Celebrate Martin Luther King day with Chicago Sinfonietta
Chicago
Listen to the dream unfold
Mark the Martin Luther King holiday with the Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation's most diverse orchestra, and its rousing annual tribute of "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A Dream Unfolds." The concert includes Gabriel Fauré's Pavane Opus 50, Four Negro Spirituals for Orchestra and Soprano with the Sinfonietta being joined by guest soloists and the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and conductor Kazem Abdullah, currently with the Metropolitan Opera, leading Beethoven's majestic Ninth Symphony, with its celebratory "Ode to Joy."
7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18, at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Tickets range from $26-$96 with special pricing available for children and students. Call (312) 236-3681, ext. 2, or visit chicagosinfonietta.org.
Chicago info central
Have the same inside track and tools as out-of-towners when you visit the enhanced Water Works Visitor Center in the historic Pumping Station across the street from Chicago's iconic Water Tower. The remodeled visitor center offers space to browse racks filled with maps and brochures about Chicago-area events, attractions and tours. Visitor information representatives are on hand to answer questions and provide information. Have pizza sandwiches, soups, salads and homemade pie at the on-site First Slice Pie Cafe (a portion of all proceeds is donated to the First Slice community kitchen, which provides meals to the homeless) and see which of 200 theaters are offering half-price tickets at the Hot Tix booth. The Chicago Public Library also has reference books on hand.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. holidays at 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago. Call (877) 244-2246 or visit explorechicago.org
Set your moral compass toward the Art Institute During January, take the self-guided "The Seven Deadly Sins" tour at the Art Institute of Chicago. You'll ponder six works of art with brief, entertaining descriptions including "Danae" by Titian (Lust); the 1614 painting of "Still Life with Dead Game, Fruits, and Vegetables in a Market" by Frans Snyders (gluttony); and other works depicting pride, sloth, greed, wrath and envy. Speaking of envy, visit the main Museum Shop just inside the Michigan Avenue entrance for up to 60 percent savings on select items while quantities last.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.) Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 443-3600 or arctic. ed.
Midwest
Jubilee of Schnee
Events for kids and adults, snow sculpting demos and dog sled rides are on the menu at Schnee Days in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The Schnee (or "snow") Days festival in this east-central Wisconsin town that was settled by Germans includes a big dance, hunt for colored ice cubes, music, a chili contest, card tourney, brat fry, waiter and waitress races and a dessert table presented by the Chamber of Commerce.
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22; kids' activities 1 to 3 p.m. and dance 7: 30 to 11 p.m. Saturday; Jan. 23; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in downtown Elkhart Lake, Wis. Call (877) 355-3554 or visit elkhartlake.com
Coo-Coo for cocoa?
Who wouldn't love a chocolate festival with free samples? The Quad City Botanical Center sets the table for a Chocolate Festival that offers free samples from local bakeries and candy shops, cooking demonstrations of chocolate concoctions, kids finger painting with pudding, free facials, massages and beauty tips from local spas, and a special fashion show called "Chocolate: The New Black." Guides in the center's tropical Sun Garden will show a live chocolate tree and other tropical plants and chocolate vendors will exhibit desserts and other items related to chocolate for sale.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave. in Rock Island, Ill. Tickets are $10, free for children 12 and under. (309) 794-0991 or visit qcgardens.com.
On ice
Dubuque, Iowa, a historic town on the Mississippi River, is home to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Why not visit during Ice Fest when you'll be treated to ice sculpting and ice harvesting demonstrations; learn how to snow sculpt and snow paint; try ice lane arctic bowling; a one-of-a-kind snow slide and more. Hop aboard the trolley shuttle for an eagle watch program at Grand Harbor and take part in the beer, wine and cheese tasting. Throughout Ice Fest, the museum and aquarium presents special winter-related programming including historic film footage about Mississippi River ice harvesting in Dubuque and polar exploration. New indoor exhibits have been added to display authentic ice harvesting tools, various modes of winter transportation and other seasonal artifacts.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, Jan, 23-24, at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, 350 East Third St., Port of Dubuque, Iowa. Call (563) 557-9545 or visit rivermuseum.com or contact the Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 798-8844.
Worth the trip
Whether it's the first or last 10 pounds that are stubborn, take advantage of New Life Hiking Spa's Weight Loss Retreat Specials for 2010. In its 32nd year, the spa in the Green Mountains of Vermont is a nationally recognized, fitness and weight-loss destination that offers two- to four-day mini vacations, a five- to 10-day jump-start vacation (each available at $20 off the original nightly rate) and 11-day weight-loss retreats. Book by Sunday, Jan. 31, and save $300 on the first 11-day retreat of the season, May 20-31. The package includes an air-conditioned room with private bath, three gourmet meals and nutritious snacks, hiking program, all exercise classes, three massages, access to all facilities and participation in all programs including cooking demos and lectures.
Season runs May 20 to Sept. 26 at New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vt. Call (866) 298-5433 or visit newlifehikingspa.com.