Green Parent Chicago™

Winter Fun In Chicago With Snow, Ice...and Flowers

 

What do you get when you mix young children and cold weather? Cabin fever. If your kids seem to be  bouncing off the walls with energy and you all need a breath of fresh air, check out these upcoming family events beginning this weekend and next for a healthy dose of activity.

Second Annual Snow Days Chicago:

Snow Days Chicago is a free three-day winter festival running Friday Jan 29 to Sunday Jan 31 on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park. It features a snow sculpting competition, dog sled demonstrations, a snowboard rail jam and kids activities.

Hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Snow sculpting will take place Wednesday, January 27 to Saturday, January 30 at 3 p.m. Visitors may cast their vote for their favorite snow sculpture during these days. The winner will be announced Saturday at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, 3rd Floor Waldorf Room.

Never tried ice skating? Now's your chance:

For those reluctant holdouts (dads) who've never learned but always wanted to give it a whirl, ice skating lessons will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink from February 6 to 28.

Learn the basics of ice skating from IceReach and Chicago Ice Dance Foundation. These family-friendly  lessons are open to visitors of all ages and skill levels. Look for appearances by the Chicago Wolves' hockey team mascot, Skates, on February 7, 20 and 27; and guests from Radio Disney on February 6 and 13.

Beginner lessons 8 to 8:30 a.m. and 9 to 9:30 a.m.
Intermediate lessons 8:30 to 9 a.m. and 9:30 to 10 a.m.

As always, the Millennium Park rink offers free ice skating throughout the season daily until March 14. There you may rent skates on site for $10 or bring your own pair.

Late Night Ice Dance Parties

The rink will also host extended skating hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. February 5 to 27. Ice dancing demonstrations will take place at 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m.

A different dance theme will be featured each weekend with ice dancing demonstrations by Chicago Ice Dance Foundation, Shipstad Entertainment and IceTalent Inc., free giveaways and fun with theatre group Collaboraction.

Weekly schedule of ice dancing themes:
February 5: Sock Hop/1950s
February 6: Tribute to Michael Jackson/1980s
February 12: Show Tunes
February 13: Love Songs
February 19: Disco
February 20: Country Western
February 26: Twilight
February 27: Big Band Jazz/1920s

Spring is just around the corner

For a great nature fix indoors, the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Garfield Park Conservatory will both host their annual Spring Flower Shows. Garfield Park Conservatory's begins Saturday until May 9 and Lincoln Park Conservatory's will begin February 6 until May 10. There's nothing like the sight and scent of beautiful blooms to cure your winter ills. Hours vary by location. Admission is free.

-photo credit: City of Chicago

New Workshop Helps Parents-to-Be Learn Greener Living for Baby

 

An all new series of workshops will begin next month to help expectant parents, parents planning to adopt, and those trying to conceive learn how to green their lifestyle before the arrival of baby.

The new 4-part workshop, "Going Green for Baby and Me", begins February 11 at Bellybum Boutique in the city's Lincoln Square neighborhood.

In partnership with Northside Parents Network and Bellybum Boutique, Cecelia Ungari, an educator with The Green Mama will lead the course designed for women and their partners who want their pregnancy, birth and new baby's arrival to be eco-friendly and safer. Ungari will provide tips and tools for parents from fertility/pre-pregnancy through the first few weeks of their baby's lives.

Topics covered will include skincare, label reading, greener food choices, food and fertility, greener cleaning, removing toxins, breastfeeding and green diapering.

Special guest experts will make appearances and a resource workbook will be given to participants. Sustainable snacks will be also be provided. Registration is required by February 9.

Going Green for Me & Baby to Be
Thursdays 6:30-8:00 PM
February 11, 18, 25 and March 4
Bellybum Boutique
4347 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-868-0944

Led by Cecelia Ungari from The Green Mama.
Cost is $175 per couple, $150 for Northside Parents Network Member families.

-photo credit: Sellers Patton, flickr

Twelve Days: A Cake Fit for a King

To celebrate the end of Christmas, the Twelve Night, we had a little family feast with a delicious Wintery beef stew made from local beef, local vegetables and local beer (recipe to be posted later). While delicious, the star of the show was our very French, yet very local Galette des Rois.

Galettes des Rois
8-10 servings

1 sheet puff pastry, homemade or store bought, preferably made with all butter
all-purpose flour for dusting
1/3 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
pinch salt
1 teaspoon rye whiskey or bourbon
1 large egg
1 medium apple
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon heavy cream or water

Preheat the oven to 375º F. Break the egg into a small bowl and whisk to mix the egg and yolk uniformly. In the bowl of the food processor, combine the pecans, sugar, flour butter, rye, and half the beaten egg until well mixed. Refrigerate the filling for 1/2 hour.

Roll out the sheet of puff pastry to 1/8-inch thick. Using a 9-inch plate as a guide, cut out 2 circles. In one, cut out a 2-inch circle out of the center, reserving the circle. Place the intact circle on a parchment or silicone lined baking sheet. Spread the filling on the circle leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Peel, core, and slice the apple and toss with lemon juice in a small bowl. Top the pecan mix with the apple slices. Mix the remaining egg with the cream or water. Brush the border of the base and top with the second circle. Seal by pressing the edges together. Lightly score the top in curved lines. Set the baking sheet in the freezer for 1/2 hour.

Remove and brush with egg wash - be very careful not to let the egg wash drop along the sides as it will hinder even rising as evidenced by our slightly lopsided galette. Brush the cut-out circle with wash as well. Bake in the center of the oven for 1/2 hour. Reduce the heat to 325º F and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Serve warm or at room temperature either unadorned or with freshly whipped cream.

The little locavore with his cake and crown.

-Melissa Graham is a former attorney and chef and owner of Monogramme Events & Catering, a boutique catering company specializing in seasonal and sustainable cuisine. She's also president and founder of Purple Asparagus, a non-profit dedicated to bringing families back to the table by promoting and enjoying all the things associated with good eating. When she’s not in the kitchen or the classroom, you can often find Melissa shopping at the Green City Market where she serves as the membership chair.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree and Get A Jump on Garden Season

Are you anxious to take down your tree now that the holidays are over? Take advantage of the City of Chicago's Holiday Tree Recycling Program. Beginning Friday, January 1 to January 17, various locations around the city will be accepting trees to be chipped and turned into garden mulch.

Free mulch will be available to residents for pick up beginning Friday, January 8 until January 17. Here is a list of locations to drop off your tree. 

• Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
• Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.
• Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
• Garfield Park,100 N. Central Park Ave.
• Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr.
• Humboldt Park Boathouse,1369 N. Sacramento Ave.
• Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.
• Kennedy Park,11320 S. Western Ave.
• Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.
• Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.
• Lincoln Park, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave.(Parking lot east of Cannon Dr.)
• Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Dr.
• Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.
• McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.
• Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
• North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
• Norwood Park, 5801 N. Natoma Ave.
• Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
• Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
• Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
• Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.
• Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
• Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile Ave.

Note: No other recyclable materials may be dropped off at these locations. A list of city recycling facilities may be found here.