Morton Arboretum offers lecture on urban squirrels
Chicago
Snow and sleet and dead of night
Schlepping back home from downtown Chicago in the dead of winter just got a lot easier thanks to Kokua Hospitality Inc. and its new SOS offer. It includes a 30 percent discount off the best available daily rate at Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile, Inn of Chicago or the Allerton Hotel, overnight toiletries and reimbursement for a one-way taxi ride up to $10. Each property offers a bar, food outlet and a location within walking distance from the Magnificent Mile. Walk-ins will be accepted, but calling ahead is recommended to determine availability. The SOS offer is only available in person or via the hotels' direct phone lines on the day of arrival.
Call Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile at (312) 787-6100, Inn of Chicago at (312) 787-3100 or the Allerton Hotel, (312) 440-1500.
Check out these Handel bars
Breaking the classical sound barrier, the annual "Too Hot to Handel: Jazz-Gospel Messiah" will have you leaping to your feet and throwing in a few "amens." This all-American version of Handel's oratorio captures the essence of the famous piece and reinterprets it with dynamic soloists, orchestra, jazz combo and the Too Hot Choir.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Ticket $30 to $65. (312) 922-2110 or auditoriumtheatre.org.
Princess cruises on ice
Little ones, especially your very own princess, will be in heaven as Disney On Ice presents "Let's Celebrate!" with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from "The Princess and the Frog." The show is a montage of new and old Disney characters celebrating holidays and festivals from around the world. Expect classic and contemporary Disney songs, dazzling costumes and lots of action.
Show times vary Wednesday, Jan. 20, to Sunday, Jan. 31, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, and Feb. 2-7 at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Ticket prices are $15, $20 and $25, with VIP seats available for $45 on weekdays, $60 on weekends and front-row seats for $75. All opening-night seats at both venues (excluding VIP and front row) are $12. Call the United Center at (312) 455-4500 or the Allstate Arena at (847) 635-6601.
Midwest
Rocket J. Squirrel
Cabin fever got you feeling a bit squirrelly? Sign up for "Squirrels at the Arboretum" to learn about the fox and the gray squirrel that hunker down in our area's urban parks. You'll learn about the ecology of squirrels and gain a better understanding of wildlife in your own backyard with a biology professor from the University of Illinois at Chicago and founder of Project Squirrel, a citizen science project tracking squirrel behavior.
1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Morton Arboretum, Reagan Tollway and Route 53, in Lisle. Tickets are $22 with discounts for arboretum members. Children ages 8 and up are welcome with an adult. Call (630) 719-2468 or mortonarb.org.
Scooby Doo approves
Ski? Sure. Snowboard? Yep. Ice stake and sled? No doubt. Take winter sports to another level with a family experience you won't soon forget - dog sledding. Michigan's Crystal Mountain Resort has partnered with Wiggins' Mountainside Huskies as sleds are pulled by four to six Siberian huskies along Crystal Mountain's wooded trails. .
Rides are available on select evenings by advance reservation and begin at $70 for 30-minute rides at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, Mich. (800) 968-7686, ext. 7000, or crystalmountain.com
Cabin fever
With 15,000 lakes, nearly 15 million acres of forest and around 33,000 miles of rivers and streams, it's no wonder Illinoisans flock beyond the Cheddar curtain every year. With more than 175,000 seasonal cabins in Wisconsin, it may be time to consider snagging one of your own. Learn all about it at the sixth annual Lake Home & Cabin Show featuring products, services, how-to seminars and activities covering lake home and cabin ownership and lifestyle.
2 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wis. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-15. Call (608) 267-3976 or lakehomeandcabinshow.com.
Worth the trip
California's Napa Valley is known as wine country, but did you know that the vineyards also grow wild mustard? You can drink in Napa Valley's unique agricultural and cultural bounty during the 17th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival with a lineup of events during a two-month marathon of food, wine, entertainment and art. Plan to extend your stay when you attend a weekend event or take a midweek trip to enjoy special mustard season offers. Saturday, Jan. 30, to March 27 in and around Napa Valley including the towns of Napa, Yountville, Carneros, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga, Calif. (707) 938-1133 or visit mustardfestival.org