TP_050919

tinleyjunction.com news
the Tinley Junction | May 9, 2019 | 3
Superhero Date Night a blockbuster hit for the Tinley park district
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
Look! Over at the Bettenhausen
Recreation Center!
It's a bird. It's a plane.
It's... the superhero moms
and sons of Tinley Park!
On Friday, May 3, the
Tinley Park–Park District
hosted its annual Mother/
Son Superhero Date Night.
Games, dancing and character
visits were among the
evening's entertainment as
families enjoyed a night of
comic-inspired fun.
Recreation Supervisor
Mary Wrobel explained
that while the recent release
of “Avengers: Endgame"
has generated a lot
of buzz, the event's 188
attendees celebrated superheroes
from every universe.
“Little boys and their
action heroes have always
been popular, but it doesn't
hurt that 'The Avengers'
movie just came out. We
have people dressing up
in various characters. We
have Batman, The Hulk,
The Flash,” said Wrobel.
“There are a lot of wonderful
moms so we have
a lot of Wonder Woman
costumes. It's not just the
children dressing up, it's
the moms, too.”
After checking in, each
dynamic duo headed
downstairs to the gym
where they enjoyed a DJ,
games and photo opportunities.
This year, sons were
invited to create a picture
frame craft decorated with
comic imagery. Everyone
also received a goody bag
and enjoyed light refreshments.
Tinley Park residents
Sue and 9-year-old DJ
McCarthy have been attending
the Mother/Son
Date Night for the past
four years.
“It's family fun. It's a
date night for moms and
sons. It's perfect. You get
to dress up and show your
superhero style,” said Sue.
DJ said that the pair decided
to dress-up in Batman
apparel because "The
Dark Knight" is his favorite
superhero.
“I like how stealthy he
is,” said DJ. “'The Lego
Batman Movie' is my favorite
because I think it
has a good sense of humor.”
Mild-mannered Bruce
Banner was nowhere to
be found throughout the
night, but his alter-ego
The Hulk was one of the
most a popular costumes.
Six-year-old Tinley Park
resident Noah Wagner was
dressed in green from head
to toe in honor of the Marvel
Comics icon.
“I like that he's strong.
When he gets mad he becomes
The Hulk,” he said.
Noah's mom Margarita
Wagner added that the
date night was a great opportunity
to let loose and
have fun, adding, “I love
that we get to hang out, be
silly and dress up and have
a good time dancing and
taking pictures.”
The perfect photo opportunity
came when Batman
himself swooped into
the party to meet all of the
attendees. Elsewhere at
the event, moms and sons
enjoyed participating in
the Limbo, dancing to the
“Cha-Cha Slide” and listening
to pop hits.
Wrobel said that making
family memories is always
at the heart of the Mother/
Son Superhero Date Night.
“We have the Daddy
Daughter Dance, where
dads bring their daughters,
and this is a special
Tinley Park residents Brooks (left) and Candi Johnson wear their superhero finest for Mother/Son Date Night.
Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
event for the moms and
their sons to spend time
together,” said Wrobel.
“They can dance, play
some games and I think
the dressing up part of it
is something people really
enjoy too.”
Wrobel added that the
Tinley Park–Park District
has even more fun in store
for moms with its Mom &
Me Golf special event at
the Tinley Junction Miniature
Golf Course on Mothers
Day, May 12 during
which moms who play a
round get a free gift. Later
in the month, everyone
who golfs on May 27 receives
a free small sundae
in honor of Memorial Day.
More information about
upcoming opportunities
for family fun at the Tinley
Park–Park District can be
found at www.tinleyparkdistrict.org.
Tinley Park residents Amanda and Ben Loxtercamp dance at Tinley Park–Park
District’s Mother/Son Superhero Date Night Friday, May 3.