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Museums & Culture: But wait, there's more

Martina Sheehan

“Fast Forward: Inventing the Future”
The Museum of Science and Industry’s new permanent exhibition explores where our imaginations might take us next, with real-life, cutting-edge technological innovations. Among the highlights are Hanson Robotics’ Zeno, a totally emo robot boy who performs stunts, expresses emotion, chats you up and even recognizes you the next time he sees you. Other must-see oddities include clothing engineered to express your emotions, like a full-body mood ring and Myers Motors’ Jetsons-esque NmG (a three-wheel, all-electric, podlike vehicle). 5700 S Lake Shore Dr (773-684-1414, msichicago.org). Opens Sept 3; free with general admission, $13, seniors $12, kids $9. Admission is free weekdays, Sept 2–30.

“Artifacts of Childhood: 700 Years of Children’s Books”
According to the Newberry Library’s upcoming exhibition, kids’ love of games, stories and anything else that jolts the imagination is as old as childhood itself. The show handpicks 65 works from the library’s little-known collection of books and manuscripts created for and by kids, including rarities such as the first illustrated edition of Aesop’s Fables, from 1485; the only copy in the U.S. of a popular 16th-century German-language Protestant religious book for kids; and a first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from 1865. 60 W Walton St (312-943-9090, newberry.org). Sept 27–Jan 17. Free.

“The Aztec World”
According to the Aztecs, we’re now living under the fifth and final sun our world has been allotted. Once this sun is destroyed, it’s lights-out for life as we know it: Sky monsters will swoop in to destroy us and earthquakes will pulverize the Earth. That’s one Aztec legend you’ll hear about at the The Field Museum’s new exhibition, which traces the technological, economic and artistic advances the civilization developed over the 200-year period in which it went from being a roaming tribe to a 200,000-person-strong empire. A few highlights among the 300-item display are illustrated pre-Columbian, accordion-style codices (bound manuscripts) depicting everyday farm life; a wall-size mural mapping out the expansive borders of the ancient water-surrounded metropolis Tenochtitlan; and items such as sacrificial altars, weapons, treasures and sculptures, including one of a hand-shaking dog. 1400 S Lake Shore Dr (312-922-9410, tickets: 866-343-5303; fieldmuseum.org). $22, seniors and students $19, kids 4–11 $12 (includes general admission). Oct 31–Apr 19.

Read more in our 2008 Fall Preview.

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Check out the other sections in our 2008 Fall Preview: