Museums get smart about having fun
Summertime doesn't mean kids have to close the book on their education.
Nor do their parents have to travel great distances to show the family a good time.
There are any number of nearby activities that are as fun as they are informative just waiting to be discovered at the many museums in and around the area.
Five things to know
Ribfest: Naperville's event is held July 3 to 6 in Knoch Park, and features fireworks, food and live entertainment on two stages. Headliners include Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Foghat, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Trace Adkins. Visit www.ribfest.net.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Hollywood bombast by way of Russia in 'Wanted'
"Wanted" is rough, relentless and self-consciously R (certain words are used with more regularity than flair). Yet it's also the first film since "The Matrix" to truly capture that picture's warped, screen-bending, action-movie ethos. Like the "Matrix" pictures, "Wanted" slows down time, so that we can follow the curve of a bullet and the split-second decisions the characters make before the bullets hit.
Food, folks & fun
Ribfest is one huge, hot, finger-lickin' festival of food and entertainment. With 17 vendors of barbecued meat, tons of different foods, major musical acts and a crowd as big as 250,000, Where do you begin? First, grab your camp chairs and picnic blankets to stake your claim on the lawn. Trust us - we've been there.
Five things to do
Big Run Wolf Ranch: Family day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 will include food, drinks, clothing, jewelry, raffles, lectures, tours and music. Admission includes shuttle service from parking area. Located at 14857 Farrell Road, Lockport. Call 815-588-0044, visit www.bigrunwolfranch.org or e-mail bigrunwolf@aol.com.
Some good sources of gambling information
Just like any other topic under the sun nowadays, casino gambling is discussed endlessly on Internet message boards. Online, players gather to swap stories about wins, losses, restaurants, rooms and comps, report on their latest trips and trade strategy tips.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
'American Girl' underestimates its audiences
"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" would be the perfect movie for history-minded 6- to 9-year-olds if it wasn't aimed at the intellectual level of a toddler. It's the story of a resourceful, overdressed little girl who wards off the unpleasantness of the Depression one act of kindness at a time.
More hands won doesn't necessarily mean more money
On a flight to Las Vegas, I was whiling away the time practicing 9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker on my laptop. That's not one of my favorite Vegas games, because with the 9-6 pay table, Double Double Bonus returns a mere 99.0 percent with expert play. You can do better than that in Las Vegas, with games including full-pay Deuces Wild (100.8) and 10-7-5 Double Bonus (100.2) returning more than 100 percent to experts.
Five things to do
Lockport Canal Days: Live entertainment will be featured on two stages in downtown Lockport and carnival in the Commerce Street parking lot through June 22. Events include a State Street parade June 20, Battle of the Bands June 21, as well as baby contest, petting zoo, crafts, historic tours and more. Visit www.lockportcanaldays.com.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Now Playing
Capsule reviews of films currently playing in local theaters, including "The Incredible Hulk" and "The Happening."
Friday, June 13, 2008
Emmylou Harris finds a perch at arboretum
Country music legend Emmylou Harris launches a groundbreaking "Twilight Concert" music series Saturday at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
In addition to fans of Harris, and folks who visit the arboretum throughout the year, the concerts are a way to bring patrons to the arboretum who might not otherwise visit the site, to learn of its 85-year-old mission to keep the planet green through breeding of heartier trees.
Lots of fun to be had at Naper Days
Naper Days will have a decidedly broad focus when the annual celebration brings an air of festivity to the normally placid landscape of Naper Settlement for three days this weekend.
Five things to do
Froggin' Under the Stars: Identify local frogs by their calls while learning about seasonal stars and constellations. The program is from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 14 at James "Pate" Phillip State Park in Bartlett. Ages 5 and up with an adult. Call 630-850-8110.
A craps novice takes a chance
Readers have inundated my e-mail box with stories of their first casino trips, and what it was that kept them coming back. Last week, I shared a few of those tales. Let's go back to e-mail for a story from George in Pennsylvania, whose drive to Atlantic City with his wife, brother and sister-in-law was the sister-in-law's first craps experience.
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