Midwest travel: Intuit fetes Chicago artist Darger with new exhibit

Chicago

Use your intuition

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art will soon host “Betwixt and Between: Henry Darger's Vivian Girls,” the third exhibition in a yearlong series of exhibits and programming honoring Chicago artist Henry Darger's life and work. The exhibit opens on the 125th anniversary of Darger's birth and features major works that include double-sided, panoramic drawings with watercolor and collage spanning up to eight feet long, portraits of the Vivian princesses and resource materials from Intuit's archives. The museum has planned a day of events to celebrate the Chicago artist's birthday, including a film screening with an intermission for a Q&A with Darger's neighbor, Betsy Fuchs, a gallery talk and an opening reception. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; open until 7:30 p.m. Thursday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday (except school holidays) from Wednesday, April 12, through Sept. 4 at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $5 admission; free for members and kids younger than 12. See art.org/.

That hits the spa-t

Ah, spring! Or better yet, Spa Week, when hundreds of spas offer the opportunity to explore wellness in affordable ways. Spa Week's Spring 2017 event features detoxifying treatments, massages, facials and nail services generally costing between $100-$500 available for just $50 each. Local opportunities include a Tension Relief Massage, Vargas Classic Facial and a Mother Earth Embrace Body Wrap available at Spa Vargas at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Michigan Ave.'s Elizabeth Adam Salon and Day Spa offers a High Heels Healer, LED Facial and a Haircut + Deep Conditioning Treatment - for $50 each. See the website for other Chicago-area deals. Spa Week runs April 17-23. Book treatments at spaweek.com or purchase a Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, which are accepted at more than 9,000 spa and wellness locations across North America and that may be used during Spa Week or any time of the year without expiration.

Pool your assets

Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile can be a great escape for adults or a great way to entertain the kids while they're off school. The historic junior-Olympic-sized pool is heaven for kids and adults, or get a dose of history with a walking iPod tour that highlights the background stories and unique historical aspects of the building, which was built in 1929 as Medinah Men's Athletic Club. Consider one of many packages, including the Family Fun Package (overnight accommodations; free in-room movie; Garrett Popcorn; a deck of playing cards; two Michael Jordan's Steak House baseball hats; and use of a Wii console in your room) or the Girl's Getaway Package (overnight accommodations in the Executive Tower; free upgrade to a suite upon check-in based on availability; strawberries and Champagne upon arrival; a bottle of wine and cheese plate at ENO Wine Bar; a $25 Starbucks gift card; and exclusive discounts at select retailers including the Second City's UP Comedy Club and Drybar salon). Valid through 2017 at the InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Book a package at (312) 944-4100 or see icchicagohotel.com/.

Midwest

Nothing but brew skies

Spend an April weekend gearing up for summer with brews, burgers and bands at the Ridge Hotel in Lake Geneva. In partnership with Geneva National Resort, the hotel is offering 15 overnight packages that include admission for two to the Brews and Blues Craft Beer Event Saturday, April 22, and Geneva Lakes sixth annual Burger Throwdown Sunday, April 23. The beer event features unlimited samplings of more than 100 craft beers from around the U.S.; a full day of live Chicago blues music; a photo booth; and concessions. The burger throwdown offers sampling and judging of Lake Geneva's best burgers plus live music, craft beer and more. Friday through Sunday, April 21-23, at the Ridge Hotel, W4240 WI-50, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The two-night beer and burger package starts at $164.50 per person. Book at (800) 225-5558 or see ridgelakegeneva.com/brews-burgers/.

Rotary connection

Snag the opportunity to explore the beautiful Rotary Botanical Gardens Janesville for free at a family-friendly Earth Day celebration. Kids will appreciate entertainment provided by the Zoozort mini zoo. A live animal program at 11 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. will feature exotic animals from around the world, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and giant cockroaches. Tickets for the program cost $3 for those 3 and older. Plus, sample food from local food truck vendors. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, Wisconsin. (608) 314-8412 or rotarybotanicalgardens.org/event/earth-day/.

Spring for an up-north getaway

Traverse City Uncorked is a monthlong celebration of local wines this May. A collaboration of Traverse City Tourism, the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail and the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, the promotion showcases the area's burgeoning wine and cuisine scene with interesting and delish experiences and specials at participating venues throughout the region. There are lodging packages with complimentary wine tasting, a Sips & Giggles Comedy Show, Swine & Dine Dinner, tasting room specials, chef events, winemaker dinners, wine education and more. Throughout May 2017. Get a schedule of events and a list of lodging packages as well as tickets at traversecityuncorked.com/.