Free Days Galore at Chicago Museums

Andrew is a great tour guide, when friends and family want to go to a Museum

Chicago has many wonderful museums and most of these museums have Free Days when admission is free to the public. Since it is often hard to keep track of the Chicago Museum Free Days going on throughout the year, I have compiled a list of the most popular Museum Free Days.

Despite what you read here, it is suggested that you contact the specific museum to ensure that their Free Days are still valid.

Chicago Museum Free Days - Updated August 5 2009

Adler Planetarium Free Days
The Adler Planetarium is open 9:30am - 6pm during the summer; 9:30am - 4:30pm otherwise;
Free Days 2009: May (Tues) 5, 12, 19 & 26; Jun 7-12; Sep 1, 8, 14-18, 22, & 29; Oct (Tues) 6, 13, 20, & 27; Nov (Tues) 3, 10, 17, & 24; Dec (Tues) 1, 8, 15, & 22 ;


Art Institute of Chicago Free Days
The Art Institute of Chicago is free to the public every Thursday and Friday evening from 5pm-9pm. Memorial Day to Labor Day 2009.
Free Days: May 16-22, 2009; Every Thursday and Friday evening 5pm-9pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day, 2009.


Field Museum Free Days
The Field Museum is Free (basic admission) on the Second Monday of every month, thanks to a donation from Target. Additional free days are also available.
Free Mondays 2009 (9am - 5pm): Jan 12th; Feb 9th; March 9th; April 13th; May 11th; June 8th; July 13th; Aug 10th; Sep 14th; Oct 12th; Nov 9th; Dec 14th;
Other Free Days: September: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th; October: 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th; November: 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th; December: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th;

MCA Free Tuesdays
The Museum of Contemporary Art has Free Days every Tuesday. Special events every week. The museum is open 10am - 8pm on these free days.
Free Days: Every Tuesday of 2009.


Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is free (basic entry) to the public on various dates throughout the year. The museum is open Mon–Sat: 9:30am-4pm; Sun: 11am-4pm; Omnimax-only tickets on Free Days are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for children. Normal prices apply for other features;
Free Days 2009: Jan 5-31; April 22; June 1-5, 19; Oct 8, 9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30; Nov 11;

Shedd Aquarium Free Days
During Shedd Aquarium Free Days, general admission is free. Wild Reef admission is sold at a reduced rate. The aquarium is open Weekdays 9am–5pm and Weekends 9am–6pm.
Free Days 2009: 2009 Community Discount Weeks are on the following dates in June (14 through 19), and Oct. (4 through 9).
2009 Community Discount Days are on the following dates for Mondays and Tuesdays in September (21, 22, 28 and 29) October (2, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27) and November (2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, and 30)..


Children's Museum at Navy Pier - free Wednesday evenings and on Sunday afternoon.

Billy Graham Museum, Wheaton, IL
Be inspired - new exhibit featuring Ruth Bell Graham
There is no admission fee, any day
But there is a suggested donation: Adults $4, Adults, $4
Senior Citizens/Students $3
Children (12 and under) $1
Families $10

Kids Eat Free, Kid's Free Events and Museums in Chicagoland
Kids eat free in Illinois and USA

What I did over Summer Vacation, including Time4learning, of course!

Summer Camp!

Night Games - Capture the Flag

Picking Blueberries to use in smoothies

Visiting with the World's Largest Sock Monkies

Playing with my good friend's new dog named Giggsy. Is not this the cutest dog, that you have ever seen?

Missing my sister Missy and husband Stephen.

Celebrated our collie coming home, after missing for five years. In July was his 1st anniversary of being found!

Time4learning Summer School and Learning Activities
Wow, it had everything I need to do a little catch up and get ready for the new school year!

Free Midwest Singles Conference on Relationships - The Road to "I Do"

The Road to “I Do”

All singles are welcome. All singles are invited!

A Free One Day Conference for Singles (attached or unattached) or Single Couples Dating, Courting or Engaged Who are Thinking about Marriage and Want Answers to Real Questions:
How do I bond to someone for a lifetime? What vital elements do I need in our relationship to experience lifelong emotional and spiritual intimacy in marriage? How will my present heart condition impact our future success as a married couple? Are their biblical guidelines that can tell me to stay in or get out of this relationship?

With Bob and Cheryl Moeller – Authors, Television and Radio Hosts, Married for 30 Years and Co-Founders of “For Better, For Worse, For Keeps Ministries”

Conference Emcee will be WMBI’s Popular On-Air Host, Michelle Strombeck
Location is Elmchurch, 343 S. York, Elmhurst, Illinois
Date and Time is Saturday, August 15, 2009 from 8:30 Am to 3:30 Pm

8:30 Am Registration and Doors Open
9:00 Am 1st Session: The Mystery of Bonding
10:15 Am Coffee and Break
10:45 Am 2nd Session: The Importance of Knowing your Heart Condition
11:45 Am Lunch – on your own at local area restaurants
1:15 Pm 3rd Session: Secrets of Lifetime Emotional Intimacy & Commitment
2:15 Pm Coffee and Break
2:30 Pm 4th Session: Am I Dating a Boaz or a Bozo?
3:15 Pm Question and Answer Session with Bob and Cheryl
3:30 Pm Conference Ends

Directions: elmchurch Phone: 630.832.9100

Free Admission – To attend all participants must RSVP by August 12, 2009 at office@bobandcherylmoeller.com (An offering will be taken at the conference)

Sponsored by For Better For Worse For Keeps Ministries and Total Living Network

For Better For Worse For Keeps Ministries

Mission Accomplished! 4 kids 400 miles for $16,000 for kids 8,000 miles away

From all of us!!
"I have finished the course: I have kept the faith." 2 timothy 4:7

...We Raised $16,000 for the children of the leper colony in Rajnandoan, India!! We did it!!

Can you say, miracle?! I can. On Saturday night, our last eve before the final ride into Mackinaw I needed to get away with my dad for a pep talk. I really believed that we could raise the monies needed for their vehicle but when would it happen--today or next year? These kids were depending on us. My dad shared wise words that have been passed down the line..."God is seldom early but He is never late, he told me." He encouraged me to ride the final miles with the HOPE that God had a special plan and said, "Barrett, God placed this passion in your heart, He will see you through no matter how long it takes."

Our contact from World Hope Intl. was scheduled to meet us at the bridge to welcome and congratulate us and that alone was something to look forward to on the ride in to Mackinaw City. But again, God had a different plan. Our contact, Ann O'Dell, fell ill in Haiti with food poisoning and was rushed to a hospital in Miami. We were informed she would not be greeting us. That was a huge disappointment.

On Sunday morning we woke to pouring rain and slick wet roads. Our spirits were damp. We had breakfast devotions and my dad read us a story from a WHI/HOPE for Children booklet, "The Road to Opportunity". It has stories about children for who World Hope Intl. has provided opportunities. The story told of the faith and strength one of the kids had to come from poverty to receive education and eventually achievement. When asked if we had any c0mments or words to share, Ben spoke up, "Read us another story." We would do anything to stall and stay off the wet roads. Meanwhile, my mom was in the camper blogging our stories and asking friends to pray for the rain to cease.

Mr. Bennett, our route guide, gave us our maps for the day and my dad shared his final words reminding us WHO we were riding for and how important it was to reach the goal. Then, I think it was my Uncle Jim (cook/s extraordainaire) who told us that there was a SURPRISE waiting for all of us in Mackinaw City. Even my dad was surprised.

As we mounted our bikes and headed out to the entrance of the camp, THE RAIN STOPPED AND STARTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA! Again, God was not late.

We had a DRY and AWESOME ride through the tunnel of trees and stopped and played along the way because we had no clue what awaited us except Mackinaw City and maybe some family members who were going to surprise us. That would be fun.

We rode into the final stretch under I-75, made the left turn single file and then lined up behind the "chase vehicle" that was going to lead us to the base of the bridge and the fort park. We had already decided we were riding 4-WIDE and PROUD as can be that we made the goal. Now it felt like TOUR de FRANCE!

There was family waiting for us. The other vehicles and our moms were lined up cheering us into the final block!! We circled the block and pulled alongside the sag wagon to be congratulated. WE MADE IT.!!

As we got off our bikes, my Uncle Jim handed my dad a piece of paper with a phone number and said that we needed to call the number right away. We gathered in a circle to make the phone call. On the other end of the phone was Mr. Scott Drury from Alexandria VA, World Hope Intl. He congratulated us and shared with us how proud he was of our efforts and hard work. THEN HE HAD ONE MORE THING TO TELL US, the children were going to get their vehicle. Not only had we made the 400+ mile ride successfully, WE RAISED $16,000! We all let out a huge "whoop" and cheers then there were tears! We did it!

AGAIN, GOD was just in time!
From all of us!!
"I have finished the course: I have kept the faith." 2 timothy 4:7

I am just 15 years old but... my friends who came alongside to ride with me and you CAUGHT my passion! WE ALL DID IT!

What's next?! [AJ Bennett thinks we just won the Super Bowl!] We want to go to India to see the look on Dr. Devedas' and the children faces when they learn about their vehicle.

THANK YOU THANK YOU.....please keep checking our blog. We have great photos to share and more information! We are now waiting for the pledges to come in and the mail is still delivering donations! Your response was unbelievable. You can smile and know that four teenagers are very excited and pumped up that they could make a difference. Our faith is strengthened. Our lives are changed.

THANK YOU from ALL OF US
THANK YOU for all your prayers and financial support to make this happen. YOU ALL know who you are and you know that without YOU this would not have been possible. God uses people to make dreams come true. The children of Raj India have been praying as has Dr. Devedas and, THEIR prayers have been answered. OUR dream and passion has been fulfilled. The monies via pledges and donations are still coming in and being calculated at WHI. Barrett, Ben, AJ and Abby


PASSION...do you have a passion?! I do. Wait and see what God can do with this 15 year old and friends coming next year....stay tuned.

WE DID IT WE MADE IT WE DID IT...MACKINAW BRIDGE IS OUR VIEW

WE MADE IT TO MACKINAW AND MET OUR RIDING GOAL! YEAH. We do want you to know that after church/devotions on Sunday morning the SUN came out and we biked in NO RAIN. Thank you God for a safe and dry finish through the tunnel of trees to Mackinaw City.

WE HAVE NO INTERNET BUT THIS COUPLE MINUTES SO PLEASE COME BACK AND VISIT THE BLOG ON TUESDAY EVENING AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU WITH ALL OF OUR GOOD NEWS AND THE FINISH OF THE TRIP WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEO AND FUN STORIES.!!

STAY TUNED THIS JOURNEY IS NOT OVER AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED US....KEEP FOLLOWING FOR OUR REALLY BIG NEWS ABOUT THE REASON WE RODE ....YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUR FINAL NEWS ON TUESDAY WHEN WE RETURN.....

oK NO MORE INTERNET THE CLOK IS RUNNING.

BARRETT , AJ, BEN AND ABBY -----SEE YOU ALL HERE TOMORROW FOR MORE TRIP BLOGS.....

Why we are Riding Across Michigan (RAM)?

This is why we are riding across Michigan? We want to replace this broken van, with a modern vehicle for leper orphans in India.

Sunday AM FINAL RIDE in POURING RAIN Please Pray
It is pouring rain but we are PUMPED AND FIRED UP.
Please pray for us we wanted to
tell you some more this morning but our blog keeps
disappearing so this is it for the
AM! Barrett.
cycling4hope

Day 5 - Saturday - Amazing Feats by Ben "Mini McGruppen" Z Reporting in...

What Happened to Dr. Mills?



Update on Day 5 from Ben

I’m really not one to talk because well I like to do things in person but some things always pop up. Like day 3 our first chances to get great speed down some big big hills. Though the hills were hard to get up, they where worth going down. We have had many you could say highlights so far during our trip like one of my favorites last night. Kujo had taken us out for steak dinners. It turned out to be an “all you could” eat perch dinner! Yahoo! little did we know the sea gulls were also wanting a perch dinner. We had so much fun!! Thanks Kujo! Through out the trip we have gotten to know each other better and working with each other has been so much fun! And last but not least today has been a fun day and all with the effects of my blood sugar we figured out that I can become a duck, elephant and, a Mini McGruppen!
cycling4hope.blogspot.com