Green Parent Chicago

Celebrate a Local Treasure with Auditorium Theatre Day

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University celebrates 125 years this season with a full line-up of performances and special events to commemorate its long legacy as one of the city's oldest cultural treasures.

December 9 has been declared by Mayor Emanuel as Auditorium Theatre Day. On this day in 1889, the Auditorium Theatre was founded as "a theatre of the people and for the people".

To celebrate the Auditorium's 125th anniversary, a special birthday trolley will travel throughout the city on the morning of December 9. Passengers, including members from the “Too Hot to Handel” Chorus, Auditorium Theatre staff and board members and other surprise guests, will distribute birthday treats to commuters in various locations including Union Station, Daley Plaza, State and Lake and Pioneer Court. As a special 125^th birthday gift to Chicagoans, 125 pairs of tickets to one of the Auditorium’s upcoming performances in its 125^th Anniversary Season will be given away throughout the morning.

In the evening, a special gala performance will take place with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Apollo Chorus, and a rock concert composed of legendary Chicago musicians. Tony award winning Broadway star Patti LuPone will also perform. LuPone is the great-grandniece (and namesake) of Adelina Patti, the opera star who performed on the Auditorium Theatre’s stage during the theatre's opening night in 1889.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or to view the full season of events at the Auditorium Theatre visit: http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/on-our-stage/

 

 

 

 

"Class Dismissed", New Indie Documentary on Home Education Receiving Amazing Audience Response

A new independent film about homeschooling, now showing in select theaters on the West Coast and making its way to the Midwest and East Coast in November, is currently screening to sold out audiences. "Class Dismissed" explores the fast growing movement in the U.S. toward home education and learning outside of the traditional confines of a classroom. Produced by 3StoryFilms, the movie follows a homeschooling family from LA who decide to take their two children out of school to pursue learning in a completely different way.

I recently spoke to the film's director and co-producer Jeremy Stuart. Stuart, who produced the film with Dustin Woodard, is himself a homeschooling dad. He talked about the surprising response to the film and what he hopes audiences, viewers, and critics will take away from seeing it:

How did you arrive at the decision to create a documentary about learning outside the classroom?

As my own family began our journey into the world of home education, it became clear to me from the response we got from friends and strangers alike, that many people, despite being dissatisfied with the current educational model, felt they had no choice about their children’s education. They weren’t aware that they had options and if they did, they had no idea how to begin. Also at that time, there were a couple of documentaries about education that were making the rounds, "Waiting for Superman", and "Race to Nowhere", both of which I’d seen and both of which I’d been disappointed in for their failure to present alternatives to conventional schooling.

Why was nobody talking about alternatives? Why were people so willing to just go with convention despite it being so clearly broken?  I felt also that there was much misunderstanding in the general public about home education, so I decided to make a documentary about it to challenge their assumptions and to highlight the fact that children who learn outside the classroom can be successful.

You’ve sold out the last 3 screenings of Class Dismissed in California, including the premiere in LA. Did you expect this kind of enthusiastic response to the film?

The response to the film so far has been overwhelming and has far exceeded our expectations. We had done a few test screenings early on in the process of editing the film and had received good feedback, but I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from a larger audience. The subject of education in general can be a contentious one and opinions can be polarizing, but the film seems to have hit a nerve among homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike and we’re thrilled that the conversation is happening.

What are some of the comments you’ve received from audience members, questions you’ve been asked during the post show discussions?

The comments so far have been very positive. If they are already homeschooling many people have commented about how the film offers validation and encouragement to their own journey and experiences. And there have been a number of non-homeschoolers in the audiences who have shared that after seeing the film they are inspired to make the leap. I think the film addresses and answers many of the typical questions that people have about homeschooling and the comments we’ve been getting seem to reflect that.

You have screenings in Portland and Washington, with a screening in the Chicago area in mid-November. What are your hopes for this film looking into the next few months?

We’re going to do as many independent theater screenings as we can logistically and financially manage, but with no big distributor behind us and very limited resources (there’s only 2 of us on the team) we’re only going to be able to sustain that method for so long, which is why we have put together a Screener Pack that anyone can buy. The Screener Pack contains a DVD of the film, a guide to hosting a screening in your community, homeschool group, church or even your own home and a Homeschool Resource Guide packed full of information, links and useful resources for those who want to know more about homeschooling options.

We’re encouraging people to purchase the Screener Pack, organize their own event and invite friends, relatives and neighbors, especially those who are "homeschool curious". Afterwards they can engage in conversation, answer questions, share their own experiences, and hand out information for those new to home education. The Screener Pack is available for purchase now and will ship in early November.

For those who prefer a big-screen theater experience, they can contact their local theater and arrange a screening providing they can gather enough people to make it profitable. There’s nothing like seeing the film on a big screen with a group of people. Here’s the link with information about these options: http://classdismissedmovie.com/see-the-film/guide-to-hosting-a-screening/

Additionally we are submitting the film to festivals around the country. We’ve submitted to 5 so far and will continue to do so as they become available and if they are an appropriate venue for the film. And finally, the film will be widely available on DVD and as a digital download sometime early next year.

Your documentary features educators, activists and writers who emphasize the unlimited learning potential of education outside the classroom. Do you think that “Class Dismissed” will help viewers to finally realize that home schooling can be everything but isolating?

Yes, absolutely. I think the film does a good job of dispelling the myths that surround homeschooling and sheds light on various ways to make it viable as an educational and social model. I want the film to stir up dialogue around the topic of home education, persuade people to re-think their notions of what homeschooling is about and to consider other possibilities for learning outside the classroom. I envision Class Dismissed as a wake up call that education has been in crisis for a long time and it’s time to confront long-standing assumptions about what it means to be educated in the 21st Century.

After watching the film, I want the audience to feel moved to do something, to find out more about the information presented in the film, and to walk away with their hearts and minds opened to the prospect of new possibilities for themselves and their families.

Here’s my favorite quote from one of our recent screening attendees:

“Watch out parents of America; this film gives any bullied, unchallenged, misrepresented, creative students all the information to advocate an alternative to a week where they are required to spend 40 hours in desks with an additional 20 dedicated to homework.”

Purchase tickets for the Chicago screening of "Class Dismissed" here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/907613

View the trailer for the film here:

- Christine

Chicago Park District Wins Gold Medal, Named Top Park District in the U.S.

The Chicago Park District has won the Gold Medal for excellence in parks and recreation management.

According to a news release today from the park district's website, "Agencies were judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials."

The Gold Medal Award honors communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, and agency recognition. The Chicago Park District is the first urban park district to win the prestigious award.


-Christine

 

Swapadventure Makes Trading Hand-me-downs Simple

Two women from Mount Prospect have started a popular new way for parents to recycle gently used children's clothing and equipment and adult clothing and accessories, while helping families find items they need for free.

Swapadventure, now celebrating its 1st anniversary, is the creation of Angelika Babich and Maggie Pawelko. Each is a mom to three children under the age of 10. The pair organize free swapping events at Chicago area businesses twice a month. The only admission to each event is one shopping bag of items no longer needed to be added to the items for swapping. There is no swapping limit and attendess may take as much as they need.

Surplus swap items are donated to local organizations

Items left over at the events are donated directly to shelters and orphanages.

Swapadventure does not resell any of the items donated and ensures that the organizations  receiving the remaining items do not resell them.

Babich and Pawelko say there is no membership fee to attend a Swapadventure event and never will be one. They created Swapadventure "simply to help others" and realized that many parents have items remaining in storage that could go to those in need.

In addition, they felt parents could benefit from swapping in a family friendly public place from trusted sources, rather than online through sources like Craigslist or Freecycle, while bringing their kids along.

Each event provides not only free items for kids and adults, but generally provides free admission for kids to the swap venue and recognition of local businesses in the community.

The only items not accepted are undergarments, clothing with stains or holes, and clothing with animal hair on it.

Attendance at each Swapadventure event ranges from 50 to 200.

How can local businesses help sponsor a Swapadventure event?

Businesses interested in sponsoring an event may contact Babich or Pawelka through the Swapadventure website.

The pair said they welcome products, giveaways, advertising with Swapadventure, and goodie bags for their attendees from local businesses.

Raffles are held and 2 costumed princesses appear at each event to meet and greet children and take photos with them.

Find out more information and register for the next Swapadventure event here: 

https://www.swapadventure.com/upcoming-events.html

-Christine

 

 

 

 

 

Local Midwest Farm Training Program Accepting Applications

 

If you've ever dreamed of owning and working your own sustainable farm business, now is your chance to learn directly from Midwest farmers. Angelic Organics Learning Center in Calendonia, IL is accepting applications for their winter farmer training program.

This week is the final week to submit application materials for the center's training program, Stateline Farm Beginnings, which begins October 11. The program runs until March 2015. Organizers say Stateline Farm Beginnings has launched more than 55 new sustainable farms in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin since its inception in 2005.

Trainees receive business planning sessions, learn through field days, and one on one advising from successful local farmers. Find out more information and apply here. 

Green Homes for Everyone: Talking Passive Homes with Evolutionary Home Builders' Brandon Weiss

 

The availability and affordability of green housing is a concern for many eco-conscioius home buyers in the U.S. today. As green building technology continues to improve, more and more home buyers are realizing the long term benefits of building green.

A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, reports that the majority of green homeowners would purchase another green home and recommend purchasing a green home to friends. 

This weekend, the U.S. Green Building Council-Illinois is organizing the 2014 Green Built Home Tour. All homes on the Green Built Home Tour were third-party verified (or pending verification) to ensure they were built (or being built) to national standards, earning certification through programs such as: ENERGY STAR for Homes, LEED for Homes, the National Green Building Standard, DOE Challenge Home, Illinois GreenStar, and Passive House.

Brandon Weiss, founder and principal of Evolutionary Home Builders in Geneva, IL will present his firm's Uber Haus, a Passive House, that showcases a uniquely extreme approach to energy efficiency at the tour. Green Parent Chicago recently spoke with Weiss of about his firm's Passive House technology and why this method of building can bring more adaptibility and affordability to the market for green home ownership.

According to Weiss, a passive house meets the world's strictest energy efficiency and building science certification. It is also designed and specified to be one of the healthiest homes in the country. The Uber Haus is the 28th home to be built to these stringent standards thus far. Evolutionary Home Builders is seeking Living Building Challenge and LEEDv4 Platinum certifications for the Uber Haus. If acheived, it would be the first such home in Illinois to achieve these certifications.

"Passive is definitely something that makes a ton of sense financially and environmentally," explains Weiss.

The technology behind passive homes optimizes gains and minimizes losses of the home's energy. It is a virtually air-tight building primarily heated by passive solar gain and internal gains from people, electrical equipment, lighting, etc.

Passive home technology reduces the heating and cooling demand on the house by 90 percent. In addition, the special design and construction of the house keeps out moisture which can lead to deterioration and degradation, as well as conductive heat loss. By not having air leaks in the house, drafts are kept out.

"Typically air leaks are the number one source of energy loss in a home," according to Weiss. "Passive house makes sense financially. It's quality construction, better air quality, your getting a higher quality home, lower utilities cost."

The passive house building concept was developed in Urbana, IL by a German architect in the 1970’s. According to The Passive House Institute US, a passive house building can realize net zero energy consumption without applying potentially expensive "active" technologies like photovoltaics or solar thermal hot water systems. Although these can certainly be added to a passive house design. Passive houses do not need a traditional furnace or air conditioning system.

"LEED homes are great for the holistic green approach, but the energy side of that isn’t as great as passive homes," says Weiss. “The absolute easiest way to get [net zero] is a passive home.”

In terms of health and air quality, a passive house has a "balanced ventilation system" and continuous exchanges of air to allow moisture from the kitchen and bathrooms to be exchange for fresh air that is filtered.

Because a passive house is "performance based" Weiss says it is a technology standard that can be applied to various types of construction and sizes of home.

"We don’t concentrate on a certain aesthetics or price," he says. "Passive house can be (very adaptive). Whatever method you can use to get [to passive house certification]. It's open ended, it allows for creativity, it's not just putting points together."

Tour the Uber Haus and 17 other green built homes at the Green Built Home tour, this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tickets, map and info, available at the link)

-photo credit: Green Built Home Tour

-Christine

 

 

Chicago Parks To Continue Free Swimming Classes for Kids and Teens This Summer

The Chicago Park District will once again offer a free session of swim lessons to new enrollees age 6-17. The Park District initially offered the popular program this past January.

The first session (10 weeks) of Learn to Swim classes for kids and teens ages 6-17 will be free, when using coupon code FIRSTFREE. 

Fees will apply for Learn to Swim classes in subsequent sessions, or for an additional class in the same session.  The Learn to Swim fee is $22 for each 10 week session. (This fee may be waived for qualifying families.)

The FIRSTFREE coupon code can be used when registering online or in-person at the parks.

Chicago Park District pools and splash parks open Friday June 13. View this list to find a park district pool in your neighborhood.

-Christine

-photo credit: Chicago Park District

The 606 to Host "Trail Mix" of Events For Families and Design Enthusiasts

Chicago's soon to be completed new park, The 606, has a variety of events in store this summer around the city for families and those interested in the design and construction of the park, which is currently under construction along the site of the former Bloomingdale Trail.

"Trail Mix" kicked off on Tuesday with a conversation at The Darwin School Auditorium on native plants that will inhabit the park, and continues June 7 with a family bike ride and potluck at the McCormick Tribune YMCA.

Organizers say Family Days are geared toward children ages 3 to 12 and their caregivers and will include fun, hands-on activities. Evening events in the series are for adults who would like to join behind-the-scenes Conversations with experts working on The 606’s history, design and construction. All events in the series are free, but registration is required.

View the park's website for the full schedule of events and RSVP here.

-photo credit: The 606

Cargo Bike Week 2014 & Cargo Bike Roll Call This Sunday!

In celebration of the upcoming Roscoe Village Kidical Mass bike ride and Cargobike Roll Call this Sunday, I”m kicking off another Cargo Bike Week here at Ding Ding Let’s Ride!

First.. let’s make sure you have all the info for the Sunday event:

So what kind of cargo bikes can you expect to find at the Roll Call this weekend? Well, since we’ll be there,  you should expect to find at least one Yuba Mundo, a long-tail style of cargo bike.

Three Yuba Mundo cargo bikes with slightly different configurations at a March 2013 Kidical Mass ride in Logan/Palmer Square.

The organizers have stated they’ll have at least one WorkCycles brand bike there, and with the addition of my bike, that should make at least two of the Dutch-style utility bikes in attendance.

My WorkCycles Dutch utility bike, called am Omafiets. (Obviously this photo was taken in much Spring-i-er times.)

Sounds like this this WorkCycles FR8 cargo bike will be there too. This bike can haul some very heavy loads.

They’ve also mentioned that they’ll have a Bullitt cargo bike at the Roll Call ….

Getting a delivery via Bullitt cargo bike right to our front door.

and a Bakfiets!

A baby in a Bakfiets at the November 2013 Roscoe Village Kidical Mass ride.

Who knows what other bikes will be at the ride!?  Come join everyone for a short family bike ride/parade and stick around to look at cargo bikes!

-Samantha

This article originally appeared on Samantha's family biking blog Ding Ding Let's Ride where she writes about everyday biking in the city, bike activism, family biking, and adaptive biking for special needs children.

What's Green and Has 200,000 Feet?

Lollapalooza 2013! Chicago's annual mega music fest, which took over Grant Park for 3 days earlier this month, may not immediately spark eco-friendly images in your mind, but it should. Lolla's green is more than skin deep. Many public spaces slap up a few recycling bins and claim green status, but Lollapalooza and Kidzapalooza have been walking the talk and getting ever greener by the year.

Water Refilling Stations

Back when the fest began, plastic water bottles were at every stand and if you brought a water backpack or reusable bottle, they were dumped at the gates and the lines to refill them inside from slow drinking fountain troughs were long. Those days are OVER.

All water sold is now in recyclable cardboard boxes and concert goers are encouraged to bring their own refillables.

Cameback filling stations are now ubiquitous and make refills quick and easy with little to no wait. They're free, staffed, and feature many high powered hoses that fill fast!

Carbon Offsets

All in all, my family has been impressed with Lolla's increasing green efforts over the years. This year they roped off more areas of Grant Park to protect the flowers and trees in sensitive garden areas. They also give 10 percent of their gross Lolla revenue back to The Chicago Parks Foundation, to help Chicago's Park District. That's over 4 million since 2005. They make recycling, refilling water, and making green choices for dining and shopping at the fest easy.

Here's what Lollapalooza organizers have to say about their treading lightly aims.

"According to Green Mountain Energy, together, we avoided 110,200 lbs of CO2 emissions this year! In addition to offsetting the electricity Lollapalooza does use, the festival will be using bio-diesel as its primary fuel for generators at the 2013 festival, directly reducing Lollapalooza’s carbon footprint. Festival attendees also had the option to purchase a $3 carbon offset at checkout or donate at the Booth at Green Street South.

All carbon offsets purchased from Lollapalooza 2013 will benefit the Indian Creek Landfill Gas Project in Hopedale, Illinois, just outside Peoria. The landfill has special equipment that captures naturally occurring landfill gas, which contains methane, and destroys it through a combustion process. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas with over 20 times the potency of carbon dioxide.

The project is third-party certified by Climate Action Reserve, which means the offsets are real, permanent, and beyond what’s required by law or would have occurred otherwise."

ChiIL Mama's daughter, Sagezilla, has a green name, green eyes, and has rocked the recycling program at Lolla now for 3 years with her big brother.

Rock N Recycle

My kids have joined the "Rock N Recycle Program" now for 3 years. They've picked up a big bag of recyclables off the grounds during Lolla and traded it in for a rockin' free t-shirt and a shot at winning a bike and other swag! It's open to all ages and makes the kids feel like eco-super heroes. They love making a difference.

This green tee above, with guitars forming the recycling symbol
was the 2012 Rock N Recycle prize.

Families can Rock N Recycle together. It's a great way to set an excellent example and get your kids involved in helping the earth and giving back to the community.

As you can see, there's also plenty of green space, shade and room to play in the Kidzapalooza area. Kidza is a family friendly mecca for kids 10 and under, who are admitted FREE to Lollapalooza with a paying adult. All Kidza activities are free, including airbrushed tattoos, punk hair styles, the instrument petting zoo, and more.

And some of the nation's best kindie musicians and surprise guests play the stage. Kidzapalooza ends around 5 p.m. daily, so families can still venture out and catch all the evening headliners. I know many parents who have seen aerial photos of the densely packed melee of Lolla headliner crowds and thought they'd never be able to navigate it with children in tow. But a music fest is a living, breathing organism: denser at the core, with plenty of space at the fringes.

If you don't have a compelling need to be a front and center rail rider right at the stage, then Lolla is workable with even the tiniest of tots. We've done it every year since our kids were 1 & 3! They've grown up Kidza over the past 9 years the fest has called Chicago home. And it's been a wonderful experience for our family.

At first we brought them in back pack carriers, then a double jogger, now we all walk and we're down to small day packs. With plenty of water, sunscreen and lots of glow sticks so they'd be seen and not hurt after dark, Lolla has been fun and totally doable with the whole family. Now that they're 10 & 12, they still love it and eagerly anticipate our annual time in Lolla Land.

The Blisters, now 17 and college bound, first formed their band as 7 year olds.

2013 Kidzapalooza Stage Highlights

-A set by Chicago's own First Lady of Children's Music, Ella Jenkins, who just celebrated her 89th birthday!

-Two days of sets by The Blisters (including drummer, Spencer Tweedy, oldest son of Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and Lounge Ax Mom) He was 7 years old when he first formed the band and has played Kidzapalooza several times before.

-Kindie favs like Ralph's World, The Not It's, Chicago's own Q Brothers, and many more.

-Peter DiStefano and Tor

-Surprise guests including Shaun White, well known for snowboarding and skateboarding, and his band Bad Things, joined on stage by fest founder Perry Farrell!

-Bonnie Kenaz-Mara is a writer-potter-painter-photographer-videographer-actor-animal wrangler-kid taxi driver-all around creatrix-and mama to two amazing kids. You can find her writing daily at http://www.chiilmama.com/ and http://chiilliveshows.com/.