On the road: Swoop in for Bald Eagle Days
Midwest
Eagles have landed
Each year from mid-December through February, thousands of bald eagles migrate south to spend winter along the Mississippi River and the wooded bluffs that serve as an excellent habitat for roosting. Bald Eagle Days at the Quad Cities Expo Center claims to be the largest event in the Midwest dedicated to the American Eagle. See birds of prey, exotic animals, more than 100 display booths and scale a climbing tower.
4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. Quad Cities Conservation Alliance Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island, Ill. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for kids. qccaexpocenter.com
Carve it up
Nearly 30,000 cubic feet of snow will be compacted into 6-by-8-foot blocks and then carved into sculptures during the 23rd annual Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Championships in Racine, Wis. Watch the flakes fly as the state's top two-person teams compete for the title of Wisconsin State Champions. The Big Chill event also includes downtown Racine's winter festival when professional ice carvers create cold masterpieces from blocks of ice, which are placed along Main Street. Visitors vote for their favorite snow sculpture and ice sculpture.
5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. Monument Square in downtown Racine. (262) 634-6002 or racinedowntown.com
Rev it up
Kenosha, Wis., was a home for manufacturing automobiles, four-wheel drive trucks and bicycles. The Kenosha History Center's new exhibit is Transportation Innovation, which showcases a number of the rare vehicles made in town. Walk into a bicycle repair shop where you can see a number of historic bikes, see a rare 1918 two-ton Winther four-wheel drive truck and one-of-a-kind AMX cars circa 1965.
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 29. 220 51st Place, Kenosha. Suggested donation is $2 adults and $1 students and children. Call (262) 654-5770 or kenoshahistorycenter.org/
Chicago
Funny people
Chicago may have slipped to third in terms of U.S. population, but it remains the sketch comedy capital of the world. The 12th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival celebrates the best in local, national and international sketch comedy over eight days featuring 169 sketch comedy troupes.
Times vary Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 3-13. Stage 773 Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago. Tickets $14-$15. (773) 327-5252 or chicagosketch fest.com
Swinging New Year
Swing into the new year with Winter Dance 2013, the chilly version of the city's Summer Dance at the Chicago Cultural Center. All ages and skill levels are together during the free, introductory one-hour dance lessons conducted by professional instructors followed by music and dancing. The diverse lineup showcases popular styles like swing, fox trot and salsa. Live bands include The Flat Cats and the Teddy Lee Orchestra.
6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday to Saturday, Jan. 4-5, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6. 78 East Washington St., Chicago. (312) 744-6630 or cityofchicago.org/dcase
Electrified lunch
Would you like to sample the popular wave of electronic music live and for free? Wired Fridays is a series of LunchBreak concerts featuring DJs and electronic music, from ambient to dance, offered at the Chicago Cultural Center beginning next Friday. The world of DJs and soundscape artists will be uncovered each Friday through May.
12:15 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 4 to May 31. 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 744-6630. or chicagoculturalcenter.org