New comics exhibit at museum

="briefhead">Chicago

Last comic standing

What were your favorites? Betty and Veronica? Spiderman and Superman? Comics aren't just fanciful relics, but modern, authentic art, and you can see the work of four emerging Chicago-based cartoonists and animators in the #8220;New Chicago Comics#8221; exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Artists Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carré, Paul Hornschemeier and Anders Nilsen offer a unique style that expands the conventions of the comic book. Comics, illustrations and hand-drawn animated short films will be included.

220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, Jan. 8-30. Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, 12 years old and under free. Free admission on Tuesday. (312) 280-2660 or visit mcachicago.org.

Where have all the flowers gone?

Head to the Old Town School of Folk Music for #8220;Weavermania,#8221; a tribute to The Weavers (a musical group that influenced a generation of artists). The show will feature Barbara Barrow, Mark Dvorak, Chris Walz and Chicago songwriter/actor Michael Smith.

4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9. Tickets are $16-$20. Call (773) 728-6000 or visit oldtownschool.org.

Hilarity ensues

The 10th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the world's largest sketch comedy festival, celebrates the best in local, national and international sketch comedy over two weeks in Chicago. The festival will feature 120 sketch comedy troupes performing 152 shows. Think you're #8220;SNL#8221; material? Sign up for a forum or attend networking events. There also will be Saturday afternoon shows featuring performances by and for kids and teens.

1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. Times vary Thursday, Jan. 6, to Sunday, Jan, 16. Tickets are $14. Call (773) 327-5252 or visit Stage773.com.

="briefhead">Midwest

Going mobile

Snowmobiling was born in Wisconsin, and today you can traverse miles of pristine snowmobile trails that meander through the scenic forests and lakes of the Badger State. Why not start at the top? Eagle River, which bills itself as the #8220;Snowmobile Capital of the World,#8221; five snowmobile clubs that groom 600 miles of trails daily, many through the Nicolet National Forest and around 2,400 lakes. There are snowmobile guides and rentals as well as comfy spots to snooze like lodge homes at Wild Eagle Lodge and cabins at Eagle Waters Resort.

Call (800) 359-6315 or visit eagleriver.org for lodging, rentals and rates.

Balderdash encouraged

The Quad Cities area plays host countless bald eagles making their annual southern migration from Canada to the unfrozen waters of the Mississippi River. Attend the largest event in the Midwest dedicated to our national symbol of freedom during Bald Eagle Days at the Quad Cities CA Expo Center. Thousands turn out for the annual event, which includes live eagle programs, bird of prey demonstrations from the World Bird Sanctuary, a wildlife art show and sale, working robot demonstrations and a 20-foot climbing wall. Spotting scopes are set up courtesy of the Quad City Audubon Society at Sunset Marina in Rock Island for eagle-watching opportunities.

4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island, Ill. Call (800) 747-7800 or visit qccaexpocenter.com.

Ice breakers

College students from around the Midwest prove their mettle at the Collegiate Ice Sculpting Invitational hosted by Holland, Mich., and the National Ice Carving Association. Students compete in competitions transforming 300-pound blocks of ice into shimmering works of art using chain saws, torches and more. Stick around town and enjoy the shops and restaurants in downtown Holland.

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at 44 West 9th St., Holland. Call (616) 988-6187 or visit downtownhollandice.com.

="briefhead">Worth the trip

This is not your average pie-in-the-sky event. Inns and restaurants in Rockland, Maine, serve up everything pie-style like Shepherd's Pie, gourmet pizza pies, sweet and savory Italian galletes, seafood pies, whoopie pies and a signature Key Lime pie to celebrate National Pie Day. Rockland has been dubbed #8220;Pie Town USA#8221; by the Food Network and lives up to its name during the seventh annual pie-a-thon. Visitors can sample raspberry and blueberry pie at the Berry Manor Inn, a cranberry apple pie at the Granite Inn, Cornish meat pasties at Captain Lindsey House, sweet potato pie and a sugar-free, lavender, honey and yogurt pie. There is also the Parade Pie Tour.

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. Tickets for the Pies on Parade Inn-to-Inn Tour are $25 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. To order tickets in advance, call (877) 762-4667 or visit historicinnsofrockland.com/pies.aspx.