An Oscar of your own

In case you still harbor fantasies of delivering your Oscar acceptance speech, you've got a chance to at least hold one of those puppies for the next two weeks. Actual Academy Award statuettes will be on display at the Shops at North Bridge at 520 N Michigan Avenue. It's part of Meet the Oscars, a whole exhibit dedicated to the making of the statuettes, which (in case you somehow hadn't heard) are made here in Illinois by R.S. Owens & Company.

For me, the coolest part isn't the chance to hold an Oscar (though I've always wondered how heavy they really are, when all those stars say "wow, it's heavy!"). The exhibit shows statuettes at various stages in the manufacture process. Call me a process geek, but I really want to see what one looks like fresh out of the mold, before the buffing and whatnot.

Oh, and if your Oscar fascination extends to the people behind the Academy, get there tomorrow, Friday the 13th, at 10:30am. Sid Ganis, the president of the Academy, will be on hand to cut the ribbon on this exhibit and say a few words: "I'd like to thank the Academy for flying me to Chicago to cut a ribbon…" That sort of thing.

For more on the Oscars, including interviews with the nominess, visit Oscars 2009.