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While the other families we know hightail it out to the greener grassed suburbs, we here at the Chicagoist have found more and more to love about the city. Our most recent crush is on the Art of Play.
We initially thought the Art of Play was a tourism gimmick, as it is sponsored by the city and state Tourism bureau, as well as the Mayor's Office of Special Events and other Chicago cultural organizations. But their colorful signs seem to pop up every where something fun happens in the city; they're the ones that brought us Niki in the Garden and the Rubix Cube Championship.
This weekend, we found ourselves at the XXL games in Millennium Park. We initially thought this event was a combination of Chicago's recent bid for the 2016 Games and our dubious honor as one of the top fattest cities. 
Instead, the park’s Family Fun tent was host to oversized games of all kinds: chess, checkers, Jenga, Connect Four and even a huge crossword puzzle. The centerpiece of this event was a massive version of Candy Land where costumed figures like Lord Licorice (pictured) helped kids around a life-sized game board. The event was well done, and a huge success with both our kid and our adult out-of-town guests.
As Art of Play enters its second half, it wants to go out with a bang. Highlights include a Clown Retro-spective on Roscoe, a chance for pre-teens to design their own games while being mentored by professionals, and Dancing in the Park, where you can stroll through dance performances taking place throughout Millennium Park. Check our their website for hundreds of other activities like treasure hunts, world gaming demonstrations and more held daily around the city.
The suburbs draw many with their stellar public schools and reasonable housing. For now, we’ll pass that up to live in a city that is this invested in fun.
More information is available on their website or at the Come In and Play Center located at 72 E. Randolph. Art of Play programming ends September 30.
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Really? That's how you sum up an article about a Chicago event??
Can Chicagoist not have one post without a suburb vs city comment, a hipster vs 'non' dish, a liberal vs conservative rant, when the posts have nothing to do with any of those things?! It's like you end your post and just sit there for a minute to think of a cliche internet blog argument, and then throw it in there.
Aw jeez fish, do you have to see every statement on this blog as a provocation?
You can't live in both the city and the suburbs (unless you're rich or your house straddles the city line), so you've got to make a choice. Elizabeth chooses to live in the city.
If you're reading it as a threat to your way of life or your delicate sensibilities, that says more about you than anything.
Jay- I understand that, but tell me one thing the entire post has to do about living in the city or suburbs?? NOTHING.
It's like having an article about sports in chicago, and then saying 'even though the suburbs have education, recreation etc... because the city has bigger sports teams I'll choose to live in the city.' How random is that?
Simple logic jay. It's in incorrect syllogism, and just doesn't make sense! If the article was about Liz debating where she wanted to live and in particular the fun activities offered for kids in the city vs. activities for kids in the suburbs, then the last paragraph would make perfect sense.
As another Chicago parent, the debate about where to raise your kids is forefront in many families' minds. Ask someone who has kids.
As someone who has also decided to raise his kids in the city, it is hard to find an argument to raise against the suburbanites' claims of better education and nicer housing. Here's a reason I can raise in my next debate.
by arguing that your kids can play with Mr. Licorice?
Thats just a joke, take it easy
by arguing that your kids can play with Mr. Licorice?
I would also add that the suburbs have a crapload of stupid clown shite as well.
That Candy Land crap aint even original. They had the same thing in Poway, California [a SUBURB of San Diego, by the way] two fricking years ago.
The fact that Chicago is getting the hand-me-downs from a third-rate suburb of a second-rate California city is pretty lame.
If the city wants to be taken seriously, send stuff like this out to Palos Heights and reserve Millenium Park for indie rock.
Lets see, I am young parent of kids about to enter kindergarten and I have a choice:
- Get real cozy with my alderman so that they can clout me into a real good magnet school
- Pay the $15,000 tuition for kindergarten at Latin, Francis Parker etc.
- Invest thousands of dollars in home security system so that they can play in a fenced in yard
or move to Winnetka, Wilmette, Highland Park and have the beach at my doorstep, free high quality public schools and peace of mind at night when I sleep, but really regretting that a real life Candy-Man game is not in my suburb.
That is a really hard choice (sarcasm meter on high).