Our Day At Alder Planetarium in Chicago @adlerskywatch #WTTU2012

 After our adventures downtown on Saturday (read post here), we woke early Sunday to head to Adler Planetarium for a full day of fun.  Of course I got us there a little early thinking they opened at 9 but they didn't open until 9:30am.  But that just gave us some time to enjoy the beautiful museum campus area for a little bit.

It's a really great view of the skyline but away from all the hustle and bustle (especially at that hour of the morning.)

Once we did get in we got tickets to two shows.  We started with One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure which features Big Bird and Elmo (hence the stuffed guys that were sent over for Bryan.) I thought this would be a good start (partly because that's when it runs) but also because I thought it would get Bryan, who might be the hardest sell to be immediately engaged.   And also, the newest show Welcome to the Universe. I have to admit that I loved the Big Bird show just as much as Bryan and I probably learned just as much too.  I'm not nearly as into space as the older boys are.  THEY loved Welcome to the Universe and all the other shows we ended up watching.  The thing I was most struck by in Welcome to the Universe was the visualization of how truly small we are.  Its something I've heard and known for a long time but as you 'travel' through the universe visually it really hits home how truly tiny we are in the grand scheme of things.

But mostly I just loved watching the boys soak it all in.  This was a great place for them to be as they are very into science in general.  But Timmy has been truly in love with all things space for some time now.  I'm pretty sure he could spend several more days here reading and learning.

 

In addition to the many fabulous shows that run throughout the day in several different theaters there are a ton of exhibits.  Some with fun hands on features for everyone.  Bryan especially loved the one that showed how we see light through telescopes and the delay that it causes.  So he looked into a 'telescope' and then saw his image delayed a few seconds.  He MAY be a bit of a ham.

Picture of the boys in the theater where One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure played. (No photos or filming DURING the shows.)

After a few shows we took a break and played in the Planet Explorers area.

Here's Bryan launching a shuttle.

Need to go?  Have a seat on the space potty!  Although Bryan loved this area for kids, so did the older boys, I just couldn't usually catch them quick enough to snap a photo.

After a snack in the cafe, we headed to see 3d Sun.

We literally spent the entire day at Adler Planetarium and didn't see all the shows or exhibits.  If you have a space lover on your hands, I highly recommend checking it out.  The staff were all fabulous and the boys had a great time WHILE learning!!  

Here's a little more info on the first two shows we enjoyed.  But visit Adler Planetarium online for details on all the shows, exhibits and special events.

Welcome to the Universe

This summer travel a billion light-years and back in the Adler's newest space adventure!
Location: Grainger Sky Theater (see map)  

Appropriate for: General Audience Length: 25 minutes
Every day
11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m.,
5:15 p.m.

 

Take a mind-blowing tour of the Universe like no other at the Adler Planetarium. Welcome to the Universe is the next adventure departing from the Grainger Sky Theater, the most technologically advanced theater in the world. Audiences travel a billion light-years and back flying through space, orbiting the Moon, zooming into a canyon on Mars, and soaring through the cosmic web where a million galaxies shower down on them. Then it’s back to Earth, traveling faster than the speed of light in the most immersive space experience ever created.  

 

 

 

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure

Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, take viewers on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon.
Location: Definiti Space Theater (see map)
Appropriate for: Younger Visitors
Length: 25 minutes
Every day
10:00 a.m.

 

 Explore the night sky with your favorite friends from Sesame Streetin One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon.

 

 

 

 

And don't forget to check out Alder Planetarium online on Facebook and Twitter!

 

 

Thanks again to Adler Planetarium, Swissotel, Shoreline Sightseeing and Landshark Beer Garden for this memorable weekend!!

Sweeney Todd August 11 - October 9, 2011 at Drury Lane

Sweeney Todd    August 11 - October 9, 2011 Directed By: Rachel Rockwell
Choreographed By: Rachel Rockwell

Stephen Sondheim’s haunting musical thriller has been hailed "the greatest musical of the past half-century” by the Wall Street Journal. Sophisticated and uncompromising, “Sweeney Todd” has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. You will find yourself laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

Ok, seriously this show is so totally different than anything I've seen before.  I knew nothing really of the story when I entered the theater (which is beautiful by the way and doesn't contain a single bad seat).  It quickly became obvious that this show has a bit of a cult following so I may have been one of very few who were not really sure what we were in for.  I knew only that it was a "dark" show and to be honest, I gave some thought to my attendance before excepting the invite.  But I figured you never know until you try, right?  Well, I am so glad I did.  I was a great show!  It was dark, so if you're looking for happily ever after, this is NOT the show for you.  There is no happy ending, for ANYONE in this musical.  But if you enjoy suspense and dark humor, you should check it out.

I was a little worried about the gore factor in the production because I watch medical dramas through my squinted eyes, asking my husband if it's "done yet" when there are bloody scenes.  I was thankful that there was no blood involved in this show at all but rather suspense and "implied" blood.  The music and the well timed acting left you gasping at scenes even when you logically knew what was about to happen.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the show (and the company, fellow blogger Megryansmom).  

And while it should probably go without saying, I'll say it just to be sure, this show is NOT family friendly.  It is not for kids, of any age.  This play includes references to rape, incest, murder and other mature topics.

The performance schedule for SWEENEY TODD is as follows:  Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35) and 8 p.m. ($40), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($45), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($45) and 8:30 p.m. ($46) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($45) and 6 p.m. ($40).  Lunch and dinner theater packages range from $49.75 to $68 depending on the day of the week.  Student tickets start as low as $20 and Senior Citizen tickets start as low as $29 for matinees and $43.75 for a matinee luncheon package.  

For reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000, or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets courtesy of Drury Lane for review purposes.  I was not compensated for a positive review.

What are YOU Watching? {Sponsored}

Seven years ago when we bought our house, I knew very little about satelitte TV except that I was hearing that it was cheaper than cable.  Where we were previously the rent included cable so I had never really investigated anything about packages, prices or service.  But when I called the phone company to get a line set up at our new house, I was offered a package that included phone, internet and satelite service with DISH Network.  Because this just seemed super easy I never too the time to really compare DISH Network and Directv packages.


While we have changed around our services some, adding or deleting addition TVs and most recently upgrading to HD, we're still with DISH Network over 7 years later.  While I have to admit that I've been tempted a time or two to switch because of the cray low introductory rates that some places come around offering, its usually a no brainer that after 3 or 6 months the bill would be usually close to double what we're paying now.  This weekend while we were at a party the conversation about satelite services came up (what can I say I was the only mom there besides the hostess and the conversation eventually floated into a discussion of lumber and tools too).  But someone made a comment about Directv having more channels they actually want to watch.  And while I suppose personal preference can vary a lot, I think people would be surprised if they compare DISH Network and Directv channels side by side.
 
I won't say that our service never goes out but often we've found that if we're having very many issues there is something that needs to be updated.  Even through the stormiest summer I ever remember we haven't been without service very much.  And their customer service is pretty impressive.  And if you're on twitter, they'll even address your issues there too!  So for any forseeable future, we'll be staying with DISH Network because it has the channels that keep all of us happy and the DVR going pretty much daily.