Get out there and play
Try to find Zen on Saturday and Sunday with your family at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, during the Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend. The festivities include Japanese-inspired activities, demonstrations and performances that will explore the culture, history and arts of Japan.
Japan is well known for its Cherry Blossom Festival, which revolves around the coming of spring. In the spirit of the festival, try your hand at making a cherry blossom hanging scroll or write your own seasonal haiku.
After creating your own masterpiece, join Horticulturist Adam Hart on a tour through the Malott Japanese Garden at noon. The garden is a Japanese stroll garden, also called Sansho-En (the Garden of Three Islands), with its curving paths and pruned trees. There will also be a storyteller, Anne Shimojima, who will share traditional folktales at 1 p.m. The Chicago Koto Group will perform at 2 p.m. All programs take place in the Greenhouse Galleries in the Regenstein Center from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Ikenobo Ikebana Society Show will exhibit tradition Japanese flower arrangements in Bernstein Hall in the Regenstein Center. Actual Japanese flower demonstrations, which will show off the techniques of arranging in the traditional style, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Alsdorf Auditorium in the Regenstein Center. There will be another flower arrangement demonstration as well as a Japanese Tea Ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free, but a $15 parking fee applies. For more information on this event or the Garden, call (847) 835-5440, or visit the Web site, www.chicagobotanic.org.
Get your tickets here
This week, one lucky Chicago Parent reader will win a family four pack of tickets to see American Ballet Theatre’s performance of“Sleeping Beauty” at the Civic Opera House, Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. For more information on“Sleeping Beauty,” visit the Web site, www.abt.org/performances/chicago.asp. To win, tell us what household chore you would complete if you could do so with the flick of a magic wand. Post your answer on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Some answers may appear in Chicago Parent magazine. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.
Piece of the prize
This week’s prize is way better than any old Scooby Snack. Five lucky Chicago Parent readers will win“A Pup Named Scooby Doo: Season One” on DVD. To win, tell us what current cartoon show you actually like watching with (or without) your kids. Post your answer on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Some answers may appear in Chicago Parent magazine. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.
