This week’s blog post is by The Paternity Test co-host Matt Boresi, who lives in the Edgewater Glen neighborhood of Chicago with his wife (“Professor Foster”) and their 5-year-old daughter, Viva, who is more of a Rey than a Jyn, Leia, Ashoka, Sabine or Padme.
The fourth is almost with you, Chicago! This Thursday is Star Wars day (May the Fourth), when families, geeks and families of geeks come together to celebrate 40 years of Lucasfilm and Disney taking all their money. If your child isn’t already dressed in their Jedi or Sith robes or Mandalorian armor at school, get them changed and take them out to celebrate!
Join a light up battle flash mob!
Chicago Jedi, EDGE Theatre and Princesscapades Princess Parties are presenting their second annual May the 4th Be With Chicago LED-saber Freeze Mob. Bring your laser sword (and costumes are encouraged) to one of their three locations (Roosevelt and Michigan, or two on the Museum Campus) where good guys and bad guys will face off and then freeze in a dynamic battle tableau and film it for a mannequin challenge! (Families are invited, and the event organizers make it clear that violence and drunkenness is not welcome–so tell your kid to sober up.)
Play Star Wars Monopoly at the Chicago Public Library
Conquer galactic real estate with a game of Star Wars Monopoly at the 4801 S. Michigan Avenue branch from 4:30 to 6:40 p.m. Just don’t make me be the Jar-Jar game piece.
Make Star Wars crafts in Oak Park
Oak Park, that’s like Chicago, right? The Oak Park Public Library will have Star Wars crafts, activities and videos in their Storytime Room from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Now you can make that macramé Bib Fortuna you’d always wanted. (834 Lake St., Oak Park, IL)
Watch the “Despecialized Edition”
Okay, this one is for date night, not for the kids (it’s in a bar), but Emporium Chicago will be showing the “Despecialized” editions of the Original Trilogy (that means Han shoots first, Mos Eisley isn’t a ‘90s CGI traffic jam and the Ewoks don’t blink). It all begins at 6 p.m. at the Wicker Park location. (1366 N Milwaukee Ave.)
Sing along to a Beatles/Star Wars parody mashup
And if it’s too rainy and cold this week to do much more than stay inside with your action figures, lightsabers, movies and cartoons, there’s always this set of videos, in which someone has made a Star Wars parody of EVERY track on “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart’s Club Band.” A great way to teach your kid about both the Beatles AND Star Wars, two super old things every parent should force on their children. You’ll get by with illicit help from you frieeeeeeends …
If you enjoyed this essay, subscribe (free!) to The Paternity Test Comedy Podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud, or visit www.paternitypodcast.com.
You can find the Dads on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and on Twitter at @thedadtest or email them at paternitypodcast@gmail.com.
Call The Paternity Test on their hotline: (657) BAD DADS and leave a message or a question they can play on the podcast!
