Brother, have you got a D-flat?
Chicago
Brother, have you got a D-flat?
You say your entertainment dollars have shrunk to next to nothing in the deteriorating economy? That's perfect in the sense that the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents three free concerts in April as part of the Chicago Cultural Center Presents series. The ongoing showcase series highlights critically acclaimed national and international musicians who are rarely seen by Midwestern audiences in mainstream venues. All concerts takes place at 7 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. On Wednesday, April 8, enjoy the South Indian classical music of the Carnatica Brothers; Scottish folk is the star when Julie Fowlis hits the stage Saturday, April 25, and on Monday, April 27, it's Afro-European Jazz courtesy of Carmen Souza. Call (312) 744-6630 for more information.
A guy goes into a bar-
Between the dreadful weather and appalling politics, it's no wonder improvisational comedy got its start in Chicago. It all comes together during the 12th annual Chicago Improv Festival Monday to Sunday, April 13-19, when a diverse collection of performers (90 ensembles from nine countries) perform at venues around the city. See "Saturday Night Live" alums as well as emerging stars, attend free parties or sign up for classes and workshops to hone your own improv skills. Emmy-award winner Joe Flaherty, of television's "SCTV" and "Freaks and Geeks," receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's fest, too. For details and tickets, call (773) 935-9810 or chuckle about chicagoimprovfestival.org.
Takes two to tango
It's three days of wango tango at the University of Chicago during the 2009 Chicago Mini Tango Festival Friday to Sunday, April 17-19. Master instructors from Buenos Aires, DJs from San Francisco, Albuquerque and New York and lots of love for the alluring dance fill the weekend. Don't be shy - there are classes for the total beginner (some free) to the experienced dancer. No need to worry about dancing with the cars, either - expect plenty of free on-street parking, too. Sashay over to chicagotangofestival.com for details.
Midwest
Short journey to Gurnee
The kids are longing for a theme park experience, but you can't swing a trip to Orlando? Six Flags Great America in Gurnee opens earlier this year making it the longest season ever with 18 additional operating days as well as first-time pricing deals and new rides and attractions. The season pass, at $69.99, is the lowest price in five years and only $15 more than a one-day ticket. Take advantage of the "Everyone Pays Kids' Price" deal: a $20 daily ticket discount available online until June 7. The park is open weekends in April and daily operations begin on Monday, May 18. Visit sixflags.com for a complete list of operating hours and facts about tickets, shows, rides, attractions and events.
Everything's coming up roses and dandelions
Plan now to attend Michigan's oldest and largest multicommunity festival, Blossomtime Festival, in and around St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Mich. Held Sunday, April 26, to Saturday, May 2, the fest is a celebration of the agricultural industry in southwest Michigan that encompasses 24 communities from the opening ceremony (the Blessing of the Blossoms) to the Grand Floral Parade held on the first Saturday in May. Cultivate your accommodations and itinerary by calling (269) 926-7397 or dig around swmichigan.org. I feel the earth move under my feet
The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, has a full roster of earthy activities to celebrate Earth Day, 2009 - so many, in fact, it's an entire weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19. Meet former NASA astronaut Mark Lee, a guy who has had a bird's-eye view of the planet during four space flights traveling over 13 million miles in space. You'll learn what motivated him to plant more than 140,000 trees on his farm and see a behind-the-scenes video of what it's like to train for a space shuttle flight. Kids can make a plant container out of newspaper and plant a tree seed in it to grow at home during "The New Tree Times" in the Children's Garden. Adults can poke around the Green Boutique to see the latest environmentally friendly products in home décor, cosmetics, luxury apparel and more. Visit mortonarb.org or call (630) 968-0074.
Worth the trip
Looking for a Southern California vacation that's actually affordable? Consider the city of Long Beach offering a boatload of complimentary and low-priced fun for visitors: enjoy free admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific or the city's two largest art museums; ride around town via a two-hour Segway tour for $35 (a discount of $30) Monday through Friday throughout April; travel around downtown Long Beach for free on the Passport shuttle; stay at the Varden Hotel, Long Beach's first European-style boutique hotel for $109 per night. Jet Blue flies direct from Chicago to Long Beach's easy to navigate airport, too. For more information on free events and low-priced offerings or to plan a getaway, explore visitlongbeach.com or call (800) 452-7829.
- Jacky Runice