TheRoadScholar

Chicago’s Bald Eagles Hatch

TheRoadScholar — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:02:03 +0000

Palos Township, IL–Chicago Blackhawks aren’t the only celebrated birds in town. A pair of American bald eagles recently built a nest in a cottonwood tree in the a southwest suburban part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and are raising a clutch of hatchlings there. It marks the first time in more than 100 [...]

Cider Sipping in Southwest Michigan

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:38:13 +0000

Coloma, Michigan–Grandpa’s Cider Mill temps visitors with free samples, a window to the cider milling process, and tasty baked goods as well. Just off I-94, Grandpa’s Cider Mill sits at the edge of Friday Road surrounded by groves of apple trees. It’s open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Outside, check out the collection of [...]

Cardinals Sing to Spring!

TheRoadScholar — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:27:57 +0000

Highwood, IL–Along the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, look for cardinals, red-wing blackbirds, and robins, among other songbirds. All sing their welcome to the warm weather.

Spring Forward!

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:15:19 +0000

Highwood, IL–Crocuses bloom, robins peck for worms, bright red cardinals sing from the trees. With temperatures in the high 60s and blue skies overhead, spring has sprung. In addition to being a great time to get out and walk, now is the time to check out the birds. They’re easier to see in the [...]

A Goldberg Day at the Art Institute of Chicago

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:01:44 +0000

Marina City. By Corydalus' Photostream/flickr

Chicago, IL–Fans of Chicago architecture, time is running out on the Bertrand Goldberg exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. It ends on January 15. The architect of Marina City (those iconic tubular towers built from 1959-1967), Goldberg designed hospitals, housing projects, schools, houses, and even chairs and tables during [...]

Dr. Livingstone’s Diary, I Presume?

TheRoadScholar — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:14:14 +0000

Photo courtesy UCLA Livingstone Library

Los Angeles, CA–If you’ve ever wanted to see the actual handwriting of famed explorer Dr. David Livingstone, your wish is about to come true, thanks to the University of California-Los Angeles Digital Library Program. The library published the restored version of Livingstone’s 1871 diary, in which he [...]

Polar Days at Northerly Island

TheRoadScholar — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:42:43 +0000

Chicago, IL–The seventh annual Polar Days at Northerly Island runs from noon to 4 p.m. today, and it looks like the cold weather arrived here just in time. Don’t worry if you can’t make it this afternoon, as there will be repeats of the Siberian huskie visits, ice sculpting, and more on January 21 and [...]

Garfield Park Conservatory Fern Room Reopens

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:19:05 +0000

Chicago, IL– On the far-west side of Chicago, the Garfield Park Conservatory rises like a sparkling regal gem. Built in 1905, it houses 4.5 acres of plants under its glass roof and outside. Sadly, one of its dearest treasures, the famed Fern Room, shattered under a 2011 late June hailstorm. Yesterday, the Fern Room, designed by landscape [...]

Backroads of Northeast Germany

TheRoadScholar — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:40:55 +0000

Twist, Germany–Geology and geography dominate life here. Twist, on the Dutch/Germany border between Dusseldorf and Hamburg, means “disputed border” in German. First settled in the late 1700s, it was a challenging marshy terrain only somewhat relieved when a North/South Canal was built in the late 1800s. The Twist bog was once the largest area for cultivating [...]

Painted Pumpkins in Highland Park

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:50:45 +0000