Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to gush over anything adorable—so here are two baby Sichuan takins from the Lincoln Park Zoo looking for names. The yet-unnamed half-brothers were born nine days apart earlier this winter to father Quan Li and different mothers (we hope that doesn’t make things awkward around the Antelope & Zebra Area). The Zoo is asking fans of the Chinese goat antelopes to choose what to name them.

“A pair of healthy takin baby boys is way better than candy and roses,” as general curator Dave Bernier said in a zoo statement. A full list to vote on can be found here—but just so you know, we’re pulling for “superior handsomeness.” Click quickly; voting ends Wednesday, February 20.  

Go visit these sweeties in the next few weeks before they start to look like furry manatees with horns and hooves. The herd’s on exhibit from 10am–2pm. You can also get involved with bringing up baby by “ADOPT”-ing a takin or providing them with care. 

 

Music and method will bring 18 young Chicago strings players to the international stage March 27 for the 16th annual Suzuki Method world convention in Matsumoto, Japan. With no language in common, the students will share music. Each learned how to play their instrument the same way: via the Suzuki Method, which emphasizes learning to play by ear. “Essentially, the pedagogy mirrors the developmental process of a child learning a language,” says Herine Coetzee Koschak, co-director of the Merit School of Music’s Suzuki-Alegre program. 

The Chicago violinists, violists and cellists headed for Japan all study at the Merit School of Music’s Suzuki-Alegre strings program. The 10–18-year-olds have spent years at Merit, performing music specially selected to improve their technique and infuse the learning process with cultural significance. With the Suzuki-Alegre program traditionally serving many students of Latino origins, the course’s original creator decided to spice up the customary classical repertoire with Latin folk songs. “[She] started this program in Pilsen and found immediately that she could respond to the incredibly rich Latin culture,” Koschak says. “She asked the families, ‘What are your folk songs?’ ” 

Because the Suzuki Method believes recognition and repetition are crucial to learning music, it encourages children to practice songs they’re familiar with, and that have been in their ears for years. At Merit, students don’t just begin with “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” but also learn Spanish songs like “Cielito Lindo,” or “Los Elefantes.” Over two thirds of the pieces the program now performs are Latino-infused. 

The global touch to Merit’s teaching method fits perfectly with this year’s convention theme: “The World will be One, Joined Together by Children Making Music.” The Suzuki Method, like math, creates a universal language, which students can use to relate to each other. And though some teachers in the classes throughout the five-day convention may not speak English, co-director Monica Lugo’s sure her Chicago students will get the gist. 

“When we think about music, they have [all] learned exactly the same thing exactly the same way,” she says. “As soon as they recognize the name [of the piece], or as soon as the piano starts playing, they will immediately be able to play the same way.” 

See the Suzuki-Alegre students play their convention set at a "bon voyage" concert March 16. Student Mercy Garriga, asked to address the crowd in Matsumoto, will practice her speech there. 38 S Peoria St (312-786-9428, meritmusic.org). March 16. Noon–1pm. Free. 

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Merit School of Music is $15,000 shy of its $128,000 fundraising goal. Call Rita McLennon at Merit (312-267-4461) or click here to donate (on the site, make sure to select "Suzuki-Alegre Strings Japan Trip" in the "Please direct my donation to:" area). All donations made before March 15th (or up to $10,000) will be matched by an individual donor. 

It's hard to think of an easier and quicker good deed you could do today then to send a valentine to a patient at Lurie Children's Hospital. The process is incredibly simple: Just go to the site, enter your info and select the valentine you would like to send. The hospital's goal is to collect 8,000 valentines by tomorrow so they'll have enough for each patient, and to paper the walls of the hospital's Family Life Center. You can choose from three valentines, and write a personalized message. I just sent the whale one, and it took me all of 84 seconds. Do it already!

If Johnny Weir, a Broadway show, and the High School Musical had a baby, Disney on Ice’s Rockin’ Ever After at the United Center would be the result. It’s schmaltzy, colorful, eclectic and fun—the perfect mix for kids just learning the characters’ names and parents mouthing lyrics to music. 

Mickey and Minnie open the show in silver lamé outfits and holding sparkly mics. Hosting (with help from Goofy and Donald) the peppy variety spectacular à la "America’s Got Talent," Minnie and Mickey lead the audience through four adapted Disney tales from Brave, Tangled, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The talent-search premise is shaky, but it doesn’t matter—once you’ve seen the characters perform, you won’t care about a greater story arc. Each segment has its own gorgeous (and sometimes crazy glittery) aesthetic. In Ariel’s world, neon costumes glow in dim lighting, while Brave’s Merida glides among plaid-wearers dancing jigs on skates. Group numbers stun with intricate and zippy choreography, but I gasped loudest at partner acts, when princesses’ beaus-to-be lifted them high, seeming to defy physics.  

Quick changes between beautiful costumes, special effects and almost-perfectly performed theatrical skating create a magical atmosphere. Purists will complain they’ve modified songs and stories, as each tale skimps on tension to resolve conflicts quickly, but parents will value the economic use of time. Mom, Dad and older sibs will appreciate Easter eggs like soundtrack samplings from Madonna, the Dropkick Murphys and the Go-go’s. 

Nostalgic as always, I loved "Under the Sea" and "Be Our Guest" best. I’m not knocking numbers based off newer movies, though; I laughed hardest during Tangled’s set, especially at the delightfully grumpy horse manned flawlessly by two skaters. 

Perhaps the most surprising part of the day: how easily activity flowed. Free parking at United was a dream, and the show’s timely start and end meant we were out of the lot 15 minutes after the finale. Be warned—souvenirs on the way in and out pull like magnets. Nix annoying $20-$24 light toys and instead go for snack/souvenir combos you can buy in your seat, like popcorn and cotton candy. The fluffy stuff was $12 and came with choice of crown or Flounder hat. Needless to say, I left the arena looking like a princess.