Midwest travel: 5-day CIMMfest blends best of movies, music in Chicago
Chicago
Movies. Music. Mingle.
Love the music you hear in movies? Then the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest), a five-day showcase celebrating the connection between music and movies, is for you. See films with a music connection during the day and live music with a film connection at night. The event features uncommon films from various cultures and countries, lively concerts and VJ/DJ sets, live score performances and industry panels taking place in theaters, galleries, bars, music venues and more. To mark the 50th anniversary of the classic Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds," CIMMfest will present a Brian Wilson retrospective, as well as pay tribute to David Bowie with a retrospective of his film work. And, if you're into the technical side of things, check out CIMMcon, which is two days of panels, presentations and workshops for the film/music and tech industry April 16-17. Wednesday through Sunday, April 13-17, at various venues in Wicker Park and Logan Square in Chicago. Individual event tickets start at $8 for concerts and $12 for films; passes start at $79, VIP passes at $149. Get tickets and the full schedule at cimmfest.org or call (773) 234-CIMM.
Paint the town Pinot
If you gave up merlot and found affection for Pinot Noir after seeing the film "Sideways," you'll want to know about Pinot Days Chicago. The event gathers 48 wine producers to paint the town a nice juicy red with winemaker dinners, wine and food pairings at local wine bars and restaurants, tastings at boutique stores and the Grand Festival at Navy Pier, which is limited to 1,000 attendees. Grand Festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. VIP tasting; 2 to 5 p.m. public tasting Saturday, April 16, at Lakeview Terrace, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $75 for the Grand Festival; $125 VIP tasting and seminar. Get details at pinotdays.com/Festivals/Chicago.asp.
One more thing
More than 300 juried artists are a part of the first One of a Kind Spring Show held at the Merchandise Mart. Expect to see a wide range of handcrafted items (Hello, Mother's Day) including housewares, personal accessories, bronze sculptures, wall hangings and panels, and candles in warm-weather scents like Asian Pear Blossom, Italian Bergamot and Cardamom and Teak. Pick up some cool children's accessories such as tutus and beanies for the new babies in your life, too. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 29; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor, Chicago. Tickets cost $10 for adults, free for kids 12 and younger. For tickets or details, visit oneofakindshowchicago.com/spring/attend.
Midwest
Movie mania
Movie lovers can choose from 150 film screenings over eight days at the Wisconsin Film Festival. Taking place every spring, the Madison-based fest is the largest university-produced film festival in the nation. See American independent movies, international cinema, documentaries, experimental and avant-garde films, restored classics, and Wisconsin's Own Competition featuring Wisconsin filmmakers, themes or settings. There's even Children's Cinema: Big Screens, Little Folks. Screenings take place at various Madison venues including the historic Barrymore Theatre. April 14-21 in Madison, Wisconsin. General admission is $10 with discounts for students, seniors, military and kids. (877) 963-3456 or wifilmfest.org.
Take it for Granted
There will be more than cake to honor the 194th birthday of General Ulysses S. Grant in Galena, Illinois. See an artillery encampment; take a Main Street Walking Tour with General Grant; get in on a pie auction or a spy trial; enjoy free admission and refreshments at the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum; and don't miss appearances by President and Mrs. Lincoln and General and Mrs. Grant. On Sunday, attend a Historic Methodist Service, with a circuit-rider preacher, at the Galena United Methodist Church, where the Grant family worshipped, followed by a potluck. Events start at 5 p.m. Friday, April 15; 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16 (last event starts at 7 p.m.); and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17, in Galena, Illinois. Get the schedule at www.galenahistory.org/events/u-s-grant-birthday or call (815) 777-9129.
Worth the trip
If those half-dozen daffodils that emerged last week set your heart aflutter, imagine the glee of witnessing acres of the cheery flowers as well as dogwoods, peonies and perennials in Western Connecticut. Displays are open and free to the public at the Laurel Ridge Foundation near Litchfield where 10,000 daffodil bulbs were sown in 1941 multiplying exponentially to create carpets of color in woodland fields. Treat mom to the 81st annual Dogwood Festival in May, when she will revel in the magnificent trees that were planted in 1705 and now canopy the area. Count on New England artisans and crafters, sales, live music and children's activities. And finally, mid-May brings the annual Peony Festival to Thomaston, Connecticut. For details about the Laurel Ridge Foundation, see litchfielddaffodils.com. The Dogwood Festival runs May 6-8. See greenfieldhillchurch.com/dogwood-festival. Details about the Peony Festival can be found at treepeony.com. To find out more about the area, visit visitwesternct.com.