Don't miss 'Blowout Spectacular' at Museum of Contemporary Art

We're heading into fair season, but the First Fridays Blowout Spectacular at the Museum of Contemporary Art has nothing to do with Ferris wheels and cotton candy. The carnival-like event includes performances by Chicago's celebrated punk marching band Mucca Pazza, human sculptures Michael and Alan Fleming, Ross Moreno as the Maladjusted Clown and Meg Duguid presenting a miniature exhibition inside of her purse. Six DJs spin music throughout the evening, including Kid Color who performed at Lollapalooza 2009. There also will be fortune tellers, balloon sculptures, street corner scientists and the Wheel of Chance. A special carnival-inspired menu is available from Puck's.

6 p.m. to midnight Friday, June 4, at 220 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets cost $35 at the door, $30 in advance and $50 for VIP access. Call (312) 397-4010 or visit mcachicago.org.

Gangster's paradise

Kimpton's Hotel Burnham will feature a special "Capone 809" package. The package includes overnight accommodations in Hotel Burnham's fabled Room 809, where gangster Al Capone's dentist and comrade-in-crime, "Dr. Frank," kept an office and was thought to be a front for Capone's seedy dealings. You'll also snag a $10 discount per ticket to "Tommy Gun's Garage," a Capone-themed theater production; a copy of the book "Untouchable Chicago, A Ride Through Prohibition" by a Chicago Capone expert; and two "Al Capone" cocktails in the adjacent Atwood Café. Built in 1895, Hotel Burnham is housed in the Reliance Building, a landmark architectural icon.

1 W. Washington St., Chicago. The package is available through Dec. 31 and must be booked five days before arrival. Rates start at $179 per night and are based on availability; blackout dates apply. Reserve at (877) 294-9712 mentioning code "CAPONE 809" or at burnhamhotel.com by entering CAPONE in the rate code box.

Fountain of truth

You've seen it, stared at it and taken photos in front of it, so now get to really know Chicago's Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. Parkways Foundation and the Chicago Park District have teamed up to offer a rare chance to tour the iconic fountain from the inside out. The 30-minute tours, led by a Chicago Park District historian, take you to the underground pump works and help you learn more about the fountain's historic restoration including a complete realignment, adjustments to shifted foundations, replacement of missing components and repair of stairs, comfort stations and concession buildings, and placement of additional site lighting and benches.

Noon and 12:30 p.m. Fridays from June 4 to Aug. 27. The cost of the tour is $50 and all proceeds from the Buckingham Fountain tours benefit the restoration of the fountain. Call (312) 742-5368 or visit parkways.org.

Midwest

Something's fishy around here

Every year, the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June are designated as Free Fishing Weekend throughout the state of Wisconsin. That means that all the waters of the state are open, including the Great Lakes and rivers bordering Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish without a fishing license (or trout or salmon stamps) over the two days, so get the guys, pack up the kids or make a date to attend fishing clinics and special activities planned at state and local parks throughout Wisconsin. There are even tackle loaner sites at several state parks and DNR regional offices to borrow equipment. Consider Viking County Park on the Yahara River in nearby Stoughton, Winnequah Park Lagoon in Monona or the ADA Fishing Pier at City Park in Oconomowoc.

Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, throughout Wisconsin. Call (608) 266-2272 or visit dnr.wi.gov/fish/kidsparents/freefishingweekend.html.

Eggs over easy

A 3,000-pound egg welcomes you to small-town Mentone, Ind., and serves as icon for the annual Mentone Egg Festival created to pay homage to poultry farmers around the northern Indiana rural community. The entertainment is free, food is plentiful, and the parade features the winners of the Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster contest. What more can you want? OK, there's also games, a play area for kids, a colossal car, truck, motorcycle and tractor show, crafters galore and the theme of the fest is Green Acres.

5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 4; and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5. Call (574) 353-7417 or visit mentoneeggcity.com/festival.

Got milk?

When Harvard's first Milk Days festival was held in 1942, the seven big dairy companies and hundreds of dairy farms operating around the Illinois town made it the "Dairy Capital of the World." The the 69th annual celebration, the longest-running festival in Illinois, begins with the main drag, Ayer Street, painted milk white for the occasion. Expect a dairy cattle show, daily demos on cattle care, feeding and milking, a milk-drinking contest and a milk giveaway by Dean Foods. Don't miss the talent show, grilling contests, horse show, hot-air balloon launch and wacky bed races. There's a two-hour parade Saturday afternoon plus daily music, an arts and crafts show, an antique tractor display, a junior dairy cattle show and closing-night fireworks. Kids will like the camel rides, a wildlife exhibit, car and bike shows, and a carnival with 24 rides, 60 food vendors and games galore. Metra trains stop a few blocks from the festival, too.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 4; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5; and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Free admission; parking costs $3. Call (815) 943-4616 or visit milkdays.com.

Worth the trip

Whisker wars take place to find the nation's best beards in the 2010 National Beard and Moustache Championships in Bend, Ore. The first national facial hair championship is hosted by Beard Team USA with the competition open to everyone. Official categories include: best moustache, best partial beard, Van Dykes, sideburns, musketeers; best full beard; and freestyle. Of course, Bend also offers breathtaking scenery, outdoor recreation and beer. Bend has seven craft breweries that will be part of the weekend and the eighth annual "Balloons Over Bend" festival held in the Old Mill District.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 5, in the Les Schwab Amphitheater, in Bend, Ore. Call (800) 949-6086 or see visitbend.com.