Chicago Improv Festival family day
Enjoy Mother's Day, May 11, with an afternoon (noon to 5 p.m.) of free performances, workshops and hands on activities for the whole family. There will be five different 45-minute performances and improvisation workshops running simultaneously every hour beginning at the top of the hour. Tireswing Theater, a versatile ensemble that aims to inspire family audiences through the diversity of the world's rich literature, is one of the featured performances. The improv workshops will be taught by Tim Chidester (ComedySportz), Judy Fabjance (Second City & GayCo.), Katherine Gotsick (ComedySportz), Jennifer Liu (Second City & Stir-Friday Night!) and Brian Posen (Second City & Cupid Players). Workshops will offer a variety of exercises including improv games for the whole family and a discovery of inner creativity and acting style through game playing and team building exercises. CIF Family Day takes place at GAR Hall, GAR Rotunda and Claudia Cassidy Theater, all at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. For more information, call (312) 744-6630.
Szechwan East will celebrate Mother's Day
Szechwan East, Alfred Hsu's Chinese restaurant at 340 E. Ohio St., is serving a special Mother's Day Champagne Buffet all day, with seatings from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, May 11.
The price is $23.95 per person for adults, $12.95 for children ages 6 to 12 (lobster not included), and free for children ages 5 and under. One glass of champagne per adult is included. Each additional glass of champagne is $2.50.
Szechwan East's Mother's Day menu features hot appetizers, dim sum, cold appetizers and salads, soups, entrees, fried rice, fried noodles, steamed rice, desserts, hot tea and a fortune cookie.
For more information and reservations, telephone Szechwan East, (312) 255-9200.
Mother's Day in the park
Treat mom to an extraordinary day in one of Chicago's parks. A variety of events citywide offer affordable activities for kids to share with their mom including music, special entertainment, arts and crafts, dancing and thousands of blooming flowers. For details about events listed below call your local park.
Mother & Son dance
May 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Loyola Park
1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.
(312) 742-7857
All ages, $5
Mom and son can dance the night away, enjoy fabulous food and entertainment.
Queen for a Day
May 9, 6-8 p.m.
Lincoln Park Cultural Center
2045 N. Lincoln Park West
(312) 742-7726
All ages, $5
Mother's Day dinner just for Mom! Family event where kids get to treat mom like Queen for a Day.
Mommy & Me
May 9, 6 to 8 p.m.
Adams Playground
1919 N. Seminary Ave.
(312) 742-7787
Ages 10 & under (with Mother)
$12 per couple, $6 each additional child
Children and their mothers will enjoy making crafts, dancing and other fun activities to make Mom feel special for the evening.
Thousands of Flowers
May 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2391 N. Stockton Dr.
(312) 742-7736
Spend Mother's Day surrounded by the thousands of blooming spring flowers. The show, which ends May 11, features hydrangeas, trees and shrubs, as well as spring flowering perennials and annuals like snapdragons and centaurea.
A mother's beatitudes
Blessed is the mother who understands her child, for she shall inherit a kingdom of memories.
Blessed is the mother who knows how to comfort, for she shall possess a child's devotion.
Blessed is the mother who guides by the path of righteousness, for she shall be proud of her offspring.
Blessed is the mother who is never shocked for she shall receive confidences.
Blessed is the mother who has character strong enough to withstand the thoughtless remarks and resentments of a growing child, for again, in due time, she shall be honored.
Carnations mean Mother's Day to many
While we often send out flowers to Mom on her day, the second Sunday in May, did you know that many people follow the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day?
A colored carnation means that a person's mother is living, a white one that she is deceased. While the tradition for honoring mothers was observed in England and Yugoslavia early on, it was not until Julia Ward Howe introduced the idea in the U.S. in 1872 as "a day dedicated to peace" that the notion entered our own culture.
Three years later, Anna Jarvis began a campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother's Day. She chose the second Sunday in May, and began the custom of wearing a carnation. In May 1915, following up on President Wilson's recommendation to Congress the prior year, Mother's Day was proclaimed an annual national observance. Now, the people of China have adapted the custom of giving and wearing carnations on Mother's Day.
For Moms who like to garden, Dale Harvey, the host of the National Garden Show on Radio Pacific, offers a plant gift recommendation. American-born Harvey, who has lived and gardened all over the world, says all spring bulbs can be planted in May. "The easiest, hardiest, most adaptable popular ornamental shrub to plant nationwide mid-May would possibly be the many varieties of camellia."
Whether you choose flowers or a flowering plant, a green gift is sure to be a hit with Mom.
The first Mother's Day proclamation
"Now, Therefore, I Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and the Independence of the United States one hundred and thirty-eight."
A Mother's Touch
A mother's touch inspires her children to be even better than they are—whether with a pat on the back when things go right, or a hug when things go wrong.
A mother's touch is enabling, giving her children the courage and confidence to reach out and touch someone, too.
A mother's touch helps put the pieces back together, whether the pieces of a broken doll, a broken date or a broken relationship.
A mother's touch fills heart with hope and homes with love.
A mother's touch is forever.
A special wish on Mother's Day
I cannot give you cloudless skies,
A life that's free from cares and sighs,
But I can wish you a heart that sings
And the thrill of discovering beautiful things—
I cannot give you wealth or fame,
But I can wish you, just the same,
Laughter, love, friendly faces,
And golden moments the heart embraces.
Popular North Side Italian eatery on renovated Clark Street
Located on the newly renovated N. Clark St., LaDonna Italian cuisine has showcased traditional Italian cuisine from all regions of Italy since 1995. LaDonna Italian Cuisine is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and late night dining.
Dinner hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 until 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 until 11 p.m. New Late Night and Winebar hours are Sunday through Thursday until 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. Lunch hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Weekend Brunch/Lunch hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Private parties are welcome. Reservations are recommended.
The restaurant offers non-smoking and smoking sections. Street parking is available, with valet parking offered in the busier seasons.
LaDonna's Executive Chef Massimiliano Campagnini contributes a bi-weekly regional specials menu highlighting the cuisine and wine of any one of Italy's 21 regions. On Tuesday nights, LaDonna now features Sagra Della Pasta or the Festival of Pasta, an affordable all-you-can-eat pasta dinner.
LaDonna offers its brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. This menu features Italian dishes such as Uova e Spinaci al Forno—two eggs, spinach, shallots and pancetta baked with a Parmigiano gratin, as well as traditional favorites such as French toast and waffles.
For more information, call (773) 561-9400 or email ladonnaitaly@earthlink.net.
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