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Chicago's North Shore Insider Guide & Video Directory         
Wednesday February 08, 2012

Low Cost Fun & Entertainment

Low Cost Fun & Entertaining On The North Shore

Stop Stressing & Seek Some Fun

We know, the economic reality is it hurts.
Did you get your 401(k) statement recently?
Now more than ever, you have to laugh, have some fun and do what you can to keep your spirits up in spite of the obvious economic climate. So why not enjoy a little escapism? Living in the North Shore Chicago suburbs doesn’t mean you have to pay North Shore prices for great entertainment.

Here’s a few ways how:

NO Money Fun

Concerts don’t have to cost anything


Check out Late Nite HP in Highland Park – it’s one of the North Shore’s most comprehensive weekend music offerings, ranging from folk to rock, poetry slams, youth jams, and more!

Fall Into Some Color


Fall is a fabulous time to get outdoors, and the Cook and Lake County Forest Preserves are one of the North Shore’s best bets. It’s no-cost parking, and trails are free to enjoy. Send the kids on a scavenger hunt for leaves to press and acorns to decorate your home with! Give these a try:

River Trail Nature Center
3120 Milwaukee Avenue (West side, Milwaukee Ave., 3/4 mile southeast of River Rd.)
Northbrook
847.824.8360

Independence Grove
Lake County Forest Preserve, Buckley Rd. east of Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
847.968.3499

See Some Stars


If you’re looking to awe your kids or impress that first date all while keeping your wallet tucked away, consider the Dearborn Observatory (847.491.7650) on NU’s campus in Evanston. Friday night stargazing from 8 - 10 p.m. is FREE – just call ahead if you want a reservation in the 8 - 9 p.m. timeslot.

Root For The Big Ten

Maybe you’re not up for shelling out the big bucks for a pro sports event. Great! Northwestern University has a lot to offer sports fans on the cheap, including free admission to a lot of sporting activities, like soccer, lacrosse, and baseball. Visit their web site to see what’s on tap this weekend!

Free Movies!

Blow off Netflix and On Demand and grab a movie from your library! You can even try to download video, audio and e-books by visiting MyMediaMall.net.

Learn to Play Chess


A number of libraries on the North Shore offer drop-in chess classes on the weekends. Your kids are wired in? Check out your library’s game room, where they can game while you check out a few books.

Under $30:

Bored? Get out the “Board” – Board games are a great way to kill a rainy afternoon or change up the usual Saturday night. If your collection is looking a little tired, check out a couple of revamped classics:

Sorry Sliders ($20): A 2009 Oppenheim Best Toy Winner, is an update to the classic we all played as kids, involving pieces that are slid at various targets.

Clue ($20): It’s not the mansion we used to know – Hasbro has also updated this mystery game for today’s kids, with new characters and new “weapons.”

You can check out just about any local Toys ‘R Us or Target for a wide selection of board games.

Catch A Train


A family of four can visit the Kohl Children’s Museum for $30 – right now, the museum has a wicked train exhibit that’ll keep the kiddies entertained for hours!
Or, grab the Metra and take a trip one stop up or down the tracks! For just a few bucks, check out your neighbor’s downtown and grab a dessert to share at one of the local eateries.

Cheap Flix

The Value Buffalo Grove (847.604.1393) is one of the North Shore’s cheapest theaters, with second-run films (what did you miss this summer while you were at the beach?)...You can’t beat a $2 ticket price and $1 admission specials on Tuesdays.

Get Artsy

Head to your local Michael’s or Blick Art Supplies, and pick up a few blank canvases and a few tubes of paint. Tell your kids to get creative – introduce them to the likes of Matisse and Monet, Picasso and Pollack. Then let them loose – we guarantee it’ll be some of the best art you’ll hang on your walls!

Knit One, Purl Two


It’ll soothe the soul. Check out Three Bags Full in Northbrook or Village Knit Whiz in Glenview for a few “Learn To Knit” classes.

Create Civilized S’mores: Visit Trax in Deerfield and order the S’mores for four – make your own right at the table while watching the big game!ls!

Bowl Your Brains Out: Sign up at the Brunswick Zone and get coupons for discounted bowling at their Deerfield location. Or check out Wilmette Bowl (847.251.0705) for open lanes!

Splurge on a sundae: Rather than spending the big bucks on dinner out, why not hit up a gourmet grovery store for a few estravagant sundae toppings? We love the selections at Sunset Foods and Treasure Island.

Start Scrappin’: Visit Archivers, just south of Glenview in Niles, with a handful of photos and spend the afternoon cropping for your favorite scrapbook or photo album! Take a look at their online schedule for a great selection of low-cost classes to get you started.

Under $50:

Feed your inner-architect


Kids of all ages love LEGOs.
If you haven’t ventured west lately to the shopping mecca that is Woodfield Mall, you might want to consider a day trip to the LEGOLand Discovery Center at the Streets of Woodfield. For $50, a mom or dad can take two kids for all sorts of fun, including rides and 3-D movies. Insider Tip: Google Legoland coupons and chances are you can score a “Buy one adult admission, get one child free” coupon.

LEGO Land Discovery Center
Streets of Woodfield

601 N. Martingale Road (Intersection of Higgins Road and Martingale Road near Woodfield Mall)
Schaumburg
866.929.8111

And if LEGOs aren’t your gig, Woodfield Mall offers up both Build-A-Bear for stuffed animal enthusiasts, and a brand new “build a remote control car” shop, RideMakers.

Go golfing...Indoors - The Putting Edge in Lincolnshire is another entertaining option for outdoor sports enthusiasts who may be forced indoors for a few months. If you skip all the extras, a mom, dad and two kids can hit the 18-hole, glow-in-the-dark course for under $50.

The Putting Edge City Park At Lincolnshire
275 Parkway Drive, Suite 321 Lincolnshire

Theatre Can Be High Brow AND Low Cost:

Looking to make your date night dollars go a bit further? Visit SeatsInSeats.com or HotTix.org to see how you can catch a local play at a discount over regular prices.

Don’t Do Dinner, Do lunch:

Eating out doesn’t have to be that hard on the pocketbook – try one of the North Shore’s pricier eateries for lunch instead of dinner. You’ll find it’s also easier to get a table.

Life’s short so stop stressing and laugh a little!

Kelly Konrad