Midwest travel: Admire Warhol, Johns masterpieces in new Art Institute installation
Chicago
The New Contemporary shines
The Art Institute of Chicago unveils a gift of 44 contemporary masterpieces, including works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Cindy Sherman and others, that will serve to tell a richer story of contemporary art for visitors. Displayed in the newly reinstalled galleries of the Modern Wing, The New Contemporary installation offers a free (with museum admission) public lecture on opening day as well. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Lecture is from 2 to 3 p.m. in Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 443-3600 or artic.edu.
Seasonal blowout
The Palmer House Hilton Hotel will once again host a holiday favorite, TUBACHRISTMAS, in its Grand and State Ballrooms. Around 400 tuba and euphonium musicians perform TUBACHRISTMAS, which is free to attend, but you must claim a wristband at the check-in desk to determine the time to enter. In addition to the festivities in the ballrooms, the hotel's restaurant and bars will be serving holiday-themed beverages. 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 (wristband distribution begins at 8 a.m.), at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Bring a donation of a nonperishable food item for the Chicago Food Depository. (312) 726-7500 or palmerhousehiltonhotel.com.
Hole up in comfort on NYE
Join in on Chicago's biggest New Year's Eve celebration and let the Fairmont Chicago play host with its Millennium Park's Chi-town Rising packages. Just steps from the Magnificent Mile, Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park is offering two packages: the Chi-town Rising Package includes a two-night stay for two guests and breakfast for two from in-room dining daily. The VIP package includes two nights for two guests and two VIP Audience Zone Chi-town Rising Tickets (valued at $150) with featured bands Chicago and American Authors as headliners. Dec. 26- Jan. 3: Chi-town Rising Package starts at $379. Dec. 30-Jan. 2: VIP Chi-town Rising Package starts at $379. Available at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago. (312) 565-8000 or themillenniumparkhotel.com/special-offers/new-years-eve.
Midwest
Snow cool
It's time to try skijoring (cross-country skiing by way of a dog pulling you), and the place to do it this season may be Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena. Fever River Outfitters offers a schedule of activities, and the Nordic Center at Eagle Ridge is available to guests and non-guests to rent or buy all kinds of outdoor equipment. Partake in miles of cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails, a sledding hill and a scenic one-acre outdoor skating pond. Sign up for a Twilight Snowshoe Hike or a Cross-country Ski Clinic. Skijorers must bring their own dogs, which are allowed to stay in the pet-friendly homes and villas available for rent on the Eagle Ridge property. Nordic Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with extended hours for special activities, at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, Galena, Illinois. (815) 776-5033 or eagleridge.com.
Cherry plop
New York City might have its famous New Year's Eve ball drop, but Traverse City, Michigan, stays true to form with its CherryT Ball Drop. Ring in the new year at the northern Michigan street party featuring a massive illuminated cherry that is lowered to celebrate the start of 2016. Expect live music, dancing and entertainment in downtown Traverse City, and get tickets for the extraordinary magic show at the Traverse City Opera House. CherryT is a play on words for Charity and the cherry, a symbol of the Traverse City region, which grows about 75 percent of the nation's tart cherry crop each year. 10 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Dec. 31, on Front Street in Traverse City, Michigan. A suggested admission donation is $3 or three nonperishable food items. cherrytballdrop.com.
Something's fishy
There are no ball drops during Carp Fest in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, but the town does manage to drop a ginormous frozen Mississippi River rough fish on New Year's Eve. The fun includes building carp snow sculptures as well as arts-and-crafts carp making. Get out those post holiday frustrations by whacking a carp piñata, go on a hot-air balloon ride or check out La Riviere park, which offers evening sledding, hiking along a torch-lit trail and a giant bonfire. Bring your sleds or cross-country skis. The festival peaks with a laser and fireworks display and the Droppin' of the Carp. 9 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 31, at various venues in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. (800) 732-1673 or carpfest.org.