Just because the temps are dropping doesn’t mean you can’t still get your nature on. North Park Village Nature Center‘s pristine acres, 5801 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago, are prime for just that. Its Weekend by the Fireplace, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 28, is pretty much the only way I do the Great Outdoors–with a mug of cocoa, a good book and a cozy place to curl up. Maybe I’ll even bring the kids.
Fans of the rapidly exploding Montrose corridor of Albany Park have another reason to get out and get active with their neighbors–newcomer Dovetail Studios, 2853 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, has set up shop with three beautiful dance and fitness spaces for all. Kinder Hip Hop and Story Dance are en pointe for the tiniest dancers, while their adults will leap at infant and parent sessions and the “Duets” classes tailored, for example, to line up your Vinyasa Flow with his Superhero GO.
Pumpkin pie might be a staple on your Thanksgiving table, but you might never look at it the same way after Nov. 4. Your Halloween pumpkins can try to get a jump on the competition in the Pumpkin Roll 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Flick Park, 3600 Glenview Road, Glenview. The losers? Well, let’s just say kids will have a bash smashing them into compost at the free Pumpkin Smash and Bash event.