Apple Orchards

click on the title to find orchards all less than 100 minutes from Chicago.   All open in late Aug, Sept and some even into October with pumpkins

The Actors Gymnasium, Evanston

Classes like Circus Arts, AcroDance, Imaginastics, Juggling, Tumbling, Parent-tot classes.  Mention ad in Time Out Chicago for 10% off!

Midieval Times, Schaumburg

WOOGMS parades in Lakeview on Memorial Day and Labor Day

Wellington Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society's parades start at 11am in front of Al Weisman's former home near Pine Grove and Wellington.  Everyone marches, nobody watches, to the beat of the Jesse White Drum Corps, traveling east to Sheridan Road, then over to Lake Shore Drive, where the route ends in front of St. Joseph's Hospital.  At the end, volunteers dole out packs of candies and the Jesse White tumblers usually perform.

Second City classes for kids

Midwest Tree Climbing

Mark Larson runs this destination that is centered around one massive, 5-story tall, 300 year old oak called "Goliath".  For $20 pp, kids aged 5-adult can be harnessed and taught how to scale this tree, and then climbers can try it for as long as they like.  The tree is fitted with a series of ropes that have special knots so you can use a combination of upper and lower body strength to scale up to the highest branches.  He got the idea from a course he took at Atlanta based Tree Climbers International.  Try tricks like the upside down "Batman", and he will also rescue you and bring you back to ground instantly.  The views and sounds at the top are amazing.  On the ground there's a basketball hoop, picnic tables and a grill, so your group can bring food and sports equipment along to make a day of your trek.

These Chicago-run Farmers Markets open in June:

Lincoln Square
Museum of Contemporary Art/Streeterville
South Shore
Hyde Park
Bridgeport
Northcenter
Printers Row
Southport
Erie Street
Wicker Park/Bucktown
Pritzker Park
Willis Tower Plaza
Trump Tower
For more information including hours, visit the web: www.chicagofarmersmarkets.us or call 312-744-3316.

Dry Erase Boards: How to clean ghost and permanent marker off?

If you are a busy family with kids like ours, (a) dry erase board may be a critical part of your home, and (b) it has permanent marker drawings and scribblings across the middle of the board.

The title of this post is a link to some remedies.  I tried them.  They work!

Playspaces for a fee

Considering the fee for these, our Playgroup space is all the more appealing!  BYO coffee!

Little Beans Cafe, 1809 West Webster Avenue, at North Wood Street (773-251-1025 or littlebeanscafe.com). Admission, $12 per child; $7 per sibling. Supervised play, $20 up to 90 minutes. Discounted monthly and yearly memberships are available.