Thirty-Eight Illinois Museums Celebrate 'Museum Day Live!' This Year

Free museums on Sept. 29 range from local history to the entire solar system.

The Smithsonian Museums – which has museums all over the country, in addition to their most famous ones in Washington D.C. – are free every single day, which allows patrons to experience a world-class museum no matter their budget. Once a year, however, the Smithsonian hosts ‘Museum Day Live!’, in which participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone who has registered for a Museum Day Ticket online. This year's 'Museum Day Live!' is Saturday, Sept. 29. Please note that each ticket is for two people, with one ticket allowed per household. Many museums regularly give free admission to children, so call ahead if you want to bring the whole family. Register online for your free Museum Day Ticket here. While there …

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Photo Gallery: Lake Bluff

Vliet Museum Hosts First-Ever Home Tour

Visit some of this holiday season's most enchanting historic houses in Lake Bluff.

Last Sunday's first-ever Christmas Home Tour exceeded attendance expectations, raising more than $6,000 for the Vliet Center for Lake Bluff History, which hosted the event. Participants embarked upon a self-guided journey through the decades, beginning in the late 1800s, of five Lake Bluff homes fabulously decorated by local merchants for the holidays. The event extended to a second day activities planned for the "It's a Wonderful Life . . .  in Lake Bluff" celebration. 

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Photo Gallery: Lake Bluff Basks in Glow of Holiday Sights & Sounds

Annual tree-lighting ceremony opened the holiday season.

Lake Bluff Villagers couldn't help but surrender to that old adage, reinforced by the holly-lined banners and vintage photos posted throughout downtown reminding us, "It's a Wonderful Life."  In a scene straight from the movies, downtown Lake Bluff bustled with Christmas carolers serenading in a daylong celebration leading up to this past Saturday's annual tree-lighting ceremony at the gazebo. On Saturday, 60044 definitely lived up to its holiday-campaign moniker: the North Pole of the North Shore. Earlier in the day, Old Man Winter blanketed the streets with a fresh coat of fluffy white snow. The Christmas in the air mixed with the aroma of hot cocoa, sweet apple cider, and spice-scented candles. Jack Frost nipped but couldn't deter the …

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Cindy Barrymore

8:13 pm on Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Thanks Nikki! Your check is in the mail -- LOL! To my wonderful editor, Jim, I will take my corner office now, overlooking the lake ... :-)   more ›