Lifestyle

On the road: Free dance, theater series in Chicago

Posted January 04, 2014 5:00 am

Jacky Runice

The Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition starts Friday, Jan. 10, at Monument Square in downtown Racine, Wis. It's part of The Big Chill Ice and Snow Festival, which offers a menu of family activities. Photo courtesy of Real Racine

Chicago

Living on the edge

OnEdge is a new free series of dance, theater and experimental performances and workshops from national and international artists, including several Chicago and world premieres. Expect themes of identity, family and philosophy to emerge through unusual contemporary performances by emerging and midcareer artists such as Keith Hennessy (San Francisco), Miguel Gutierrez (New York), Peter Trosztmer (Montreal) and George Lewis Jr. and Lewis Forever (Los Angeles and Berlin). The series also includes workshops with the guest artists. Various times Jan. 11-Feb. 2. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. and the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St. Free; reservations strongly recommended. Cityofchicago.org/dcase.

Sleepwalkers

Your freakish cousins have left town, and the kids are back in school, so why not treat yourself to a stay at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park? The Sleep In, Stay Late Package includes overnight accommodations and a late check out of 5 p.m., which gives you more time to shop, browse one of the city's museums, sleep late or indulge in a treatment at the hotel's mySpa. Available year round. Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Package rate starts at $184 per night (based upon availability and exclusive of tax and gratuity). (312) 565-8000 or fairmont.com/chicago.

>Adventureland

Whether you've got the budget for an adventurous trip in '14 or you just want to dream, the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show will whisk you to locales near and far via seminars and presentations by explorers, photographers, authors and other travel experts from around the world. Take in music, dance and cultural performances and discover top travel choices for today's economy. Try your hand at scuba diving, meet sled dogs, comparison shop with hundreds of destination travel experts and tour operators and sample local, regional and world cuisines at the Midwest's largest travel show. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd. Rosemont. Tickets are $9-$15, free for kids under age 17. See adventureexpo.com.

Midwest

Dip into wellness

You'll not only cure your cabin fever but feel better than ever when you attend the Winter Wellness Weekend in Brown County State Park in Indiana. Take a hike on one of the two self-guided trails among magnificent surroundings with interactive and warming activities along the way. Runners can enter the Frosty Trails five-mile run, a challenging course in the park, or warm up at Abe Martin Lodge with activities such as yoga and talks with naturalists. Friday to Sunday, Jan. 17-19, 1810 State Road 46 E, Nashville, Ind. $65. Call the Brown County Visitor's Center at (800) 753-3255 or visit browncountywinterhike.com.

Eagle eyes

Each year from mid-December through February, thousands of bald eagles migrate south to spend winter along the Mississippi River and the wooded bluffs that serve as excellent habitat for roosting. There are many bald eagle watches in January and February in the communities along the Great River Road from Dubuque, Iowa, south to Quincy, Ill., or pencil in a trip to Bald Eagle Days at the Quad Cities Expo Center in Rock Island. The largest event in the Midwest dedicated to our national symbol of freedom offers live eagle programs and live bird of prey demonstrations; wolf programs; Niabi Zoo's exotic animals; more than 100 vendors; and a 20-foot climbing tower. Belly up to the spotting scopes set up by the Quad City Audubon Society for a great eagle-watching opportunity with free shuttle bus service from the Expo Center. 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. Quad Cities Conservation Alliance Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island. $5 for adults and $1 for kids. See qccaexpocenter.com.

Clever carvers

Monument Square in Racine, Wis., is the new location of Wisconsin's state snow-sculpting competition. Nearly 30,000 cubic feet of snow will be compacted into snow blocks and carvers have at them during the 24th Annual Wisconsin championship. The winning team advances to the 2015 United States National Snow Sculpting Competition. In addition, The Big Chill Ice and Snow Festival offers a menu of family activities. 5 p.m. Friday, Jan, 10, to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. 555 Main St., Racine, Wis. Free. Call (262) 634-6002 or visit racinedowntown.com.

The Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition starts Friday, Jan. 10, at Monument Square in downtown Racine, Wis. Winners are named Sunday, Jan. 12. Photo courtesy of Real Racine

Admission is free for the Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition Friday through Sunday, Jan. 10-12, at Monument Square in downtown Racine, Wis. Photo courtesy of Real Racine

Enjoy more than 20 performances of international music and dance during the Travel & Adventure Show, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11-12, in Rosemont.

The eagles have landed along the Mississippi River and you can see them during Bald Eagle Days at the Quad Cities Expo Center, Friday through Sunday, Jan. 10-12.

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