An evening out

Dad and the kids headed to Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier after dinner, when it was free for all. That's always the case on Thursday nights, but we weren't the least bit impressed with the place on our previous visits and hadn't bothered to go back.

But there are two new exhibits - including Play It Safe, which opened today - that looked worth trying, and Mom worked an early shift and was able to meet us there.

And lo and behold, those two exhibits, which are the bulk of a revamped first floor, significantly improved the experience.

Fort, which unfortunately is temporary, is a large room loaded with household stuff - couches, chairs, doors, storage pieces, a stairway, sheets and blankets and more - to build forts. It's pretty sweet.



Play It Safe is about fire safety - or fire fighting. There's a replica fire truck to climb into and onto, a command center with gear for kids to wear and a communication system that connects to the truck, a fire pole to slide down, a fire hydrant, hoses, and a mock bedroom-on-fire where kids can practice getting low and going.






Levynn also tackled this for the first time: