Chicago Loop Alliance announces festive #LoopHolidays staycation giveaway and Holiday Hub programming schedule at LoopChicago.com/Holidays

Now through December 24, 2013

 Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) announced November 25, 2013 its festive #LoopHolidays staycation giveaway and the schedule of free family-friendly events happening at its Holiday Hub—a temporary winter cottage complete with festive decor, open on the Pedway level of Block Thirty Seven, 108 N. State Street, now through Dec. 24, 2013, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each Sunday (closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28). The Holiday Hub features activities to warm hands and hearts, including a #LoopHolidays information center, story corner, arts and crafts, complimentary hotbeverages and pop-up programming from beloved Chicago institutions such as Goodman Theatre, Ballet Chicago and Christkindlmarket. A full schedule of special events is listed below and available at LoopChicago.com/Holidays.

CLA welcomes Chicago residents and visitors to tweet their holiday traditions using #LoopHolidays to be automatically entered to win a staycation featuring: a Macy’s gift card, Berghoff Restaurant gift card, one night’s stay at the Palmer House and tickets to Broadway In Chicago’s presentation of Phantom of the Opera, among other items. Winners will be announced Monday, December 23.
 Holiday Hub programming schedule:
Note: The Holiday Hub is open every day now through Dec. 24, as per above. This is a schedule of additional special programs.

Friday, November 29 (Black Friday)
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
1 – 2 pm: A performance by Brass Variety, a traditional German brass band

Saturday, November 30
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
1 – 2 pm: A performance by Brass Variety, a traditional German brass band

Sunday, December 1
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: An appearance and reading by a Sugarplum Fairy from Ballet Chicago's Nutcracker
1 – 2 pm: A performance by Brass Variety, a traditional German brass band

Saturday, December 7
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: A performance by musicians from Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol
1 – 2 pm: A performance from Chicago Chamber Choir’s An Old-Fashioned American Christmas

Sunday, December 8
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: A performance from Provision Theatre's A Christmas Memory and The Thanksgiving Visitor
1 – 2 pm: A performance by Emanuel Congregation Youth Choir

Saturday, December 14
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: Art demonstration by Bead Town

Sunday, December 15
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: Art demonstration by Bead Town
1 – 2 pm: An appearance and reading by Christkindlmarket's Christkind

Saturday, December 21
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: Cut paper snowflake making with artist Liz Rosenberg
1 – 2 pm: A performance by Artemis Singers

Sunday, December 22
11 am – 4 pm: Holiday photobooth by Smilebooth
11 am – 12 pm: An appearance and reading by Christkindlmarket's Christkind​


Chicago Loop Alliance’s Holiday Hub  is made possible through the generous support of the Berghoff Restaurant and Block Thirty Seven.


Chicago Loop Alliance creates, manages and promotes high-performing urban experiences, attracting people and investment to the Loop. For more information, please visit www.LoopChicago.com

Gorilla Born at Brookfield Zoo

The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is happy to announce the birth of a female western lowland gorilla. The infant, born to 18-year-old Koola, was born in the early morning hours on November 4. The two can be seen on exhibit in Tropic World: Africa along with Koola’s daughter Kamba, 9; Koola’s mother Binti, 25; and JoJo, 33, the sire of the infant.

A newborn gorilla weighs between 4 and 5 pounds at birth. As the baby grows, she will develop thicker hair and a white “tail” tuft. The infant has a strong grip and will cling to Koola’s abdomen. At 3 months of age, zoo guests will be able to observe the baby riding on Koola’s back. About a month later, she will start to sample small pieces of food, however, nursing will continue until she is 3 to 4 years old. Also, at 4 months of age she will start to explore on her own but will stay within arm’s reach of mom.

JoJo arrived at Brookfield Zoo from Lincoln Park Zoo in May 2012 based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan. A Species Survival Plan is a cooperative population management and conservation program for select species in accredited North American zoos and aquariums. Each plan manages the breeding of a species to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. According to the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan, JoJo is one of the most genetically valuable males in the zoo population. Currently, there are 342 western lowland gorillas in 53 accredited North American zoos.

“We are extremely pleased that JoJo has successfully assumed the role as the silverback or leader of Brookfield Zoo’s gorilla group and has made a positive impact since his arrival,” said Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society. “This infant represents an important contribution to the gorilla population in North American zoos. We hope that when zoo guests see the infant and her family members they will be inspired to care for this critically endangered species.”

            Gorillas live in social groups composed of one adult male, several adult females, juveniles, and infants. As they reach sexual maturity, both males and females typically leave the group in which they were born. They either establish a new group or join an existing one.

            Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat destruction, primarily from logging, disease such as the Ebola virus, the illegal pet trade, and poaching for bushmeat. It is not known how many western lowland gorillas survive in their native West Africa (the forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Congo, and Angola). Some recent estimates have been between 90,000 and 110,000 individuals, but new surveys are needed to determine whether or not this figure is exaggerated.

The Chicago Zoological Society inspires conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for Brookfield Zoo's innovative, naturalistic, multispecies exhibits and for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. For further information, visit www.CZS.org.

9 Tips for Controlling the Candy Chaos

Halloween candy and other sweets can get out-of-hand -- for you and your kids. Here's how to limit the sugar high.Halloween candy and other sweets can get out-of-hand -- for you and your kids. Here's how to limit the sugar high.


Halloween is all about the candy, right? While that may be true, it's still important to remember that too much of a good thing is, well, not such a good thing.
Here are nine tips from Mimi Wu, MS, RD, a nutrition information specialist with Nutrition.gov, and Dr. Warren Brill, president of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, for how you can manage the candy in your home -- during Halloween and the rest of the year. If your nanny or babysitter is taking your kids trick-or-treating, share these tips with her/him.

1. Fill Bellies
Before going trick-or-treating, feed kids a hearty snack or dinner to ensure their bellies stay full while trekking around the neighborhood. Make the festivities extra special by serving up a favorite (hopefully nutritious) meal. "This will help ensure that [they] fill up on something healthy, and be less likely to overindulge when confronted with a tray full of treats," says Wu.

2. Stay Informed
Not all Halloween candy is the same. If you and your kids are going to indulge, learn what the best choices are.
Experiment with organic candy products this year. Many companies, such as YumEarth, now offer options that taste great and are better for you.

3. Choose Wisely
And controlling how much sugar kids get isn't as important as controlling what kind of sugar they get and what form it comes in.Dr. Brill recommends choosing candy or sweets that are eaten quickly, rather than something that stays in the mouth. "The important thing with sweets is how long the sugar sits in the mouth," he says. "The sugar turns into acid and demineralizes teeth." So forego the lollipop or lifesaver, and offer a Hershey's Kiss or peanut butter cup.

4. Set Expectations
Kids (and parents!) get very excited on Halloween and it's easy to overindulge. Set ground rules beforehand. What's allowed during trick-or-treating, when you get home and the days after? Have a plan, so it's not a free-for-all. "Let him know that he will have an opportunity to eat treats at a certain time (i.e. after dinner, as a snack), how much of it (i.e. two pieces of candy, one mini-cupcake), and that he can choose what he would like to eat," suggests Wu. "This helps to teach him how to prioritize his preferences."Or you could just tell your kids that you ate all their Halloween candy!

5. Savor Treats
Just because kids get a lot of candy during trick-or-treating, at a party or during a holiday season, doesn't mean that it all has to be eaten at once. Stretch the stash so everyone can enjoy their treasure for a little while longer.

6. Drink Water
Water is not only important for hydration, but also protecting your teeth. When your kids are enjoying sugaring foods (like Halloween candy!), give them water to wash it down. "Water will help [kids] feel full and prolong the amount of time it takes to eat the treat, possibly leading to him eating less of it," says Wu. It also helps rinse sugar away from teeth.

7. Be a Good Role Model
Children follow in the footsteps of their parents and caregivers. Limiting your kids' sugar intake is great, but it'll be useless if they see you constantly slipping your handy into the candy jar. But if you make healthy choices and reduce sweets, your children are bound to do the same. "If you are hosting [a Halloween party], serve fun treats that are still nutritious, such as fruit kabobs, fruit and yogurt parfaits, and fruits and vegetables with healthy and fun dips, or smaller portions of popular treats, such as mini cupcakes or doughnut holes." Check out healthy eating advice and recipes from Care.com, Nutrition.gov and the USDA.

8. Visit the Dentist
If your child hasn't been to the dentist in a while (or at all yet!), this is a great time to make an appointment -- while candy is on the brain. The earlier dental care is started, the less likely serious problems are to emerge. "As soon as a child gets teeth, they need to see a dentist," says Dr. Brill. Find a pediatric dentist who can help your little one develop good dental practices at home.

9. Don't Stress
Childhood and experiences like trick-or-treating are meant to be enjoyed. "Remember that one day or even a few days of indulging in sweets will not cause long-term damage to your child's health," says Wu. "It is his overall pattern of eating that makes the greatest impact. If he is making healthy choices the majority of the time and staying active, then you can rest assured that he can indeed have his cake and eat it too (in moderation, of course)!" 

Jillian Amodio is a Contributor for Care.com, the largest online care destination in the world.