It was above freezing here in Chicago this weekend so I took Esley and some fellow schoolmates to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Considering we’ve been half a dozen times in the past year, I was surprised how the Zoo always seems to have something I’d overlooked.

Isaiah, Esley, Vontrell, and D'Entonio at the Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lion House at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Esley at Branko's after the Zoo

On Sunday I took some UI kids to see Avatar 3D at the Webster Theatre in Lincoln Park. Surprisingly, Vontrell slept through the first half and Isaiah feigned boredom until about halfway through the two and a half hour movie. Fortunately the key battle scene had everyone awake at the end.

Intrigued by the nap time during what to me was a captivating picture (not to mention the most expensive film ever made) I asked them what other movies they looked forward to seeing and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel was the unanimous choice (not kidding).

For me, the Avatar story line played a bit too close to Dances with Wolves (apparently South Park spoofed this but I came to this conclusion on my own), yet I cannot deny the incredible use of 3D and special effects. I don’t recall the last movie I saw in 3D but it’s safe to say it’s been five years at least. The technology has really come a LONG way and getting rid of the blue and red glasses was just the beginning. At one point I caught Isaiah trying to swat away bugs on the screen and I admit I jumped once or twice myself. Suffice it to say, the effects of Avatar puts films like the recent Star Wars series to shame.

Took D’Ellis and Esley to the to the Museum of Science and Industry on Sunday to see ‘Dinosaurs Alive!’ at the Omnimax Theater and check out the museum. ‘Dinosaurs Alive!’ was a worthwhile (albeit short) movie but the Omnimax Theater really wasn’t much to write home about. I expected an amazing digital picture and sound system but to honest it seemed more like a large projection displayed against a curved wall. Oh well, if I was a kid I’m sure I’d have been all about it – I know the kids were.

I was interested in the German WWII submarine (the U-505) but unfortunately we weren’t able to board the ship. Still, getting to stroll around the massive ship was impressive in it’s own right. D’Ellis wanted to jump from upper railing onto the top of it but after thinking about it for a minute I told him he probably couldn’t make it.

The submarine simulator – D’Ellis and Esley managed to sink it.

A poor pic of me and my kids

A parting pic from the circus exhibit

Aside from hanging out with the kids things have been slow here in Chicago. It’s February – enough said. I’ve been listening to a lot of Harry Nilsson (namely ‘Aerial Ballet’ and ‘Harry’), Cat Power (’Jukebox’ and ‘The Greatest’), and Bon Iver. I put my stamp of approval on any/all of the above.

Lots of shows coming up and a trip Phoenix to see the ‘rents… more to come.

I went on a field trip with the Urban Initiatives kids to the L.E.A.R.N. charter school in Lawndale, where they played soccer with the kids from that UI program. We all had a blast. The highlight of the day had to be when Andre pointed at my arm and asked: ‘Is that all the muscle you got?’

Moshanay in goal.

Clockwise from the bottom: Kortese, D’Ellis, Jaylen, Andre, Terrance and Isaiah.

Jasmina