Celebrating MLK
A day off school and work in the midst of the dreary January slog is pretty nice, but have you found a way to recognize and celebrate Martin Luther King on the holiday that honors him? Encourage your child to work towards Rev. King’s dream of a better world.
Here are 3 community events for families on Monday, January 20
Chicago History Museum MLK Jr Day, 10am-4pm. Entry Free for Chicago residents. “At this family-focused celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ongoing influence on the fight for civil rights in the US, enjoy hands-on engagements, musical performances, and opportunities to learn about how to become more civically engaged in your community.”
HPAC Echoes of Freedom, 11am-4pm. FREE (RSVP) Hyde Park Art Center has a full day of activities, including live music, a film screening and art -making. They share: “This event is more than a celebration; it’s an opportunity to engage with Dr. King’s legacy through the lens of contemporary art and culture.”
MLK Day Sinfonietta Concert, 6:30pm: The Chicago Sinfonietta is considered the most diverse US symphony orchestra. In a field dominated by white men, they are dedicated to inclusivity in their leadership, musicians, composers and audience. A season highlights is the MLK Day concert at the beautiful Auditorium Theater downtown, and they don’t just tolerate kids, they welcome them with coloring pages and activities at intermission. There are a limited number of $5-10 tickets, and student tickets are always just $17.
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Featured Activity Theme: Snakes!
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Read: Celebrate 2025, the Year of the Snake by reading Verdi by Janell Cannon, Whispers of the Snake by Chloe Gore, or The Greedy Python by Eric Carle
Explore: Visit snakes in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Small Mammal & Reptile House. It’s toasty warm on even the chilliest winter day. The zoo is free.
Create: A paper plate snake. To print the scales, tape down some bubble-wrap on a table, bubble side up. Paint your choice of tempera colors, then lay a paper plate down on it. Rub to transfer the dots. Once dry, add some features (eyes & a forked tongue, perhaps) and cut into a spiral.
Watch: All About Snakes for Kids
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News from the Parenting Community
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| Stories in the Bookstore
Tuesdays, January 14-March 11 (11-11:45 a.m., Campus Bookstore (970 E. 58th Street, 2nd Floor) Tuesday morning Storytime in the kids' area of the bookstore. Books on a theme, along with songs, percussion instruments and fingerplays for all ages, with snacks from Follett Bookstore. If you have a stroller, you can either leave it downstairs or access the 2nd floor via the elevator—knock for entry.
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“Crafternoons”
Fridays, January 24-March 14, 3:30–4:30pm, UChicagoGRAD HQ (970 E. 58th Street, 3rd Floor) Features a simple craft, along with a coloring corner, toys for pre-crafters, and coffee and snacks for all.
Family Mixer Saturday, January 25, 3-5pm, 3:00–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD Headquarters (970 E. 58th Street, 3rd Floor) Come and celebrate with fellow families at this free event featuring seasonal crafts, snacks and a hot chocolate bar. RSVP lmacgregor@uchicago.edu. While we are gathering in a UChicagoGRAD space, all families are invited—not just Grad students.
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Ideas from your Neighbors
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Shared by Hyde Parkers and UChicago families via various community listservs
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Upcoming Events:
Smart Family Day. Saturday, Jan. 11, 1-4pm. Smart Museum (56th & Greenwood Ave.) Free. Learn about the ways artists create, from collaborative drawings by the Surrealists and Imagists to spectacles of sculpture with artists H.C. Westermann and Yeesookyung. Then, enjoy making projects inspired by the "Exquisite Corpse" method, which encourages families to draw, write, assemble, and create together.
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Chicago Puppet Festival. Thursday, Jan 23 through Sunday, Jan 26. Various artists and showtimes. Logan Center for the Arts (60th & Drexel) Free. The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival has events all over the city, but 4 performances are here in Hyde Park.
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Chicago Restaurant Week Jan 24-Feb 9. Various locations. 470+ Chicago restaurants share their best multi-course prixe fixe offerings for just $30 (breakfast & lunch) or $45 (dinner). Chicago-restaurant-week Enjoy a date night at a trendy restaurant, or cross reference with this great guide to see which might be fun with the whole family! foodnetwork.com/best-kid-friendly-restaurants-chicago
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Products Recommended by Parenting Community Members
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Tushbaby Carrier (pictured.) Like a combo of a fanny pack and seat for kids 0-3. Saves your back by sharing their weight with your hips. tushbaby.com
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Haakaa breast pump. Inexpensive and easy to use; collects let-down from the breast baby is not currently nursing from. haakaausa.com
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Happy New Year! Your newsletter input is very welcome. lmacgregor@uchicago.edu
Laura MacGregor
UChicagoGRAD Parenting Community Coordinator
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