ALDI knows what we like and we like succulents. On Sept. 30 your local ALDI will have a collection of Day of the Dead planters in different sizes and colors on sale. Grab them while they last because they are going to sell out quickly.
Bright sugar skulls are a festive symbol associated with Día de Muertos. These ceramic sugar skull planters come in two different sized featuring assorted succulents and air plants. Don’t worry about upkeep, place your plants in the sunlight and simply mist with a little bit of water.
You can find the Day of the Dead Succulents in three different colors — white, light blue and black. These planters retail for $8.49.
The Mini Day of the Dead Air Plants come in four colors — purple, orange, blue and black. These retail for $4.49.
With two different sizes to choose from, you are sure to find the right one (or two or three) for your space.
If you’re looking to add some color to your mantel or altar to celebrate Día de los Muertos this year, then Target has you covered with some festive new Sugar Skull-themed decor.
Offered in variety of options these bright, colorful figurines and decorations are a perfect addition to dress up your house for the holiday and with very budget-friendly prices, you won’t even mind when your little ones desperately want to check them out.
Sugar Skull Animals
These festive animals are available in a three-pack or individually.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed September 15-October 15, and was established to recognize the invaluable contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States. This celebration of heritage and culture coincides with the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence during this period. Read on for ideas on for celebrating these important community contributors, whether they be in your home or a neighbor’s.
1. See a colorful new world unfold at the always-free National Museum of Mexican Art. The 10,000-piece permanent collection spans ancient Mexico to the present day, and is one of the largest and most respected in the country Beginning Sep. 20-Dec. 8, visitors can see a special Día de Muertos exhibition, a commemoration deeply rooted in ancient beliefs of life after death and a spiritual existence within the universe. (1852 W. 19th St., Pilsen)
2. If a kid in a candy shop is something to remember, what about a kid in a Mexican candy shop? Dulcelandia Candy is the largest distributor of Mexican candy in the Midwest and its three locations are well worth a visit. The colorful selection of sweets will make you wish that coconut and mango suckers were a food group. (Little Village, Brighton Park and Logan Square)
3. Indulge in a chewy, fresh-from-the-fryer churro or flaky empanada from Rick Bayless’ XOCO, which offers a contemporary take on Mexico’s most-favorite street foods. After the first bite, your kids will be sold. (449 N. Clark St., River North)
4. Celebrate the musicality of the Hispanic culture with ¡SÚBELO! – A Celebration of Pan Latin Music and Culture, highlighting artists from Puerto Rico, Peru and Mexico as part of the World Music Festival held in venues across the city. (Sep. 14, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.; Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Millennium Park)
5. Take part in a one-hour joyous, heartfelt adventure that delves into the rich, tuneful traditions of Día de los Muertos through music and dance at the MAC’s Sugar Skull! A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure.
6. No matter the temperature, hot chocolate is always a treat. Our favorite take on the steamy sensation comes from Wicker Park hot spot Mindy’s Hot Chocolate(1747 N. Damen Ave., 773-489-1747). The Mexican hot chocolate is a rich, flavorful melange of dark chocolate, milk, fresh cinnamon and cayenne — all topped with housemade marshmallows. If you’re in the western ‘burbs, Le Chocolat(127-129 S. Washington St., Naperville) also does an amazing Mexicocoa.
7. Hola, shoppers! Maxwell Street Marketis a historic outdoor bazaar filled with vendors that sell jewelry and crafts inspired by Mexico and some of the best Mexican and Latin street food vendors in Chicago. (Every Sun., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; 800 S. Des Plaines St.)
8. Highlight a traditional Hispanic dessert at mealtime with a visit to one of Bombon’s four locations. The neighborhood bakery is known for its Tres Leches Cake, a vanilla sponge cake soaked in three types of milk with hints of rum, sweet vanilla, cream and cinnamon. They give it their own twist with variations like Amaretto and Peachy. (West Loop, Pilsen, Little Village and Chicago Lawn)
photo: The Kids’ Table
9. Create a Mexican Fiesta as a family with hands-on cooking fun at The Kids’ Table. Families will make Quesadillas, Broccoli Guacamole and Pina Colada Milkshakes. (Sep. 13, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m; 2237 W. North Ave., Wicker Park)
10. The fun in the kitchen doesn’t stop there. Taste Buds Kitchen is looking to spice things up with an adult-only, BYOB Mexican Feast. They’ll help you whip up your favorite recipes from street-style Carne Asada and Crispy Fish Tacos to handmade Guacamole, Lime Crema and Mexican Street Corn. No celebration is finito without made-from-scratch Corn Tortillas, you won’t believe how easy they are to make. (Oct. 4, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; 2521 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn)
photo: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, Jane V. via Yelp
11. Visit The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, the only freestanding cultural institution in the nation devoted to Puerto Rican arts and historic exhibitions year-round. It’s located right here in our Humboldt Park community. (3015 W. Division St., Humboldt Park)
12. Sign baby up for classes at Rayito del Sol, Chicago’s first full Spanish Immersion program that had their grand opening this summer. Geared toward ages 6 weeks to six years, Rayito del Sol offers full and part-time childcare and its award-winning programming allows kids to consciously grasp both the Spanish and English languages. (2550 W. Addison St., Roscoe Village)
13. Work your way along Clark Street, from Devon to Touhy Avenues, tasting samples of signature dishes in the diverse Rogers Park neighborhood for Taste of Clark Street. The community celebration will include family-friendly activities and live music, including Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago’s first and very own all-women Mariachi. (Sep. 22, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.; 6950 N. Clark St., Rogers Park)
photo: Daughter of the Cuban Revolutionary, credit Steve Gunther
14. See Goodman Theatre’s midwest premiere of Daughter of the Cuban Revolutionary, a one-woman tour de force telling the tale centered on three towering figures in her life: her father, Raul, who co-wrote the manifesto for the Cuban revolution with Fidel Castro; her uncle, Eddy, who was the frontrunner for the Cuban presidency in 1951 before committing suicide; and her mother, Dalia, Miss Cuba runner-up in 1959. (Oct. 8-13; Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Loop)
15. Attend HispanicPro’s networking event on the rooftop at Godfrey Hotel and meet some of Chicago’s most prominent Latino organizations for an evening of mingling, cocktails, light bites and celebrating. (Sep. 13, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron, River North)
16. CSO Latino Alliance is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a tribute to the great Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. The event will include a rare screening of the film Redes (1935), one of the early examples of Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema. Before the film, musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago will perform Revueltas’ String Quartet No. 2. Stay after the film for a Q&A with Angel Gil-Ordóñez, who conducted the PostClassical Ensemble in the recording of the score you will hear. (Sep. 5, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.; Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Loop)
photo: Mariachi Herencia de México
17. The free and open to the public YAS! Fest is Chicago’s largest celebration of young artists and youth arts organizations. The day will feature the creative work of musicians, actors, dancers, artists and visitors can explore youth arts programs from across the city. This year’s fest will include a performance by Latin Grammy Award-nominated ensemble Mariachi Herencia de México. (Sep. 21, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; 201 E. Randolph St., Millennium Park)
18. Sign the kids up for a sugar skull workshop. Participants will have their own sugar skull to design while learning more about sugar skulls, the history Día de los Muertos and what it means to many. The workshop offers age-appropriate knowledge and experience worth remembering and passing along to new generations.
In honor of Dià de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, Disneyland has rolled out a delicious Pan Dulce Ice Cream Sandwich. Dulce de Leche ice cream is sandwiched inside a sugary, rainbow-colored Pan Dulce concha.
The ice cream is topped with churro streusel crumbles, whipped cream, cajeta, a goat-milk-based caramel syrup, and a white chocolate Calavera. The delicious holiday treat is available for a limited time at Frontierland’s Rancho del Zocalo in Disneyland for $8.
Rancho del Zocalo’s special Halloween Time menu also features the Frozen Abuelita Horchata, which is a frozen Mexican hot chocolate covered with another layer of frozen horchata and topped with spiced whipped cream. You can score a cup of this tasty treat for $5.99.
“Paint and sip” studios—those places where people of varying levels of artistic skills nurse a beverage (beer, wine, apple juice, etc.) and try their hand at creating a piece of art—started popping up in New York City a few years ago. Now, the city is full spots to grab a paintbrush and a pint and attempt a masterpiece (or just have a fun time). Paint and sip studios are great for parties, be they kid’s celebrations, baby showers, or parent group meetups, and of course, you and the kids can go and do some mommy or daddy and me painting just for the heck of it. Here’s where you can paint and sip with the kids in NYC!
photo: Pinot’s Palette Park Slope
The Paint and Sip Primer Paint and sip spots are exactly what they sound like: places where you can hold a brush in one hand and a glass of wine (or whatever your beverage of choice is) in the other. Don’t worry if you’re nervous about bringing your child to a bar — the spots are more art studio than saloon. Rows of easels are set up facing an instructor, who walks you through the painting of that session, step by step. You can join a scheduled class with a predetermined painting, or book a private event for a chance to choose from hundreds of designs.
Costs range from about $30 to $60 per person, per session, and everything (except the drinks) is included. (You can bring your own wine, beer, champagne, etc.—but no hard liquor.) The location will provide paints, an easel, and an apron; you bring yourself and the kids, and your inner artists. Even without any previous artistic experience, you’ll be surprised at how great everyone’s art turns out. Who knew you were so creative?
photo: Painting with a Twist
Painting With a Twist Painting With a Twist is a bright and inviting place to spend a few hours painting and relaxing. The space is relatively small, but cozy, and instructors and staff are super friendly. The recommended age is over 7, so leave the little ones at home for this one.
The Menu: Basic wine, beer, soda and small finger food is available, but you’re welcome to bring your own booze as well. No alcohol is allowed on family days, although 15 – 20 year olds are welcome to attend the regular painting sessions (sans drinking, of course!).
For the Kids: Family-friendly classes are often scheduled throughout the month here, but try to book with a friend because the singles and regular classes are more popular, and classes can be cancelled if a minimum number of participants isn’t met.
Parties: Choose from over 5,000 paintings for a two- or three-hour class, plus half an hour before and after the main event to mingle and relax. Space is small so groups are limited to 10. The space allows you to decorate, as well as bring your own food and drinks, or even hire a caterer.
Pinot’s Palette A juggernaut of the paint and sip industry, Pinot’s Palette has two Brooklyn locations. One, located on Park Slope’s 5th Avenue, is owned and operated by retired NYPD officer and Army vet Scott Drummond. In Dyker Heights, Tatiana Nicoli converted part of her store Boulevard Books and Café into a Pinot’s Palette studio.
Pinot’s Palette doesn’t designate special children’s days, simply because kids are always welcome, and many of the paintings offered here are kid-friendly. Keep in mind, though, that the evening paintings have an open bar and more difficult projects, so smaller children might get frustrated at the difficulty level. However, you and the kids can also stop by the Open Studio events, when the canvas is your, well, canvas; paint whatever you want on a 16×20 canvas (included in the price) or follow one of the self-guided paintings.
The Menu: Assorted drinks like coffee, wine, beer and soda can be purchased and consumed here, as well as some finger foods.
For the Kids: The Park Slope location holds afternoon sessions on weekends featuring kid-friendly works like the cute owl “Little Hootie Pie” or a colorful Sugar Skull, while in Dyker Heights, parents and kids work on “Mommy and Me” projects side by side.
Pinot’s Palette is also home to the“Little Brushes” program, during whichchildren between 6 and 12 years of age are welcome to a fun, party-like atmosphere where they’re encouraged to play with colors and paints, make collages, and more.
Have a little girl scout in the family? Painting with Pinot’s Palette nets a badge for it. Check the locations for seasonal events as well.
Parties: Private parties can be booked for 10 to 15 people, for two- or three-hour sessions, bookended by half hour mingle periods. Not enough time? Pinot’s Palette lets you purchase more time to make the space your own. During children’s birthday parties, gather a party of 15 kids and the birthday child is free. Keep in mind: outside food is allowed, but outside drinks are not.
For a larger, more vibrant painting environment, check out Muse Paintbar.
The Menu: Muse doesn’t just have a bar, it has an entire kitchen, with platters, sandwiches and desserts for the entire family to enjoy.
For the Kids: Regularly-scheduled family nights feature kid-friendly paintings that little fingers can keep up with. Typically priced at $29 per person, the family day events are one of the cheaper options. Kid classes (and parties) are lead by instructors experienced with teaching children.
Parties: The loft-like space can accommodate up to 50 kids, making it ideal for a big birthday bash. Muse has pre-set times for private kids parties, but they also allow you to come in earlier to decorate. You can also bring your own drinks, food and cake — though the space will have kiddie finger food on offer.
Muse Paint Bar 329 Greenwich St. Tribeca 646-938-7800 Online: musepaintbar.com
The Paint Place Consider The Paint Place extremely kid- and family friendly. With two locations—one on the Upper West Side, one in Astoria—The Paint Place offers Family Fun Painting sessions on select weekend mornings, as well as after school art classes and parties. The Paint Place also hosts all-ages events for kids ages 8 to 18, which are noted on each location’s calendar.
The Menu: For adults, it’s beer and wine—they provide the openers and cups.
For the Kids: Family Fun Painting is for kids from four to seven, and older kids can come by any event noted “All Ages Welcome.” And they do after school classes for kids wanting to delve deeper into art.
Parties: Guests paint a 12 x 12 canvas with the help of an instructor, and you provide the cake, food, and paper products.
The Painting Lounge The Painting Lounge has four NYC locations: Chelsea, Midtown, Harlem, and Williamsburg. Painting subjects range from scenic vistas and cityscapes to sassy ladies to Notorious B.I.G. Most classes cost between $30 and $50, but sales are frequent, knocking down prices as much as $40 percent. You can sign up in advance online, and there’s a 24-hour cancellation policy.
The Menu: You bring your own beverages—anything but hard liquor. They provide cups and bottle openers.
For the Kids: The Painting Lounge is mostly for older kids and adults. Kids eight and up can attend classes.
Parties: The Painting Lounge frequently hosts adult celebrations, and does birthday parties for kids ages eight and up.
Standing in line for kiddie face painting just got a lot more interesting (and worth the wait!). Darth Vader, Dios de los Muertos-inspired sugar skulls and an unbelievable giraffe are a few of the newest designs we’ve scoped out on the faces of littles. Flip through our slideshow below for 15 amazing face art designs—and be prepared to kiss balloons and butterflies goodbye.
Not So Scary Skull
Face painting isn't just for festivals. Sometimes the best face painting happens spontaneously. (We bet the wait times are shorter, too!). This bright sugar skull work was spotted on Venice Beach Boardwalk. Don’t forget to check out your local markets, city events and tourist spots for possible artists.
Mom and lunch-bag doodler Christy Kilgore adds an extra dose of color to her kiddos’ lunches everyday with her fantastic drawings. From classic characters like Monster’s Inc., nostalgic ones like Calvin and Hobbes, and artsy reminders about days like Election Day, these brown-bag art pieces have us amazed. Scroll down to see her creations and don’t forget to follow Christy on Instagram @ckilgore to see more!
1. Russian Doll and Futuristic City
2. Happy Summer Phrases
3. Bender from Futurama and a Delightful Elephant
4. Beetlejuice!
5. Bonjour, French Bulldog and Calvin & Hobbes
6. National Donut Day!
7. Killer Burger
8. Gru and Girls on the Run
9. Sweet Tea and Groot
10. 70s birds
11. Sally and Jack Skellington
12. Much Love for Monsters’ Inc.
13. “Don’t Blink!” – Weeping Angels of Doctor Who
14. I am a Lunchbag and Drawing a Dog
15. Owls and a little “How to Train Your Dragon” dragon
16. Pretty Awesome Harry Potter
17. Equally Awesome Hedwig
18. Collection of Cool Art for Adults
19. Mario and Peach
20. The Family Dog: Frisbee
21. Vampire Boy and Zombie Girl
22. Monsters, Ahh!
23. Grumpy Cat and Spring Thing
24. Porcupine Riding a Dolphin
25. Slimer and Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
26. Wonder Woman and Awesome Time Reminder
27. Pumpkin Owl and Selfie
28. Sugar Skull and Pumpkin-Spider
29. Despicable Me Unicorn and Shark with a Lazer
30. 10th Doctor and Cutie Strawberry
31. Regular Show
32. Walking Dead‘s Daryl Dixon and a cute Halloween collage
Dia de Los Muertos honors those who have passed from this world into the next, but despite its morose name, the holiday is, without a doubt, a day of celebration. Activities, including decorating sugar skulls, face-painting and dancing the night away, are a few of the ways families can engage in this festive Mexican holiday.
photo: Dia de Los Muertos skulls by mario via flickr creative commons
Dia de Los Muertos Procession and Concert
Everyone is welcome to join in the traditional, musical procession, starting at the PSU Urban Center (SW 5th Ave. and Mill St.) and ending at the Crystal Ballroom, with other participants dressed in black and painted faces. Don’t forget your umbrellas! At the destination, there will be Aztec dance performances, kids’ crafts, and so much music. All events are open to the community and welcome children.
Sun., Nov. 2nd, 4 p.m. (procession), 5 p.m. (show at Crystal Ballroom)
Procession is free, the show is $10/person advance, $12/person at the door, free for ages 12 and under
Crystal Ballroom
1332 W Burnside St.
855-227-8499
Online: crystalballroompdx.com
Una Celebracion De Tradicion y Innovación
Kids will find plenty to do and see at 6th annual celebration from Dia de Los Muertos NW: “A Celebration of Tradition & Innovation”. This year, Audio Cinema will host face-painting, muertos calaveras (sugar skull) decorating, storytelling with the Multnomah County Library, live music, including a performance by Grammy Award-Winners, Los TexManiacs, and a Catrina parade winding through the event. This is also a food drive for SnoCap Community Charities, so be sure to bring a non-perishable food item with you.
Sat., Nov. 1, 1 p.m.- midnight
$5/person at the door, free for children 12 and under
Audio Cinema
226 SE Madison St.
Online: facebook.com/diadelosmuertosnw
Dia de Los Muertos at Roots Salon
In cahoots with the aforementioned Dia de Los Muertos NW celebration, day two’s festivities will take place on All Soul’s Day at Roots Salon. There will be food, kids’ activities, storytelling and more music. Participants can also bring something for the altar, as a gift to those who are no longer with us.
Sun., Nov. 2, noon-8 p.m.
Free
Roots Salon
5400 NE 30th St.
Online: facebook.com
Kids’ Crafts at Beaverton Library
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with a themed crafting session with sugar skulls in the library’s Storytime Room. Kids ages 2-11 are welcome with a grownup.
Sat., Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free
Beaverton Library 12375 SW 5th St.
Beaverton, Or
503-350-3600
Online: beavertonlibrary.org
How does your family celebrate Dia de Los Muertos? Let us know in the Comments!
