On the road: 'Dinosaurs Alive!' returns to Brookfield Zoo
Chicago
Prehistoric times
The “Dinosaurs Alive!” exhibit returns to Brookfield Zoo featuring 24 life-size, animatronic prehistoric creatures, including Styracosaurus, Tuojiangosaurus and Pachycephalosaurus. Feathered dinosaurs include Microraptor and Gigantoraptor, which was discovered less than a decade ago in China. Ferocious favorites like Tyrannosaurus rex and Dilophosaurus are back along with Stegosaurus and Triceratops. The winding trail showcases animatronic dinosaurs making a variety of sounds and movements and a tented area highlights the most recent paleontological findings, including scientific discoveries that show how birds evolved from dinosaurs
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from April 6 to Oct. 27 at 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield. Exhibit admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors 65 and older in addition to the regular general admission of $15 for adults, $10.50 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Parking is $10. www.czs.org.
View from the top
If you haven't visited the John Hancock Observatory in awhile, maybe it's time for a new look. Eighteen innovative, interactive and educational screens offer a new way to take in the views from more than 1,000 feet up. Flat-screen monitors and info kiosks provide panoramic touch screens with 360-degree views of the Chicago skyline, historic architecture and Lake Michigan, along with an interactive, educational experience. Learn about hot spots and zero in on favorite buildings and points of interest with the touch of a finger. The new, user-friendly multimedia tour is free for any guest entering with an admission ticket.
9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. General admission is $18 for adults, $12 for kids 3-11 and free for those younger than 3. (888) 875-8439 or www.jhochicago.com.
Blackstone Picasso
Enjoy a cultural weekend in the city this spring with a Picasso package at the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago. The package includes breakfast for two at Mercat a la Planxa, complimentary valet parking and two tickets to the Art Institute's special Picasso exhibit. The Blackstone itself has 1,400 pieces of original artwork by celebrated artists and special exhibits of local artists.
The package is available through May 12 at 636 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Rates start at $199 per night, double occupancy. Use booking code: P52 (312) 447-0955 or www.blackstonerenaissance.com.
Midwest
Come over easy
Head over to Egg Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo and enjoy some family fun. A “bubblologist” will create caterpillars, volcanoes and dancing bubbles. Kids 8 and younger can participate in the scavenger hunt, ride the Safari Train, have their faces painted and march in the Easter Parade.
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee. Admission is $11.75 for adults, $10.25 for those 60 and older; $8.75 for kids 3-12; free for kids 2 and younger. Parking is $12. (414) 256-5466 or www.milwaukeezoo.org/events/ eggday.php.
Take me to the Mission
Mission Creek Festival is a weeklong celebration that takes over various venues and spaces of downtown Iowa City, Iowa, creating a nexus of music, literature, food and art. National, international and regional musicians, writers and artists will perform and exhibit their works. In between events, grab some food or a beverage or visit the Grant Wood artist-in-residence house. On Saturday evening, there's a Food & Literature Crawl. Acts include Grizzly Bear, Iris Dement, Divine Fits, and actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo.
Various times and venues Wednesday through Sunday, April 2-7, in Iowa City. Individual shows cost $10-$33. A festival pass for $125 grants access to all shows. www.missionfreak.com.
SuperPOWered Spring Break
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis offers the ultimate superpower showdown this spring with “Super Heroes — A Super POWered Spring Break.” See superhero artifacts from the collection, meet Batman, watch a new Bumblebee transformation program, don a cape and mask and pretend to be a superhero and vote on which superpowers should hold super status in the museum's hero and villain matchups. Also on hand will be costumes such as the G.I. Joe accelerator suit, the cape from the “Batman” TV series, the Superman cape worn by actor Christopher Reeves and the Riddler costume worn by Jim Carrey in “Batman Forever.”
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through May 5 at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St. Admission is $18.50 for adults, $13.50 for ages 2-17, $17.50 for seniors age 60 and older. (317) 334-3322 or www. childrensmuseum.org.