Showing posts with label best birthday parties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best birthday parties. Show all posts

Monday, April 11, 2016

ChiIL Mama's Adventures at iFLY Lincoln Park

Check out our photo feature 
on the press opening of the latest 
Chicagoland iFLY, 
indoor skydiving location



ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List 
My daughter, Sage, and her Pom Squad team mate and friend, Gaby (both 12), came with me to give indoor skydiving a try. My son and I tried it when iFLY first opened in Naperville and Rosemont a couple years back. Now we're elated to announce that they've opened a NEW location even closer to home, in Chicago's own Lincoln Park area, close to New City! 

We were some of the first to fly and the girls both loved it so much they waited around till everyone had a turn so they could go again... 3 times! By the evening's end they were hooked. They even asked how old you have to be to work there (and get free class credits) and were dismayed to hear they have to wait 6 years, till they turn 18! 

Disclosure: Thanks to iFLY for providing us with comped flight times for review purposes. We were not compensated in any other way or paid for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Check out our full slideshow right here:
More favorite photos are featured at the bottom of this post.



What we loved: 
This is a great activity for all ages and abilities. You don't need to be uber athletic to fly, though my pom kids/gymnasts had an edge with their core strength and flexibility. I can attest, it works for middle age moms too! 

Local press got a sweet demo on wind tunnel tech via teddy bear and bottled water.



ChiIL Mama's daughter, Sage, and her friend, Gaby (both 12) LOVED iFLY!


The instructor demos between groups of newbies were mind blowing, full of epic, super hero worthy moves!





Staff was friendly, helpful and enthusiastic! They took time to tell us their own stories and were all passionate about indoor skydiving, whether they were fairly new at it or seasoned pros who've been skydiving indoors and out for years. 



Looking for a group get together idea or a unique party plan? iFLY also books private groups and birthday parties. This is a stellar idea for the tween and teen market. Highly recommended.





Press Night:
The place was hoppin' with a live DJ and excellent food from The Warehouse Bar and Pizzeria. 






Worlds Collide Alert:
We do love it when our friends play well together. It was truly a treat to see the world’s foremost mentalist and purveyor of mind games, Marc Salem, flying and reading minds at the press opening of IFLY Chicago - Lincoln Park. His highly acclaimed and extended run of Marc Salem's Mind Over Chicago played at The Apollo from February through April 2016. 


This guy's obviously at home on stage, in his familiar set. Yet he was open to pushing the boundaries, not only mentally, but physically. He actually tried a wind tunnel at the press opening of the newest iFLY, the indoor sky diving phenomenon. We were impressed that Marc was willing to leave his comfort zone and take flight, then read minds! 








About iFLY Lincoln Park
:  iFLY Lincoln Park is the 19th and newest of the iFLY operations in the USA. Featuring a 12-foot diameter wind tunnel powered by four quiet and clean running electric motors. People of all ages can fly with us with few limitations. Those folks with shoulder, back or neck injuries should consult their doctor before attempting to fly with us. There is a standard weight limit of 250 pounds for most flyers, but depending on height and body type that number may be exceeded. All instructors at iFLY Lincoln Park are I.B.A. certified as the best-trained and safest instructors in the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY Lincoln Park is located at 
800 West Scott Street off North Halstead Street.

About iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC is the world leader in design, manufacturing, sales and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. Under the brand names iFLY, SkyVenture, and Airkix, the Company has flown more than 7,000,000 people in a dozen countries since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has 37 facilities operating, 15 currently in construction and another 8 planned to start construction before the end of 2015. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training rules set out by the International Body Fight Association (IBA) to ensure safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving.

What is iFLY?

S.T.E.M. Education Program:

ChiIL Mama's iFLY Photo Favs:


Grrrl power!


ChiIL Mama ChiILin' at iFLY-Lincoln Park



So many ways to level up. The girls are counting the years till they can come work for iFLY and take classes for free!





Even the restrooms are flight themed!




Come check it out. iFLY is highly recommended for family friendly fun! 

Disclosure: Thanks to iFLY for providing us with comped flight times for review purposes. We were not compensated in any other way or paid for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

EXTENDED: The Last Defender at House Theatre Now On Sale Through June 12!

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO EXTENDS 
THE LAST DEFENDER 
THROUGH JUNE 12


To say we're super stoked about this show here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows is a colossal understatement! I played when they first opened, with my son and a couple of his friends, all high school freshmen. 


We ran out of time and blew up the world, but had a blast! During the first wave of shows in February, we were also excited to partner up with The House and give away 2 pairs of these highly sought after tickets to our readers. The rest is history.

 The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

The initial run and extension sold out super fast and my son, Dugan, loved the show so much we bought 6 tickets so he could come back with more friends and play again for his 15th birthday. This series of puzzles is crazy tough to crack (only 22 out of the first 100 teams did it!!) and on Dugan's birthday they were 1 task short of solving it the 2nd time around when they had to strike a "costly compromise" with under 10 seconds to total annihilation. The game was a huge hit for all involved, and one of the most memorable birthdays ever. Oh so highly recommended! 

Dugan & his birthday entourage got to play the ONE HUNDREDTH GAME, on Easter, & have a birthday party too!





Check out our full set of Dugan's Last Defender Birthday shots in the slideshow here and more favorites embedded below:


We're elated about the latest extension because EVERYONE should have a chance to play this live action room escape puzzle. It's great for guys, girls, and geeks ages 14+ and it's SO much fun we're hoping a room escape show becomes part of The House Theater's line up every season. 


We played on Easter afternoon so it was oddly fitting to be following black rabbits down the hole into an alternate near apocalyptic reality. They even left Easter eggs (of the candy filled variety, not the hidden code easter eggs of video game fame) around the playing space as an extra treat and the birthday boy got one in his locker. House Theatre ROCKS!


We even made Dugan a Last Defender 15th Birthday Cake & shared it with cast & crew.

The Last Defender is great for a group of friends, date night, or family fun for high school kids through adults. It's addictive and players are returning in droves to play again and again. Book your tickets NOW before the clock ticks down and all you see on site are the sad words SOLD OUT! Don't miss THIS!

  The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

WHAT:              
The House Theater of Chicago is adding 86 new performance times, extending to June 12

WHERE:          
The Chopin Theater Downstairs, 1543 W. Division St.

WHEN:            
Extension Dates: April 24 - June 12
The regular performance schedule is now as follows: Wednesdays at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 and 9 p.m., Saturdays at 2, 4, 7 and 9 p.m.
Through April 17: Sundays at 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Starting April 24: Sundays 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
These added dates and extension go on sale to the public on Monday April 4
                     
MORE:             
A total of 86 performance times have been added for this live action game after selling out over 90% of the existing playtimes. 

The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

ABOUT THE LAST DEFENDER 
Artistic Director Nathan Allen and Company Member and D.C. Comics artist Chris Burnham, have teamed up with some of Chicago’s best loved puzzle and game designers in this world premiere. Together, they created a wholly new experiment in immersive story and stagecraft call The Last Defender.  It’s part performance, part puzzle hunt, and part live action game.

Set during the Cold War, The Last Defender draws on the era's sense of paranoia, and fear of nuclear attack to give audiences a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience. Audience members become the
heroes of the story in The Defenders' underground headquarters. The United States and The Soviet Union are still mired in the Cold War. Artificial intelligence has been deployed alongside 8 bit
arcade-style computer technologies to control our nuclear weapons.


The game will present teams of players with a classic "trolley problem” resulting in three possible endings based on their choices and actions: Nuclear War, which is easy to achieve. Nuclear Peace, which is very difficult, and a costly compromise scenario for teams who fail to reach Nuclear Peace but wish to avoid Nuclear War. Players will navigate their own paranoia, as well as the stresses of Mutually Assured Destruction to do the job of The Defenders. Everyone will work as a team to gather information, solve puzzles, and make increasingly difficult decisions in real time. All to complete The Defenders' mission and save the world.


Photo Favorites: Dugan's Last Defender Birthday 












Dugan and I both bought these rockin' Last Defender tee shirts after we played in February! And everyone who plays get a free surprise packet to take home.


The geek in me loves that they're keeping game stats & standings:





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