On the road: Honor the eagle in Quad Cities
Chicago
Downtown Chicago abbey
Every Sunday in January, Pavilion, in The Langham Chicago, invites “Downton Abbey” aficionados to enjoy teatime inspired by the insanely popular British television series. Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea is “veddy, veddy” proper, served by white-gloved waiters and including traditional food items inspired by those served in England throughout the Edwardian period. Savory items may include Smoked Salmon Rillettes; Coronation Chicken Salad; Deviled Egg Salad with truffle served on a brioche bun; and Watercress and Cucumber sandwich. Manchester Pudding, Raspberry Charlotte, Queen's Cake and Lemon Drop Cookies round out the sweet side.
Seatings at 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25. The Langham Chicago, 330 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago. Cost is $50 for adults and $30 for children under the age of 10, excluding tax and gratuity. Call (312) 923-7710 for a reservation.
Everybody's talking at me
If you have a teller of tall tales in your house, consider a trip into the city to see how the professionals spin fantastic yarns at the 18th annual Fillet of Solo Festival. The event is a celebration of Chicago's storytelling and live literature scene, with opportunities to see and hear solo and group performances throughout the three-week festival. Lifeline Theatre and Live Bait Theater bring 16 solo performers and storytelling collectives together for powerful personal stories some absurd, others touching, and many funny.
Performance times vary, Friday to Sunday, Jan. 9 through 25, at the Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., and Heartland Studio Theatre, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $10 for each performance; Festival Passes are available for $50 allowing unlimited admission. (773) 761- 4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.
Midwest
Happy trails to you
If you really want to start the new year losing some bulk, consider cross country skiing which can burn nearly 800 calories in an hour, or snowshoeing, which can burn around 500 calories. Winter Trails Day is the day to start when adults and children can try both activities for free at around 100 resorts and Nordic Centers nationwide. There are experts and equipment on hand to help you get started and a number of participating locations are located in Wisconsin and Michigan, such as Justin Trails Resort in Sparta, Wisconsin; Minocqua Winter Park Nordic Center; Crystal Mountain Resort Spa in Thompsonville, Michigan; and Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, Michigan.
Times vary per location, Saturday, Jan. 10. Visit wintertrails.org for a location, complete online registration, and to print the completed page to take along.
Balderdash
The Quad Cities area plays host to 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 Expo Center. Thousands turn out for the annual event which includes live eagle and birds of prey demonstrations; Pella Wildlife Company's wolf demonstrations; and the Niabi Zoo's exotic animals. There are over 100 display booths, and a 20-foot climbing tower and free shuttle bus service from the Expo Center to spotting scopes set up courtesy of the Quad City Audubon Society at Sunset Marina in Rock Island for fantastic eagle watching opportunities.
4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for kids. qccaexpocenter.com or (800) 747-7800.
Multi-tasking fun
It will be a riot of juggling workshops, demonstrations, competitions, vendors, a raffle and more at the annual MadFest Juggling Festival in January. A mesmerizing public show includes plenty of juggling, as well as lots of other object manipulation, comedy, music, yo-yos, slapstick and much more suitable for the whole family.
Open juggling: 7 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Jan. 16; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, Jan. 17-18. MadFest Juggling Festival, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave., Madison, Wisconsin. Open juggling is free. Tickets to the fest are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. (608) 241-8633 or madjugglers.com
Worth the trip
Yellowstone's Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs #8212; just two lodges open during the winter season in the park #8212; have availability this winter and there is still time to book a vacation package in this popular destination. The lodges offer guest rooms and cabins, full- and quick-service restaurants, lounge, gift shop, ski shop and a lobby with fireplace. Enjoy many thermal features, unparalleled wildlife viewing, and a serene, winter atmosphere.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Rates for a two-night stay start at $389 per person for double occupancy and $588 for single occupancy. (866) 439-7375 or YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.