Get to Know Four Star Family Cyclery

by Maria ChambersApril 1, 2022

Family biking . . . limitless fun, but extremely overwhelming at the start, especially for city dwellers. This is why we’re introducing you to Four Star Family Cyclery bike rentals. Whether you want to purchase or borrow an insanely fun cargo bike, they’re here to show you the simplicity of life by bike in a way that removes the intimidation factor. Read on and confidently hit the streets with Four Star Family Cyclery.

Four Star Cyclery’s Mission

This local mom-owned business, launched by Elsbeth Cool, rolled into Logan Square with a mission of providing innovative and functional urban transportation for families. Four Star Cyclery knows those first rides for city parents can be a bit unnerving. As a result, they want to help parents imagine and experience what life with a family bicycle can be by offering flexible rentals of the best cycling products on the market. For those who are already comfortable with the idea, or renters who fall in love, you also have the option to purchase.

Four Star Cyclery’s Offerings

family bike rentals in chicago, biking in chicago, family biking in chicago, biking resources for families, where to rent a bike in chicago, buy a family bike in chicago — Liveside Media via Four Star Family Cyclery

Four Star operates on a concierge service model. This means they offer consultations to assist parents in selecting which bike setup and accompanying accessories best meet their unique needs and budget. Also included is one-on-one coaching sessions to acclimate riders to large cargo bikes and navigating urban streets with young riders. Since they know this is a financial commitment, they allow a test ride before investing. They also have a team of trained mechanics who can make house calls for basic service needs . . . selling point numero uno for anyone who's had to stuff a large bike in the back of an SUV for service.

The Rentals

Cargo bikes are no small change, so you're encouraged to give them a go before dropping the dough. Check out their website to scope out the rental options. All bikes come equipped with locks, lights and there are helmets available for the whole family.

Photo: Kidical Mass

Become a Part of the Biking Community

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Elsbeth also co-founded a very active grassroots community group called Chicago Family Biking, which organizes family-focused events, like Kidical Mass rides, advocates for safer streets and offers educational resources for families interested in biking. The Educational section of their website includes information on choosing a bike helmet, Chicago bike maps, riding with children and more. To get involved now, follow their Facebook page to stay on top of scheduled events.

Four Star Family Cyclery
Logan Square
Online: fourstarfamilycyclery.com

— Maria Chambers

Unless otherwise noted, photos provided courtesy of Liveside Media via Four Star Family Cyclery

Disney World’s Star Wars Hotel Is Finally Accepting Reservations This Month

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 5, 2021

It’s been several years since Disney World announced plans for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. After several special sneak peaks like photos and a trailer, the time has nearly come to book that outer space adventure.

That’s right, starting Thur. Oct. 28, you can book that epic vacation of your dreams! To get all the deets on this immersive experience, keep reading.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, guests will arrive and board at an appointed date and time. Then they’ll proceed to spend the next two days in a fully-immersive Star Wars universe experience where they can take on character roles in their own story.

Guests will enter a Launch Pod with windows where they’ll watch space zoom past them as they make the jump to hyperspace and arrive at the Halcyon. Once they board the starcruiser every window they encounter, including the ones in cabins, will display a view of deep space outside, with changing spacescapes as the Halcyon moves through the galaxy.

The two-day stay aboard the ship will involve a multi-day role playing story in which guests will be able to engage in experiences like wielding a lightsaber while facing off against a training remote, operating the ships defense systems on the bridge and exploring the hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship. Guests will also make a planet-side excursion to the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu during a visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney has announced that departures to the starcruiser will launch in the Spring of 2022, but you’re probably here for the real deets: the price. First, it’s important to note that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is not just a hotel, it’s a fully immersive experience with tons of perks.

Prices include lodging in a cabin or suite, all food and most non-alcoholic beverages, valet parking, entry into Disney’s Hollywood Studios plus one quick-service meal within the park. That being said, prices will start at $4,809 for two guests per cabin, $5,299 for two adults and one child and $5,999 for three adults and one child.

Who’s ready to head to a galaxy far, far away? Head to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser’s website starting Oct. 28 to book your stay.

—Shahrzad Warkentin & Karly Wood

All photos: Disney /Lucasfilm

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Why I Should Get a Say About Raising Your Children

By Janet Coburn

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 14, 2020

Photo: bst2012

I know that childless people (of which I am one) like to complain about how parents are raising their kids. I feel confident in saying that virtually every parent has had the experience of going out in public and being chastised for your children’s manners and behavior, your discipline, or the latest theories of child-raising. (Or for that matter, the good ol’ theories of child-raising.)

You’ve heard it all, from praise of Dr. Spock to “Dr. Spock is the root of all evil”; from “those kids could do with a good spanking” to “spanking is child abuse”; from “children should be seen and not heard” to “you’re stifling their creativity.”

The automatic reaction is, “You don’t have children, so you don’t know what it’s like.” And that statement is entirely true.

I don’t – and shouldn’t – have a thing to say about discipline, behavior, and manners (although I do wish your children wouldn’t fingerpaint with the salsa at a Mexican restaurant, especially when it’s at our table and you’ve assured me that the children know how to behave in a restaurant, to choose one example not completely at random).

Unless I see your child actually pocketing the server’s tip or harming an animal, I will keep my big mouth shut. And if I do see those things, I will do my best to respond in a polite, calm, and constructive manner.

What I can’t stand by and see without commenting is children not receiving a proper education. Even though I don’t have children, I still care deeply about – and will act upon – my notion of what is good for your children in school.

Part of this is selfish, I will admit. Your children will be the workers of their generation who will be affecting the quality of life for my generation. I don’t want to be governed by politicians who don’t understand civics, treated by doctors who don’t know the facts about human reproduction, or “informed” by scientists who have not had a chance to encounter the varied opinions of their field.

I also want my health aides, restaurant servers, mechanics, computer programmers, hair stylists, tour guides, garment workers – all workers – to be able at least to read and write basic English and do basic math. This is not entirely selfish – workers who do not have basic literacy and numeracy skills are more likely to be cheated by their employers and less able to negotiate the treacherous paths of bureaucracy that every American, without exception, must deal with. I want these things for children with disabilities as well, or at the very least the presence of well-educated aides and advocates.

For that matter, I want some of your children to grow up to be painters, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, athletes, craftspeople, writers, and animators who will make my future richer and more sustaining as I age.

In order to achieve these things, I have a vested interest in the education system. Just because I have no school-aged children – or any children at all – does not mean I should keep away from school boards, community volunteer programs, decision-making bodies, etc. I will support good education issues with my tax dollars and my votes. I will oppose any that limit a child’s access to good-quality, thorough, well-informed, factual, adequately funded, modern education.

I want your children to be smart, motivated, curious, skilled, artistic, problem-solving, conscientious, well-adjusted, healthy, helpful, effective, competent, confident adults, both for my sake and theirs.

The best way for me to contribute to that is to support, fund, and, yes, influence both the local and national system of education. I will help all you parents who want the same things for your children, and I will oppose those who settle for second best (or worse, given the international statistics).

Give me a well-educated world of your grown-up children and I’ll even overlook the salsa fingerpainting.

Do you have a story to share with our readers? We want to hear it! Sign up for our Spoke Contributor Network and start submitting your writing today.

Janet Coburn

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.

Teach Your Baby Physics, Math & More with This New App

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 30, 2020

You are spending so much time at home with your baby due to the pandemic. Without mommy and me music classes, story time and infant swim lessons parents are looking for new ways to engage their little ones. Based on the latest infant cognitive development research, infantio, an iOS app & online streaming service designed to stimulate infants’ minds from the get-go, releases today in the App Store and at infant.io.

Designed to stimulate infants’ minds from the get-go, this series of high-contrast animations capitalizes on the fact that babies are born with an innate expectation of how the physical world behaves, as well as the capacity to keep track of quantities and perform basic arithmetic. Simple puzzles, patterns, counting exercises, and mechanics demonstrations are designed to captivate the tiniest thinkers without overstimulating them.

The infantio app offers two modes, stimulate and soothe, and an included session timer to help parents track and manage screen time. infantio’s animations include age-appropriate patterns and puzzles as well as physics and math demonstrations. An included session timer helps parents track and manage screen time, while a soothe mode pairs the animations with calming, classical music to help babies and their parents unwind and relax.

infantio is compatible with iPhones and iPads and is available now for free download in the App Store. The animations are also streaming on infantio.io.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash

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Your Guide to the New & Improved Space Needle

by Jeff ToteyDecember 5, 2018

Standing at 605 feet tall, the Space Needle has always been a spectacular sight for both visitors and Seattleites alike, but with its latest $100 million renovation, it looks better than ever! Sure, the Needle has been around since 1962 and you’re probably thinking ,”been there, done that,” but wait until you see what they’ve done with the place and the view. A whole new experience awaits you, and we have all the deets you need to know plus more on the epic climb to the top of the Needle with Base 2 Space. Read on!

photo: Suraj Joshee via Space Needle Facebook page

Arriving at Atmos
The top of the Needle is now referred to as Atmos and includes three levels: the 500-foot observation level (with the world’s first revolving glass floor), the 510-foot Ring Level (with less spectacular but still important new restrooms) and the 520-foot observation level (with both indoor and outdoor open-air viewing). Connecting all three is a new grand staircase. The Oculus Stairs are two half-moon shaped staircases built from steel, wood and glass. At the base of the stairs sits the Oculus, a 19 foot by 11 foot glass floor that gives a unique view of the elevators and counterweights.

photo: Marcy Grantor

Skyrising Selfies
On the 520-foot level you’ll immediately notice one of the biggest changes to the Needle. Gone is the metal security “cage” that used to surround the Observation Deck. It has been replaced with open-air glass walls providing uninhibited 360-degree views. All around the deck you’ll find 24 glass “Skyriser” benches that lean back away from the needle. If you dare, take a seat, lean back and imagine what it would be like to be floating high above the ground (selfies are encouraged from this unique angle!). Inside the indoor observation level, you’ll find the Atmos Café offering beverages and light bites.

photo: Marcy Grantor

Around the Loupe
Located on the 500 foot level is “The Loupe” which is the world’s first and only revolving glass floor giving you amazing downward views of Seattle while also revealing the mechanics of what makes the rotating floor turn. The Loupe makes a full rotation every 45 minutes, and while two-thirds of the floor actually turns, the center third of the floor stays still. While little ones might not want to look down, you can relax knowing that the 37-ton glass floor is made from 10 layers (yep, you read that right!) of structural glass. And if that isn’t enough to settle your nerves, you will be happy to know that the Atmos Wine Bar can be found on this too. Well played, Space Needle!

photo: Space Needle

Other Features to Make Note Of
The new Space Needle comes with a few extra special touches to make your experience all the more memorable without any extra fees. These include:

1 Multiple professional digital photos including the Skyhigh Selfie and the Zoomie.

2. An interactive area that includes a digital globe and a wall of memories featuring photos through the years.

3. The Stratos Virtual Reality experience where you can feel what it would be like to bungee jump off the Needle!

photo: Melinda Wong

Be Sure to Exit Through the Gift Shop
Though you don’t have to, your visit to the Space Needle wouldn’t be complete without stopping at the Spacebase Gift Shop. Not only will you find Needle-themed souvenirs, but you’ll also find apparel, drinkware, food items, jewelry, toys, books and more. If you need a Seattle-themed gift or unique kid’s birthday present, the Spacebase Gift Shop has you covered.

photo: Mark Grantor

Climb to the Top of the Needle with Base 2 Space
During the month of September, guests can climb the 832 stairs up one of two intertwining, open-air stairwells. Why? To support the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Space Needle Foundation. The best part? One hundred percent of the donations benefit the two organizations with close to one million dollars in funds raised annually. Keep an eye on their website for 2019 climb dates!

photo: Mark Grantor

Good to know: To be eligible for a trophy, you’ll need to be signed up as an Elite Climber (one that can run a 5-6 minute mile), a Runner (able to complete a 7-10 minute mile) or a Trotter (able to complete a mile within 11-15 minutes). All participants must be 8 years old or older and all kids ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The registration fee for adults is $75 plus a $175 fundraising minimum and $50 plus a $100 fundraising minimum for youth ages 8-17. Register or find more information online.

Space Needle
400 Broad St.
Seattle, WA 98109
206-905-2100
Online: spaceneedle.com

Hours: Sun.-Mon., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cost: $27.50-$37.50/Adults; $25.50-$32.50/Seniors (65+); $22.50-$28.50/Youth (5-12); 4 & under Free. Save $5 per ticket if you arrive between 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Insider Tip: Buy your tickets online before you go and you won’t have to wait in line (in the rain) at the base of the Needle. Wheelchairs are allowed on the observation decks but all strollers need to checked.

—Jeffrey Totey

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Take Apart Ordinary Household Items for Tinker Day (Trust Us, It’s Fun!)

by Amber GuetebierAugust 8, 2015

Keep those little hands busy with an at-home tinkering project that requires little more than a screwdriver and a discarded item, like the one in your closet you’ve been meaning to recycle. Just be sure and unplug or remove any batteries before beginning, and for the little tots watch for the many small parts that will be uncovered. Here are our suggestions for items perfect for table-top dissection on Tinker Day.

1. An old alarm clock, especially the wind-up kind. Yeah, they made those once.

2. A remote-controlled vehicle that doesn’t seem to work anymore. Or you lost the remote. In rare cases, you can dissect the remote control if you’ve lost the vehicle.

3. A toy you have in duplicate.

4. The printer you got tired of replacing all the ink, so you replaced the printer. You were just going to recycle it anyway, right? Why not let them see if they can take it apart and put it back together?

5. A toaster that won’t toast, a blender that’s seen better days, or another small appliance (remove the blades first, of course).

6. The VHS player you are never going to use again. And while you’re at it, let them take apart a video too. They’ll be amazed by this “ancient” technology.

7. Similarly, an old Walkman or cassette player, and the cassette tape that goes with it, (Mom, what did this do again?)

8. An old telephone. And by old, we mean a landline.

9. Flashlights. Pop the batteries out and let the kids see the simple mechanics.

10. A computer mouse. Go ahead, open that desk drawer. We know there’s at least one in there. And while you’re at it, let them dismantle that crumb-covered keyboard.

11. A lamp or desk light.

12. A calculator. Solar ones are extra cool.

13. A fan.

Tip: If you aren’t going to put it back together again, be sure and separate the recyclable and reusable items from the trash. And always dispose of old batteries and e-waste properly.

ML Interest Tag: mechanic

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