ChicagoKids.com to sponsor Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids! Series

ChicagoKids.com is proud to sponsor the Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids, a concert series that brings out Chicago's top local children's performers for fun shows in a true Chicago music venue.

The concert series kicks off with a Fall Fest on Sunday, September 11, featuring a day of activities, crafts, and performances. The day's schedule includes:

11am: Mary Macaroni
Noon: Sarah Jayne Parker
1pm: Baby Take a Bow, Hip Hop Workshop
2pm: The Hamburglars
3pm: Mindy Hester and the Time Outs
Fall Fest runs from 11am - 4pm and is $8 per person.

For the Fall concert series, shows start Sundays at noon and are unless otherwise indicated. The Beat Kitchen kitchen will be open serving something for everyone, from burgers and gourmet pizzas to pancakes and french toast.

Fall Concert Series Performance Schedule:

Sept 18: AndyRoo & the AndyRooniverse
Sept 25: The Dreamtree Shakers
Oct 2: Human-Tim + Robot-Tim
Oct 9: Kara Kesselring & Sugarcreek Road
Oct 16: Little Miss Ann Band
Oct 23: The Boogers
Oct 30: Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies special Halloween Show
Nov 6: Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans
Nov 13: Suzi Shelton with special guest Little Miss Ann
Nov 20: Karen 4 Kids!
Dec 4: Super Stolie and the Rockstars
Dec 11: Mary Macaroni
Dec 18: Shana Sings! special Holiday Show

Beat Kitchen
2100 W. Belmont, Chicago

End of Summer Top 5 To Do List

The summer has gone by faster than any other summer I can remember. Our family's "to do" list still has a lot of items that need to get checked off!

Here are a few summer activities that you should add to your list before it's too late!

1. Family Fun Festival - This daily festival at Millennium Park includes music with Wiggleworms instructors, a reading circle and family entertainment, plus the chance to explore the Park and see the fountains and the Bean. Through August 21. Free!
   
   
2. Cirque Shanghai Extreme - This high flying family circus is playing at Navy Pier's Skyline Stage, featuring feats of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more. Tickets start at $15, and you can check out the rest of the fun at Navy Pier before or after the show. Through September 5.
   
   
3. Dancin' Sprouts - Wednesday evenings, pack a picnic and see some of our best local kid's bands on the promenade at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Remaining dates include Karen Jordan on 8/17, The Dreamtree Shakers on 8/24, and Mindy Hester & the Time Outs on 8/31. It's free!
   
   
4. Story Time at Lincoln Park Zoo - Wednesday and Fridays at 9:15 and 10am, join Mr. Singer for silly songs and tall tales. Combine your outing with a walk through the zoo and a picnic with fresh, local foods at the nearby Green City Market. Through September 9. Free!
   
   
5. Wizard of Oz Theatre-Hike - Weekends in August, walk along with the action of Wizard of Oz, going from scene to scene outdoors among 1,700 acres of trees and beautiful landscapes. The Sunday hikes are low impact and suitable for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. Saturdays and Sundays through August 28.
   

Superheroes, Villains and more.... It's Comic Con for Kids

Comic Con is coming to the Chicago area this weekend, and it's not just for grownups! Kid's Day is Sunday August 14, and this is a day when kids of all ages can enjoy activities such as entering the costume contest, getting their faces painted, making their own super costumes, learning how to draw and write their own comic books, taking pictures with their favorite superheroes, showing off their Padawan skills with balloon light sabers, and much more. All kid-friendly activities, vendors, booths, and sessions will be designated with a Kid-Friendly button.

Lots of special guests will be on hand to meet and mingle with kids and families, including Wow! Wow! Wubbzy, Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Army of Darkness), Patrick Stewart (Star Trek, X-Men, American Dad), other celebrities and many artists and writers including Eisner Award winners and nominees. And aspiring artists can have their portfolios reviewed by David Campiti, who has helped launch many careers at Marvel and DC. And fun for everyone - get “simpsonized” by multi-award-winning Simpsons animator, Phil Ortiz!

Kid's Day is on Sunday
Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, August 12, 2011 - Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 13, 2011 - 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 14, 2011 - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont)
5555 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

COST:
1-Day Advance Ticket: $25
4-Day Advance Ticket: $50
Free for up to two kids ages 10 and under per paid ticket
VIP Experience Packages available

Learn more.

Little Beans Family Concert Series - Music, BBQ and Ice Cream!

Little Beans Cafe has taken some of my very favorite things - live music, BBQ, and ice cream - and put them all together for a great event series that starts this Saturday! I'm already less depressed about summer flying by so fast.

Every weekend in August, September and October, you can bring your family out to enjoy music from the area's top local kindie performers while feasting on BBQ and ice cream. Through the end of August, the shows will take place on Little Beans' new, amazing outdoor play deck, and they'll move indoors in September and October.

Check out this great lineup:

AUGUST:
Saturday, August 6th: Jeanie B
Friday, August 12th: Mr. Singer
Saturday, August 20th: The Boogers
Friday, August 26th: Laura Doherty

SEPTEMBER:
Friday, September 2nd: Super Stoli
Friday, September 9th: The Doo Wop That Things
Friday, September 16th: Little Miss Ann
Friday, September 23rd: Mary Macaroni
Friday, September 30th: Mindy Hester & The Timeouts

OCTOBER:
Friday, October 7th: Scott the Steel Drum Guy
Friday, October 14th: Joel Frankel
Friday, October 21st: The DreamTree Shakers
Friday, October 28th: Jeanie B

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Little Beans website at www.littlebeanscafe.com. Visit the events page for a list of dates and to register. Tickets are $20 per person with discounts for families of 3 or more. Tickets include a 45-minute concert, play, BBQ food and ice cream!



Little Beans Cafe
1809 W. Webster, Chicago
(773) 251-1025