On the cheap: Storytelling couple at Lisle Public Library
Free
Tall Ships on film
Photographers Mike Smith and Scott Evans take a look at the Chicago skyline from a nautical perspective in the Tall Ships Photography exhibit. See images taken aboard the official media boat during the arrival of the Tall Ships at Navy Pier in the summer of 2010. Smith and Evans were able to capture the ships' arrival from a rare and up-close vantage point. Noon to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27, at Gallery 200, 200 Main St., West Chicago. Free admission. (630) 293-9550 or gallery200.org.
Crafts galore
More than 25 artisans will display everything from dried florals and jewelry to metal art and more at the Mount Prospect Park District Spring Craft Show. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Admission and parking are free. (847) 298-3500.
Sparky & Rhonda
Tennessee-based husband-and-wife storytellers and musicians Sparky and Rhonda Rucker celebrate National Women's History Month in March with their “Blue & Gray in Black & White” Civil War program. The duo weaves storytelling into their selections of folk music, ballads and blues. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 27, at the Lisle Public Library, 777 Front St., Lisle. Free. (630) 971-1675.
$10 and under
Care to go camping?
Find out about the newest travel product ideas, campground information and more at the 40th annual RV, Camping & Travel Show. The show packs the entire Rockford Indoor Sports Center with the debut of the 2011 RVs, campers, travel trailers and motor homes. Runs 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 26; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 27, at the Indoor Sports Center, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Adults $6; children under 12 are free. (815) 877-8043 or showtimeproduction.net.
Vegetarian Indian Cooking
Learn how to prepare recipes rooted in India's age-old vegetarian culinary traditions at the Ela Area Public Library's Vegetarian Indian Cooking program. Participants can sample the food, and recipes will be distributed. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 28, at the Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. $3. Registration is required. (847) 438-3433 or eapl.org.
Sooooo much about sewing!
The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo lets participants take part in sewing classes, view sewing and craft presentations and shop for a wide variety of items. Browse through a variety of quilts, clothing, sewing tools, sewing and craft books, fabrics and more. A quilt exhibit is also featured. Runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 31, and Friday, April 1; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10 general admission at the door. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Many classes are free; some require fees. For the full schedule and pricing of classes, visit sewingexpo.com.
‘Eggs to Chicks'
The Kohl Children's Museum welcomes back its annual “Eggs to Chicks” egg-hatching exhibit through Monday, May 16. The exhibit features an egg incubator, hatchery unit and pen for hatching newborn chicks. With more than 200 eggs being hatched, the delivery and incubation time for the eggs ensures there will be new chicks hatching throughout the exhibit's run. See the rare Black Java and White Java strains of chickens, which were endangered species less than a decade ago. All hatched chicks will be delivered to farms for egg production and species reproduction. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through Monday, May 16, at Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. $7.50-$8.50. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org.