Christmas in Chicago 2009: Museums
December 4, 2009
By Miriam Y. Cintron
The Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills, IL, provides A Glimpse of Christmas Past with daily tours of the historic mansion dressed up for the holidays. Tours are held from 6 to 10 p.m. through Sat., Jan. 2. The museum also will host Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Shows featuring lights and holiday displays. It will be closed Thurs. and Fri., Dec. 24 and 25. Admission is $5 per car Mon. to Thurs. and $10 per car Fri. to Sun. Call (847) 362-3042 or visit www.cuneomuseum.org.
Explore theNature of Diamonds at the Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., through Sun., March 28. Examine the gem’s the unique properties through ancient manuscripts, compelling multimedia, and evocative exhibits. Highlights include pieces by Cartier, Boucheron, and works from Tiffany and Co. designed by Frank Gehry and Elsa Peretti. Call (312) 922-9410 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.
The halls of the Museum of Science and Industry will be filled with holiday decorations, music, and performances through Sun., Jan. 3. The museum’s annual Christmas Around the World features more than 50 trees decorated by members of Chicago’s ethnic communities to represent global cultures. The Holidays of Light exhibit is a multicultural display of holiday traditions such as Diwali and Hanukkah.
While admiring the dozens of beautifully decorated trees, visitors also will be able to enjoy various dance and choral groups performing music from Asia, Latin America, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and everywhere in between on the Holiday Stage on the museum’s main floor through Friday, Dec. 18.
More Christmas in Chicago 2009
Also, the museum will display the Gingerbread White House through Sunday, Jan. 3. Pastry instructor Marilyn Santos-McNabb and her students from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago created the model of the White House out of gingerbread, chocolate, and sugar. For more information, call (773) 684-1414 or visit www.msichicago.org. The museum is located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive.
The John G. Shedd Aquarium’s Polar Family Holidays includes the Polar Express 4-D Experience and the Polar Play Zone. Kids can view the 20-minute Polar Express 4-D Experience, take pictures with Santa, decorate cookies, and receive a gift from Santa and reserved seats for Fantasea, Shedd’s new aquatic show. The event will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 5; Sat., Dec. 19; and Tues., Dec. 22. Tickets are $35.95 per person. To register, call (312) 692-3373. For more information, e-mail extraordinary@sheddaquarium.org.
The aquarium’s Polar Play Zone will be open 8 to 10 a.m. Sat., Dec. 12. Admission is $35 per person. To register or for more information, call (312) 692-3206 or send an email to families@sheddaquarium.org. The Shedd is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Fri. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun. The Aquarium is located at 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. For more information, call (312) 939-2438 or visit www.sheddaquarium.org.
Hanukkah is coming early this year at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, 610 S. Michigan Ave, with special events on Sun., Dec. 6. Families are invited to head to the museum for Family Fun Sunday, a Hanukkah arts workshop with artist and educator Ellen Gradman of Spark Your Art from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children younger than five and Spertus members.
Kosher chef Laura Frankel will teach participants how to make special dishes for the festival of lights at 3 p.m. The cooking class costs $25 for adults and $12 for kids who are non-Spertus members, and $20 for adults and $10 for kids who are Spertus members. Call (312) 322-1773 to make reservations for both events or visit www.spertus.edu.
