Kid-Friendly in the City
American Girl Place
835 N. Michigan Avenue
(312) 943-9400
www.americangirl.com
July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Braids & Bows
Your girl will learn the basics of braiding! Our Doll Hair Salon stylists will share secrets for pulling off a variety of super styles for long or short hair, from fancy braids to ribbon twists. Reservations required. For girls ages 8 and up.
July 18 and August 17
American Girl Dinner and Alice in Wonderland Acting Workshop
Explore the dramatic world of Alice in Wonderland with Lookingglass Theatre and American Girl! During this hands-on workshop at Water Tower Water Works, experts from Lookingglass Theatre will help girls discover their acting tools—bodies, minds, and voices—all while bringing Alice’s adventures to life. After this theatrical experience, your girl will enjoy a delicious meal in the American Girl Cafe.
General Information
Time: 4:00 p.m. Workshop, 5:30 p.m. Dinner
Tickets: $55 per person
Reservations required; call toll-free 877-247-5223.
For girls ages 8 and up.
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue
(312) 443-3600
www.artinstituteofchicago.com
July 9, 10, 17, 24, 30 & 31, 11:00am – 2:00pm
The Artist’s Studio: Art from A to Z
A is for art—as well as angle, alligator, and airplane. Visit the exhibition Artful Alphabets: Five Picture Book Artists. Choose an alphabet letter to connect with, and then create your own alphabet page.
This is a drop-in program and registration is not required. This program is designed for families with children. This program cannot accept groups. To learn about group offerings, please call (312) 443-3051.
Age Group: All ages
August 6, 13, 20 & 27, 11:00 am – 2:00pm
The Artist’s Studio: Friendship Weaving
Create a sheet of decorative paper inspired by artwork in the museum’s collection and share it with others as part of a collaborative project. Then, weave your own work to take home using decorative paper made by others.
This is a drop-in program and registration is not required. This program is designed for families with children. This program cannot accept groups. To learn about group offerings, please call (312) 443-3051.
Age Group: All ages
Chicago’s First Lady Cruises
Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive on Chicago’s Riverwalk
(847) 358-1330
www.cruisechicago.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CFLCruises
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Chicagos-First-Lady/44031636780
June 26 - August 14
Evening Out with Your American Girl
This will be a special evening to be remembered, created especially for families with girls (ages 8-12 years old) and their favorite American Girl doll. The evening begins at 5:30pm with dinner at the American Girl Place Cafe. Dinner guests will then be transported via roundtrip Chicago Gray Line motor coach to the Chicago’s First Lady Cruises’ Riverside Gardens dock at the southeast corner and lower level of the Michigan Avenue Bridge and Wacker Drive. Passengers will embark at 7:15pm on a 75-minute private cruise along the Chicago River to see the City’s iconic skyline. A Chicago Architecture Foundation volunteer docent will present the commentary, specially developed for this cruise to describe the design of some of the world’s most famous buildings along the riverfront, while weaving in fascinating details about their history as it relates to American Girl’s popular historical characters.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark Street
(312) 742-2400
www.lpzoo.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/visitlpz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lincolnparkzoo
July 15, July 29 and August 12
Sleep Under the Skyscrapers: Family Campout
Interested in sleeping among Lincoln Park Zoo’s amazing animals? For families with children ages 5-12, grab your nighttime gear and join us for an outdoor overnight adventure! The evening begins at 6:00pm on Friday by pitching tents and having dinner. Then watch for urban wildlife as you hike Nature Boardwalk, enjoy a campfire and s’mores, and learn the basics about spending time in the wilderness. Hear stories from zoo experts and wind down with a movie and bedtime snack before you—and the rest of the zoo—turn in for the night. Pack up and head home by 8:30am on Saturday.
Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
(773) 684-1414
www.msichicago.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/msichicago
Facebook: www.facebook.com/msichicago
Now- September 25
Suited for Space
Through rare and original photography, including unique, new X-ray images of the interiors of the spacesuits, this exhibit reveals how the modern technological marvel that is the spacesuit enables astronauts to live and work in space. Outfitted in this critical piece of engineering, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin survived the hostile conditions on the Moon, where temperatures range from 253 degrees F during the day to minus 387 F at night.
The exhibit will also take you through the evolution of spacesuits. You’ll be guided through the groundbreaking advances of the Gemini and Mercury mission suits to Armstrong and Aldrin’s Apollo suits, which facilitated movement and dexterity in small spaces, remaining pressurized in zero gravity and providing essential oxygen, heating, and cooling in as efficient a manner as possible.
This is a must-explore exhibit for all ages. See for yourself the remarkable creativity and determination of the extraordinary few who ventured into space and the brilliant ingenuity of the hundreds more who worked tirelessly—and often anonymously—to get them there.
Texas de Brazil
51 E. Ohio Street
(312) 670-1006
www.texasdebrazil.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/texasdebrazil
Facebook: www.facebook.com/texasdebrazil
June 21 – August 25
Kid-Friendly In The City
Enjoy some family time while dining at Chicago’s best Brazilian Steakhouse. Children 6 and under are complimentary and children 7 – 12 years old are 50% off.
Water Tower Place
825 N. Michigan Avenue, Broadway Playhouse
(312) 440-3166
www.shopwatertower.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/WaterTowerPlace
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShopWaterTower
June 8 - September 3
Pinkalicious
Emerald City Theatre presents PINKALICIOUS
“Can’t I have just one more?” When Pinkalicious eats one too many pink cupcakes, she catches a case of Pinkititis and turns pink from head to toe! It’ll take the wisdom of her broccoli-eating little brother to help her get out of this predicament. Don’t miss Chicago’s Emerald City Theatre production of this smash hit musical based on the popular book by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann.
Best suited for cupcake lovers ages 3 and up.
Ticket prices are $16 to $22.
Groups of 15 or more are on sale now!
Call (312) 977-1710 for more information.