Midwest travel: Sample goodies on the Gold Coast, arts fest in Iowa
Chicago
Gold nuggets
The eighth annual Taste of the Gold Coast brings the opportunity to sample innovative bites from some of the neighborhood's renowned restaurants. Each eatery's head chef will whip up gourmet menu items. Try bites from Carmine's, The Pump Room, Devon Seafood Grill, Gaylord India, Del Frisco's Steakhouse, Grill on the Alley, Francesca's and more. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at Germania Place, 108 E. Germania Place, Chicago. Tickets cost $60 at http://bit.ly/2l7S7fc. Use the special Daily Herald code, HERALD17, and your ticket is just $39.
Bunny town
Celebrate Easter at Pheasant Run Resort with a holiday brunch and a lineup of family activities. Resort guests and locals can get in on two Easter Egg Hunts, a petting zoo, a free family portrait studio and visits from the Easter Bunny during both the Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Day Brunch. Family-friendly events take place all weekend, and reservations are recommended for brunch. Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. For a full schedule of Easter events, visit pheasantrun.com or call (630) 584-6300 for brunch reservations.
Midwest
Lucky suds
Blue Chip Brewfest celebrates its lucky seventh year of beer sampling at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in nearby Michigan City, Indiana. There will be about 300 craft brews from more than 80 breweries on hand. Choose among three ticket packages, including a Brewmaster package that includes lunch with Laura Bell from Bell's Brewery. Other festivities include a silent auction for premium items and other beer-themed collectibles, with proceeds benefiting a local charity, and live entertainment by the Allen Wronko Band. Food available for purchase includes brats, hot dogs and pretzels, and all of the Blue Chip restaurants will be open. The property has 272 guest rooms and 30 suites, so you might consider spending the night. 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, 777 Blue Chip Drive, Michigan City, Indiana. Tickets start at $45 and are available at ticketmaster.com and at the Blue Chip Gift Box at Blue Chip Casino. For details, visit bluechipcasino.com.
Mission possible
So you missed SXSW in Austin, Texas? Head to Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City, Iowa, when dozens of musicians, artists and writers perform and read at downtown venues. The annual celebration of the arts features performers such as Andrew Bird, Margaret Cho, Saeed Jones, Rufus Wainwright, Ghostface Killah, The Cool Kids, Mykki Blanco, Tennis, My Brightest Diamond, Cloud Nothings and many others in concerts, comedic performances, literary readings, film screenings, public lectures, food and culture events. This year's festival focuses on literature and its interplay with other art forms. And on Saturday, April 8, the festival offers a series of free, family-friendly, daytime community events. Most events are within five minutes walking distance from each other. Tuesday through Sunday, April 4-9, at various venues in downtown Iowa City, Iowa. Ticket prices vary per event and are available online at http://bit.ly/2017MCF. For more info and to see a full schedule, visit missioncreekfestival.com/.
Sticky fingers
It may be your last chance to see the tapping of the trees in 2017. The Maple Syrup Festival at the MacKenzie Environmental Center (between the Wisconsin Dells and Madison, Wisconsin), serves up a pancake breakfast, guided tours of the sugarbush, horse-drawn wagon rides, demonstrations of tapping and syrup making, talks about how Native Americans and pioneers made syrup, old-time music and more. Hit the concession stand, have breakfast and enter raffles for an extra cost. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, County Road CS & Q, Poynette, Wisconsin. Pancake breakfast is $7 for those 12 and older and $5 for kids 3-11 in the lodge; guided tours and demonstrations are free. (608) 635-8105 or dnr.wi.gov/education/Mackenzie.