Kate McGroarty went into the Museum of Science and Industry just about two weeks ago, and as of yet has only emerged momentarily. For the rest of the time, she's been doing handstands in tornadoes, helping baby chicks survive, hanging out in coal mines, sleeping in submarines and generally inhabiting the Museum of Science and Industry. It's her Month at the Museum, and we're bending her ear about it halfway through. more ›

And now for some good news: the city's museums saw a seven percent increase in 2009 over 2008 as 14.8 million people visited 14 Chicago-area museums and zoos in 2009. Tops was the Shedd Aquarium - which got a bounce from its revamped Oceanarium - with 1.9 million visitors. The Art Institute saw a huge bounce of 32 percent for a total of 1.8 million visitors, the new Modern Wing overcoming any negative reaction to the new admission fee hike. And the MSI, which also had a small admissions hike, had 1.6 million visitors, buoyed by the Harry Potter and You! exhibits. The Field Museum was the other museum to break the million visitor barrier with 1.3 million. Meanwhile, according to the Museums in the Park press release, the Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed an estimated 3 million visitors while the Brookfield Zoo had 2.2 million visitors. [CBS 2] more ›

Summer travel season is still in full swing and Wired magazine released its "100 Geeky Places To Take Your Kids This Summer" list. Chicago's very own Adler Planetarium starts the list, the proposed home to a controversial projector. Also making the list? Lincoln Park Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium. more ›

• Members of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid team were to hold a secret meeting this afternoon with aldermen to allay their fears about putting taxpayers on the hook for the cost.
• The amazing story of Ald. Don Parrillo.
• State lawmakers are taking a break from working on the budget and will reconvene Monday to pick the problem back up.

We know it's SUPER short notice, but today is a FREE day at the Museum of Science and Industry. There's plenty to check out there - though special exhibits like The World's Fair and Harry Potter require additional tickets - and the Farmer's Market (open until 2 p.m.)will be held indoors due to the threat of rain. Today's free admission is in honor of the museum's 76th anniversary. It opens for the day in about 10 minutes (and stays open til 5:30 p.m.) so get a move on and get down there! It's a great way to keep some kids occupied on a day with sketchy weather. more ›

The global premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition is taking place today at the Museum of Science and Industry, with a sneak peek at what visitors can expect when the exhibit opens April 30. The complete exhibit will be a behind-the-scenes look at the construction and artistry of costumes and props from the Harry Potter films, displayed within set reproductions like the Gryffindor Common Room and the Great Hall. A limited amount of tickets are available for pre-purchase online. more ›

Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Fridays and Saturdays through 12/20, 11:30 p.m., $16 more ›

Eco-friendly advancements are being made in building design and construction—think sustainable materials, efficiency of resources, and energy-reducing wiring and appliances. If this topic interests you, the new Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit, opening tomorrow at the Museum of Science and Industry, is a neat opportunity to learn more about green buildings. more ›

Happy Leap Day! While it hasn't officially become Pizza Party USA day, there are plenty of ways to celebrate. more ›

The Museum of Science and Industry is raising its prices. Adult Chicago residents will now pay $12 (up from $10), adult non-Chicagoans $13 (from $11), Chicago children $8.50 ($6.25), non-Chicago children $9 ($7), Chicago seniors $11 ($8.75), and non-Chicago seniors $12 ($9.50). more ›

The Museum of Science and Industry announced today that a fully-functional, three-story "green" home will be built just east of the museum on its Jackson Park grounds in Hyde Park this spring. The foundation is currently being laid, and it will be open to the public from May 8, 2008 through January 4, 2009. The 2,500-square-foot home will exhibit some of the latest environmentally-friendly technologies and offer a primer on incorporating these innovations into our homes. more ›