“Christmastime, Apollo 8 Anniversary Events at the Museum of Science & Industry” by S.M. O’Connor

Christmas Around The World and Holidays of Lights at The Museum of Science and Industry

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

The Grand Tree in Christmas Around The World and Holidays of Lights at The Museum of Science and Industry

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Wintertime will be quite lively at the Museum of Science and Industry (M.S.I.) with the Seventy-sixth Annual Christmas Around the World and Twenty-fourth Annual Holidays of Light, , and celebrations of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission. Celebrations of the 50^th Anniversary of N.A.S.A.’s Apollo 8 mission include the M.S.I.’s first pop-up, a retro living room that takes visitors back to what it was like for millions of Americans to watch the Apollo 8 launch in their homes.

The 76^th annual Christmas Around the World and 24^th annual Holidays of Light kicks off on Thursday, November 15, 2018. Guests can explore over fifty cultural celebrations. Then, beginning in December, guests can rediscover the historic Apollo 8 mission that launched the first humans to the far side of the Moon. [The real Apollo 8 Command Module is on display in the Henry Crown Space Center.[1]] Celebrations will include the aforementioned 1960s-inspired living room pop-up and a family-friendly festival celebrating the last full moon of the year.

Figure 1 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This is the Apollo 8 Command Module in the Henry Crown Space Center, as seen on Wednesday, December 10, 2008.

Figure 2 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This is former astronaut Captain Jim Lovell, Jr. U.S. Navy (Retired) with the Apollo 8 Command Module in the Henry Crown Space Center in 2009.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light will run from Thursday, November 15, 2018 through Sunday, January 6, 2019 (the Feast of Epiphany). It is covered with Museum Entry (general admission). Explore fifty Christmas trees and holiday displays decorated by local volunteers that represent Chicago’s diverse communities and the traditions they celebrate. Each tree and display, decorated with hand-crafted Christmas tree ornaments that honor customs from around the world, encircle the fifty-five-foot-tall Grant Tree wrapped in 30,000 twinkling lights. Artificial snow also falls indoors in the Grand Rotunda in the Central Pavilion every thirty minutes. Enjoy lively performances from all corners of the globe as more than fifty groups perform in the M.S.I.’s Main Auditorium inside the West Pavilion. A full schedule will be posted online at www.msichicago.org/catw. The GATX Corporation is the sponsor of Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light.

Figure 3 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This is the Grand Tree in Christmas Around the World, as seen on Saturday, January 6, 2018, with the Transportation Gallery in the background.

Figure 4 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This is the Grand Tree in Christmas Around the World, as seen on Saturday, January 6, 2018.

Figure 5 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This girl is looking at the American Christmas tree in Christmas Around the World, on Thursday, November 16, 2017.

Figure 6 Credit: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This girl is taking a picture of a woman in front of the Hanukkah display box that is part of the Holidays of Light festival, the companion of Christmas Around the World, on Friday, January 5, 2018.

MSI After Hours: Naughty or Nice

The Second Annual MSI After Hours: Naughty or Nice on November 15^th is for adults twenty-one-years-of-age and over. A ticket purchase is required. Sip on spiked hot chocolate and snack on candy cane marshmallows while exploring Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light. Listen to DJ Rae Chardonnay, named by Chicago Reader as 2016’s best Chicago’s D.J., and let Santa Claus and Krampus decide if one has been naughty or nice. For tickets, visit www.msichicago.org/afterhours.

Moon Room 1968

Moon Room 1968 will be open from Thursday, December 6, 2018 through Sunday, January 6, 2019. This is covered by Museum Entry. Experience the mission millions of viewers witnessed from their living room. This pop-up features a 1960s-inspired living room, bringing guests to the moment of the Apollo 8 takeoff as Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders made history. One will be transported as one watches news coverage from the Apollo 8 mission, type a letter on a typewriter, and purchase exclusive, retro M.S.I. souvenirs and other nostalgic stocking-stuffers from the limited-time store. More information will be available online at www.msichicago.org/moon.

Conspiracy Series: Space

“Where do conspiracy theories come from, and what makes people susceptible to believing them?” a spokeswoman asked rhetorically. “Be a part of a provocative discussion with scientists and experts on the exploration of the science behind how conspiracy theories form, and how their appeal can shape mass opinion. This is the first of this new series, and the focus will be centered on space-themed theories including ‘the Earth is flat,’ and ‘the Moon landing was faked.’” This event will be on Thursday, December 6, 2018 in the Revival Theater in Hyde Park. Tickets will be available online at www.msichicago.org/moon.

Full Moon Fest

Full Moon Fest is on Saturday, December 22, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is included with Museum Entry. Celebrate the last full moon of 2018 with a nighttime, all-ages festival. Visitors will gaze at the brightest object in out night sky through telescopes in the Smart Park. They can get their faces painted with sparkling space patterns, learn how to make “galaxy slime,” see special live performances, and more. The entire M.S.I. will be open late to celebrate, more information will be available online at www.msichicago.org/fullmoon.

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the M.S.I. reverted to regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). On the weekend of Saturday, November 17, 2018 and Sunday, November 18, 2018, the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The M.S.I. will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22, 2018) and the First Day of Christmas (Tuesday, December 25, 2018). Extended hours (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) will be in play again from Friday, November 23, 2018 to Sunday, November 25, 2018; Saturday, December 1, 2018 and Sunday, December 2, 2018; Saturday, December 8, 2018 and Sunday, December 9, 2018; Saturday, December 15, 2018 and Sunday, December 2016; Sunday, December 23, 2018; and Wednesday, December 26, 2018 through Sunday, December 30, 2018. There will be longer hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2018. On Christmas Eve (Monday, December 24, 2018) and New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31, 2018), the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On New Year’s Day (Tuesday, January 1, 2019), the M.S.I. will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From Wednesday, January 2, 2019 through Friday, January 4, 2019, the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) will resume on Saturday, January 5, 2019. The Museum of Science and Industry regularly makes small adjustments to this schedule, so when planning a trip there, check this Webpage and the M.S.I.’s social media for updates.

EXTENDED HOURS AND EXCEPTIONS

9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Saturday, November 17, 2018 Sunday, November 18, 2018
Closed	Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22, 2018)
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Friday, November 23, 2018 Saturday, November 24, 2018 Sunday, November 25, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Saturday, December 1, 2018 Sunday, December 2, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Saturday, December 8, 2018 Sunday, December 9, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Saturday, December 15, 2018 Sunday, December 16, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.	Saturday, December 22, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Sunday, December 23, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Christmas Eve (Monday, December 24, 2018)
Closed	Christmas Day (Tuesday, December 25, 2018)
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Thursday, December 27, 2018 Friday, December 28, 2018 Saturday, December 29, 2018 Sunday, December 30, 2018
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31, 2018)
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	New Year’s Day (Tuesday, January 1, 2019)
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Wednesday, January 2, 2019 Thursday, January 3, 2019 Friday, January 4, 2019

Often stylized as the “Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago” or the “Museum of Science + Industry” the institution is located at the northern end of the Chicago Park District’s Jackson Park, on the south side of 57^th Street, between Lake Shore Drive to the east and Cornell Drive to the west, in the East Hyde Park neighborhood of the Hyde Park Community Area (Community Area #41) on the South Side of Chicago. The address is 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60637. The M.S.I. is open every day of the year with two exceptions: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On most days, it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but during peak periods it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Website is https://www.msichicago.org/ and the phone number is (773) 684-1414.

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Congratulations Mark and Becky!

ENDNOTE

[1] The Apollo 8 Command Module was home to astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Junior; and William Anders during their lunar orbital mission in 1968.

The Field Museum of Natural History in March, 2018

The Field Museum of Natural History’s entrance pavilions are at opposite ends of Stanley Field Hall, which has a north-south axis. The two porticos (porches) are each reached by two successive flights of stairs.

Both porticos of The Field Museum of Natural History are flanked by two small porches, which each have two caryatids (columns in the shape of maidens). On the facade, the wings are adorned with a colonnade of attached fluted Ionic columns. The building’s fluted Ionic columns have volutes (spiral-scroll-shaped crowns).

Each portico of The Field Museum is tetrastyle in antis with double-ranked fluted Ionic columns capped by volutes. An entablature crowned by a pediment rests atop the columns. The continuous frieze in each case is relatively plain. The wave-themed acroteria that crown the pediments are borrowed from the Palace of a Fine Arts, which housed The Field Museum until 1920 and now houses the Museum of Science and Industry.

The Field Museum of Natural History isn’t “just” a museum. Visitors can watch scientists at work through windows at the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice DNA Discovery Center’s Pritzker Laboratory.

Mrs. Charles (Laura) Schweppe, a daughter and co-heiress of John Graves Shedd, the former partner of Marshall Field I who succeeded him as president of Marshall Field & Company, and who, under the guidance of Stanley Field founded the Shedd Aquarium, donated an exhibit of 100 bronze sculptures by Malvina Hoffman to The Field Museum. They represent every race, nation, and tribe in the human family (more or less). On January 9, 1933, the first group, Unity of Man, went on display.

In addition to the four figures Henry Hering (1874-1949) made for the corners of Stanley Field Hall, he also made the twelve plaster round lion head shield escutcheons that line it. These are replicas of the marble round lion head shield escutcheon he made for the pediment of the facade of The Field Museum of Natural History.

Christmas at Chicago’s Union Station

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This is a POLAR EXPRESS display in the Great Hall of Union Station.

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This is a closeup of the THE POLAR EXPRESS steam locomotive mock-up in the Great Hall of Chicago’s Union Station.

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This is the headlamp of THE POLAR EXPRESS steam locomotive mock-up in the Great Hall of Chicago’s Union Station.

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This Union Station Company rail car loaded with super-size gifts is part of THE POLAR EXPRESS mock-up in the Great Hall of Chicago’s Union Station.

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This is a Christmas tree in the Great Hall of Chicago’s Union Station.

Credit: S.M. O’Connor Caption: This Christmas tree in the Great Hall of Union Station in downtown Chicago has emblems of Amtrak, Metra, and historic railroad companies whose routes they now operate like Burlington.

Cinemas sculptor Alfonso Iannelli (1888-1965) Helped Design

This is the Pickwick Theatre Building, an Art Deco movie palace and office building erected in downtown Park Ridge, Illinois in 1928.

The architects were Roscoe Harold Zook and William F. McCaughey. Sculptor Alfonso Iannelli, who also worked on the Adler Planetarium, contributed to this building.

In recent years, the Vlahakis family, who’ve owned the building for 50 years, have been able to turn the building into a multiplex by adding smaller theaters around the original auditorium. The latest one, with a screen four times the size of the one in the auditorium, will open in time to screen INFINITY WARS in May, if all goes well.

The Catlow Movie Theater is a cinema that opened in downtown Barrington, Illinois in 1927. The Tudor Revival style of architecture is not confined to the facade of the cinema. As with the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, Illinois, sculptor Alfonso Iannelli (1888-1965) played a role in the design and decoration of The Catlow Movie Theater.