Get out and play this spring
Ahhhh, spring.
No other season brings such a feeling of renewal, rejuvenation and a whole bunch of other “re-” words. Spring's sights and smells are enough to make one feel young again.
That's especially true this year. After a winter filled with freezing temperatures, gray skies and one brutal blizzard, we all could use a dose of springtime fun. So, with that in mind, we offer a look at a few of the spring activities that will appeal to the kid in everyone.
Enjoy!
Baseball's back
For many, the best part of spring is the return of baseball.
Of course, the Cubs and White Sox provide pro-level action on the North and South sides of the city, respectively. A cheaper and possibly more convenient option, though, is the Kane County Cougars, the Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals based in Geneva.
In addition to the actual baseball contest, which could give fans early glimpses of the next Ryan Dempster or Miguel Cabrera (two of the many major-league stars who played for the Cougars), games feature promotions galore, a KidZone Playground and plenty of ballpark food. It's a great option for a family outing.
The home opener for the Cougars is Monday, April 11. Single-game tickets start at just $8. Parking is always free. Elfstrom Stadium, the Cougars' home, is located just south of the intersection of Roosevelt and Kirk roads in Geneva. Check out kccougars.com for more info.
Go ape
Brookfield Zoo is inviting us to get a little primitive this spring.
Visitors who enter the Tropic World exhibit this weekend will be able to participate in a number of hands-on activities that will teach them about the zoo's three species of apes — orangutans, Western lowland gorillas and white-cheeked gibbons. Visitors will also learn how to help apes in Asia and Africa by making simple choices in their daily lives.
Ape Awareness Weekend runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10. The zoo is located at 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Go to the Chicago Zoological Society's website, czs.org, for info.
Get on the express
During our winter hibernation, it's easy to forget just how beautiful the natural world is. Fortunately, we can all get reacquainted with our own backyard by taking the Acorn Express at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
The express is an open-air tram that provides 30- and 60-minute tours of the arboretum grounds. Each tour gives visitors a chance to learn a bit about the arboretum's history and the gardens, woodlands and prairies that are a part of it.
Tickets run $4 to $6, and the express is active April through October. For info, go to mortonarb.org.
Toy time!
Everyone remembers their favorite childhood toys. An exhibit opening this month at the Elmhurst Historical Museum will give parents and children a look at the story behind many classic toys, including several with Chicago roots.
Lincoln Logs, Radio Flyer wagons and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots are among the timeless playthings that will be featured at the “Toys in the 'Hood” exhibit, which opens Tuesday, April 26. It includes plenty of hands-on activities, making it a good bet for families with young children. The museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst, and admission is free. For info, go to elmhursthistory.org.
Forever young
The Peter Pan story is a classic, and it fits perfectly with the youthful feeling that the arrival of spring gives us. This year, Broadway in Chicago and threesixty° entertainment will present a special stage production of “Peter Pan” that will take place inside a unique theater tent.
The threesixty° Theatre is a 1,300-seat tent that will be illuminated by 15,000 square feet of high-resolution video, making audience members feel like they've been transported to a computer-generated Neverland.
This unique production will run from Friday, April 29, through Sunday, June 19, at 650 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Ticket prices range from $20 to $75. For info, go to broadwayinchicago.com.
The fourth time out
By spring, all those serious Oscar-nominated films will have migrated to DVD and movie screens will once again be the domain of superheroes, sequels and one swashbuckling Sparrow. One of the most anticipated film releases of the spring is “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” the fourth installment in the wildly popular adventure franchise starring Johnny Depp as the irascible Capt. Jack Sparrow.
This time, Sparrow is on a quest to find the fabled fountain of youth. Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush and Ian McShane co-star. “Tides” opens on Friday, May 20.
Let 'er ‘Rip'
Six Flags Great America is welcoming the season with Riptide Bay, the newest addition to the Gurnee attraction's popular Hurricane Harbor water park.
Riptide Bay will feature a Caribbean-inspired activity pool, high-speed waterslides and Surf Rider, a surf simulator that will give visitors a chance to develop their skills without an ocean in sight!
Hurricane Harbor opens in late May. The park is located at I-94 and Grand Avenue (Route 132) in Gurnee. For more info, go to sixflags.com./greatamerica.
A marathon of magic
The final Harry Potter novel came out in 2007. This summer, the series of films based on those books will end when “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II” hits theaters in July.
It will truly be the end of a pop-culture era. To warm up for the release of the final film, why not enjoy a “Harry Potter” film marathon?
The first six movies in the series are already available on DVD and Blu-ray. Part I of “Deathly Hallows” will arrive on DVD and Blu-ray on Friday, April 15, giving fans plenty of time to relive the entire cinematic saga of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the villainous wizard Voldemort before checking out the concluding film this summer.