean Cultural Bearers (Belize)

Sunday, Dec. 19
12:15 p.m. — JCCIA Italianettes (Italy)
1:30 p.m. — Children’s Choir, “Campanella” (Russia)
2:45 p.m. — Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois, “Harcerstwo” (Poland)
4 p.m. — Greek Consulate (Greece)

Monday, Dec. 20
12:00 p.m. — Motte Choir (University of Chicago)
2:45 p.m. — Harvard High School Madrigals

Tuesday, Dec. 21
1:30 p.m. — Fujima Ryu of Chicago (Japan)

Wednesday, Dec. 22
12:15 p.m. — Varblomman Children’s Club (Sweden)
2:45 p.m. — Holy Cross IHM Marimba Ensemble and Children’s Choir (Central America)

Sunday, Dec. 26
12:15 a.m. — Cardinal Stepinac Croatian School (Croatia)
1:30 p.m. — “Figle” (Poland)
2:45 p.m. — “Morita” (Romania)
4 p.m. — Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Serbia)

Wednesday, Dec. 29
11:00 a.m. — Mamma Sunshine (Kwanzaa)
1:30 p.m. — The McNulty Irish Dancers (Ireland)
2:45 p.m. — Rondalla Fenix (Puerto Rico)

Christmas Around the World and all related performances are included in the museum’s general admission and will continue through January 9.
The Museum of Science and Industry is located at 57^th Street and Lake Shore Drive.  Click here for driving, parking, and public transportation information.  You can purchase tickets online. 

Support music in our schools with free holiday e-cards

Here’s a fantastic opportunity to support music education in public schools just by sending online holiday greetings to everyone you know.

Music is an integral part of our lives, no more so than at the holiday season in December.  What would the holidays be without all of the wonderful music that fills the air this time of year?

Unfortunately, while there are many children who would love to learn a musical instrument, their parents or schools can’t afford it.  Here’s how you can help.

Fidelity Investments has joined with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to support the arts for children.  For every holiday e-card you send, Fidelity will donate $1 to buy musical instruments for public school students.  $1 is a considerable amount for one card, and will quickly add up to a significant contribution to our children’s musical educations.

This is the easiest way possible to support music education for children.  The e-cards are free – that’s right; it won’t cost you anything - and, thanks to your efforts, children who would otherwise not have access to the world of music as a musician will now be able to be a part of that creative environment.

All the ecards feature music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other prominent American orchestras. To send a free holiday e-card, click here, choose from the four available cards featuring music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Houston Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, fill in the email addresses, and click “send.”  You can send the same card to everyone, or split your mailing list amongst two or more cards.

For many years, Fidelity Investments and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have proudly worked together to provide public school students with new instruments, professional coaching and performance opportunities.

Apollo Chorus performs Handel’s Messiah at Symphony Center in Chicago

This Saturday, December 11, Apollo Chorus of Chicago will present its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago.  This has become a much anticipated holiday tradition for many Chicago families, and if you’ve never attended, there are still some tickets available to this favorite holiday musical tradition.

Under the direction of Stephen Alltop, the 140-member Apollo Chorus will continue its 130 year old tradition of performing the Messiah, a tradition that began in 1879 and has continued uninterrupted since then.  Once again, the Chorus will be joined by world-class soloists as well as professional musicians in the baroque orchestra.

The Apollo Chorus is Chicago’s premier volunteer chorus. Its members, chosen through audition, include men and women of all ages, races, creeds, and occupations, brought together by their love of music.  The Chorus’s repertoire includes both the masterpieces and new works of choral music, including such diverse music as spirituals, sambas, Baroque, and the Blues.

According to its website, the Apollo Chorus was founded in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire, in an effort to restore civic pride and boost the morale of Chicagoans following incredible devastation. Prior to the Fire, the City had boasted many neighborhood and ethno-centric choruses, but, along with much of the City, their rehearsal halls and music collections were destroyed. From its very beginning, therefore, Apollo was meant to be an organization that brought singers from diverse communities in Chicago together into one ensemble that would carry on beloved traditions and create new ones.

Here are the details on the concert:

Date:  Saturday, December 11, 2010, 3pm

Location:   Symphony Center,

220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago

Cost:   $16-$75

Click here for information on public transportation and parking.

Purchasing tickets on the CSO’s website can be a little confusing if you’ve never done it before, so here are some guidelines.  You can choose your seats and purchase your tickets for this event by clicking here.     Scroll down and choose “Select Seats” which will take you to a new window.  At “Section Map: Start Here” run your cursor over the various sections of the seating map.  When you find a section you like, click on that section.  When that section appears on screen, you’ll see seats that are either gray or rose-colored.  Any seats that are rose-colored are still available.  If you move your cursor to one of the rose-colored seats, you’ll see the price of that seat.  If you want that seat, click on it, and it will automatically appear at the bottom of the screen under “Your Seats” (you’ll also know that the seat has been selected because it will turn red).  After making your selections, click on “Finalize seat and add to cart” at the bottom of the screen.  You’ll be taken to another screen which will show your cart at the top of the screen.  Click on “Checkout” and complete your order.

You can also call Symphony Center’s box office at 312-294-3000 for tickets.

Hawaiian Islands have it all for a great vacation

Hawaii consists of six islands – Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island - and each has its own distinctive style.  The islands are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, and they offer a wide range of activities. No matter what you enjoy doing, you can find it in the Hawaiian Islands.

Water Activities

In Honolulu on the island of Oahu, the most famous beach is Waikiki Beach, but many of the island’s beaches are known for optimal surfing conditions. To enjoy the sand and surf without the crowds, head to the secluded beaches on Molokai or Lanai. Watch the windsurfers from the black and red beaches of Maui. Almost every island offers surf lessons for those who want to do more than watch.

At Makena Beach State Park on Maui, you can snorkel with dolphins and sea turtles and explore sea caves.  Sailing and snorkeling packages are available on Oahu.

Whale watching is a popular event.  From December to early May, humpback whales can be seen in the waters off of every island.  While each island offers whale watching tours, Maui offers some of the best places for seeing whales due to shallow waters and clear visibility.

To see all of the islands in a short amount of time, consider booking an island hopping cruise.

Land Activities

Hike through a rainforest on any of the six islands, such as Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui, which contains tropical areas filled with waterfalls and streams.

Stand on an active volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.  Since 2008, Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea Volcano has been erupting, and visitors can view the eruption from the Jaggar Museum overlook.

There is a variety of guided tours on the islands that may appeal to the active or adventurous vacationer.  Head to Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Milokai where you can join a guided mule tour that will take you along some of the highest sea cliffs in the world.  If your interests include hiking, downhill biking through a rainforest, kayaking, or mountain biking, there are tours available for those activities as well.

To see the islands without exerting a lot of energy, guided tours by jeep are available.

For those who enjoy botanical gardens, set some time aside to visit the World Botanical Gardens and the Kauai Gardens.

For golf enthusiasts, the Hawaiian islands will not disappoint.  While many of the golf courses are private or affiliated with a resort, there are a number of courses open to the public.  The Big Island Country Club has an independent, daily fee golf course that is often ranked in the top ten of its kind.  Oahu also has a number of independent golf courses, including two that compare with the world’s most challenging layouts.  If laid-back golf is more your style, go to Ironwood Hills Golf Course on Molokai where there’s no golf pros and no clubhouse; all you have to do is show up and enjoy the beautiful view.

Exploring History

Visit Pearl Harbor on Oahu to learn more about the attack that marked the U.S. entry into World War II.  View the floating memorial built above the hull of the sunken Battleship USS Arizona, see the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and view the Battleship Memorial where General Macarthur accepted the surrender of Japan.  Two museums onsite offer more information.

The islands are rich with the history of the native Hawaiian people, and heritage sites, ecotourism, and museums offer visitors insight into their traditions and lives.

If you’re interested in getting more information about a vacation in Hawaii, click here.  

Zoolights sparkle at Lincoln Park Zoo

This is a great time of year to be in Chicago with the parades, sparkling lights, and holiday festivities, and Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo is one of those holiday activities you won’t want to miss.  Enjoy the animals during the day, and then stay as evening approaches to watch the night sky light up with tens of thousands of colorful lights at this annual event. 

There’s a festive mood at Zoo Lights, and even the decorated trees get into the act as their lights blink off and on to the accompanying holiday music.

Although the buildings are closed after 4:30pm, you can still see the seals and some other animals outside.

Accompanying the festive lights are ice sculptures throughout the grounds.  You can also watch the sculptures being made.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the process; it’s interesting to find out what goes into making these types of sculptures.

Zoolights will continue from 5pm-9pm on Friday, December 10 through Sunday, December 12, and then nightly December 17 through January 2 (closed December 24-25).

Lincoln Park Zoo is located at 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago.  Public transportation is recommended, but if you’re driving, enter the parking lot from Fullerton Avenue.  Zoo members will receive their usual membership parking benefits during these extended hours.  Click here for complete public transportation and parking information.

My articles can be found by clicking on the “Entertainment/Arts & Exhibits” link on the Chicago home page of examiner.com.  If you want to be notified when upcoming cultural events are published, click on “Subscribe” above.  You can also follow me on Facebook at the “Chicago Cultural Events” community page.