The Chicago Traveler

Fall has arrived, and that means the kids are back in school learning about all their favorite subjects. If your children, your teens, or even you yourself have a curiosity for all things science, a great opportunity awaits you right here in Chicago.
Science Chicago: Life’s a Lab is a year-long celebration of science and learning that will appeal to people of all ages. More than 100 public and private institutions are hosting events where Chicagoans can explore and discover how the world around them works. After all, science isn’t just in a textbook; it’s in action every day.
The festival covers …read more

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I am often amazed at how advanced our technology is. I remember when I bought my first portable cassette player. Now, I have a 3.5-inch (88.9-mm) device that holds thousands of songs. Fold-out maps and compasses have been replaced by GPS. And I can easily carry dozens of books with me wherever I go all in one gadget.
And the marvels don’t end there. We are constantly learning and adapting, and our gadgets are getting more and more advanced. If you want a glimpse into the future today, the Museum of Science and Industry has a new exhibit, Fast Forward.
The exhibit …read more

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Last week, I read an article at the MenuPages Blog on the behavior of adults reacting to the behavior of kids in restaurants:
Here’s the thing. Kid-related eye-rolling is acceptable only when:1) They’re crying and their parents are calmly eating/chatting/cellphoning2) They’re tearing up the joint while their parents smile proudly3) Their parent(s) run you off the sidewalk with immense strollers3) There’re so many of them you lose count
Now, I’m not a parent, but I did grow up with two little brothers and have done more than my fair share of babysitting. I know what a loud, uncontrollable irritation kids can be. …read more

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• The Croatian Fest features a huge roast of 75 lambs and over 10 whole pigs at the St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church. The festivities include homemade foods, ethnic dancing, and a beer garden. (Aug 15)
• This weekend marks the 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show. Arrive early and claim your spot at either North Avenue Beach or Oak Street Beach, where you’ll see the Blue Angels, the Golden Knights parachute team, an F-22 Raptor, and much more. (Aug 15-17)
• The third annual North Side Summerfest features live music from over a dozen artists and bands and plenty of …read more

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As a kid, I enjoyed playing with construction toys and putting things together. Steel Tec, K’nex, Lincoln Logs: I loved them all. (Trivia Tangent: Did you know Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright?) But perhaps the most globally popular construction toys of all are LEGO bricks. And now, there is a place in Chicagoland completely dedicated to all things LEGO: LEGOLand!
The LEGOLand Discovery Center opened its doors last Thursday and is the only one of its kind in the United States. This 30,000-square-foot (2800-square-meter) indoor attraction combines LEGO models and construction areas …read more

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It’s that time of year again. The Taste of Chicago is an annual food festival, where dozens of restaurants from across the city gather along Columbus Drive. Millions of locals and tourists sample hundreds of dishes from every cuisine imaginable, from hot dogs to ravioli to veggie gyros to pad thai to empanadas to omelets… Everything and anything edible can be found at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, a wine garden, and kids’ activities. New additions this year include a sports pavilion and an international entertainment pavilion.
Admission is free, but the food and drinks aren’t. Tickets come …read more

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I’ll be heading out of town this weekend, but for those of you staying here in Chicago, you’ve got lots to look forward to.
• The 11th Annual Chicago Improv Festival takes place at various locations and includes performances by Paul Scheer, Jack McBrayer, and John Lutz. (ends June
• The largest free outdoor blues event in the world, the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, features local, national, and international entertainment on six stages in Grant Park with more than 90 performances. (ends June
• More than 170 current and classic films will be shown this summer in neighborhood parks throughout …read more

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This season of the Bravo Network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.
This week’s Quickfire Challenge required each chef to create an entrée in only 15 minutes, using Uncle Ben’s Rice as a primary ingredient. (Product placement, anyone?) As you can probably figure out, trying to cook anything in that short amount of time is very difficult, especially when the contestants are trying to impress guest judge Art Smith. I can’t even decide what I want to eat in less than …read more

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Looptopia, the annual dusk-till-dawn artistic and cultural celebration, lights up the downtown area again this Friday, May 2. This all-night festivity features 300 artists in 100 venues for 14 hours. More than 100,000 people attended last year. Locals, tourists, students, families, artists, musicians—Looptopia invites and entertains them all.
Just to give you an idea, here’s what you can expect to find:

Over 50 groups and soloists offering everything from jazz to electronica to pop to classical.
20 performers show off their moves in ballet, bellydancing, tap, salsa, fire dancing, and more.
Acrobats, circus performers, shadow puppets, experimental artists, and a preview of the 2016 …read more

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• Save up to 80% on high-end jeans at The Warehouse Sale, located on the second floor of Navy Pier. At least 20 denim designer labels are available for men and women. Come early and RSVP at http://www.thewarehousesale.com/. (Apr 18-19)
• Spring brings new fashions and accessories to Ultimate Girls’ Night Out. Hosted by Sheque, the ladies-only event at Le Passage & The Drawing Room includes three hours of beauty services, chocolate, Barefoot wine, Rain vodka martinis, and champagne. Beauty services include manicures, massages, makeovers, and eyebrow waxing. Half of all proceeds benefit the International Center of Deafness and the Arts. …read more

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