Review: of the re-opened SHEDD AQUARIUM & its “4-D” film

Review:  of the re-opened SHEDD AQUARIUM in Chicago & its “4-D” film  = 

 

If you haven't been to the SHEDD AQUARIUM in Chicago lately, you have missed various "4-D" experiences --  including their showing some (extra-charge) specially-made short 4-D MOVIES which are interspersed with special-effects such as shaking seats, sprayed water, etc....

      ... But, rather than concentrate on those films (re Sponge Bob, etc.), I want to concentrate on OTHER "4-D" type encounters in the form of the MAIN Aquarium, especially regarding their just-finished UPGRADING:

     After being closed for around 8 months (since September of '08), the SHEDD AQUARIUM is re-opening their large "OCEANARIUM" section this Memorial Day weekend.  I attended a Member's preview, & here is my report on the situation:

   

...  Between the Aquarium & Planetarium, the City finally re-opened a redone Solidarity Drive- where they'd built a nicely-done UNDERPASS for a new bike, skating & walking path...

...  This path curves north and east around the periphery of the Aquarium, & continues south at the west edge of the Harbor (towards McCormick Place)...

          ...  But, they have NOT reopened the numerous PARKING meters on that road, leaving them covered up with cloth hoods for some reason.  (I don't know if they haven't changed the rates yet, or it they're even going to allow parking there anytime soon)...

...  So, if driving (rather than taking the various CTA buses & Trolleys to the area), you've got to use the street-level parking lot southwest of the Planetarium ( $ 16 on up; cash only) or the Field Museum lot ($ 19 on up) or the Soldier Field lots...

    ...  Regarding the renovated OCEANARIUM section in the Aquarium:  altho they just resurfaced the main pools for the beluga whales & Pacific white-sided dolphins (rather than enlarging them), they've done a quite GOOD job redesigning the "PERIPHERAL" areas:

        ...  They revised the layout of a number of the "ROCK" areas so it'd be easier for the trainers to INTERACT with the animals (including platforms around the sides of the pools) & to give the public better VIEWS of certain areas...

            ...  Also revised was the layout of the SEATING areas for the dolphin shows (including separate upraised "SIDE" platforms where trainers could speak to the audience and where sea lions could perform)...

               ...  The regular mammal SHOWS will not be restarted for the public until some time in JULY (altho employees are continuing their regular TRAINING of the various animals)...

            ...  Especially welcome were the improvements in the SEA-LION area west of the south beluga whale tank: 

...  It's around 2 to 3 times LARGER than the sort of "cubby-hole" they'd had before, with a chain-link fence allowing clear views of that exhibit.  That not only allows you to better SEE & enjoy the animals, that gives more ROOM for those mammals to stretch out on their rocks or in their pool...

            ...  There were some new little EXHIBITS on the "rock" wall southwest of the beluga tank, and lots of additional INFORMATION posted about the various fish and mammals...

            ... In the basement LOWER viewing level, there are lots of changes:  they've built new sections with EXHIBITS of various creatures (shrimps, etc.), again with informational areas all around for a more "INTERACTIVE" experience...

                ...  There are new "portholes" to view the BELUGA whales from "below", + an interactive exhibit demonstrating SOUNDS they make... 

...  And, there's a mock "SUBMARINE" where kids can manipulate a "claw"-arm device to grasp things on the "ocean" floor...

                ...  They've added a bunch of new SEATING areas allowing people to eat (from the expanded RESTAURANT area there) while watching the underwater antics of the mammals...

                ...  One of the favorite new lower-level sections is a large "PENGUIN-experience" one for kids:  this allows them to walk around "among" pictures of penguins & to ACT like penguins (such as shooting down "snow" SLIDES-- which the kids seemed to love doing!)...

                   ...  There is a lot more INFORMATION about penguins (including pictures of some of the 17 species & life-sized statues of some)... 

...  There's been a big IMPROVEMENT in the temperature control and / or the GLASS used to VIEW the penguins (& also the OTTERS), making it much easier to see them without having to look thru horribly "fogged-up" areas as the temperature is kept around 55 or so degreees)...

                       ...  While I was there, they offered a very informative TALK about otters (at their improved tank layout)-- how they use tools to eat, how much hair they have, their habits, etc....

              ...  One of the favorites of kids was a large new interactive area at the north end of the lower-level where they learn about and actually TOUCH a bunch of underwater creatures -- STARFISH, barnacles, etc.  The kids (shepherded by their parents) happily went around from tank to tank to "sample" what was there (& to wash their hands before & afterwards)...

             ...  The Aquarium has also considerably revised the layouts & size of the RESTAURANTS (such as the Bubble Net), making them bigger & adding outdoor seating areas to the north and northwest, allowing fine views of the downtown Chicago skyline...

              ...  In the MAIN (upper-level) areas of the Aquarium, they've added more GIFTSHOP areas (including at the "end" of the Amazon Rising exhibit) & more booth type areas to get some SNACKS (popcorn, etc.) & PHOTOS of your visit...

                ...  It's hard to quantify, but there seems an increase in the number & VARIETY of species displayed--  more colorful rays and frogs in the Amazon exhibit, more diversity in the Wild Reef exhibit (including showing types of coral), etc.

                ...  The Aquarium is also offering BEHIND-THE-SCENES tours (at $ 10 per person) up to 3 or so times daily on certain days...

         All-in-all, it appears to be an EFFECTIVE & WELL-DONE series of improvements for the viewing public...

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