Tall ships coming to Lake Michigan; art show coming to Gold Coast
Come sail away as the Pepsi Tall Ships Chicago 2010 arrive at Navy Pier. The Tall Ship's Parade of Sail on Lake Michigan will showcase tall ships from around the world, including Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. This family-friendly festival offers activities such as ship viewing, on-deck tours, sailing excursions, nightly fireworks, arts and crafts, entertainment and interactive greening initiatives.
4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, Tall Ship's Parade of Sail. Festival grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, Aug. 25-28, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29. Viewing passes allow visitors to see the ships and enjoy the festival. General admission costs $15 for ages 13 and older; $9 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger. Boarding tickets, which allow tours of designated vessels, cost $20 for ages 13 and older; $15 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger. Buy online at navypier.com.
In the Blake of an eye/p>
Hotel Blake, located in Chicago's South Loop, is offering a special "Meet the Parents" package that includes overnight accommodations in a guest room or suite with 15 percent off the best available rate, complimentary upgrade to a premium room (a $50 savings), option to park for $25 a night, entry into a quarterly drawing to win a complimentary night at Hotel Blake, complimentary continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi access.
500 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. Special package good through Dec. 2. Visit hotelblake.com or call (312) 986-1234 for rates and details. Use promotion code PARENTS when making reservations.
Art shaped
A Chicago tradition for more than 50 years, the annual Gold Coast Art Fair presents nearly 450 juried artists and attracts 350,000 visitors from around the world who browse or buy. Kids can get in on the free hands-on art projects and a scavenger hunt through the festival looking for different types of art. This year the fair will be held in Grant Park.
Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, in Grant Park at the corner of Monroe Street and Lake Shore Drive. Visit amdurproductions.com.
Midwest
Bangers and mash
Work on your Celtic accent in anticipation of the nation's largest Irish festival held in Milwaukee. Irish Fest will have more than 300 entertainers on 17 stages, children's activities and demonstrations by Celtic canines. There will be a cultural village and marketplace, Irish sports, a Mass on Sunday morning, Irish theater and lots of food.
5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 20; noon to midnight Saturday, Aug. 21; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22. Admission is $5 on Thursday or free with donation of school supplies; other days $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids 12 and younger admitted free at Henry W. Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee. Call (414) 476-3378 or visit irishfest.com.
Trees and tomatoes
It may be the weekend to visit the Chicago Botanic Garden when it hosts the 33rd Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition, heirloom tomatoes and a Japanese Garden Summer Festival. The bonsai show and sale draws enthusiasts from all over the nation to attend workshops, view more than 100 specimens as well as browse a dozen vendors offering everything bonsai related. The Heirloom Tomato Weekend features tomato tours and seed-saving demonstrations, shopping for tomato products and specially themed family activities. There also will be special musical performances, listen to traditional Japanese folktales and watch a tea ceremony demonstration during the Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival.
Bonsai show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, Aug. 20-22; tomato festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21-22; and the Japanese Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21-22. Admission to the garden is free, parking is $20 per car. Visit chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-5440.
Sail on, sail on, sailor
The annual Lake Geneva Venetian Festival makes a last hurrah of summer. In its 48th year, the five-day festival offers a carnival for the kids, a craft fair, musical entertainment, brat stand, a water ski extravaganza by the Wonder Lake Water Ski Club and a lighted boat parade followed by a fireworks display.
6 p.m. to midnight Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 18-22, and noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, in Flat Iron Park and Seminary Park in Lake Geneva, Wis. Visit lakegenevawi.com for information on overnight lodging and carnival ride discount days. Find details at venetian.lakegenevajaycees.org or by calling (800) 345-1020.
Worth the trip
Another cruise? Ho-hum, right? Not if you book one of Sixthman's special upcoming sailings. It's workouts, team sports, high-energy dancing, fitness fun for kids and more on the Jillian Michaels Ultimate Wellness Cruise this October. The Simple Man cruise will feature rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat and .38 Special, while Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson and Brandi Carlile will be joining the Cayamo cruise in February. Also in February, Ships and Dip 4 will be hosted by the Barenaked Ladies with Guster. In April, there will be a cruise with Kid Rock that shoves off from New Orleans. .
The lineup includes: Oct. 21-25 with Jillian Michaels; Jan. 20-24 with Ships and Dip 4; Feb. 6-11 with Simple Man; Feb. 13-20 will be Cayamo; and April 7-11 will be Kid Rock. Prices begin at $649 per person. Visit sixthman.net.