Smart things to do with kids in Chicago

Northeast corner of Northerly Island

Atwood Sphere

All Chicago’s museums offer a great deal for residents, but for children they can be  a history lesson, an adventure, an opportunity to explore and above all, an inspiration. The Adler Planetarium lets kids travel to the universe .

Situated at the northeast corner of Northerly Island, the original building, a 12-sided polygon with a copper dome, opened its bronze doors in May of 1930.

Modifications and additions have seen the planetarium landscape change much like the skyline that one sees from the building’s entrance.  The most notable addition:  the Sky Pavilion, a 60,000 square foot steel and glass structure that opened a host of features to the public: exhibition galleries, the Star Rider theater focusing on virtual environments to actively explore the universe, the historic Atwood Sphere that moves on an axis to introduce the small audience sitting inside to constellations in the sky.

22 ft telescope, circa 16

Home to one of the finest antique collections of sundials, telescopes and more, Adler goes beyond, well beyond, with a goal to be the world's leading public center for interpreting and inspiring the exploration of the Universe. To achieve part of that goal, The Adler has created the most technically enhanced theater experiences ever developed.

Star Formation

Three theaters take children and adults into the universe with ultra high-definition seamless images giving them a 360-degree experience that only actual space travel can surpass. Exploding stars, black holes, galaxies, planets, supernovas. It’s like being on the flight deck of a starship mission. And the mission is always changing from the solar system, to cosmic wonders even a sky adventure with Big Bird, or the earth, moon and sun with Coyote, a fun character adapted from Native American oral traditions.

Explorer Club activity

But The Adler is even more. It’s research. Astronomy. It’s the Doane Observatory with the largest publicly accessible telescope in the Midwest.  It’s the Adler after dark for 20+ somethings every third Thursday of the month. It’s a hangout for teens on Wednesdays. It’s Explorer Clubs for kids. It’s Adler sleepovers and summer camps and intern programs. It’s a week of Geek. It’s interactive multimedia exhibitions. It’s hands-on learning.

It’s an awesome environment to challenge and inspire kids.

Visit www.AdlerPlanetarium.org to learn more about current programming, membership and transportation options.

*In 1928, Max Adler, a senior officer and early stockholder in Sears, Roebuck and Company, opted to invest a part of his fortune to build a facility for Chicagoans that would become the Adler Planetarium. He had been intrigued by a European device and method that could opticallycreate the illusion of a night sky on the inner surface of a dome.

Home Maintenance for "non hi-rise" homeowners

Some Maintenance Things to Remember...when you buy a SFH (single family home), town home, or condo in a multi-unit building.

Having just moved to a town home, I was rudely awakened by the fact that there was no building engineer to call when something stopped working. That's not all. You actually have to drag trash containers to the curb--no disposal chute down the hall to take the trash away. And there's no automatic window washing, either -- you're the one who makes the calls.

After several phone calls, a few trips to Home Depot, plus hours spent combing the Internet, I learned that I had a lot to learn. So, I put together some notes as well as a chart for some of the basic things that need maintenance. #HomeMaintenance.   And I'd like to share them in an ebook I've written:

Some Important Things To Know

 I'm certain as Winter turns into Spring a host of other surprises will send me scurrying for info and help.  Watch for more challenges and solutions in "My New Life as a Town Home Owner".

To sell your home--target market specific

Is the buyer who will buy your home living in your complex, subdivision, condo building, or are they from out of the area?  Are they young, middle aged, older or simply getting old? Before you can focus on your target, you have to understand market segments.  Here’s a brief description from the National Association of Realtors:

Among all generations of home buyers, looking online for properties is pretty much the first step in buying a new home. For generations X and Y, a mobile search is used by half of them.

Younger buyers tend to buy older homes, because they feel the price is better and the home is a better value overall.  Boomers on the other hand are more likely to buy new homes or homes that have been remodeled, primarily to avoid  renovations or problems with plumbing or electrical. A new home, also allows them to customize.

Younger buyers place a high importance on commuting costs, while older buyers place higher importance on landscaping for energy conservation and environmentally friendly community features.

What's included in environmentally friendly features: Heating and cooling costs for one, energy efficient appliances and lighting, landscaping created for energy conservation. So if you decide to sell your home, cater to your specific target. And for all generational groups of buyers, prepare a cost of operation sheet that includes the following: 

•  heating and cooling costs ( And don't forget to state the temperatures you keep on your thermostat.)
•  lawn care costs  (And name the plantings, trees,etc if you are able.)
•  annual maintenance costs (like cleaning the fireplace or water heater, furnace and water softener   check-ups)   
•  HOA costs and what they include if you own a condo/town home/flat.          

Ask your agent to create a photo report for a handout. And make a list of all appliances and equipment.  Add the dates they were purchased, if they are energy efficient, and the last service date.  Don't forget the roof, garage doors, or the deck.  You might even consider an inspection prior to listing your home. You'll know then if there are any issues to take care of.  

Impress buyers with your diligence. It could make the difference between your home and someone elses.