On the road: Take it cheesy in Wisconsin
Chicago
Color outside the lines
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago offers activities during Tuesday Evenings in the Café program. Appropriate for a range of ages, these events are designed around familiar themes such as hands-on art-making activities and exploring art and technology. Drinks and snacks will be available.
6 p.m. Tuesdays from Nov. 1 to April 24 at 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The MCA is free to Illinois residents on Tuesdays. (312) 280-2660 or mcachicago.org.
Veggie tales
At the third annual Chicago Vegan Mania event, you can dine at a vegan food court, enjoy live entertainment, meet leaders in the vegan culture and browse vegan merchandise. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum will be there for kids' activities as well as balance beams for physical pursuits and cookie/cupcake decorating for kids.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St., Chicago. Free admission. Visit chicagoveganmania.com.
Flamenco singer
The Old Town School of Folk Music presents the Chicago debut of contemporary flamenco's most compelling voice, Diego El Cigala, who is the third generation of flamenco artists. Enjoy an Andalusian musical encounter when his latest project — Cigala & Tango — comes to the Harris Theater at Millennium Park.
7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. Tickets cost $45-$60. (312) 334-7777 between noon and 6 p.m. or harristheaterchicago.org.
Midwest
Bounty of the county
The second annual Taste of McHenry County promises a culinary showcase of county eateries, demos of healthy cooking and a competition starring local chefs and students. The array of food includes barbecue, sandwiches, locally sourced and organic items, ice cream, Italian treats, desserts and breakfast foods as well as wine and coffee.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $13 at the door. (815) 455-8588 or mchenry.edu/taste.
Take it cheesy
Serious cheeseheads need to pencil in a trip to Madison's third annual Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival. Tour a cheese plant, walk through a dairy barn, enjoy lunch at a Wisconsin tavern and eat warm cheddar cheese curds right out of the vat. Customized small-group tours allow you to talk shop with the current generation of cheese makers. Sample more than 150 original cheeses and enjoy appetizers with your favorite wine or microbrew. Sign up for one or more of eight educational and tasting seminars or experience a three-course meal at one of Madison's original restaurants.
Event times vary Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5, at Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, Wis. See wicheesefest.com.
Traipse for grapes
Wind down autumn with the Indiana Wine Trail's annual Fall Haul Event. You'll enjoy fall scenery as you travel to six artisan wineries to sample wine in its liquid and solid forms. Southeastern Indiana's wineries serve up wine in everything from sauces to tapas to cake.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5-6. The wine and food tastings will be free; larger portions may be purchased. (800) 559-2956 or visit indianawinetrail.com.
Worth the trip
We'll always have Paris. You say you've never been to the city of light? Now is the time to go when you can snag round-trip airfare to Paris and five nights' hotel accommodations starting at $849. The Paris City Vacation by Sceptre Tours is designed for travel veterans and novices alike.
The package is priced from $849 Chicago for travel between Dec. 7 and Feb. 29. You can extend your stay to six or seven nights for $99 per person, per night. (800) 221-0924 or sceptretours.com/vacations/paris-vacation-package-pr.