Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
312-922-STAR
www.adlerplanetarium.org
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the next couple of months are exciting ones at the Adler. Don’t miss these exciting events!

“Cosmic Collisions”: This new space show, narrated by Robert Redford, airs four times a day in the StarRider Theater. Take a trip through space and time to explore collisions, hypersonic impacts and other cosmic events that drive the evolution of the universe. Cutting-edge research from some of astronomy’s best scientists shows how our solar system was shaped and how our galaxy continues to change.

Planetary Machines: Views of Our Universe, through 9/14: The age of mechanical devices designed to show the movements of bodies inside the solar system took place between 1700-1900. This fascinating exhibit includes Grand Orreries, engravings of room-sized machines and lantern slides.

Special Topics in the History of Astronomy: Navigation, through 11/16: In the days before the GPS, navigating tools often made the difference between life and death. They were also items of great beauty. This exhibit includes a 1616 Mariner’s astrolabe recovered from a Spanish treasure ship, precision chronometers and an array of octants and sextants.

Far Out Fridays, 9/5: The Adler opens late every Friday till 10 p.m. You can view the night sky through a telescope, take advantage of shows in the Sky Theater and the StarRider Theatre and even bring a telescope with you so staff can help you practice using it. September’s theme is “Telescopes.”

The Planets, 8/22 at 7:30 p.m.: Come to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park for a free, orchestral presentation of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, utilizing a giant screen.

Don’t forget to watch the sky for the spectacular Perseid meteor shower, active through 8/24. The best night for sky-watching, the people at Adler tell us, is 8/12.

Art Institute of Chicago
111. S. Michigan Ave.
(312) 443-3600
www.artic.edu
There’s always something going on here, whether it’s a new exhibition or a fun event. Here’s a selection of exhibitions and family events.  

Graphic Thought Facility: Resourceful Design, through 8/17: An exhibit devoted to the graphic design of a British studio known for creating iconic brand identities.

Focus: Mario Ybarra, Jr.—Take Me Out…No Man Is An Island, through 8/24: This site-specific installation dwells on the cultural idiosyncrasies and similarities of two cities, Chicago and Los Angeles.

A Mind at Play, through 9/7: Photographs that explore how the viewer’s subjective experience alters his perception of an object’s reality. Includes work by Kenneth Josephson, Robert Cumming, Duane Michals and Andre Kertesz.

New Light on Old Masters: Research on Northern European and Spanish Paintings before 1600 in the Art Institute, through 9/14: Explores how these paintings were created, collected and displayed.

Collecting for Chicago: Prints, Drawings, and Patronage, through 9/14: A survey of acquisitions over the last 40 years that focuses on five families and their relationships to the museum.

Beyond Beauty: Botanical Motifs and Metaphors in Late Imperial China, through 10/19: Features 17^th and 18^th century ceramics, decorative arts and paintings that feature flowers, fruits and woody grasses, exploring the ways Chinese plants have always been imbued with layers of meaning about the human experience.

Benin—Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria, through 9/21: Art from the 15^th-20^th centuries will be displayed, including altar sculpture, palace plaques, ritual objects and courtly regalia. This is the only stop for the exhibit in the U.S., featuring over 220 works in brass, ivory and coral, so don't miss out!

Summer Music Series, Thursday and Friday evenings: Includes Occidental Brothers African Jazz Trio 8/8, Herculaneum 8/14, Baba Manouche 8/15, Dave Specter Trio 8/21, Tom Sorich Trio 8/22, Mark Dvorak and Keith Baumann 8/28, Harlan Terson and Friends 8/29.

Yokohama-e: 19^th-Century Prints of Americans in Japan, 8/9 through 10/25: Featuring 30 prints of Commodore Perry and his ships, pictures of Americans at the port of Yokohama, and depictions of American cities from the imaginations of Japanese artists.

The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie, 8/23-5/24: This collection of Disney’s former principal animator includes original art from 14 of Peet’s children’s books and sketches and storyboards from his time at Disney.

Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago, 9/6-12/15: Illustrations from Chicago architect Burnham’s unprecedented 1909 Plan of Chicago are on display in five rotations.

Also, check the museum schedule for daily gallery talks (this month’s include John Singer Sargent, Grant Wood, Winslow Homer, museum highlights and the arts of Africa). Tours, social get-togethers,  family events, workshops, classes and other related events are also available, and the museum is hosting a Passport to Africa program every Saturday this season.

DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E. 56^th Place
(773) 947-0600
www.dusablemuseum.org

This very important museum focuses on the life, culture and history of black Americans. Current and upcoming exhibits include:

Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the Vietnam Era, through 8/30: The war was a crucible for African-American soldiers’ emerging political and cultural consciousness.. This special exhibit explores how African Americans were impacted by the war and features nearly 200 artifacts, including audio, articles from magazines, uniforms, photographs, posters and propaganda, diaries and letters and veterans’ belongings.

Forgotten Roots: Muslims in Early American through The 20^th Century, through 10/1: Explore the rich Islamic history of America through documents, stories and photographs, Then learn about the history of early Muslim leaders in the 1900s through the 1950s and the early Muslim communities at the turn of the century.

Red, White, Blue & Black: A History of Blacks in the Armed Forces, open-ended run: More than 14 million black men and women have served in the Armed Forces of the U.S. Here is their story, from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, with over 100 artifacts, images and documents on display.

America I AM Across America, 8/28-8/29: A traveling exhibition focuses on the story of the country’s African people and their legacies. With over 150 artifacts, it’s a multi-sensory experience with video, music and interactivity that encourages people to connect with the foundations of democracy, diversity, exploration and free enterprise.

Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
(312) 922-9410
www.fieldmuseum.org
The Field is a fantastic place for families to learn about dinosaurs, ancient cultures, bugs and all sorts of fascinating bits of natural history. For a limited time only, go to the museum's Web site and print out a $5 coupon for the museum's special exhibitions. Current and coming up:

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, through 9/1: Creatures of the unknown have always fascinated us. But how did they come to be? Examine the legends and the science behind magical beings through specimens, cultural artifacts and works of art.

The Chairs Memorial, through 9/1: Each chair in this display represents a Chicago youth who lost his or her life to street violence in the past year. The memorials, which feature inscriptions, images and clippings, were created by Nicholson Elementary School students in Englewood.

Melting Ice—A Hot Topic: Envisioning Change, through 9/1: An art exhibit highlighting the works of 26 artists from 10 countries, focused on climate change.

Celebrating Women, through 9/7: 40 photographs show world festivals that honor female ideals, goddesses and heroines.

Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters, through 1/4/2009:
Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and tornadoes, oh my! Investigate these brutal forces and how they’ve shaped our world. What triggers a volcanic eruption? What is the roar of a tornado really like? You can find out the answers to these questions and more. Monitor earthquakes around the world and find out how science is helping us deal with these catastrophic phenomena.

Meet the WMAQ NBC 5 Weather Team, 8/16 at 11 a.m.: Andy Avalos and Pete Sack will be on hand to answer weather-related questions, along with advice on how to plan for storms.

The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes, 9/12-1/4/2009: Paintings by a legendary bird artist and scientist capture the famous 1926 Field Museum Abyssinian Expedition. Vivid portraits of African eagles, water birds and hornbills are featured.

Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave.
(312) 280-2660
www.mcachicago.org
Get a cutting-edge art education at the MCA, one of the largest facilities in the nation devoted to the innovation of modern artists. There’s always something going on this summer, so come on in! The museum hosts Target Free Tuesdays every week, in which the museum is open late until 8 p.m.

Jeff Koons, through 9/21: The provocative work of Jeff Koons transforms everyday objects and fantasies into high art. This is his first survey in 15 years, featuring seminal pieces in porcelain in stainless steel. A companion exhibit, Everything's Here: Jeff Koons and his experience of Chicago, goes through 10/26.

UBS 12 X12: New Artists/ New Work spotlights Howard Henry Chen, through 8:31. The Vietnam-born artist will also speak about his work on 8/12 at 6:30 p.m.

Alexander Calder In Focus, through 3/1/09: Calder’s mobiles, stabiles, drawings and paintings are on view annually at the MCA. They illustrate his development over the 50 years of his career, exploring geometric and organic shapes, mechanics and nature. 

Tuesdays on the Terrace, through 9/23, 5:30-8 p.m.: Enjoy free live jazz from Chicago’s finest musicians while hanging out at the sculpture-garden lawn. Local radio personalities will be on hand, and you can make reservations for a $16.50 buffet provided by Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant at the MCA. Artists featured: Bethany Pickens 8/12, Dee Alexander 8/19, Fred Lonberg-Holm 8/26, Fred Anderson 9/2, Greg Ward 9/9, Green Mill Quartet 9/16, World Music Festival 9/23, Andre Earles 9/30.

City of Chicago Farmers Market, Tuesdays through 10/28, 9-5 p.m.: Come to the plaza to ogle the wares of this Streeterville farmer’s market, a European-style outdoor market offering fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, baked goods, cheese, spices and much, much more.

Modern Dance Lecture Demonstration, 8/19 at 6 p.m.:  Part of the Chicago Dancing Festival 8/18-8/20, this event includes artistic directors Janet Eilber of Martha Graham Dance Company and Carla Maxwell of the Limón Dance Company discuss and show archival film of their companies’ works; excerpts will be performed as well.

Saturday Shorts: Plushies, 9/6, 1-4 p.m.: These low-cost workshops will allow you to make things, then take your creation home to impress your friends. Register now, because space is limited.

Museum of Science & Industry
57^th St. and Lake Shore Dr.
(773) 684-1414
www.msichicago.org
Learn about science in exciting, interactive ways! This spring and summer, the museum has lots going on, especially since it is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. For one thing, children under 11 get in free through 9/1 during the 75 Days of Free Children’s Admission promotion, when accompanied by a paid adult (offer is limited to two children per adult).

The Glass Experience, through 9/1: Glass is often taken for granted, but actually it has shattered paradigms and been used in hundreds of functional and decorative ways. From vacuum tubes to lenses and heat-tolerant glass for cooking, take a look at this beautiful material in a new way. Glass designer Lino Tagliapietra lectures and meets guests on 6/8 at 1:30 p.m. Admission for this exhibit is buy one ticket, get one free through 6/30, so hurry in!

Earth from Space, through 9/14: Presents 41 large-scale satellite photos showing activity on our favorite planet, including a hurricane, Amazon deforestation and the Great Pyramids.

Smart Home: Green + Wired, through 1/4/2009:  Guided tours are available for the 2,500-sq. ft. home and grounds on the east side of the Museum, where smart energy consumption, sustainable gardens and clean, healthy environments are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Oriental Institute
1155 E. 58th St.
(773) 702-9514
oi.uchicago.edu
The Oriental Institute is a sometimes-overlooked treasure with an amazing collection of artifacts from ancient cultures. It hosts a number of special exhibits and events throughout the year, including  a film each Sunday afternoon this month and the current exhibit:

Catastrophe! The Looting of Iraq’s Past, through 12/31:  Iraq, ancient Mesopotamia, is the cradle of civilization. When the city was looted five years ago, part of the cultural heritage of the world was lost. This exhibit investigates war and its effect on archaeology.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
(773) 755-5100
www.chias.org
This Lincoln Park museum features many activities, including animal feedings and butterfly releases, and features a permanent butterfly exhibit with 75 different species. Come for the fun!

Lawn Nation: The Art and Science of the American Lawn, through 9/7: This temporary exhibit focuses on turf grass—its history, impact and alternatives. Media and installations including audio, documentaries, outdoor lawn art and outdoor events are highlights. A gnome hunt, workshops on lawn care, storytelling and many other events are featured as well, especially on weekends.

Snakes, Lizards and More! Presented by the Chicago Herpetological Society, 7/12-7/13, 11-3 p.m.: Snakes, skinks, frogs and salamanders are among the reptiles you’ll meet here. You’ll get one-on-one interactions with the animals as well.

Bird Walk and Coffee Talk, 8/13, 8/20, 8/27 and 9/3 at 7-9 a.m.: Get up early to view our feathered friends at North Pond.

  
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.
(312) 939-2438
www.sheddnet.org
Come for the everyday events, like animal feedings, mammal presentations, Caribbean reef presentations and Tots on Tuesdays, or for some of these special events.

“Lizards and the Komodo King,” through 9/1: Faust and his court of 25 other lizard species continue to reign at the Shedd, in a special exhibit which has been extended due to popularity. Other reptiles include geckos, chameleons and bearded dragons.

Jazzin’ at the Shedd, Thursdays through 8/28: Come for live music, drinks and light refreshments at the aquarium’s north terrace and inside the Caribbean Reef. The museum stays open till 10 p.m.; the Oceanarium, Wild Reef and “Lizards” close at 8 p.m. The schedule includes the Tim Fitzgerald Quartet 8/7 and 8/28, the Dee Alexander Quartet 8/21 and  Alejandro Urzagaste 8/7 and 8/21.

Miki’s Birthday, 8/16 at 11 a.m.: It’s time to celebrate the one-year birthday of a beluga whale (an important milestone for sea mammals), with a celebration that includes cake, Radio Disney, beluga habitat chats and more.

For more information on what to visit, call us at 847-715-4574. We’re here to help.