On the road: 'Ghosts and Demons' haunt the Art Institute

Chicago

The tell tale art

Get into the Halloween season minus cheesy haunted houses and dreadful candy corn at the Art Institute of Chicago's exhibition “Ghosts and Demons in Japanese Prints,” drawn from the museum's own celebrated collection. The prints feature supernatural beings from well-known folk tales as well as Kabuki adaptations in works dating from the early 18th century to the last years of the 19th century. See the chilling series “One Hundred Ghost Tales” by Katsushika Hokusai with images of ghouls and skeletal ghosts and depictions of Shoki, the Demon Queller.

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, until 8 p.m. Thursdays, now through Jan. 4 at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 499-4111 or artic.edu.

Quiet riot

With Midwestern craft beer getting all the attention, wine sippers needn't feel left out when attending the Wine Riot held in the Great Hall at Chicago's Union Station. Sample hundreds of wines from around the world, take a 20-minute crash course in various vino topics, listen to live music, talk to wine pros, taste test at the bubbly bar, and join in workshops like Wine 101 to learn the difference between dry and sweet, oaked and unoaked, young and mature, etc.

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Union Station, 500 W. Jackson Blvd. Each session costs $60. Get tickets at secondglass.com/event-categories/wineriot/chicago-2014-fall.

The acme of October

ACME Hotel Chicago celebrates Chicago Artists Month with an Art Rocks! hotel package full of creative fun whether art aficionado or novice. Book the Art Rocks! package, and in addition to an overnight stay in a standard king room, you can enjoy the Art & Architect Segway tour of Chicago, a BYOB painting class at Arts n Spirits Bucktown studio, and a Chicago Street Art book for you to take home. Take advantage of the hotel's free coffee delivery, Wi-Fi, on-site doughnut shop and cool cocktail lounge.

Now through Oct. 31 at ACME Hotel Chicago, 15 E. Ohio St. Package rates start at $299. To reserve the package online go to acmehotelcompany.com.

Midwest

Tales from the dark side

Listen to Old World immigrant folk and fairy tales as well as Wisconsin ghost stories from the 19th and early 20th centuries during Halloween Legends and Lore at Old World Wisconsin. Hear about the origins of Wisconsin's Ridgeway ghost, witness Baba Yaga come to life, hear tales by the bonfire, navigate mazes, snack and enjoy other Halloween fun strolling the 1800s crossroads village after dark. Best enjoyed by children ages 8 and older.

5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 and 25 and Friday, Oct. 31, at Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle, Wisconsin. Adults $10; children 5-17 $7; free for kids younger than 5. For details and tickets, call (262) 594-6301 or see wihist.org/HalloweenOWW2014.

Orange is the new whack

Costume contests, a pie-eating competition, a pie auction, kids' games, a chili cook-off, hay rides and vendors — it's all part of The Great Pumpkin Festival in Racine County, Wisconsin. Soaring squash will be new this year during the pumpkin chucking contest to see who can throw the orange gourd the farthest. Enjoy savory and sweet treats as well as fall beer.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 25, at the Racine County Fairgrounds, 19805 Durand Ave., Union Grove, Wisconsin. See uniongrovechamber.org for a schedule of events.

Pajama jam

Destination Kohler hosts a ladies-only Kohler Waters Spa Slumber Party that includes a 50-minute signature spa service. Choose the Classic Facial‚ Kohler Massage‚ Lavender Rain or Totally Nails Combo then get ready for a private Late Night Ice Cream Spa Social‚ overnight accommodations at The American Club or Inn on Woodlake‚ and a 25 percent discount on additional spa services. Each lady receives a chic pajama shirt and soothing eye pillow at turndown, too, plus a late checkout on Monday afternoon. There are two wine-themed seasonal spa services that were just introduced to coincide with the Kohler Food & Wine Experience that slumber party gals can add on to their experience.

Sunday and Monday, Oct. 26-27, at The American Club or Inn on Woodlake in Kohler, Wisconsin. Rates start at $303 per person. (855) 444-2838 or www.americanclubresort.com.