Hidden Gems

 

The Hancock Observatory’s audio sky tour
Children in general can be easy to entertain, given the right circumstances, of course. But when it comes to entertaining them from an educational standpoint, when they know they only have a few more weeks of summer vacation left, well, that can be altogether different.

While hosting my cousins and their combined five children during our own personal Chicago field trip recently, we discovered the John Hancock Observatory has the right idea to solve such a dilemma, making it easy to entertain and educate at the same time. As if seeing the city from 1,000 feet above Michigan Avenue wasn’t enough to astound the kids, doing so with the latest in electronic equipment in hand and a celebrity voice telling them where to look truly put the experience over the edge.

The Hancock Observatory launched its multimedia “Sky Tour” earlier this summer to rave reviews. Available for adults and kids in English, German and Spanish, the hand-held device is free with admission and provides visitors with a personalized guided tour. And you’ll probably recognize the informative voice coming through the headphones. It belongs to none other than David Schwimmer of TV’s “Friends” fame. Schwimmer, who attended Northwestern University in suburban Evanston, has developed a strong bond with the city and helped co-found Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company.

On a clear day, the view from the Hancock’s 94th floor spans some 80 miles and covers four states, showcasing Chicago’s impressive landscape in all four directions. The telescopes, history wall, skydeck and unique photo opportunities add a lot to any visit, but it was obvious the audio Sky Tour was what had the kids mesmerized. Engaging and informative without talking down to them, Schwimmer makes Chicago’s history and architecture relevant to a younger crowd. With Schwimmer utilizing a conversational style, one of my cousin’s kids said it seemed like he was standing next to her. Sound effects like trains, waves and the Chicago Bulls’ announcer, along with brief interviews with locals and longtime Chicago newspaper reporter Rick Kogan make the Sky Tour that much more lively.

“I remember years ago when we’d come up here and the sights were great, but without the information the kids could relate to, you’d be done in 10 or 15 minutes,” said my cousin Alene Fagan. “Now, it gives you more of an opportunity to really appreciate Chicago.”

And when hosting out-of-towners, who can argue with that?

Hancock Observatory hours: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 10:45 p.m.

General admission prices: Adults (age 12-64): $15, Seniors (65+): $13, Children (age 5-11): $9, Children four and under: free.

— Trent Modglin

 

‘Short Shorts’ at the Annoyance Theater
The Annoyance is proud to introduce “Short Shorts: Three original one-act plays.”

The three plays, standouts from the Annoyance’s Wednesday Triple Feature directors series, are highly entertaining short plays that come together to create a great evening of entertainment. Directed by Mike Canale, Rich Sohn and Brian Wilson, “Short Shorts” includes “Deprived,” (Canale) a musical about three lonely souls trapped in a sleep study experiment; “Hipsters” (Sohn), where two totally awesome dudes fall for the same girl; and “Jacoby’s Promise,” (Wilson) in which a neighborhood sleepover reveals a family’s quirks, idiosyncrasies and odd rituals.

“Short Shorts” will run Sunday nights at 7 p.m. from August 31 to September 28. Tickets are $7. Tickets can be purchased either at www.theannoyance.com or by calling the box office at (773) 561-HONK. The Annoyance is located at 4830 N. Broadway.

 

YG Games
It’s time to get excited about this year’s YG Games (formally called YG Field Day), where you can play games you haven’t played since you were a kid (think dizzy bats and three-legged races) with friends on a great September Sunday (and the Bears’ game is in the evening!).

The YG Games raise awareness and funds for Youth Guidance’s mission and successes. Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable at-risk children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education and, ultimately, to succeed in school and in life.

The YG Games will be held in Oz Park, complete with food and drinks. Everyone receives a free goody bag with a team t-shirt and complimentary food and drink vouchers. Entertainment is being provided by a live DJ from Q101.

If you’re interested in forming a team or being put on a team, or if you think your company would want to sponsor a team (and maybe have a team tent), call (773) 343-9545 or check out the website at www.youth-guidance.org. Companies that sponsor teams also receive logo placement on event banners and a branded team photograph.

 

New deals at Kit Kat
Kit Kat is pleased to announce a new weekly lineup of dining and drink promotions by Chef Matt Stovey, as well as the addition of two new “divas.” Diva Kathryn Cole and Diva Candi Stratton will perform on rotation; Kit Kat offers entertainment nightly beginning at 7 p.m.

Sunday: Half-price martinis.

Tuesday: Half-price martinis.

Wednesday: Half-price martinis and cocktails and buy-one-get-one entrees (excludes steaks).

Thursday: Half-price bottles of wine. Entire list is half price with the purchase of two entrees (excludes bubbly).

Friday: $30 three-course prix fixe (martini, appetizer and entree).