Helping autistic children | SeacoastOnline.com

Helping autistic children | SeacoastOnline.com

Abuse Report At Rochester HS May Not Have Followed Kyle’s Law « CBS Minnesota

Abuse Report At Rochester HS May Not Have Followed Kyle’s Law « CBS Minnesota

Opening Night Arts Group

Although I'm posting about a holiday show after the holidays, it's never too late to celebrate progress.  Opening Night Arts Group is a theatre company in the South Suburbs of Chicago that donates its proceeds primarily to charity; benefitting a different charity with each show. Sean joined his father and I performing in “Scrooge & Marley” in December.  This is an annual production and the majority of the adult actors reprise their roles every year, so only a few rehearsals are scheduled.  I play Mrs. Cratchit every year and my husband usually plays Mr. Fezziwig and Old Joe, but this year played Marley, who is the narrator in this version.

 Sean had three lines this time around.  All his lines were such that someone could prompt him as he was entering the stage or appropriately ad-lib a prompt. 

 I was concerned initially about the intimate setting of the theater at Trinity College – it is not only small, but also in the round.  I recommended to our friends and family to sit further back.  The stage area is at floor level, not raised.  The front row is literally a few feet away from the actors.  I was afraid he would see someone he knew and break character by either running to them or talking to them. J

 New group and new theater for him, but as usual, the theatre kids were accepting and welcoming.  As usual, his progress never ceases to amaze me.  The arts are truly a beautiful thing for ASD kids.

 

Buddy Night at Brother Rice for Special Needs Kids

Buddy night at Brother Rice on the South Side of Chicago for children with special needs, this Friday, February 15th. Click this link for more information:
http://www.brotherrice.org/br-mcauley-buddy-night

Prince William and Kate Middleton's journey to the Caribbean's hidden gem, Mustique. - helloonline.com

Who in Chicago wouldn't want to jet to Mustique right now? :)

Prince William and Kate Middleton's journey to the Caribbean's hidden gem, Mustique. - helloonline.com

Cavatappi

My husband and I had the rare luxury of a date night and went to Cavatappi at 3020 West 95^th Street in Evergreen Park, Illinois. (http://www.cavatappirestaurant.com/)  In a previous incarnation, this restaurant was called Mulchrone’s – Mulchrone’s was where we had our wedding reception almost nine years ago.

 

I went to Cavatappi for a theatre cast party about a year ago.  We had the entire front of the restaurant to ourselves and I enjoyed the food, served banquet-style.  I didn’t drink that night, but they had a comprehensive wine list and my friends enjoyed the chocolate martinis.

 

On our date night, there was a wine tasting going on at the restaurant.  It appears they have a wine tasting about once a month.  It was not separate from the dining room – patrons were encouraged to try some wine, then the sommelier would come around and ask for feedback and to choose another sample for the guests.

 

The meal we had was perfect, no exaggeration.  Italian food is not usually my first choice when we got out because I make a lot of Italian food at home.  When we go out, I usually prefer either something exotic or dishes that are so complicated to make, I wouldn’t bother making them at home.  However, there’s something to be said for simple dishes done very well with fresh, quality ingredients.  That was the case at Cavatappi.  Our salads were perfect – my husband had a basic house salad with a balsamic vinaigrette and my salad was mixed greens with thinly sliced red and white beets, big pieces of goat cheese, almonds and a Dijon vinaigrette.  We ordered basic entrees that were done very well – I had ravioli and my husband ordered lasagna.  For dessert, I had tiramisu and my husband had chocolate chip cheesecake, both fantastic.

 

I may bring my special needs kids to this restaurant.  There are items on the menu my kids would eat, bread, fried things, chicken, cheesy pasta, dessert (there are gluten-free options for those who go that route). It’s not a super-quiet restaurant, which would be a good thing, and there’s not much in the way of breakables for the kids to knock over.  The tables are also far apart enough that I wouldn’t have to worry about the kids grabbing things off other people’s tables or knocking their drinks over. J

 

Cavatappi

My husband and I had the rare luxury of a date night and went to Cavatappi at 3020 West 95^th Street in Evergreen Park, Illinois. (http://www.cavatappirestaurant.com/)  In a previous incarnation, this restaurant was called Mulchrone’s – Mulchrone’s was where we had our wedding reception almost nine years ago.

 

I went to Cavatappi for a theatre cast party about a year ago.  We had the entire front of the restaurant to ourselves and I enjoyed the food, served banquet-style.  I didn’t drink that night, but they had a comprehensive wine list and my friends enjoyed the chocolate martinis.

 

On our date night, there was a wine tasting going on at the restaurant.  It appears they have a wine tasting about once a month.  It was not separate from the dining room – patrons were encouraged to try some wine, then the sommelier would come around and ask for feedback and to choose another sample for the guests.

 

The meal we had was perfect, no exaggeration.  Italian food is not usually my first choice when we got out because I make a lot of Italian food at home.  When we go out, I usually prefer either something exotic or dishes that are so complicated to make, I wouldn’t bother making them at home.  However, there’s something to be said for simple dishes done very well with fresh, quality ingredients.  That was the case at Cavatappi.  Our salads were perfect – my husband had a basic house salad with a balsamic vinaigrette and my salad was mixed greens with thinly sliced red and white beets, big pieces of goat cheese, almonds and a Dijon vinaigrette.  We ordered basic entrees that were done very well – I had ravioli and my husband ordered lasagna.  For dessert, I had tiramisu and my husband had chocolate chip cheesecake, both fantastic.

 

I may bring my special needs kids to this restaurant.  There are items on the menu my kids would eat, bread, fried things, chicken, cheesy pasta, dessert (there are gluten-free options for those who go that route). It’s not a super-quiet restaurant, which would be a good thing, and there’s not much in the way of breakables for the kids to knock over.  The tables are also far apart enough that I wouldn’t have to worry about the kids grabbing things off other people’s tables or knocking their drinks over. J

 

See My Ability, Not My Disability Event at Oak Lawn Children's Museum

See my ABILITY, not my disability.

Event at Oak Lawn Children's Museum
5100 Museum Drive, Oak Lawn, IL
(west of Cicero, east of Central, right by the Oak Lawn Metra station)
Friday, March 1, 2013 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
$10.00

Presented by I Am Who I Am -
more info:  www.iam-whoiam.com

All welcome for a night of celebration, awareness and acceptance!
 

Trunk Show at 10 S. Riverside - benefit for Hadley School for the Blind

I have often spent more money than I should when these vendors come to visit my office lobby - very cute jewelry, purses and scarves - reasonably priced - and this time, a portion of the proceeds are going to the Hadley School for the Blind.

 

 

Valentine's Trunk Show

Hosted by Embellishment Designs

Monday, February 11th

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

10 S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606

(Lobby)

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Hadley School for the Blind.

Coyotes try, fail to snack on suburban dogs

Coyotes try, fail to snack on suburban dogs

Merlin's Magic Wand Days Super Hero Event at Legoland Chicago

On February 22^nd, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago will stay open late exclusively for children with special needs and their families, offering programming and access to our Super Heroes Event to entertain LEGO^® enthusiasts of all abilities.

Merlin’s Magic Wand Days Super Hero Event includes:

• Super Hero-themed costume contest for children and adults alike;
• Scavenger Hunt for lost Super Hero items in our Jungle Expedition attraction;
• Creative building challenges lead by LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s expert builders;
• An exclusive “lights-on” viewing of the 11 minute 4D movie “Clutch Powers”;
• Kingdom Quest Laser Ride;
• A designated quiet room for guests to rest between their LEGO adventures;
• And more

Merlin’s Magic Wand Days Super Heroes Event will be held on February 22^nd from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Tickets are $10 per person. $1 from each admission is donated to Merlin’s Magic Wand, an international charitable trust that provides magical experiences at Merlin Entertainments attractions around the world for children with disabilities and serious illnesses. For more information about Merlin’s Magic Wand, please visit http://merlinsmagicwand.org/.