Midwest travel: REwind Con with '80s, '90s stars in Bloomingdale

Posted November 05, 2016 7:24 am

Jacky Runice

Meet '90s television stars like Jason Priestley, left, Jennie Garth, Luke Perry and Tori Spelling Nov. 11-13 at the REwind Convention at Hilton Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. Associated Press File Photo

Chicago

Be kind, REwind

Fans of all things '80s and '90s will want to hit up the REwind Convention to see and meet retro television celebs like Jason Priestly, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Parker Stevenson, Luke Perry and Cole Houser; members of N'Sync, O Town and Backstreet Boys; soap stars; and film actors like Zach Galligan of Gremlins, among many others. There will be photo and autograph opportunities plus panels including Men of Primetime, Soap Nation, Bodacious Boy Bands, Beverly Hills 90210, a VIP party and a throwback concert. Noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12; and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Hilton Indian Lakes Resort, 250 W. Schick Road, Bloomingdale. Tickets range from $57-$640. Get a schedule and tickets at rewindconvention.com/.

Holiday jump-start

Snag some decidedly distinctive gifts when the Chicago Japanese American Service Committee hosts Holiday Delight and the Kodomo Matsuri Children's Festival. A variety of vendors will be selling fine art, jewelry, fabric arts, pottery, Japanese collectibles, sushi, baked goods and more. Plus, take in classical dance, Taiko drumming, Japanese lute performances, flower arranging and a visit with Santa. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at JASC, 4427 N. Clark St., Chicago. Free. (773) 275-7212 or jasc-chicago.org/holiday-delight-2016/.

Carolers spread holiday cheer at the Dickens Christmas Carol Dinner Theater, which includes a Dickens-themed dinner at Lawry's in Chicago followed by "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theatre Sunday, Nov. 20.

Eat, drink and be merry

Chicago's Goodman Theatre partners with Lawry's The Prime Rib for their annual event that ignites holiday sensory overload: Dickens Christmas Carol Dinner Theater. Indulge in a Dickens-themed dinner at Lawry's that begins at 4 p.m. with a cocktail reception of eggnog, holiday treats and a performance by holiday carolers. After a four-course dinner, diners will head to the Goodman for a live production of the Christmas classic at 6:30 p.m. 4 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at Lawry's The Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario St., Chicago, before moving to the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Tickets cost $130 for adults and $98 for kids younger than 12 (inclusive of tax and gratuity). To make reservations, call (312) 787-5000 or see lawrysonline.com/lawrys-primerib/chicago/events.

Midwest

Take the 'A' train to Delavan

Lake Lawn Resort hosts a Veterans Day big-band tribute dinner and dance USO-style. In addition to the sit-down dinner and tunes by Ladies Must Swing, a 23-member all-female band performing big band, swing and jazz music, there will be World War II memorabilia and equipment on display. 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Lake Lawn Resort's Geneva Ballroom in Delavan, Wisconsin. The Big Band Tribute to Our Veterans overnight package starts at $259 for one night and includes entry into the USO Big Band Tribute dinner and dance, as well as access to the Saturday breakfast buffet. Tickets to the dinner and dance only are $50 for veterans and $65 for others. (800) 338-5253 or lakelawnresort.com/.

Trainfest, America's largest operating model railroad show, rides the rails Nov. 12-13 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Courtesy of Trainfest

Freight train boogie

Trainfest, America's largest operating model railroad show, is one colossal engine that drives visitors, hobbyists, exhibitors and manufacturers from around the country to convene in communal affection for model trains. At 230,000 square feet (or five football fields) of display area, there's room for you to steer through dozens of layouts, clinics and demos, new products and high-tech model railroading, and plenty of activities to keep the kids entranced like racing trains, face painting and a Circus Train. Trainfest has partnered with Milwaukee-area hotels to offer special accommodations packages for event attendees, too. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12-13, at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, Wisconsin. Advance tickets ($2-$17) are available online until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Tickets at the door cost $5-$20. trainfest.com/.

After shopping at the Mall of America, relax at the pool at Radisson Blu Mall of America. The hotel offers various package deals through Dec. 30. Courtesy of Carlson Rezidor Hotel

Shop, ship and drop

If you're going to holiday shop, you might as well go all in. Radisson Blu Mall of America, connected to Mall of America and near 520 retail outlets, offers a variety of overnight packages this season. The Shop in Your Slippers package includes two pairs of Radisson Blu slippers and two cocktails at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar in addition to complimentary parking, a Mall of America Coupon Book and complimentary package pickup from any store in Mall of America. The hotel's new FlyOver to the North Pole Package includes overnight accommodations, two tickets to the FlyOver America attraction, a Polar Express story book, cookies and milk in-room and a jingle bell for each child. Shop in Your Slippers package runs Nov. 18-Dec. 30 at Radisson Blu Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota. Rates start at $175 per night (plus tax) for double occupancy. Flyover America package, available Nov. 25-Dec. 30, starts at $199 per night (plus tax). To book, go to radissonblu.com/en/hotel-mall-of-america/hotel-deals.

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