New Chicago Park District Site-Polar Adventure Day This Saturday, and More...

We're huge fans of The Chicago Park District and have taken numerous classes through them since the kids were born.   There's a long overdue, more user friendly, Chicago Park District Site up.   And finally, family information will be saved in the system!    Can't say I'll miss the writer's cramp from filling out a zillion emergency and registration forms...multiple times...for both kids...at numerous parks...every 10 weeks.   Everyone needs to sign up again, even if you had an account on the old site, but once you're in, you're in! 

February 6th, spring classes will be listed on the site.   February 21st, on line registration with the new site opens at 9am.

In the mean time, check out their excellent events.   Click the links for our photo filled, past coverage.   We highly recommend:

• Polar Adventure Days, 1-21 from 12-4pm
• Free Ice Skating
• Sledding 

Chinese New Year celebrations are also happening this weekend, and Winter Fest is slated for next weekend.

Play Locally: Polar Adventure Day Today, Jan. 21 & Feb. 18

Enjoy Winter at CPD's 7th Annual Polar Adventure Days

Check out some of ChiIL Mama's past photo filled coverage here.  
2009 (Jan)
2009 (Feb)
2010 

See Siberian huskies and other live animals, watch as amazing ice sculptures are created, listen to winter tales told by storytellers or hear music from the Old Town School of Folk Music, at the seventh annual Polar Adventure Days at Northerly Island.  This free event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 10 from noon to 4 p.m., and again on Jan. 21 & Feb. 18. Limited parking is available for $3.  Go here for more information.  

Dropkick Murphys Today and Tomorrow at The Congress Theater

"snaked Raygun"--2 of our favorite things goin' down today.

Snake handling indoors at Polar Adventure Day-Northerly Island

Naked Raygun opens for Dropkick Murphys tonight.   Against Me opens Sunday.

Now in their 14th year, the Dropkick Murphys have risen from their Irish-punk roots to become one of the best-known celtic rock bands in the world, thanks to their ability to tap into the working-class and their reputation for phenomenal live shows and political activism. This gang of 7 singers and multi-instrumentalists meld Irish musical tradition to hardcore punk and perform with such explosive energy that they’ve built legions of rabid fans worldwide and particularly in Chicago, an Irish stronghold in the Midwest. 

The band arrives in Chicago in February for two shows at Congress Theater. Saturday, February 26th they’ll play with Chicago legends Naked Raygun co-headlining. On Sunday, February 27th Against Me! joins the bill.

Tickets are $25.00 per night or a 2-night pass can be purchased for $40.00 here: http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/Search.action?query=dropkick+murphys+congress

The hardcore punk/Celtic folk outfit Dropkick Murphys formed in South Boston in 1995; vocalist Mike McColgan, guitarist Rick Barton, and bassist Ken Casey comprised the original nucleus of the group, with a series of drummers passing through the lineup before the addition of Matt Kelly in 1997. After a series of EPs including Fire and Brimstone, Tattoos and Scally Caps, and Boys on the Docks, the Dropkick Murphys signed to Hellcat Records to issue their 1998 full-length Do or Die, produced by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen; McColgan exited the group soon after (he later went on to form the like-minded Street Dogs) and was replaced by vocalist Al Barr for the follow-up, 1999's The Gang's All Here. Frederiksen, who produced the band's first two albums, left the Dropkicks to venture out on their own for their third studio effort, Sing Loud, Sing Proud.

The Murphys reworked the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie" on their mid-2004 EP Tessie, which subsequently became the theme song to the Sox's World Series run that year. Warrior's CodeThe Departed. Soon after, the band recorded The Meanest of Times, a collection of songs about family loyalty, featuring guest appearances by Spider Stacy of the Pogues and Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners, released in mid-September 2007. 

Live on Lansdowne, Boston MA, a CD/DVD of tracks culled from 2009's week of St. Patrick's Day shows in Boston, was released in 2010. Warrior's Code followed in 2005, and one of its songs, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," was later used in the 2006 Martin Scorsese film The Departed. Soon after, the band recorded The Meanest of Times, a collection of songs about family loyalty, featuring guest appearances by Spider Stacy of the Pogues and Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners, released in mid-September 2007. Live onLansdowne, Boston MA, a CD/DVD of tracks culled from 2009's week of St. Patrick's Day shows in Boston, was released in 2010.

DROPKICK MURPHYS AT CONGRESS THEATER

w/ Naked Raygun Saturday, February 26th  -- w/ Against Me! Sunday February 27th

Doors Open 6:30pm Tickets 25.00 or 40.00 for two nights

2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago - 773-227-7595 - www.congresschicago.com

Look For ChiIL Mama This Weekend: Welcoming The Year of the Dragon, Bidding Polar Adventure Day Goodbye, Loving Bleeding Heart Bread, and Rockin' The Roller Derby

SATURDAY
If you missed out on Chinatown's Lunar New Year parade last weekend or if you still haven't gotten your fill of welcoming in The Year of the Tiger, head up North to Argyle and Broadway at noon, for more fire crackers, Chinese dragons, martial arts and great food.

Lunar New Year Parade
Hosted and sponsored by Hip Sing and Area Merchants

Saturday, February 20, 2010
11:30am-1pm
1121 W. Argyle

This parade is a visual delight with parade floats, two lion dance teams, a dragon dance team, martial arts demonstrations, and two sections of the Rickover Naval Academy marching band!

The parade steps off at noon from Broadway & Argyle, heading East on Argyle, South on Sheridan, West on Ainslie and then north on Broadway, ending in the Tai Nam parking lot (4925 N. Broadway).

A traditional firecracker display will take place at Hip Sing - 1121 W. Argyle St.

Come early or stay after the parade to enjoy a fabulous meal at one of the many Argyle Street Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai restaurants, and browse the many shops for unique gift items!

Alternately, this is the last Polar Adventure Day of the winter out at Northerly Island.

SUNDAY
We've been hearing about the weekly bread co-op over at our favorite Punk Rock Pastry Shop, Bleeding Heart Bakery.   But last week was our first foray into ordering a loaf.   They're just $5 and can be picked up every Sunday after 1pm in Roscoe Village or Monday in Oak Park.   Bread must be pre-ordered by 7pm Friday.   

Every week is a different, creative flavor.   We can't wait to pick up our Sourdough loaf this Sunday.   Our first was, appropriately enough, a rich chocolate Valentine's Day heart, bleeding with dried cherries and gooey chocolate chips.   We made awe inspiring French Toast with some and tried it toasted, and sliced right off the loaf.   It was deeeeelicious.



Finally, Sunday night is the 2nd bout of the season.   Come cheer on The Windy City Rollers in some fast paced, flat track fun.

Mushing in the Mush at Polar Adventure Day 2010

 

We have been regulars at Polar Adventure Day for 4 years, throughout subzero temps, snow and lack thereof.   This year was more like the (melting of the) Polar (icecaps) Adventure Day.

It was fascinating to see a mushing demo with the husky dogsled team.   We'd seen them run on snow, pulling a sled, lots of times, but we'd never seen them mush through the mush.

   


They pulled a 3 wheeled bike through the muddy grass, and though not as picturesque as sledding over snowdrifts, they seemed to manage just fine.

We've had 3 Huskies and a Husky/Malamute as family pets over the years, and are fervent fans of the breed.  
 
If anyone's looking to adopt a rescue Husky, contact Free Spirit Husky Rescue in Harvey, IL.   They may shed tufts of white fluff, like a cottonwood tree, when they blow coat twice a year, but they make wonderful family dogs.


The kids learned how Polar bears, penguins, whales and seals keep warm and simulated having blubber by feeling ice with a bare hand versus feeling ice through a bag of lard.

 Then we made fairy wands, painted a winter themed paper quilt, 


and experimented with Mad Science.   We also loved the African folklore, story telling and drumming. 




Finally, we saw our old favs, birds of prey.   The tiny owl and this stunning red tailed hawk, from Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, were cool to see up close.
 
 There's one more Polar Adventure Day for the year, on February 20th.   We hope to see you there.

Polar Adventure Day--February

Spring is on the way and we bid you farewell, Winter. The thermometer may still be registering sub-zero temperatures, but Chicago's Polar Adventure day was Winter's last big hurrah. The Husky teams were back with sled pulling demos.

The Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation people were back with a red tailed hawk and a turkey vulture this time. And our old favorites, Nadeau's ice sculpture carvers, risked frozen fingers to meld chunks of ice into creative designs.












A new story telling duo impressed everyone with stories from Africa, including folktales from Ghana.














They brought a wide array of percussion instruments the kids were invited to play. Mad Science had a booth and captivated kids with experiments involving balloons, dry ice, food coloring and bubbles. We had seen them at Midsommerfest in Andersonville and West Fest, where we made our own super balls and slime, but we'd never seen them represented at Polar Adventure Day.We expanded our collection of free Polar Adventure mugs and enjoyed hot chocolate while we heard a pitch for camping in the Indiana dunes and earning Jr. Ranger badges. The kids earned Wisconsin Jr. Ranger badges last summer and two National Parks badges (or badgers as Sagezilla dubbed them at age 3) two years ago, so they were eager to hear how to expand their Ranger resumes.

The kids also made bubble art in multicolored patterns.A fresh blanket of snow provided a scenic setting for the festivities. As usual, we were all happy we made the trek out to Northerly Island. This coming Sunday is the Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan, and then we will be happy to leave all things Polar till next year, for welcome signs of Spring.

Don't Be A Weather Wimp--Last Chance For Polar Adventure Day Fun

Free fun for the whole family abounds at the 4th annual Polar Adventure Days. Try snowshoeing and cross country skiing if the predicted snow accumulates.
It's TIME to stop hibernating and bundle up for the final Polar Adventure Day of this winter. See ice carving............



Meet Huskies and birds of prey. Create winter and snow themed crafts.


Hear storytellers and children's musicians. Last month, Mark Kater, regular Northpark Nature Center storyteller, and Old Town School musicians kept us entranced.










In January, the biggest entertainment for Du-Jay and Sagezilla was their Dad, who was shooting footage of the event.













The Park District even mixes up batches of hot cocoa with free Polar Adventure mugs, for the first 500 people. So, break out the snowsuits and enjoy those last 6 weeks of winter the groundhog predicted.