Spring's the perfect time to discover the suburbs anew

Spring sprang quite early this year, even giving us a taste of summer weather this week. Still, there's something about the official start of the season that gets people thinking about new things to do, new places to go.

So here are a few new and returning events and venues to explore in the coming weeks.

More revelry, more rivalry

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Schaumburg celebrates its 20th anniversary with a new live production — its first new show in five years. The program, which opened on Wednesday night, has a new storyline, more action and an updated meal.

“People told us they were looking for more action and less talking,” said Marla Hart, marketing and sales manager of Medieval Times in Schaumburg. “So we've added a lot more of our magnificent horses to the show. We've changed the choreography, and added new lighting and new battle scenes. And we have a new character who impacts the whole show and storyline.”

Music for the production was recorded in Kiev in the Ukraine specifically for Medieval Times, Hart said.

“The music is amazing — and we have more revelry and more rivalry. Guests will be on the edge of their seats, cheering for the knights.”

The production's utensil-free menu has been updated a bit as well. Gone is the modern-day garlic bread — “They did not have garlic bread in the 11th century,” Hart said emphatically — in favor of a more authentic focaccia bread, a larger barbecued spare rib and a new vegetarian meal.

Medieval Times is located at 2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Admission is $59.95 for adults and $35.95 for kids ages 12 and younger. Kids younger than 3 who can sit in an adult's lap admitted free. For information on showtimes and tickets, visit medievaltimes.com/chicago. Tickets are also available at the door or by calling (888) 935-6878.

Nature's new arrivals

Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago invites visitors to say hello to the farm's newest residents — young lambs in the sheepfold. The latest are twins, born March 11.

“We have new babies, older lambs and sheep, all different sized,” said Keith McClow, site manager at Kline Creek Farm. “They are such fun to watch as they run around. And people are welcome to pet the animals, as long as the animals will let them.”

Guests can ask farm staff questions about the animals' care, said Bonnie Olszewski of the Office of Public Affairs for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

“We love to be able to explain to visitors about the animals and what life was like in DuPage County more than 100 years ago,” Olszewski said of the living-history farm. “And the sheep are such fun to see. They leap like little kids when something makes them happy.”

Kline Creek Farm is at 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. The sheepfold closes at 4:30 p.m. Free admission. (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org.

‘Eggs to Chicks'

Get an up-close look at the beginning of a chicken's life as the “Eggs to Chicks” exhibit returns for its 12th year at the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview. More than 100 chicks will hatch from their eggs during the exhibit's run through May 13.

“This one is a must-see — every child has been exposed to eggs and chickens. It's a lovely celebration of life,” said Sheridan Turner, president and CEO of the Kohl Children's Museum.

Children get close-up views (through plexiglass) as the chicks hatch.

“It's just fascinating to watch as the chicks peck their way out of the eggs — and then to see them go into the incubator and dry out, fluff up and chirp at you,” Turner said. “Then they go to the hatching box, where they grow so quickly. From birth to two weeks, a chick more than quadruples in size.”

Turner is especially excited about the exhibit's Black Java and White Java chickens, which were considered endangered just a few years ago. And last year's “Eggs to Chick” exhibit offered up a surprise — three Auburn Java chicks.

“There are only about 300 Auburn Javas in existence,” Turner said. “I can't wait to see how many we'll hatch this year.”

Along with the fun of watching the chicks hatch, there is plenty of science for museum guests to study in the exhibit, Turner added.

“Everything is temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled,” she said. “The eggs are turned by the incubator every two hours, just like a mother would do.”

The Kohl Children's Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8.50-$9.50. Children younger than 1 admitted free. For information, call (847) 832-6600 or visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

Button up

Those looking for a new hobby to take up this spring might want to check their laundry bins and sewing boxes for loose buttons — then head to The Button Room button museum in Gurnee.

The new museum, which opened in December, features a variety of buttons from the collections of former Gurnee resident Elizabeth “Peg” Hewitt and her mother, Cora Studer. Buttons from the late mother-and-daughter's collections date from the 1890s to the present.

Just how many buttons are in the vault?

“I was told that a true button collector doesn't ever know how many they have,” said Sue Squillaci, a docent at The Button Room, with a laugh. But the collection is estimated to be in the thousands, she acknowledged.

The Button Room changes its exhibit every month, in accordance with a monthly theme.

March's theme is “We're Going Green,” and features a button with a character known as “The Green Man.”

“‘The Green Man' has been featured in the stained glass of Notre Dame and in the Louvre,” Squillaci explained.

Upcoming monthly themes include “The Titanic” in April and “Mothers are Like Buttons: They Hold Everything Together” in May.

“We'll be featuring Victorian buttons in May, and we'll have a Victorian tea party, “ Squillaci said.

“No one has ever left here disappointed,” Squillaci said. “People are just in awe of the buttons, because they are truly miniature works of art.”

The Button Room is at 4072 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed on Monday. Admission is $3-$6. Children 5 and younger admitted free. (224) 399-9870 or thebuttonroom.org.

Circus Spectacular

The 49th annual “George Carden Circus Spectacular” heads to the Sears Centre Arena in April, bringing a spring performance with animals, acrobats and clowns.

Audience members can see Broadway Bo, a nearly 6-ton elephant, The Christiani Family of high-flying clowns and David Smith Jr., known as “The Human Cannonball.”

“In an age when we are all plugged into our electronic devices, the circus is still something that's real,” said Amanda Tackett, publicist for the “George Carden Circus Spectacular.” “The thrilling stunts are real. The sights, the sounds and the memories of the circus are real.”

Included in the price of the ticket is the chance for audience members to go down into the circus ring, before and after the show and during intermission. They can meet with performers, take photos and ride animals.

Broadway Bo is always an audience favorite, Tackett said.

“Bo is the largest performing male elephant in the circus world, and he's one of the sweetest animals I have ever met. He has a real connection with audience members,” Tackett said.

The “George Carden Circus Spectacular” is sponsored by the United Children's League, and proceeds will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago organization.

7:30 p.m. Friday, April 6; 11 a.m., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7; and 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $14-$20 general admission; $14-$27 for reserved Spectacular seats; and $45 for Ringmaster (VIP) seats. A limited number of $9 general admission seats available, while supplies last. Call (888) 732-7784 or visit 2012circus.com.