Ax the tax at The 900 Shops special sale event

Every little bit helps and The 900 Shops is doing its part by throwing a President's Day weekend shopping event so you can splurge tax free. Saturday, Sunday and President's Day Monday, Feb. 14-16, 2009, participating retailers at The 900 Shops will offer a 10.25% discount (Cook County sales tax) to all shoppers, including sale items. Shop and save at retailers such as J.Crew, Lululemon Athletica, Club Monaco, Diesel, Montblanc, Mario Tricoci, Charles David, Fogal, Original Penguin, Genevieve Lethu, Galt Baby, Kaehler TravelWorks, L'Artisan Parfumeur and many more. As a President's Day bonus, you can park at a special "Alexander Hamilton" rate - only $10 for the entire day (parking tickets must be validated with purchase). Stroll by www.shop900.com to print your access pass or visit one of the Concierge Desks, located on level one or six, to request an access pass. 900 North Michigan Ave. (312) 915-3916.

February frees the artist

Get reacquainted with the Impressionists, say "hello" to Edvard Munch and get a load of the historical armor at the Art Institute of Chicago during February when the museum offers free general admission. Free admission all day, every day, for the entire month of February means you can take in a full schedule of performances, family events, poetry readings and gallery talks, too. Enjoy half price tickets to the major winter exhibition, Becoming Edvard Munch: Influence, Anxiety, and Myth, (the Norwegian artist's most famous painting is "The Scream") which opens to the public on Feb. 14. Special dated tickets to Becoming Edvard Munch are required and advance tickets are strongly recommended so call (312) 930-4040 or browse www.artinstituteofchicago.org.

Drool over these jewels

The human's love of jewelry didn't start with Liz Taylor and Harry Winston, the jeweler who donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian. It appears people were quite into adorning their bodies with baubles more than 7,000 years ago and you can get an eyeful at the Field Museum, Feb. 13th to July 5th 2009 with the exhibition "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization." Spy a rich array of jewelry from the ancient Near East including ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, Persia and the Islamic Middle East. The exhibition is free with paid general admission to The Field Museum. Call (312) 922-9410 or visit fieldmuseum.org for details. 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.

Midwest

A Capitol idea

Madison's Capitol Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with ice and snow sculptures, tubing hill. snowboard rail jam, world class cross country ski racing and snowshoeing venues during the Winter Festival, Feb. 13-15, 2009. The Wisconsin event offers family activities, special events at museums, public open skiing, cross country ski lessons, ice skating and snowshoeing. Families and kids can carve a snow sculpture from a form the size of a garbage can or head indoors for performing arts at the Overture Center or tours at the historical museum and children's museum. Tour www.winter-fest.com for details.

Texas two-step to St. Charles

Country's Hottest Party takes over the Pheasant Run Resort on Feb. 28, 2009 when Gretchen Wilson, John Rich (of Big & Rich), Cowboy Troy and Jeffrey Steele set the venue ablaze with music. A sizzling after show party, included in the ticket price, keeps spirits up with a live performance by Cross County Junction, too. Ticket prices range from $55. to $89. per ticket or the resort is offering a premier seating concert package which includes deluxe overnight accommodations, two premium seating concert tickets, two drink tickets and Sunday Brunch for two the next day. Of course you'll have access to resort amenities like the indoor pool, fitness center, Kids Klub and more. From $345. Git over to www.pheasantrun.com/concerts/ or call the Pheasant Run Box Office at (630) 584-6342.

This suds for you

A ball park full of beer - have you died and arrived at your version of heaven? No need to travel that far. Just get to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the 2009 Michigan Winter Beer Festival, sponsored by the Michigan Brewers Guild. Around 200 craft beers from more 30 Michigan micro-breweries and brewpubs will be waiting for you to sample at the event that runs from noon to 5 pm on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park. Special entertainment includes the honky tonk of Delilah Dewylde and the Lost Boys. Tickets, which include admission and 12 tasting tokens, are $35 each in advance and are available online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org. If the event sells out, as it did last year, there my be some remaining tickets available at the gate on event day for $40 each.

Worth the trip

Head for the hills

Looking for an affordable and activity filled Spring Break getaway with the family? Take a look at the "Family Stay More, Play More" package at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. Valid through December 2009, the package offers credits that can be used on any of the diverse and fun activities and dining options available at the resort: stay three nights, get a $200 resort credit; four nights gets you $400 in credits and five nights means $500 in resort credit. Snag complimentary valet parking for the entire length of stay, 25% discount on spa treatments at Windflower Spa and golf at the Hill Country Golf Club and two bottomless beverage cups. Kids will like the four acres of water park activities and there's also tennis, a 24-hour fitness center and hiking, biking and nature trails. Packages may be booked online at hillcountry.hyatt.com or by calling (800) 55 HYATT.