The Chicago Academy of Sciences' Nature Museum, which recentlymoved from its longtime home in Lincoln Park, will be housed at 435E. Illinois until its permanent quarters in the park are ready in acouple of years.
"We're seeing new people, we're seeing a lot of people; we'revery happy with what is happening," said Paul Heltne, academypresident. "The space here is open, light, airy and far less linearthan where we were before."
The dioramas of stuffed animals that dominated the old space arein storage, at least for now. Meanwhile, the academy is trying outsome of the interactive displays that other museums have found to beso appealing to the public, Heltne said.
The 138-year-old academy has also learned some new tricks fromits successful "Dinamation" displays of robotic dinosaurs that havebeen on the road for several years, Heltne said.
"They showed us the power of some of the new ways of exploringscience. They showed us that there was a larger audience to beserved than we were serving in a traditional fashion," he said.
In that spirit, some special activities are planned for Sunday,including entertainment, refreshments and contests. Visitors willalso get acquainted with the museum's new approach to science.
In "Make a Splash," visitors can compare water samples from theOgden Slip outside North Pier and the Chicago River in the "WaterWorks" lab.
"Bright Ideas" lets visitors of all ages in on some fascinatingsecrets about the sun's energy. And the academy is excited about anew multimedia computer that will be unveiled during a ribbon-cuttingceremony on Sunday.
In addition, two exhibits are at the museum now. "DiscoveringWomen; Seek Out Science" focuses on the role of women in science andwill run through Sept. 20.
"Go Power" (through Oct. 8) makes "energy investigators" ofvisitors and has some fun ancillary activities - the "Brainy Bulbs"Puppet Show; "Conservation Cottage," a means of ranking homes ontheir use of energy, and an "En-lightening Experiment" with staticelectricity that will make your hair stand on end. For information,call (312) 871-2668.
HISTORIC EVANSTON: The third annual Show of Hands culturalfestival in Evanston on Sunday; is the occasion for architecturetours of sections of the north suburban city's Lakefront HistoricDistrict at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. on Sunday. The tour will beginfrom the Evanston Historical Society, 225 Greenwood St., which willsponsor the tours. The society's museum, in the Charles Gates DawesHouse, will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information about themuseum, call (708) 475-3410. For information about the Show ofHands arts festival, call Adam Rod, festival coordinator for theEvanston Chamber of Commerce, (708) 328-1500.
ENDANGERED FLORA: A good way to learn about the movement topreserve the genetic diversity of domestic plants is by attending the6th annual Heirloom Garden Show, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; at theGarfield Farm Museum, five miles west of Geneva on Garfield Road offIllinois 38. Visitors can see and sometimes taste fruits,vegetables, flowers and other plants that now, because they are notavailable on the commercial market, are in danger of extinction.Growers from around the Midwest will be on hand with plants and seedsfor next year's planting season. A $5 donation is requested ($1 forchildren). Refreshments will be available. The museum is an intact1840s farm and teamster inn being restored by volunteers. Forinformation, call (708) 584-8485.
COURTLY KIDS: Knighthood is in flower this weekend at the KohlChildren's Museum, 165 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette. Today; , childrencan make a castle out of recycled materials. On Saturday, it's aflower wreath or a medieval hat. On Sunday, learn how to jugglelike a court jester. And on Monday, paint a picture of a frog on alily pad and hear a storyteller read the story of the frog and the prince. For information, call (708) 256-6056.
THE OLD BALLGAME: Just a few weeks are left in the "Teich Me Outto the Ballgame: American Baseball Images from the Curt TeichPostcard Archives" exhibit at the Lake County Forest Preserves' LakeCounty Museum, in Lakewood Forest Preserve on Rte. 176 just west ofFairfield Road near Wauconda. More than 150 cards and photographsselected from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives will be on displaythrough Sept. 15. With 1.5 million pieces, the Teich collection isthe largest of its kind in the United States. For information, call(708) 526-7878.
SWEDISH POPULAR ART: The first American exhibit of the popularSwedish artist Gunilla Mann opens today; at the Swedish AmericanMuseum Center, 5211 N. Clark St. Mann's work depicts everyday scenesin her native country and is known for its high energy and vibrantcolors. Mann will be on hand from 6 to 8 p.m. for a wine and cheesereception; the show runs through Oct. 15. For information, call(312) 728-8111.
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