On the road: Windy City BBQ Classic takes over Soldier Field

Chicago

Smoke on the water

What can make the sight of Chicago's lake shore and cityscape even sweeter? The scent of barbecue wafting through the fall air during the Windy City BBQ Classic. Held at Soldier Field, the competition promises craft barbecue, beer and tips from more than 40 pitmasters. Sample and judge barbecue (no gas or electricity used) from local and national restaurants chased by some of the area's best craft beer. Rob Levitt from Butcher and Larder conducts a pig butchering demo and there will be live blues music, too.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive. Tickets cost $49-$118.50. windycitybbqclassic.com.

Tempeh temptations

While the meat eaters celebrate in Soldier Field, the opposite of barbecue takes place in Edgewater #8212; the Chicago Vegan Mania festival. Vegan restaurants, food companies, entrepreneurs, health experts, chefs, organizations, musicians and artists will be part of the herbivore celebration. Learn about vegan food and fashion through various workshops and speakers, chef demos, trainers, authors and others while sampling vegan delights.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. $3 suggested donation. (312) 742-7502 or chicagoveganmania.com.

In your wheel house

Wheeling's Taste of the Town #8220;Healthy Harvest#8221; celebration is a grand way to spend a Thursday night with nibbles and select wine and craft beers from more than 20 local restaurants. Sample the efforts of eateries such as Allgauer's on the Riverfront, Bob Chinn's Crab House, Buca di Beppo, Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants, Pete Miller's, Pinstripes, Sullivan's Steakhouse, Superdawg Drive-In and others. Other senses are tickled, too, with live entertainment, a silent auction, raffle prizes and chef demonstrations. A portion of proceeds benefit three local charities. Present your Taste of the Town ticket to participating restaurants after the event wraps up to receive discounts and deals.

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. Advance tickets (through Oct. 8) cost $30, which you can purchase at wphchamber.com or by calling (847) 541-0170 for info and group sales. Tickets cost $40 at the door.

You can call me Al

There was a time when Chicago was best known for Al Capone and the stuff of Hollywood crime movies. You can get a taste of the city's notorious gangster legacy at a favorite Capone hangout #8212; the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel. The infamous gangster frequented The Blackstone for meetings with associates and for haircuts in the lower lobby barbershop. Book the #8220;Good to Be a Gangster#8221; package, which includes two tickets to Chicago's original gangster tour, The Untouchable Tour; a deluxe room with one king or two queen beds; and a sangria cocktail in Mercat a la Planxa (one per registered guest).

Available Thursday through Sunday through March 15 at the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Ave. Package rates start at $224 per room, per night. (312) 447-0955 or blackstonerenaissance.com/specials.

Midwest

You're covered

Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood may have moved onto countless other projects, but the covered bridges of Madison County remain and sustain the romance illuminated in the film and Robert James Waller's novel, #8220;The Bridges of Madison County.#8221; The 45th Madison County Covered Bridge Festival celebrates the famous covered bridges, John Wayne's birthplace and George Washington Carver's time in town. Take a guided bus tour to the bridges, sample festival food, and see the work of crafters and demonstrators. Other features include a car and quilt show, an Old Fiddlers contest, a free horse-drawn wagon ride to Wayne's house, live music and activities for children.

6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in Winterset, Iowa. For a full schedule, see madisoncounty.com or call (515) 462-1185.

Don't miss Swiss bliss

The Harvest Fest in New Glarus, Wisconsin, has a Swiss twist with old-time activities demonstrated at the Swiss Historical Village. Watch sausage-stuffing and cheese-making in the 1890s cheese factory as well as blacksmithing, yarn spinning and basket weaving. Enjoy a Swiss brätzeli cookie-making demonstration, talk to Civil War re-enactors, experience a one-room schoolhouse and enjoy some live music on the picturesque grounds.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Swiss Historical Village, 612 7th Ave., New Glarus, Wisconsin. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6-13. swisshistoricalvillage.org/events or (608) 527-2317.

Would you burgoo?

A French word for seasoned stew, burgoo, has been historically cooked outdoors in enormous iron kettles over a wood fire for hours and hours. Get your fill of the warming dish at the 45th Burgoo Festival in Utica, Illinois. The street party features kettles full of the pioneer stew as well as more than 300 arts and crafts vendors and lots of live music. Hike off the calories in Starved Rock State Park, a few minutes from downtown Utica.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown Utica, Illinois. Get details at lasallecountymuseum.org or call the LaSalle County Historical Society at (815) 667-4861.