shedd aquarium

I finally was able to edit down my selection of “blurry photos” from the trip to the Shedd Aquarium. There’s so darn many though!! The way the fish move and the water and glass reflect light… it was a pretty blurry DREAM! My apologies to Zlaya who had to put up with my lagging behind to take photo after photo, but I think even he would say it was worth it! Check em out!

Halloween may last for just one day, but Chicagoween lasts at least a week! For the next seven days, free fun includes all sorts of fun with skulls, skeletons and altars. And, just to shake things up a bit, there’s some fish, butterflies and a golem thrown in for good measure.  Enjoy!

Sunday, November 1

Happy anniversary Notebaert Nature Museum! In celebration of the Museum’s 10th anniversary, admission is free. From critter cams that show you the world through the eyes of a great white shark, to a kitty cam that will open your eyes to your feline’s perspective, the Notebaert Nature Museum will have you seeing a whole new world. Make sure to adopt a butterfly while you are there. The museum is open from 10AM to 5PM.

Monday, November 2

Have you ever seen a mandarin fish? Well, have you? If you have, then you’ll be mighty pleased that you can see one for FREE today at the Shedd Aquarium. And if you have no clue what a mandarin fish is? Well then, clear your Monday schedule so you can stare in awe at it’s magnificence. The Shedd Aquarium is open from 9AM to 5PM.

Tuesday, November 3

Crystals, sugar and skulls, who would have ever thought to combine the three? Navy Pier, that’s who! Celebrate El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in the Crystal Garden, check out some traditional artists, and decorate sugar skulls at this sweetly ghoulish all-ages event. Hours are from 11AM to 5PM.

Wednesday, November 4

Still grieving the end of the World Music Fest? Well, turn that frown upside down at World Music Wednesday at The Old Town School of Folk Music. This Wednesday, Israeli Yasmin Levy will wow you with her critically acclaimed Ladino sounds. Her performance begins at 8:30PM, and while this is a free event, a $5 donation is suggested.

Thursday, November 5

Continue enjoying the Day of the Dead at the National Museum of Mexican Art, located in the lovely Pilsen neighborhood. The Museum’s 23rd annual Day of the Dead exhibition includes ofrenda (altars) created by Arturo Velasquez Sr. and Sandra Cisneros, as well as works from more than 20 artists. The Museum is open from 10AM to 5PM.

Friday, November 6

If the Day of the Dead festivities haven’t convinced you that Chicagoween is a season, not a day, here’s further proof: The Chicago Cultural Center will be screening The Golem, a silent film from the 1920s. A golem, by the way, is a legendary creature that can save you by destroying your enemies… if you can control it. The film begins at 7PM.

Saturday, November 7

Wind down the week with a book and a view – a view of some fantabulous art, that is. The Harold Washington Library Center showcases the city’s art collection of over 50 works. It is the largest public art display in Chicago, and, fittingly, it is housed in one of the most beautiful buildings downtown. And… the collection is protected by gargoyles. On Saturday, the Library Center is open from 9AM to 5PM.

- Shannon Sankstone

Click here to read more posts from Shannon.

Consumers are much more likely to respond to an ad using text messaging than visiting a website.

Hospital marketers have learned to add a web-based call to action to their ads. It has become fairly typical. But is there a better way to get results?

Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium advertised its new Fantase aquatic show with television ads on the 4 major networks. The ads featured a contest in which the viewers could register to win a hotel stay and VIP seats for the show’s premiere. The ads directed viewers to a website to register.  The one exception was one ad, which gave viewers the option to enter the contest by sending a text message.

The amazing results according to Mobile Marketer.com were that the call to action using SMS generated 325% more entries than the web based call to action. 52% of entries were via text message even though that option was only given on 25% of the television ads. 

The experiment indicated consumers are much more likely to respond by texting than by visiting a website. The reasons texting is more effective is because:

• Texting is easier
• Texting is more immediate-real time
• A text number is easier to remember than a web address.
• Texting takes less time
• Mobile phones are almost always with the consumer.

For ads that have a call to action, hospital marketers should consider if texting could be used. If so, the Shedd Aquarium experience would indicate the response could significantly improve. 90% of all mobile phones in the U.S. are SMS capable and texting started outpacing voice calls as early as 2007. The frequent use of texting demands that marketers explore how to use it to increase the number of responses and get more immediate response.

It’s an opportunity that cannot be ignored. Why expect a consumer to go to a website to respond to an ad when it can be as easy as punching 5 numbers on the cell phone which is sitting nearby?

Somehow, my ‘I’m going to update my photography blog every Saturday’ mantra really slipped out of my ability at the end of August. There were many wonderful day trips, and an over night stay in Chicago, as well, that kept me away from this blog. Not away from my camera, of course, but now I have a happy back log of several hundred images. I’m trying to get better about my bad habit of quickly scanning a set, picking one or two I like, putting them up and … forgetting about the other 60 or 70 photos. There are some good ones in every set that I need to remember to look at.

The above photo was taken in Kenosha, Wisconsin on a day trip to Lake Michigan. I think if I could live on the edge of a lake or an ocean, I’d be a happy camper – but only if I never had to work again. Having to go to an office job every day with the water being footsteps away would drive me buggy. We also made a few stops along the way to Kenosha, at the Jelly Belly Warehouse in Pleasant Prairie as well as a few other places.

We had a meeting in Chicago early September, for an ongoing case. We went in the night before and stayed in a hotel – which had a sushi restaurant on the ground floor. Score! The next day, after the business aspect of the trip was handled, we spent the day walking around the city, enjoying the sites and the beautiful weather. We did the tourist thing and enjoyed ourselves. Surprisingly, I was sad to leave. I think I have a crush on Chicago.

There was a trip to Oregon, Illinois as well as Byron, Illinois. We enjoyed the weather and took lots of pictures.

There were a few special events where I displayed my photography. The market is winding down. I’m making a long running list of where photography fits into my life and where I’d like it to be. Making a game plan, of sorts. I love photography. I truly do. I especially love it when OTHER people love my work – and it’s not entirely about them purchasing it. I enjoy it when people tell me what they think of it – honestly. I love it when people tell me _why_ they like a particular image. Granted, I am not complaining about selling items – but that’s not why I do this. To be honest, sometimes I can’t explain why. It’s a strange affliction, I guess. Haha.

And now, fall is here. My favorite season. I could take pictures for hours, just in a patch of weeds. Pumpkins will be featuring as well.

I’m going to need a bigger external drive soon.

Happy Fall to you!

From one hustling city to the next, this one is a little closer to my home state and boasts a beautiful shoreline, vibrant nightlife, artistic inspiration and of course, mouth-watering cuisine. It’s Chicago, Illinois!

Chicago and its thriving shoreline

The weather is much like most midwestern states and has the joys of having 4 seasons. Soaking up the freshwater as it is located on Lake Michigan, the evenings tend to get a bit cool and sometimes breezy, hence the nickname “windy city” so be sure to pack accordingly.

There are an over abundance of places to reside while in this active city, so do some research and check out the travel deal web sites to reap the benefits of staying in a 4 or 5 star hotel for less. I stayed in The W Hotel not too long ago and was thoroughly impressed. It was a modern hotel with glam and sophistication, yet the actual hotel rooms were very comfortable and inviting. The accommodations and staff were very polite and helpful as well. If it is in your budget, or you find a great deal on a stay there, I would definitely recommend it and stay there again myself.

Let’s get out of the hotel and into the streets, there is much to see and do!

I usually spend only a long weekend in Chi-town, because it is only a few hours from home and easy to travel to, but there is so much to do, I’m sure I could spend weeks here.

(TIP: I always like to take a tour bus to get the layout of the land before I do some sight seeing and Chicago has a great tour where you are able to hop on and off all day at their most famous attractions and eateries. If you are pressed for time or are traveling with someone with disabilities or who has a hard time walking long distances, I would definitely look into something like this.)

Chicago from the Skydeck

Another way to get a great view and map out your route to the best music, entertainment, attractions and activities is by traveling up to te 103rd floor of Skydeck Chicago and peering out at the city from Hancock Observatory. Even those who are afraid of heights can appreciate the views from up top.

Navy Pier from the window of The W Hotel just as the sun sets behind the city

So now that you have seen Chicago from many different angles, it’s time to dive in and really experience this city. I think it may be a law that you cannot visit Chicago without going to Navy Pier and why wouldn’t you want to? With spectacular views and photo opportunities of the lake as well as carnival attractions including a gigantic ferris wheel, a stained glass museum and delicious snacks, Navy Pier has something for everyone and you could spend hours here, if not a whole day. Walking along the lakefront is great exercise and a great way to see the sights.

Gate Cloud at Millenium Park

Getting back into the city, Millenium Park showcases one of the largest, shiniest kidney beans known to man…just kidding it is the Cloud Gate which reflects the scenery and all around it. There is also an interesting architectural concert stage where you are able to enjoy shows nightly or on special occasions.

Shoping on The Magnificent Mile

They don’t call it magnificent for nothing, The Magnificent Mile makes you feel like you are in New York, shopping ’til you drop! I am convinced that there is just about every genre of store, boutique and restaurant and I try to take advantage of browsing and participating in the excitement of finding a great deal or a unique piece every time I’m there.

 Strapped for cash, but want to do it all? Many of these attractions are free as they are situated in the city and are open to the public to wander and enjoy as they please. The Oprah show is taped here, though tickets are in very high demand, you are sometimes able to get a last minute ticket in on the day of the taping if others didn’t show up to claim their spot.

(TIP: Look into the latest rules and procedures of getting a ticket to Oprah if you are interested in doing so while you are here as she only tapes on certain days of the week and may or may not be offering tickets to the public on certain taping days.)

Lions at Lincoln Zoo

Giraffe at Lincoln Zoo

 The Lincoln Zoo is free to the public and is great for animal lovers of all ages to take a break from the city life and soak up some “Vitamin Z” (this is actually a Detroit Zoo initiative, but I love the creative phrase).

If you do have a few bucks to play with and didn’t get your fill of the aquatics at the zoo, I highly recommend visiting the educational and breathtaking exhibits at Shedd Aquarium.

Sea Turtle at Shedd Aquarium

Dolphin show at Shedd Aquarium

(TIP: Shedd Aquarium is a high traffic attraction, so if you are in town during a weekday, I would choose that day to visit and make sure you have plenty of time to take in all that there is to see here.)

There is a beautiful light and fountain display at Buckingham Fountain upon nightfall if the energetic nightlife is not your thing. It seems a bit off the beaten path, but it is definitely worth seeing. I like going and doing just about everything there is to do in a city like Chicago, so would recommend seeing a comedy show at Second City Comedy Club or lavishing in the fantastic talents of a musical.

Buckingham Fountain

Wow, I’ve touched my favorite attractions and now I’m hungry…gotta have a Chicago-style hot dog at Portillo’s or get criticized while I eat at Ed Debevic’s, good times!

Chicago-style hot dogs at Portillo's

I hope I didn’t miss too much, but if I did and you know of more great things to see and do in Chicago, please share as I would love to visit them on my next trip.

open wide

belly flop

this is the scariest effing turtle i’ve ever seen.

it has fur. FUR. who knows, maybe it’s algae build-up or something but i saw this sucker in person and that shit looks like fur.

(looks like a cold sore.)

if you ever have the desire to see this furry turtle it will be hanging out at the shedd aquarium in chicago.

and you know what else is at the shedd aquarium?  this a-mahzing statue.

man love fish. fish loves ingrid?

In three days, President Obama makes his trip out to Copenhagen, Denmark to make a pitch for Chicago to be the home of the 2016 Olympic Games. Besides being the President’s adopted home town, Chicago has plenty to offer to travelers in general inside and outside the scope of the Olympics. See a list of some of the main activities and attractions in Chicago below:

-Shedd Aquarium

-Sears Tower

-Adler Planetarium & Museum

-Wrigley Field

These are, of course, only a few of the attractions that make Chicago an ideal destination for travelers. There are many tours that showcase the ins and outs of Chicago’s history, architecture, and key attractions.

See if the President is right and go check out all that Chicago has to offer. Visit www.ChicagoTours.us for more on how to make your trip to Chicago your most enjoyable getaway of the year!

I was lucky enough yesterday
to be invited to the Shedd for a dress rehearsal of the new marine animal presentation, Fantasea. They even let me bring my four-year-old son, so we had a great time exploring the aquarium all day.

For my review of the show, go to the Windy City Guide Web site.

It’s been a few years since we went–my son has never been, so we were very excited to see our favorite underwater creatures. The Wild Reef is an exceptional exhibit with plenty of amazing views and the whole place is one big learning opportunity disguised as entertainment. We learned the names of fishes, stood on glass under which stingrays were swimming, learned how to tell male and female sharks apart and discovered different colored sea urchins. The Shedd is totally fun–we could have stared at the octopus all day. Definitely a museum worth seeing, especially once the Fantasea show begins in earnest. –By Helen

Yet more evidence that marketers need to start paying more attention to some of the newer marketing tools available.  According to Advertising Age, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium used a recent campaign to promote their new Fantasea aquatic show.  Four different tv spots, each tagged with a call to action to visit their website.  The last of the four spots also featured an SMS call to action (a cell phone text).  What did they find?  While the spot with the SMS call to action only ran 25% of the time, it generated more than half of all responses!  When they ran the SMS call to action in the newspaper, they received the highest response for a one-time print ad.

The folks at Shedd attributed the success of the SMS campaign to two things:  1)  The fact that SMS causes people to feel more of a sense of urgency; and 2) The fact that people always have their phones with them – even when they’re watching tv – compared to those having immediate access to their computers.

The beauty of mobile marketing?  Once somebody responds, you are able to maintain a database that you can use for other marketing offers or messaging (pending permission to do so – which is extremely important).  And the success of followup offers can be excellent if done right.  The agency that worked with Shedd estimates that 85% of those who opt in will also respond to followup offers.  Plus, using SMS in your campaign can be one of the most economical response generators available.

Now, think about how you might use SMS as part of your next campaign. If I’m an event or attraction like the Science Center of Iowa or Blank Park Zoo, there’s a pretty easy model to follow.  But what if I’m a company planning to exhibit at the Iowa Power Farming Show in January? Farmers are very active cell phone users.  Or, what if I’m a bank that wants to be able to instantly update realtors about mortgage rates?  Or a car dealer that wants to maintain a more loyal preventative maintenance customer group?  With an estimated 90% of U.S. cell phones able to send and receive text messages, adding SMS to your marketing can be a very smart move with the right strategy, plan and partner.  Our favorite partner – Catchwind – just happens to be located right here in good ol’ Des Moines.

Author: Tom Flynn
www.lessingflynn.com
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- from my best friend’s balcony

- fog near the shedd aquarium
- esperanza spalding @ chicago jazz fest

Busy doesn’t even begin to describe today. I’ve been at the office since about nine thirty; it’s nine oh four in the pm and I’m still here. I LOVE MY JOB!!

On your next trip to Chicago, if having the freedom to hop on and off during a trolley tour is high on your list of priorities, the Chicago Hop On & Hop Off Trolley Tour is a great option. Seeing the city in the open air while being able to create your own itinerary can be very useful, especially if you are traveling with children who may see things they want to explore further. There are a number of popular locations to choose from over the span of 13 miles. Of particular interest to many are the Sears Tower and the Art Institute Museum Campus. The Rock ‘N Roll McDonalds is also a good treat for the kids.

Chicago Trolley Tours

During the times you decide to separate from the group, trolleys come by regularly so you never have a problem rejoining the tour. One stop that tends to interest everyone is the Shedd Aquarium, which is the world’s largest indoor aquarium. This is a good opportunity to give the children a break from sitting down and they have a great time looking at all the beautifully maintained fish tanks.

While the original goal of your trip may be to focus on the kids, the whole family will enjoy this trolley tour. Besides, getting around on a trolley is definitely the way to travel!

Hello, I just returned from Chicago where I decided to start this blog. Hope you enjoy it!

I look forward to updating regularly with random information about gadgets, cars, photography, etc.

Chicago Skyline

This is part II of our 2009 summer vacation. To find out our train trip vacation check out 2009 Summer Vacation part I: Train Trip.

6/16/09 Tuesday:

We took Amtrak from Emeryville to Chicago (to read about our train trip story, see 2009 Summer Vacation part I: Train Trip). The train was running 2 hours behind schedule. By the time we arrived at Chicago it already passed 6pm. It was raining. On the way to Embassy Suites we got to take a quick first look of the city. There were lots of high rise like San Francisco, lots of African Americans, lots of tunnels and bridges.

Thanks to my Hilton Honor points accumulated over the years, we got 2 free nights stay at Embassy Suites. After spending the last 2-3 days on the train and be dull, we couldn’t wait to get to stretch out in our hotel room, and the boys couldn’t wait to go splashing in the hotel’s indoor swimming pool. Because of the train, we missed the daily evening reception– which was alright because we brought our snacks too, plus it was getting late especially for little Audrey who didn’t nap in afternoon. Instead of dragging everyone to head out for dinner in a rainy day, we decided to order to-go from the restaurant on site and ate it in our room. The food was expensive and not that good but we didn’t care– the boys couldn’t wait to get into the pool, and I couldn’t wait to take a nice shower and relax on the big bed!

We were lucky to get a room with city view.  I tried to take some snapshots of the night views but none of them turned out any good. Later when Richard took the boys to the pool and Audrey was sleeping, I finally took a nice long shower. It felt so good and refreshing! One funny thing: Having been on the train for so long and got used to the train motion, I felt things moving while I was in the shower– and for a moment I thought was it earthquake??… lol.

The boys didn’t go for long. When they were washed up it was bed time. I looked at Audrey soundly asleep in the crib, hoping she would sleep throughout the night (being that age she was probably not feeling secure with another new environment).  I then took a deep breath and a big stretch… Lights off!

6/17/09 Wednesday:

View of the city from our hotel room.

Good morning my little sweetie!

Good morning Chicago!

Last night’s sleep was the best in last few days. Audrey woke up crying early morning but after we put her to sleep with us on our bed she slept some and so did we. Overall everyone had a good night of rest. We washed up and went downstairs to have breakfast– this is another reason we like staying at Embassy Suites because hot, cook-to-order breakfast is included. After we were fueled up we were ready to exploring the city. We planned to visit Museum Campus today, which is an area by the lakefront that house Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of Natural History and Adler Planetarium. With 3 young children I knew we wouldn’ t be able to visit all three places but I was hoping to go to 2 places. First place to see was Shedd Aquarium. The line was VERY long because the admission was free during this week. We waited in the line for over an hour. Luckily there was a 3 tier lawn next to the line for Alexander and Ethan to run around. Since the aquarium was by the lake, we could see the Chicago city and lakefront view while waiting in the line.

Alexander and Ethan playing on the lawn while we were in line for the tickets.

View of Chicago from Shedd Aquarium

It was very crowded inside the aquarium. We checked out different areas of the aquarium, ate lunch and watched a dolphin/beluga whale show. In my opinion the show was too short and not much about it– because the show took place inside the building against sunlight, the lighting was very bad. We couldn’t see much of the animals’ performance… really disappointed!

Alexander had his face painted at Shedd Aquarium.

This beluga whale was waving at us! (sorry the picture is not clear...)

By the time we came out of the aquarium, it was already 5pm. For sure we didn’t have time to visit Field Museum across the street. We decided to visit Navy Pier instead and then walk back to the hotel. We took water taxi from the aquarium to Navy Pier. It was an experience and the boys liked it. Navy Pier is another tourist attraction in Chicago. We walked around trying to find some thing to eat and finally settled on expensive fish and chips and beef brisket. Right by the entrance of Navy Pier there was Chicago Children Museum. I read about it online and thought the boys might enjoy it. The museum was already closed so we decided to go there tomorrow morning before leaving the city.

Chicago lakefront view from Shedd Aquarium.

Entrance of Navy Pier.

On the way back to the hotel, we saw many high rise condominiums/apartments in downtown. I thought we are suffering economy downturn nationwide but these new looking condos made me think Chicago was exempted. Hmm… I wondered how much it costs to live out here?…

After we came back to the hotel, Richard took the boys to the pool again while I bathed Audrey and got her ready to sleep. I went for a short swim when the boys were back. Overall we had a long fun day today.

6/18/09 Thursday:

We had a tight schedule this morning because we were going to leave Chicago this afternoon but we still wanted to visit Chicago Children Museum in the morning. So after breakfast we walked to the museum, which is 3-4 blocks away from Embassy Suites.

At Chicago Children Museum: Ethan trying to build a house.

Alexander crossing the indoor suspension bridge.

The Chicago Children Museum is a 3-story building with lots of hands-on interactive learning fun. It is divided into different areas– home safety, musical talent show, cooking, indoor climbing ropes and suspension bridge, dinosaur discovery, water splashing zone, weather learning, construction building etc… It was a really nice place; Alexander and Ethan were having so much fun playing in the museum. I wished we could stay longer but we had to head back to the hotel around noon to get ready to check out at 1 pm.

The boys in the splashing zone.

We were taking Amtrak to Kansas City, Missouri this afternoon at 3:30pm at Chicago Union Station. Since we wouldn’t be arriving Kansas City until 10pm, we thought it was best to bath the kids first in the hotel. As soon as we returned to our room, Richard and I worked quickly bathing the kids, dressed them and finished up packing.

When we arrived at Union Station we had some time to eat lunch. Since Richard and I still didn’t have the chance to try the famous Chicago Style hot dogs, we decided to order Chicago dogs in the food court inside the train station. I am not a big hot dog fan so it tasted alright to me.

Overall it was fun. Our stay in Chicago definitely is too short. There are still lots of places to explore… it’s okay, this way we have excused to come back to the wind city. See you later Chicago…!

Our vacation is not over yet (not quite…). To continue please read 2009 Summer Vacation part III: Missouri.

A few weeks ago, dear friends of ours from Bauer Wesleyan, the church in Hudsonville where Justin served as Youth Pastor, invited us to meet them during their vacation in Chicago.  Then, last week, she e-mailed and said they were leaving in a few days for their vacation and again invited us to meet them there and go to The Shedd Aquarium with them, entry fees paid.  We looked into the cost of traveling there and decided that the best route would be to take the Metra to Millennium Park and then walk a couple miles to the Aquarium; saving both gas and parking fees.

So, we did it! Sunday morning we arrived at the station, boarded the train and our adventure had begun.  The boys loved the train experience, I loved the fact that I had a reason to take an obnoxious amount of pictures, and Justin’s desire to visit Chicago and the aquarium had been filled.  Actually, the fact that it all worked out as it did was quite a divine coincidence…

Last year when we moved here Justin and I decided that during our life here in Watseka we were going to take the boys on the train and visit Chicago’s Museums/Aquarium.  The fact that our friends invited us, pushed us towards fulfilling this promise, and that they generously paid for our tickets clenched it!  Also, ironically when I looked into inexpensive traveling options, the Metra was by far the least expensive for us.  We only had to drive an hour, parking was free, the boys were free, and we both got weekend passes for only $5! Amazing how it turned out as it did! Another way for God to show us he is closing doors, fulfilling promises, and helping us take one step closer to moving.

The only downside to this trip was my recurrent anxiety.  This ‘trill kill’ was an unpleasant and very unwelcome visitor- -thankfully it only visited!  As I said in an earlier post, we believe that this occurrence was due to my change in schedule both with Justin’s hours changing slightly and us switching up our routine a bit by going to Chicago.  The main reason for this, I believe though, was due to the unknown of this trip.  Once we boarded the train, I couldn’t picture anything, this of which set me off.  So, the best medicine for me and my favorite coping mechanism is photography.  So, yeah…I went a bit overboard!  But, I got some great shots of the boys, our family, and of the breathtaking animals…okay, except for the Spider Crab!

We had an AMAZING  and incredible time.  Even with my anxiety…we had been through it before; knew much better how to handle it, and God guided and comforted every step of the way…

• Once on the train, a wonderful couple boarded, and of course was the sweetest woman, and they, too, were going to The Shedd.  They even knew a shorter route to take there instead of having to walk 2 miles we only walked 1/2 mile.  She put me at ease, took our family picture, chatted with me, and was one of those angels that are always there for me during those times!
• Seeing our friends was by far the best part of this trip.  It was so wonderful to be reminded that we are loved and missed.  They were so happy to see the boys and how they have grown and I was so happy to see a friend from the distant land of Michigan that could offer love and comfort through a simple hug.
• Enjoying the sites, sounds, and…smells with my family was a wonderful experience.  We don’t get to experience many new things together, especially something that we all enjoy! The boys loved seeing all the animals we have been learning about in their school and reading time AND Justin and I loved spending the day together: boys happy, being with friends, taking beautiful pictures, and a glimpse of some of God’s creation both inside the aquarium and outside–a.k.a. Lake Michigan!

To view video or pictures from the trip, follow the link below:

Shedd’s Slide Show

here are some videos I shot at the Shedd Aquarium yesterday.

My wife and I went to Chicago this weekend and spent Saturday morning at the Shedd Aquarium.  I’ve got alot of great photos and video to post.  I also have a ton of material from the old site to get back online.  So check back often.  Summer is a busy time for me, but I will get material posted whenever I get the chance.

Rom 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

That verse may be a little hard to understand, but it proclaims a simple truth. 

GOD CAN BE SEEN THROUGH HIS CREATION! 

Yesterday was my sons (Braydon) birthday.  We loaded up the van and headed to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.  He just turned 4 and he loves animals so we thought the aquarium would be a great place to visit, but I never expected to experience what I did. 

Walking through the aquarium, we saw many different fish, jellyfish, sharks, lumpy-fish (ya who knew), seahorses, giant huge fish and small petite fish.  There were sting rays, octopus, star fish, and crabs. . . We had a great time.  We stopped at one of the learning activity stations and we learned about how some fish had evolved into other forms of fish and  . . . then we left that station!  We know better than that!  Fish didn’t evolve (silly scientists) GOD CREATED THEM just as they are!

I sat Braydon down and we talked about all the beautiful creatures that God made.  He asked why God created them and my answer was He created them to show His glory.  I then had to explain that a little (he’s still only four).  I told him that God made all these beautiful animals and fish so that we could look at them and say “Wow, God is awesome”.  We then proceeded with our tour of the aquarium, but now every time Braydon saw a neat, weird, or beautiful fish he stated “Isn’t God awesome”!

I got goose bumps just thinking about it again.  Isn’t God awesome!  He created so many beautiful things just so that we could look at them and know that there is a Creator.  We look at His creation, stand in awe, and are without excuse!  If you want to know more about how you can have a personal relationship with God, let me know.  I would be more than happy to discuss this with you.

P.S. Just wanted you to know that the Manta Rays and the Sting Rays were my favorite.  It takes a great God with a pretty cool imagination to create these wonderful creatures.

One of my favorite things about Chicago is the museums. You could spend all day at the Field Museum or the Art Institute and not see everything…you could go several times and still not see everything. Depending on where you’re going, the admission cost could be a bit pricey, but there are a few ways to see museums for free. Today I want to talk about museum free days.

Target sponsors free basic admission at the Field Museum on the second Monday of each month. Additional free days this year include: August 25; September 2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30; October 1, 7, 8; November 11, 12, 18, 19; December 2, 3, 9, 10. You won’t be able to see the special exhibits, but there are many wonderful permanent exhibits for you to enjoy.

Target also sponsors free evenings at the Art Institute. During the summer, you can visit the Institute for free on Thursday or Friday nights from 5-9. This runs through Labor Day. Last year the Institute was free on Thursday nights from Labor Day through Memorial Day, so I assume there will still be free evenings this year, as well.

The Museum of Science and Industry doesn’t have any free days for the next few months, but this fall there are several days when you can visit for free. General admission is free on these days: October 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30; November 11.

You can visit the Dusable Museum of African American History for free on Sundays, sponsored by Bank of America.

Ovation TV and Comcast sponsor free Tuesdays at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Ford sponsors Community Discount Days at the Shedd Aquarium; on these days, general admission is free, and you can purchase tickets to Wild Reef and the Oceanarium at a discount. General admission is free on the following days: September 21, 22, 28, 29; October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; and November 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30. Admission is also free the week of October 4-9.

The Chicago History Museum is free every Monday.

Charter One sponsors free days at Adler Planetarium. Upcoming free days are September 1, 8, 14-18, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17, 24; and December 1, 8, 15, 22.