On the road: New Adler space show
Chicago
Warm welcome to the universe
The Adler Planetarium unveils a new immersive space experience called “Welcome to the Universe” in the Grainger Sky Theater. Travel a billion light years and back through space, orbit the moon, zoom into a canyon on Mars and soar through galaxies before coming back home traveling the speed of light.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday to Sunday at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Show and general admission is $28 for adults and $22 for kids ages 3-11. Call (312) 922-7827 or adlerplanetarium.org
Venerable art fair
Chicago's 57th Street Art Fair is celebrating its 64th year and will feature more than 250 artists participating in the annual Hyde Park event. The oldest juried art fair in the Midwest offers aisles of glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics and fiber art. There also will be kids' activities and plenty of food vendors.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at 57th Street and Kimbark Avenue. Free admission. (773) 234-3247 or 57thstreetartfair.org.
Celebrating the sausage
SausageFest returns to Wrigleyville for its second year. It's a whirlwind of encased meat treats at this fest held adjacent to Wrigley Field. SausageFest vendors will include several of the city's best-known butcher and meat shops as well as restaurants, arts and crafts on display, and an eclectic music lineup including Company of Thieves, Treaty of Paris and Ha Ha Tonka.
Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, June 2-3, at Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street, Chicago. sausagekingchicago.com.
Midwest
Got milk?
Harvard Milk Days, the granddaddy of Illinois festivals, celebrates 71 years of dairy heritage. The festival has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to three days of dairy-related events: cattle care, feeding and milking demonstrations; a two-hour parade on the Milky Way in downtown Harvard, a craft show, horse show, grilling competition, hot-air balloon launch, bed races, entertainment, carnival rides and games, and food and fireworks at Milky Way Park.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1-3, at 300 Lawrence Road, Harvard. Free admission, but parking is $3. (815) 943-4614 or milkdays.com.
Indy music, food and wine
Taste what Indianapolis offers at its 13th annual Vintage Indiana Wine Food Festival. Held in the downtown area, the festival offers samples of more than 200 award-winning wines, food from some of Indiana's top culinary experts, food and wine sessions with chefs and winemakers, musicians performing throughout the day; artists' booths and even a KidZone for interactive fun.
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Military Park, in Indianapolis. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the gate for adults; $10 in advance, $10 at the gate for designated drivers 21 and older; $5 for children age 6 to 20. (800) 359-2968 or vintageindiana.com
Something's fishy
Take advantage of a free fishing weekend throughout the state of Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents can fish without a fishing license during the two days, so pack up the kids or make a date to attend fishing clinics and special activities planned at state and local parks. There are even tackle loaner sites at several state parks and DNR regional offices where you can borrow equipment.
Saturday to Sunday, June 2-3, throughout Wisconsin. (888) 936-7463 or dnr.wi.gov.
Worth the trip
Are you envious that you didn't have a foreign exchange experience when you were a student? Through Foreign Exchange Experiences Abroad for Adults and Seniors, you can participate in a cultural exchange program similar to those available to high school and college students. You'll visit gardens, explore castles, go hiking and biking, take cooking lessons, eat at restaurants and shop in stores only locals know about. FEXEXA programs are excellent options for the more seasoned traveler and allows participants to become involved with the people and immersed in the culture of each county. Length of stay can be as short as one to three weeks or longer in some countries.
Programs are available year round and costs vary. (786) 216-7302 or fexexa.com.