August 24th, 2008 larry
What is Sing-Along Little Mermaid? Aside from the obvious singing along with the words on the screen, the Music Box Theatre has created an interactive way for your little ones to enjoy the classic Disney film. The event is running today through Labor Day. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 5:30 and 7:45. Wednesday at 10:30, 3:15, 5:30 and 7:45. Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day 1:00, 3:15, 5:30 and 7:45. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children.
Your children receive a goody bag as they enter the theater. My son and I looked through it and thought it was fun: bubbles, a noisemaker, glow-sticks, a fork. It wasn’t until “Ariel” came out on the stage to introduce the production that she explained that all the goodies had a purpose. When Ariel takes a bath you blow bubbles, when Sebastian the Crab is on screen you make clicking sounds with your noisemaker, use the glow-sticks to conduct the orchestra, brush your hair with the fork like Ariel, etc., etc., etc.
The Music Box has additional touches to make this a more special experience then just seeing a movie. There is an organist playing in the theater as you enter. A lovely redhead dressed as “Ariel” introduces the movie and she is available after the show in the lobby to meet your children. Many of the children wore their Ariel, Prince Eric and Flounder costumes to the theater. Before the movie started they were invited to parade across the stage. The kids loved it and it provided a good photo op for Mom and Dad.
The audience did get into the show. The loudest singing was definitely for “Under the Sea,” the clickers and glow-sticks were the most popular props, and everyone loved hissing and booing Ursula, Flotsam and Jetsam. The Little Mermaid is a great movie on it’s own. Even if your kids have seen it a thousand times on DVD, it’s cool to see it on the big screen. I recommend Sing-Along Little Mermaid - this is a fun little event to enjoy with your kids before sending them back to school.
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Donna
Mom Says: If you want to buy advance tickets, they are being sold on line through Ticketmaster. As you all know the fees add up to cost more then the tickets themselves. Seats are assigned (not general admission) and I would hate for any of your children to be disappointed by my discouraging you from buying tickets in advance. But…it would not have been a problem to walk up to the box office the day of and get into the 1pm show last Saturday. There was plenty of room in the theater and I do not feel there is much advantage to getting the “best” seats in the center of the theater.
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August 17th, 2008 larry
In this economy, everyone in the family needs to be pulling their own weight to get the household through tough times. It doesn’t seem like our three year old could be much help, until we got a tip from a friend on Saturday. The answer was Arlington Park racetrack. What other venue provides alcohol, gambling, jugglers, and face painting. Pepsi Family Days happen every Sunday at Arlington Park. The track is open from 11:15am-4pm and the admission is $7 per adult, kids 17 and under are free. You can pay extra to sit in the grand stands ($3) and boxseats ($6). The 7th and 8th races are free admission. Parking is free in the first parking area as you enter or $5 for premium parking. Premium parking is not really that much closer, so save your $5.
Family Day means they put in the extra effort to give the kids more entertainment. The kids area is farthest down the race track from the main entrance under a bunch of yellow and white striped tents. Every Sunday offers different entertainment on the stage. The day we visited there was a juggler/unicyclist/magician act that the kids loved. He was very interactive, told jokes, and of course made funny faces while he juggled balls, citrus, unicycles, and anything that could be thrown in the air. Upcoming acts are Sand Sculpting and Hip Hop Dancing.
There is a face painting and tattoo station where kids can get themselves made up. We saw kids walking around looking like cats, tigers, dogs, and strange looking bears. They showed their allegiances with Cubs, Sox, and Boston Red Sox (?) faces as well. There is a petting zoo with bunnies, chickens, goats, llamas, and camels. Pony rides are available as well (which had the longest line of course).
The family area has a wide lawn area that is great for picnics and rolling down hills over and over again. You are allowed to bring in your own food and the lawn was filled with coolers. If you want to purchase food Arlington has all of your favorite food groups — pizza, hamburgers, Italian sausage, popcorn, and large cups of french fries. All of the food is decent to good, but the longest line was definitely at the Dippin’ Dots booth. This was my first encounter with Dippin’ Dots but my son seemed to be an expert, “Grandma and Grandpa let me have Rainbow dots.” Dippin’ Dots are some sort of freeze-dried creation that taste like ice cream, banana splits, or sherbet when they melt in your mouth. I had a couple of bites and I won’t be trying a few more, but there was not a kid at the track that didn’t have a cup of Dippin’ Dots.
Arlington Park also offers children the Junior Jockey Club. On Sundays before the first post (usually from 11:45am-12:30pm) Junior Jockey Club members gather in the paddock area for special interactions with the horses and staff of the track. Some upcoming activities this season include a Paddock Tour, “Meet the Veterinarian”, and Starting Gate Tour. Membership is free, sign up at the Junior Jockey Club tent on Sundays or online.
You can put face paint on it, but the main attraction at the race track is the horses and gambling. Your kids can watch the horses walk in and out of their stables before and after the races. The horses also do a slow lap around the track before each race so everyone can see them up close. The game most families were playing was letting each of their kids pick a horse and parents would place bets. As the race went on, hundreds of kids would be screaming to root on their horse. Our kid switched off between picking his favorite numbers and the horses with the best name. Since he slept in the car on the way to Arlington Heights, he was in a bit of a mood when we got there so we started by picking Kicking and Screaming to win. Then he picked DontCallMeShorely to show and Jaguar Type (because it sounded like Baby Jaguar from Diego) to show. Well, it doesn’t look like we’ll be retiring any time soon and we’ll be keeping our day jobs.
We would recommend hanging out in the family area between races. In this area, beer snobs can buy better beer than Miller Lite (Pilsner and Heineken were available) and vodka and lemonades were also supplied. Beer was not too expensive, $5-$6, but they really got you for water at $3.25. So maybe bring some water in your coolers. The lines are much smaller in the family area for food, drinks, and placing bets. Don’t get stuck standing in the lines in the main section. During the races, you’ll want to move closer to the main section of the park in front of the big TV so you can hear the announcer and see the screen that shows the top 4 horses as the race moves along.
When someone recommended Arlington Race Track to us, we were a little skeptical, but this was a really fun day. We did just over 2 hours at the track, but you could maybe make it the whole day with older kids who got more excited about the races. There was some extra entertainment with the jugglers, some decent food, and lots of jumping, yelling and screaming for your favorite horse (our kid jumped, yelled, and screamed, too). And Mom and Dad had a really good time, too. So if you want to do something a little different, don’t mind a little cigar smoke in the air, and you are feeling lucky, Arlington Park is a great Sunday.
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Larry and Donna
Mom Says: Arlington Park is a beautiful venue, very modern and super clean. I enjoyed hanging around the paddock area to watch the horses up close. I also liked that the animals in the petting zoo and pony rides were so well cared for. Bring lots of sunscreen - the kid’s area has limited shade.
Dad Says: I really do believe that kids have got to have better luck than their parents at gambling. This theory did not prove out on Sunday, but I think I’ll try one more time before the season ends in September.
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August 10th, 2008 larry
I have seen Michael Jordan beat the Knicks in a playoff game at the United Center. I have seen Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, and U2 at the United Center as well. Now I have seen dinosaurs. Walking with Dinosaurs is at the United Center from August 3rd through August 17th. Tickets range in price from $24.50 to $74.50. Parking is a solid $20 and a box of popcorn bigger than your kids head is $5.00. The production runs an 1:45, 85 minutes of dinosaurs with a 20 minute intermission.
Walking with Dinosaurs is a combination of live action, animatronics, puppetry, video and incredible sound. They have set up the United Center like a concert in that they have cut off the back quarter of the arena. The show takes place on the entire floor of the United Center. There is a video screen showing various types of scenery at the far end where the dinosaurs enter the stage, and two smaller video screens hang on the wall that show the action on the stage. The larger dinosaurs have been built upon t-shaped sleds that allow the animals to walk around the stage, while the smaller dinosaurs have people inside that allow them to stand up on their legs and run after other dinosaurs.
The producers have taken an educational approach with making Walking with Dinosaurs. The show is narrated by a paleontologist that takes you from early dinosaur years through the ice age that wipes them out. The show starts with the earliest dinosaurs, Liliensternus and Plateosaurus, then jumps forward to show the growing fauna of the early Jurassic age where an armored Stegosaurus comes out on the stage.
The scientist explains that we really don’t know the purpose of its armor plating. Next an Allosaurus enters the stage (who apparently eats his entire body weight each month) and a fight breaks out between it and the Stegosaurus. The stage then erupts into a massive jungle fire (which can last years since there are no fire departments 140 million years ago) and then a massive rain storm which puts out the fire.
Once the coast is clear we enter the late Jurassic period and a baby Brachiosaurus enters the stage. The head of this dinosaur is almost level with us in the mezzanine area. The dinosaur walks around the entire stage so everyone can get a good look and picture. But then the Allosaurus comes back on stage and taunts the “little” baby. Luckily the Mom Brachiosaurus is close by (more than 40 feet tall and over 30 tons) and appears on stage. This dinosaur is actually higher than our seats and the show lets us get an up close view of Momma Brachiosaurus (which I understand I have been mistakenly been calling a brontosaurus my entire life). Mom scares away the Allosaurus by growling and stomping.
After the intermission, the show enters the Crustaceous period where America, Africa, and Europe have separated and created the Atlantic Ocean. The ornificarous, the first flying dinosaur, enters on stage and flies for a few minutes. The backdrop scenery changes to help give the audience the feeling of flight as it tilts, dips, and whirls around the ocean and cliffs. Next, the Raptors come out on stage, showing off their hunting and communication skills and the flora changes to colorful flowers. We learn that the insects and flowers have more closely partnered over the years, sharing pollen for nectar.
The next two dinosaurs on stage are the Torosaurus and the very nasty looking Ankylosaurus. Both of these dinosaurs are heavily armored. In fact, the Ankylosaurus has armored eyelids and a 150 pound armored tail. In the meantime, India has crashed into Asia causing volcanoes and acid rain.
The finale begins with a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex caught between the Ankylosaurus and the Torosaurus. But wait, the big Momma T-Rex comes out to defend baby with large growls and scares the others away. The big T Rex walks around the stage showing everyone its big teeth and tiny heads. Another great picture moment.
WARNING: If you have already purchased tickets to the show, don’t read the next paragraph. Dinosaurs ruled the world for 200 million years and the show felt like we saw sat through at least 100 million of those years. The technology behind the dinosaurs is sensational and if your kids really love dinosaurs, they’ll love this. But like the Speed Racer movie, technology alone doesn’t guarantee entertainment and fun. The educational aspect is nice but boring (my son said that the Dinosaurs “make me tired”, a synonym for bored). The fight scenes are really a bunch of growling and dinosaurs circling each other; not too suspenseful. You literally watch the flying creature for more than 5 minutes just flapping its wings in the middle of the stage. Though there are a couple of minor laughs (the T-Rex growling at the Paleontologist when he calls the T-Rex dumb), the paleontologist is no Ross from friends. The writers missed an opportunity to add some major laughs. Basically, this is a great idea that needs to be wrapped into a funny or action packed story to justify the price and time commitment. I was never so happy to see a comet hit the Gulf of Mexico so we could go out to the parking lot and get in our car.
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Larry and Donna
Mom Says: If you have your heart set on seeing this show, I can say that the first half was enjoyable. The dinosaurs are outstanding and it’s pretty enthralling to watch them (for a while). But…the second half is pretty much “been there done that” and boring. I was worried that the show might be too scary for my nearly 4 year old son, but it wasn’t. He was most upset by the volume of the show. The sound is VERY loud, so if your kids are sensitve bring earplugs. My biggest complaint is the cost. It’s crazy expensive and absolutely not worth it.
Dad Says: On Saturday morning we went to the St. Charles Big Truck exhibition. It was free, kids got to sit in fire engines, police cars, semis, sanitation trucks, dump trucks, school buses, and farm equipment. I thought Walking with Dinosaurs would be the end of a great day. I don’t think my kid asked 8 times if it was over yet, but probably 7. Walking with Dinosaurs should be called Watching Dinosaurs Walk. Go rent Jurassic Park if you need a dinosaur fix.
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August 4th, 2008 larry
I love finding new places for my kids to explore and be challenged creatively and physically. And usually, after one of those fast-paced outings, I am just as exhausted as the kids. That’s why I also like to have a few slower-paced options in my repertoire of “what will I do with my kids today”. One of those is Donley’s Wild West Town. However, don’t mistake slow-paced with boring…there are plenty of activities and attractions to keep your little ones entertained while you are there. Admission is $14.00 per person and kids 2 and under are free. If you decide to go, note that through the end of the summer they are open daily from 10:00am until 6:00pm. However, in September and October, they are only open on weekends.
Located in Union, IL, Donley’s Wild West Town is literally a step back in time to the charm and simplicity of the Old West. Once you get there (and it does take a while to get there), you pull up the front gates and can only see what appears to be the facades of some Old West buildings. You may initially wonder (like we did) why we drove all this way to see a couple old buildings. My only advice…forge ahead…your kids will be glad you did.
After paying the admission, you enter the Wild West Museum. One exhibit features gold and silver mining and introduces viewers to the various equipment, tools, and methods of mining. Another display highlights cowboys in the Old West complete with saddles, spurs, guns, gun belts, etc. The museum also has many more antiques and memorabilia on display, including a huge collection of antique phonographs. While some of the parents, grandparents, and history-minded kids may find this interesting, I imagine that most kids will do as ours did and walk right through the museum to the doors that open into the Wild West Town.
When you enter Wild West Town, The first thing you see is the replica Wild West town that it set up around a courtyard. The town is complete with a blacksmith, a saloon, and a place to get old-fashioned photos taken. Inside the courtyard, little ones will enjoy a giant tee pee, lasso throwing, hand cars that can be “pedaled” around a course, and a giant Calistoga wagon led by a team of sculptured horses that kids can climb aboard and imagine they are young pioneers. One of the highlights of this area of Wild West Town is also a working train that boards in the middle of the courtyard, and takes visitors around the perimeter of Wild West Town. This train ride is decently long (about 10-15 minutes), is included in your admission, is a great way to see the other parts of Wild West town, and best of all is unlimited in the number of times you can ride.
Once you leave the courtyard of Wild West Town, you enter the activity area. This includes a play area with a slide and miniature wooden town that kids can climb around in and pretend to be outlaws or pioneers or both. The activity area also includes typical old-fashioned fun like archery, slingshots, bottle shots, and panning for gold pyrite. There are also some unexpected activities like a petting zoo, pony rides (which is unfortunately limited to two rides per child), and a canoe ride along a man-made wooden water path (no paddling required).
When the kids have had enough with the activity area, the whole family can head over to enjoy the Wild West Show that takes place daily at noon, 2:00pm, and 4:30pm. Like the other attractions, this show is included in your admission. The show is put on by a professional stunt team with some audience volunteers and entails mostly lasso tricks and some impressive sharp-shooting. The caveat to the Wild West Show is the noise level. The shooting does get somewhat loud, so ultra sensitive ears may want to skip this part.
Once you have worked up an appetite with all of the activities and the show, you have a couple options for food. There are several picnic areas located around the grounds if you are inclined to bring your own food. Otherwise, there is also the Wild West Steakhouse right on the property. This restaurant is super convenient, and has a great menu for kids and adults alike. The kids menu is rather typical (chicken tenders, mac and cheese, etc.) but the adult menu ranges from salads and sandwiches to steak and ribs. The decor continues the over-the-top western theme found in the rest of the town, but really helps to make it a full western experience. There is even a life-sized stuffed bison that kids can climb on while you are waiting for the food. There are also pool tables and quarter horse rides to enjoy while you wait. The day we were there, however, the wait was considerable. That is my only complaint with the restaurant, but it is a big one when you have two very hungry children.
All-in-all, Wild West Town is a quaint and unique experience, and offers a totally different experience for young kids. The downside to the venue is its location. Since it is 4o minutes west of O’Hare Airport, it feels like you are in the middle of the country (probably because you are). That being said, it takes a while to get to, but the novelty of the experience makes it worth the trip. As a side note, Wild West Town is located in the same town as the Illinois Railway Museum. If you are making the trip out West, you might want to think about combining the two outings.
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Mom says: This outing will be a brand-new experience for your kids, and offers a change of pace from some of the other high-energy excursions that your kids enjoy. It was simple fun. I liked that admission covered everything that was offered inside the town. I also liked that all of the activities were appropriate for all kids, age 2 and up. My three year old doesn’t like being told that he is too little to do something, and we didn’t have to do that here at all. My most enjoyable part was the train ride. It was a great way to see the park when we first got there, and it was a great way to end the excursion, too. I will definitely go back when I am looking for a low-key outing for the kids.
Dad says: I felt like Billy Crystal in City Slickers upon entering Wild West Town. The place is a bit hokey and it took me a little while to get into the action. My kids were having a lot of fun with everything though and it quickly got contagious. The employees were very friendly and definitely fit into character. I highly recommend the train ride (several times), the pony rides, the Wild West show and the on site restaurant for lunch. The restaurant is ‘good enough’ and really caps off the experience. Traveling to Union, IL will be a really long journey for most of you. Try to combine the trip with something else, but definitely be prepared to get into the experience and let yourself have fun with it.
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