New Chicagoland attraction “Make-A-Messterpiece” wants kids to get messy

by Scott Carmichael on

The Chicago Suburb of Glenview is home to a brand new concept called “Make-A-Messterpiece”. The idea behind this fun attraction is to allow kids to get as messy as they can/want.

Kids can create bubble paint art, decorate their own flower pot, bang on paint drums (think Blue Man Group) or get messy with food in one of the various kitchens. Clean smocks are provided and Bounty sponsored clean up stations are available in various spots.

Parents can sit back and relax in “Club M”, a cozy lounge with free coffee, sofas, WiFi and several TV’s.

The only reliable way to judge whether a new attraction is a success, is how kids respond to it. I’m happy to report that it was a real hassle to get our little one to leave. It took the promise of “we’ll come back again” to get her to give in.

Admission to Make-A-Messterpiece is $10 for the basic studio activities (painting and playground). Individual activities are $5 each. The price may appear a little on the steep side, but it does include all the messy materials which can be taken home. The “Lil Sprouts” attraction lets kids take their decorated flower pot home, complete with dirt, seeds, and a bag. The adventures of your little ones being splattered with paint in the “Drum Roll” corner is recorded on a DVD for you to watch over and over again. Kids under two and adults get in for free.

Make-A-Messterpiece is located at 2050 Tower Drive in the Glen Town shopping center. If you are making the drive to Glenview, you could consider making it a family day out, as Make-A-Messterpiece is next to the Kohl Children’s Museum, and in the same mall as several good restaurants and a movie theater. The opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10am – 6pm and Sunday 11am-6pm.

If you think Make-A-Messterpiece is something that could entertain your kid(s), leave a comment (any comment) below, and we’ll send you one of ten coupons for a free activity (worth $5). Only the first ten comments will be eligible.

Fun filled fall activities at the pumpkin farm

by Scott Carmichael on

Pumpkin farmers are a creative bunch of entrepreneurs. What used to be nothing more than a pumpkin patch with a small country store, has now evolved into a multi-million dollar entertainment industry.

Most pumpkin patches obviously still sell pumpkins, but they also offer enough entertainment to keep you and your family entertained for a couple of hours. At many of these farms, you’ll find kiddie rides, hay rides, corn cannons (a ton of fun!), fresh food, pick your own pumpkins and lots more.

Now the weather is just right for outdoor activities, load your kid(s) in the car, and head towards one of the 100’s of pumpkin farms. If you need help finding one, start at “Pumpkin Patches and More” where you’ll find a fantastic overview of all the current fun locations, along with their opening hours, directions and activities.

If at all possible, try going to one of these locations on a week day. Not only will the crowds be lighter, you’ll save on the price of attractions, as many locations offer unlimited ride passes for one low fee. Also, check out the web site of your local farm for coupons or other discounts.

Before you leave a pumpkin patch, be sure to make a stop in their farmstand as most locations sell fresh baked goods like cider apple doughnuts and of course an assortment of pies.

Newark Mayor goes head to head with Conan O’Brien over joke about city

by Katie Hammel on

Conan O’Brien recently made a crack about the city of Newark, New Jersey, on The Tonight Show. But it seems the city’s Mayor, Cory Booker, didn’t find it very funny.

“The Mayor of Newark, NJ, wants to set up a citywide program to improve residents’ health. The health care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark,” O’Brien said. Ouch.

The Mayor handled it well though, responding with a YouTube video challenging Conan’s perceptions of the city. “You fail to understand our city is one of the fastest growing cities in the Northeast,” he said. He went on to detail the many improvement made to the city, one that he called “a city on the rise.” He then offered a glimpse of resident reactions to Conan’s crack, including the ego-crushing query of one woman: “Who’s Conan O’Brien?”

With a slight grin, Mayor Booker told Conan he was officially on the Newark Airport’s “no fly list” and closed with “Try JFK, buddy.”

Of course, Conan had to fire back.

He said the ban was no problem; he could easily get to Newark through the sewer system, because, “Everyone knows, all sewer pipes lead to Newark.” He invited the Mayor to come on his show to settle things like “men of honor”, adding that the studio was just five minutes from the Burbank Internatonal Airport. . . which the Mayor was now, of course, banned from.

In response to Conan’s egging, Booker posted another video. This time, he’s calling for reinforcements, saying that he has 566 municipalites backing him because “we in New Jersey roll hard, we roll strong, and we roll together.” And Booker didn’t stop there. He says he’s reached out Newark’s Sister Cities all over the world, which means Conan’s not just banned from the entire state of New Jersey, but also from cities in places like Ghana and even Conan’s own ancestral home of Ireland. “CoCo can’t go go,” the Mayor taunts.

He does offer to come on The Tonight Show show to settle the dispute, but only if Conan will first pay a visit to Newark.

Your move, Conan.

A tilt-shifted day in the life of Disney’s “The Magic Kingdom”

by Scott Carmichael on


There are thousands of videos posted to the Internet each day – but every now and then you come across one that just makes your jaw drop. Such is the case with the Disney video published above.

October 1st was the Magic Kingdom’s birthday, and to celebrate, Disney shot a video showing a day in the life of the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World. This isn’t just any boring old video – it was shot using “tilt shifting”, which gives the whole thing a really nifty appearance.

Click play, and see for yourself how awesome the effect is, and how amazing a day in the life of the park looks. Make sure to hang around till the end of the clip for a special greeting from some Disney characters.

If you like the tilt shift effect, then check out this post from back in May, describing how you can take your own photos and add a similar effect.

(From: Disney Parks Blog, via: Boing Boing)
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Take a Lake Superior leaf tour this Fall

by Jeremy Kressmann on


When it comes to fall foliage, New England seems to get all the credit. But Midwestern fans of fall color need not be jealous. Just a few hours north of Chicago, on majestic Lake Superior, road-trippers can experience one of the country’s most spectacular autumn displays along the shores of the Great Lakes.

Starting from the bustling Midwestern port city of Duluth and driving Northeast towards the Canadian town of Thunder Bay, visitors will experience an ever-changing landscape of wild natural beauty and scenic autumn views. It’s a virtual art show put on by mother nature: vistas of inky-green pine trees punctuated by fiery oranges and glistening yellows, set against towering cliffs and the steely-gray surface of Lake Superior beyond.

Begin your trip in Duluth, one of the largest port cities on the Great Lakes. The city is connected by the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean more than 2,000 miles to the East. Along the canal leading to Duluth’s harbor, you can watch the massive cargo ships ferrying iron-ore as they maneuver they way in and out of port. From Duluth make your way towards Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, home to a historic lighthouse set above the massive rock formations of the lake.

As you make your way closer to Canada, make sure to stop off at Grand Marais and the Lutsen Mountains, where you’ll be spoiled by a wealth of great hiking opportunities. Soon you’ll arrive at the final stop in Ontario’s Thunder Bay. Perhaps the most famous attraction in the area is the Ouimet Canyon, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon” of Ontario and home to two knee-shaking suspension bridges.