On the road: Downtown music
Chicago
You can always go downtown
Check out an eclectic mix of live music performed at the outdoor Pritzker Pavilion that includes cutting-edge indie rock, pop bands and even some rock veterans at Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays. Some of the highlights of the free series include Iron and Wine, Justin Townes Earle, Blonde Redhead, Low, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Ted Leo, the UK’s Seefeel, France’s Ben L’Oncle Soul and Niger’s Bombino, along with Chicago favorites Rachel Ries and Andre Williams.
6:30 p.m. Mondays, May 23 to July 25, at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Call (312) 742-1168 or visit millenniumpark.org.
Ride your bike on Lake Shore Drive
Glide down Lake Shore Drive, minus the exhaust fumes, with around 25,000 other biking enthusiasts during Bike the Drive, a once-a-year opportunity to enjoy Chicago’s skyline when Lake Shore Drive is closed to cars and open to two-wheeled modes of transportation. You’ll be able to cycle on all lanes of Lake Shore Drive for a 30-mile route (there’s also a 15-mile option if you began training last week or so). It’s held rain or shine, and there are rest stops with water, food and facilities. The post-ride fun includes music and food at a festival in Grant Park.
5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 29. The festival runs from 8 a.m. to noon at Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive. The cost is $15 to $55 depending on your age and the date you sign up. Register at bikethedrive.org.
Midwest
Faucets and beer
California may have Napa, but Wisconsin says “cheers” to the Kohler Festival of Beer on tap for Memorial Day weekend. Sample a broad range of suds from breweries across the country, ask questions, learn about the brewing process and vote for your favorites. The weekend officially kicks off with a ceremonial tapping of the kegs and a party with unreleased and limited Wisconsin and American beers, live entertainment and food. Don’t miss the Friday Night Fish Fry, Blues, Brews & BBQ party, cooking with beer workshop, golf tournament, tastings and other beer-themed activities. The festival offers a la carte and day pass tickets as well as hotel packages with The American Club and the Inn on Woodlake.
8 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 27, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, in Kohler, Wis. Prices for events and hotel packages vary. Call (800) 344-2838 or visit DestinationKOHLER.com/beerfestival.
Tangled up in Bob
Bob Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing, Minn., celebrates the music icon’s 70th birthday with the 10th annual Dylan Days festival. The blue-collar mining town welcomes fans with a series of presentations by Dylan scholars and members of Dylan’s high school rock band, The Golden Chords; a ’50s Sock Hop; a singer/songwriter contest; a writing contest and literary showcase; visual arts competition; documentary films; live plays; a Bobby Zimmerman bus tour; and lots of live music performed by artists from across the country.
Event times vary Thursday to Sunday, May 26-29. Most events are free with the purchase of the Dylan Days pin, which is $5. Call (866) 305-3849 or visit dylandays.com.
A whole lot of grilling going on
The World’s Largest Brat Fest isn’t about Hollywood offspring — this one’s about bratwurst and tons of it grilling in Madison, Wis., during the Memorial Day weekend. The planet’s largest touring grill is a semitruck that can cook 750 Johnsonville brats at a time. The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile also will be on hand. The family-friendly fest also offers a carnival, fireworks, kayaking, tons of kids’ activities, a high school band competition and wall to wall music. Proceeds go to charity.
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Sunday, May 27-29, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Willow Island, outside the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wis. Admission is free. Call (608) 276-9797 or visit bratfest.com.
Worth the trip
As Mark Twain said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough.” Get more now that Barton Brands of Kentucky has opened a visitors center at its Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Ky. The center serves as the base of operations for the distillery’s tours, which have been enhanced with new viewing areas. Take the tour and learn about the history of the more than 130-year-old distillery, see the area where the grain is received, plus the hammermill and the still used in making its bourbons.
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Tours start every hour on the hour at 501 Cathedral Manor, Bardstown, Ky. Call (866) 239-4690 or visit 1792bourbon.com.