Look For ChiIL Mama This Weekend: ChiIL Holidaze Part 2--Winter Solstice, Redmoon, Kids' Language Fair and Twas the Night Before Christmas

It's astonishing, but we are rapidly approaching the last weekend before Christmas!    We're in a "year round" school with a six week summer break and a sweet three week winter intercession, so we've already been out of school since last Friday and we've been making the most of it.

We joined friends and ice skated at Midway Plaisance Park in Hyde Park.  Most city rinks have free ice skating if you BYO skates.

We also thoroughly enjoyed Adventure Stage Theatre's production of Gossamer.   Check out their web site for Holiday Drama Kids workshops Dec 28-30th.

December 13th, Santa Lucia at The Swedish Museum was beautiful as always, but unbelievably ,wall to wall, standing room only-crowded!   I've never seen it like that.

December 6th, Dance Along Nutcracker was better than ever, with a circus theme and little contortionists from The Actor's Gymnasium.

We've sent our letters to Santa and checked out the Macy's holiday window display.
 

Here are our favorites for the final weekend before Christmas:

Saturday

  
The center for performing arts at governors state university presents a CHARMING new musical adaptation of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” as part of the “especially for kids” series saturday, December 19 at 11 a.m.

Theatre IV performs a Christmas Classic, inspired by the timeless holiday poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University presents the touring children’s theater company Theatre IV with its new musical adaptation of the timeless holiday poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," or as it’s more commonly known “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. This enchanting show is part of The Center’s “Especially for Kids” series, providing an enjoyable morning of entertainment appropriate for families with children ages four to 10. “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” features a script with endearing characters portrayed by an ensemble of live actors and wonderful puppets.

Multilingual Chicago Kids Language Fair

Come on out in the snow and warm up your brains with a free Kids' Language Fair on Saturday, December 19, 11:30-1:30.   Multilingual Chicago will offer 15-minute activities for kids in Spanish, French, and Mandarin, as a way to get a taste of our programs and see our space.  We'd love to see you there!

Multilingual Chicago is a new language school opened in October 2009, located near the Central Park/Milwaukee intersection (2934 N Milwaukee, Suite C--in the 5th/3rd bank building).  Starting in January 2010, we'll be offering Spanish, French, and Mandarin classes for children ages 1-8, and for adults.  We're also planning an array of cultural, language, and community events for the space (2 classrooms and a really nice Language Cafe w/ free coffee, tea, and wifi for waiting parents or for tutoring sessions).

In their first round of classes, they had great success using the neighborhood as a learning tool--students practiced their Spanish by ordering lunch at an Ecuadoran restaurant, for example.  They're hoping to continue that and offer even more cultural events next year.

It's about time Logan Square got a cool, multicultural, off-the-beaten-path space.  We're all about celebrating and promoting the diversity of the city....and supporting new, local, Mama run businesses.

Winter Solstice Festival at North Park Village Nature Center
 Tonight, see a softer side of the city as the wood are alight with luminaries.   Meet wolves and creatures of the winter forest, make edible ornaments for the birds, and enjoy fresh chestnuts roasting on an open fire.   Solstice Fest has been an annual family tradition of ours for the children's whole lives.

The Chicago Park District’s North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., welcomes winter with a special annual event, the Winter Solstice Festival, which celebrates the change in season on Saturday, December 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Since opening in 1980, the North Park Village Nature Center has offered a variety of programs geared toward educating children and adults about nature and the environment. Some of the Nature Center’s current offerings include teacher training programs, school outreach programs, and festivals. For a list of great nature-inspired events and programs at North Park Village Nature Center, go to www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact (312) 744-5472 or TTY/TDD (312) 744-3586.

Redmoon Theatre's Winter Pageant is another of our long running family winter traditions.    

This weekend will be especially magical,
as Redmoon collaborates with CSO.   

This weekend only--4 performances. 

 There are only two weeks left before the show closes.

 

Du Jay and Sagezilla play with Redmoon actors before the performance. 

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Call for tickets today.   This one's not to be missed. 
Tickets are selling out fast! 
Redmoon Theater / 1438 West Kinzie Street Chicago IL 60622 / 312.850.8440 /