Midwest travel: Cirque du Soleil's 'TORUK' flies into Chicago Aug. 3-7
Chicago
Pandora's new box
If you've worn out your DVD of "Avatar," the new Cirque du Soleil touring show inspired by James Cameron's record-breaking movie will thrill. "TORUK - The First Flight" comes to the United Center to transport audiences to the world of Pandora in a live experience of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and stagecraft, all to a cinematic score.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 3-5; 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6; and 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Purchase tickets, which start at $42, at ticketmaster.com.
What a wienerful world
If you consider the Chicago-style hot dog a thing of flavorful beauty, the fourth annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest is your nirvana. Held outdoors on the grounds of the Chicago History Museum overlooking Lincoln Park, the event features a music stage, kids' activity area and vendors selling specialty encased meats. Get a cold craft or domestic beer and line up for Edzo's, Wiener Takes All and Fatso's Last Stand dishing out dogs while tunes are delivered by bands like American English, Polkaholics, Catfight, and JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. Speakers opine on subjects such as The Stockyard Saga: When Chicago Ruled the Meatpacking Industry and The Great Meat Debate: Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? Free admission; purchase food and drinks using Dog Dollars (save up to 20 percent with advance purchase). 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Chicago History Museum, Stockton Drive and LaSalle Street, Chicago. Free. (312) 642-4600 or chicagohotdogfest.com/.
Farmer, baker, brewer, chef
Four local food industry females are working together to help grow Illinois' food scene. Claudia Jendron, head brewer at Evanston's Temperance Beer Co., provides buckets of spent grains to Ellen King, head baker and owner at Evanston's Hewn. She creates spent grain bread among other artisan loaves and pastries forged with heritage grains from Andy Hazzard's Hazzard Free Farms. Nicole Pederson, executive chef at Found Kitchen + Social House, purchases various loaves of bread from Hewn to serve to patrons at her restaurant. Their efforts culminate in an upcoming summer harvest, Feast on the Farm, where guests can tour Hazzard's farm, dine on the chef and baker's three-course menu in the open air and sample specialty craft brews forged by Jendron for the event. 2:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Pick up and drop off at Hewn Bakery, 810 Dempster St., Evanston. Transportation provided to Hazzard Free Farm in Pecatonica, Illinois. Tickets cost $135 (includes transportation, drinks and dinner) and are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/2560929.
<URL destination="#photo4">Midwest
</URL>How bratty can you be?
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is the seventh heaven of sausage during its 63rd annual Brat Days. Expect free concerts, a carnival and a parade, plus many kinds of beer to wash down brat-b-q and tons of other specialty items like brat-on-a-stick, brat egg rolls and food starring that other Wisconsin favorite: cheese. Watch or enter the Brat Eating Contest. Last year's winner consumed nearly 20 brats. Plus, don't miss the handmade crafts and bargain shopping, too. 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug 4; 4 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; and 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Kiwanis Park, 726 N. 17th St., Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Free admission, but food tickets are 10 for $5. (920) 803-8980 or brat-days.com/.
House of views
Architectural craftsmanship and history buffs may want to pencil in the Cedarburg Cultural Center's 47th annual Architectural Treasures Tour. See homes that are lovingly preserved as well as examples of current aesthetics and design trends. Cedarburg was selected as one of the Top Six Shopping Destinations by Midwest Living Magazine and recognized as one of the 11 Prettiest Towns in America by Forbes Magazine. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Ave., Cedarburg Wisconsin. Tickets cost $17 in advance and $20 the day of the tour, good for both days and tour-goers may start and stop at properties in any order. Purchase tickets at (262) 375-3676 or cedarburgculturalcenter.org/.
Catch the wind
You don't want to be merely raking up fall color - you want to be in the thick of it as Traverse Tall Ship Company offers a series of educational, entertaining and relaxing multiday cruises in September and October. Set sail on one of the multiday excursions aboard the Schooner Manitou, a replica of an 1800s "coasting" cargo schooner, visiting quaint towns and taking in colorful views of the northern Michigan shoreline. Excursions with remaining availability for the fall include a Six-Day or Four-Day Explorer Cruise; a Four-Day Michigan Craft Beer Cruise; and a Four-Day Star Gazer Cruise. Trips are limited to 22 people, with accommodations provided in 11 double-bunk cabins. Fare includes lodging and all meals and sailing activities. Dates vary in September and October. Ranges from $749-$939 per person. To make reservations, call (800) 678-0383 or order online at tallshipsailing.com/.