Chicago’s world-class museums and other cultural attractions are the setting for a new children’s series on WTTW-Channel 11 starring Tim Kazurinsky.

“Moochie Kalala Detectives Club” each week will follow two Chicago area kids, played by Evelyn Alumbreros and Gregory Vasquez, as they pursue fact-finding missions inspired by the tall tales told by their grandfather, played by Kazurinsky, the Chicago actor.

Tim Kazurinsky

Opening with a visit to the Adler Planetarium, the show will air at 11 a.m. Sundays on the public television station, starting this weekend. Each episode will be repeated at 7 a.m. Saturdays.

“One of the fantastic things about ‘Moochie Kalala Detectives Club’ is that Chicagoland families can watch an episode, and then immediately jet off to the local featured cultural institution to help answer their own science questions and encourage their kids’ continuing curiosity,” producer Estlin Feigley said in a statement.

“Kids will love seeing the stars from the show in person, whether it’s Sue, the T. rex from the Field Museum, or Azizi, the first gorilla to master his memory skills on a touch-screen computer at Lincoln Park Zoo.”

Feigley and his wife, Kelli, principals of Chicago-based Dreaming Tree Films, are the creative team behind the series, which includes partnerships with local schools.

Future episodes in the initial six-week run include visits to the Museum of Science and Industry (January 25), Lincoln Park Zoo (February 1), the Field Museum (February 8), the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust (February 15) and Shedd Aquarium (February 22).

“We know how important it is to encourage curiousness and interest in science while kids are young,” Feigley said. “However, we also know kids don’t generally want to watch ‘educational shows.’ That’s why ‘Moochie Kalala Detectives Club’ looks and feels like ‘ice cream’ to kids – it’s a fast-paced adventure that’s silly and funny – but parents know it’s really broccoli and it’s good for them.”