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player ready...When Mr. Imagination found some sandstone left by a foundry in a vacant lot on the South Side, he rubbed two pieces of the material together and discovered how soft it was. He looked around for something sharp like a stick but found only a nail, and that became his tool for turning the stone into sculptures. Because Mr. Imagination had already made a name for himself by turning bottle caps into clothing, now he had carved out another way to make unconventional art with abundant materials. He will join many other artists, including Caldecott award-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkey, at the Art Institute’s “Kaleidoscope: A Family Day.”
“KALEIDOSCOPE: A FAMILY DAY,” 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Kraft Education Center, Art Institute, Michigan Avenue and Adams Street; $7 adults, $3.50 children. 312-443-3892.
Cosmic Bowling at Brunswick Gala Lanes in Naperville takes the game of knocking down pins to new dimensions. Black light turns the bowling alley into a glow-arama. The bowling lanes, pins and bowling balls all glow in the dark and so do any bowlers wearing white clothing. A fog machine adds to the other-worldly atmosphere but an emcee keeps things earthbound with jokes and prize giveaways. The concept may be futuristic but the price for bowling in the twilight zone is definitely down-to-earth. Small bowling balls and shoes are available for pint-size players.
COSMIC BOWLING, 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesdays; 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. and 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Sundays. Fall hours begin Sept. 1. Brunswick Gala Lanes, 1515 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville. $3.25 per person. 630-355-7622.
There’s still time for one more great last splash and maybe more. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County has opened the new Whealan Pool Aquatic Center. The 68,000-square-foot center has something for everyone. A big pool has two water slides, a jungle gym kind of structure with water wheels, bubblers and water cannons, as well as lanes to swim laps. A place where little ones can wade in shallow water also has a slide and lots of things for water play. There is also a sandy beach area to make sand castles. Everything is built for fun, comfort and accessibility to the disabled.
WHEALAN POOL AQUATIC CENTER, 6200 W. Devon Ave. Free. 708-366-9420.
Kids will go head over heels playing with the new free games on Thursday nights at Navy Pier. A ride on the Aerospin will twirl in all directions as though it’s inside a gyroscope. Or kids can harness themselves into a bungee cord and see how far they can run on an inflated track before being pulled back to the starting position. They can also take a turn at a baseball game and football toss.
“PIER GAMES” are part of “Party at the Pier!” 5-8 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 28; Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Free. 312-595-PIER.
Two Little People will entertain members of Spring Hill Mall’s Kids Club in a back-to-school program. Max and Millie are actors with puppetlike, animated freckled faces who will rev children up to return to school with songs such as “Old McDonald,” “Animal Crackers” and “Rockin’ Robin.” While the Kids Club, for children under 10, already has about 6,500 members, there’s still room for more. Membership is free and includes a T-shirt.
KIDS CLUB, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Spring Hill Mall, Ill. Hwys. 31 and 72, West Dundee. Free. 847-428-2200.