Category: Things to do with kids: Local Unique

You will easily become the world’s coolest mother after taking your daughter on a trip to The Strange Beauty Show. Get all dolled up with your child and have a blast doing in it this combination salon, art gallery, and jukebox. Sisters Virginia and Audrey Olenick strive to offer a complete sensory experience at their Wicker Park locale by offering a wide variety of beauty services, showcasing the contemporary work of local artists, and spinning their extensive vinyl collection (you may opt to plug in your iPod for your own personal soundtrack). Watch your child have her hair wrapped while the ladies brighten your visage with funky-hued highlights

Contact number: (773) 252-9522

Location: 1118 North Ashland, Chicago, IL 60622″

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Nestled in what was one of the scariest neighborhood’s in Chicago during the 1980s is Taylor Street. Otherwise known as Chicago’s Little Italy, the street is home to some of the best Italian-American food in the country, not to mention delicious ices. For the best Italian meal on the street, take your children to the Rosebud Cafe (their stuffed artichoke appetizer is amazing) and tell them about the days of Al Capone and Joey “The Clown” Lombardo. Oh, and don’t worry about the neighborhood anymore because it’s more than safe.

Contact number: (312) 942-1117

Location: 1500 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607

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Where would Chicago be without the legend of Mrs. O’Leary and her destructive cow (who allegedly kicked over a lantern, setting the city ablaze)? Live a little Chicago nostalgia while touring the city in an antique firetruck. You’ll get a kick out of what you learn, and your children will be over the moon as soon as they hop on the truck. Reservations are recommended and tours last a minmum of one hour.

Contact number: (312) 287-6565

Location: 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601

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Rides, fireworks, a Ferris wheel, The Children’s Museum, boats and an IMAX theater are just the begining of the fun to be had at Navy Pier. Jutting out from the most northern end of The Loop, it offers stunning views of Chicago’s skyline. A great event this summer is Cirque Shanghai, a Chinese acrobat troupe sure to amaze your children.

Contact number: (312) 595-7437

Location: 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

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If Curious George, Eloise, and Spot are you child’s best friends, make sure to take them to Saturday Story Hour at this fashionable downtown bookstore which hosts the self-proclaimed, “largest selection of way-cool children’s books, software, videos, CDs, tapes, cards, and beanie babies in Chicago.” Children in Paradise is a lovely spot to get up close and literarily personal with the children. You’ll both be glad to be away from your TV while you’re there

Contact number: (312) 951-5437

Location: 909 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611

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Share your passion for classic cinema with your children at the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, held during the summer months at beautiful Grant Park. This Chi-town tradition features iconic films such as The Sound of Music, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Young Frankenstein on a 50-foot by 34-foot screen with state-of-the art sound. You and your kids can spread out a blanket, unpack your picnic, and relax with the starry night above. And should those stars be hidden by clouds, simply don your raincoats and carry umbrellas because films are presented in rainy weather, barring lightning and other severe conditions. Feature films are preceded by presentations of local filmmakers’ short works. Those who arrive on two wheels receive the added benefit of free valet bike parking!

Contact number: (312) 744-3315

Location: 100 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60603

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Dive into the rich history of chocolate with your child and satisfy your sweet teeth on a guided, walking Chocolate Tour. Company founder Valerie Beck will charm your socks off as she explains the properties of different chocolate varieties before leading you and your child to the city’s and world’s finest chocolatiers, like Leonidas, Godiva, Frango, Hershey’s, and Lindt. Winter tours keep you mostly out of the cold by hitting locations within a quarter mile of each other, while fair weather tours pull you off the beaten path and toward some of Chicago’s lesser-known chocolate shops.

Contact number: (312) 863-8614

Location: 150 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601

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Of the thousand things this city boasts, archictectural diversity is one of the most impressive. We understand walking young children around town to look at a bunch of buildings and explaining their coolness may not be the best way to pique their interest, but getting your clan on a boat to cruise along the Chicago River is guaranteed fun. Young children will love the sheer novelty of boating, and older children will soak up just as much of the local architecture as you.

Contact number: (312) 527-2002

Location: 465 North McClurg Court, Chicago, IL 60611

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