Halloween comes early to Highwood and Chicago Botanic Garden

(Photo courtesy of Highwood Chamber of Commerce)

 More than 14 years ago, Highwood, a slightly over a square mile northeastern suburb of Chicago, decided to challenge Keene, NH’s record of most jack-o-lanterns displayed (30,581). BTW, a jack-o-lantern is a carved pumpkin.

I haven’t heard of any time since then that Highwood hit the record, but the town, actually a city, is continuing to fight for that achievement with its 14th annual “Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest,” Oct. 4-6.

Despite all the skeletons around town that will be seen in October, the fest is a very family friendly event that includes “all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations” and three days of live music from three stages. Plus, there will be children’s and pet costume contests and pumpkin pie eating contests, food and artisan vendors, a carnival and hayrides.

What to expect: Highwood will be turned into Pumpkin Town USA beginning Seto 28 and will cover the grounds at Highwood City Hall (17 Highwood Avenue), Everts Park (111 North Avenue), Painters Park (420-424 Sheridan Road) and the Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot where the carnival will be on site.

Also, expect street closures on Green Bay Road from North Avenue to Highwood Avenue, and on Highwood Avenue from Green Bay Road to Waukegan Avenue where vendors and the Great Pumpkin Walls will be.

Music stages will be at North Avenue and Green Bay, the Bandshell in Everts Park and the School of Rock Stage in Painters Park. Pumpkin Town USA will be at the center of Everts Park.

In addition, expect many camera stops as visitors shoot skeleton scenes from Superhero movies and skeletons just posing. 

“The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest put Highwood on the map and it’s the perfect kick-off to Fall after our summer series of events,” says Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood. “This year, we are proving to the world why Illinois is The Great Pumpkin (pie) State by attempting to break the Guinness World Records for the longest line of (pumpkin) pies,” says Falberg.

 

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns

(Photo courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden)

Called the “Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns” the Chicago Botanic Garden will hold this popular (sold out last year) event on Oct 16-20 and Oct. 23-27, 2024 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

What to expect: Scary or funny or just plain creative, pumpkins will be gazing back as visitors gaze at their faces carved as album covers, eerie cartoons and Día de los Muertos tributes.

Also look for pumpkin-carving demos, entertainers in costume, glow-in-the-dark tattoos for kids and light food and drinks available to purchase.

Jodie Jacobs

A breezy two nights and day and a half NYC experience

 

The Statue of Liberty stands against the Manhattan skyline and a blue sky.

 

Whether you are planning your first or twentieth trip to “The Big Apple” you might enjoy getting a few ideas from my recent budget friendly quickie visit that included ferry boat rides with close-up views of the Statue of Liberty, spectacular skyline views, visits to Hudson Yards Shops, Staten Island, Battery Park, Guggenheim Museum of Art, the High Line, an off-Broadway show and more. I’ll also give you a few alternative ideas and insights into some cheap eats along the way.

My wife and I have visited New York City many times over the years including vacations and business trips. We live in Chicago but enjoy getting a jolt of the unique intense high-octane energy of Manhattan.

On this trip I wanted to do something a little different, not spend a lot of money, not wander aimlessly and just basically feel the city.

The idea was to spend two nights, giving us an arrival evening plus one full day and a half in NYC.

It was a comfortable three-and-a-half-hour journey on the Amtrak “Vermonter” from Springfield, MA to the Moynihan Train Hall across from Penn Station, arriving about 6:45 PM.

The train had free Internet access so we were able to research ideas about where to get dinner and begin our adventure. We were approximately 20 minutes late, which is unfortunately quite common for Amtrak schedules. So, if travelling by Amtrak never assume you will be on time.

The Moynihan Terminal which opened in 2021 is very spacious, clean and modern. Since it was getting late and we needed to get to our hotel and check-in, my wife who typically dislikes food courts, suggested that we simply grab something there, then maybe go for a drink or appetizers later.

The exceptionally nice food court offered a variety of options provided by local establishments. None of the usual mall standards like Sbarro or Panda Express. Since it’s New York, we opted to split a generous pastrami sandwich on rye with a potato pancake side from the aptly named Pastrami Queen. A central seating option offered waitress-delivered drinks and featured a live DJ spinning tunes. Actually, not a bad way to begin our visit.

After about a 45-minute nosh we made our way by foot (about 10 minutes) to the Pestana CR7, an oddly named Midtown boutique hotel at 39th Street just off of 9th Avenue. The lobby and rooms have a sleek nouveaux midcentury vibe. Our guest room was not large but very clean and comfortable with Nespresso maker, refrigerator, large HD-TV and High-Speed Internet access.

Complimentary bagels and croissants are provided in the morning. Fresh brewed coffee, iced water and apples are available in the lobby all day. The staff was exceptionally courteous and accommodating, making this a very pleasant stay. Room for two nights with taxes and fees was about $425. A $50.00 “resort fee” that put it over $400.00, was the only irritating part of the experience but this fee seems to be pretty common at most NYC hotels.

They do have an exercise room and a nice outdoor patio if you have time to avail yourself of these amenities. Overall, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this hotel. By the way, there is a Hyatt Place next door, plus a Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn across the street if you care to comparison shop.

After checking-in and freshening up a bit we took a stroll out to Times Square to get in on a bit of the madness that is Midtown Manhattan at night. We’ve done this on many occasions before and claimed we did not need to do it again but this over-the-top human circus never fails to disappoint. The million mega-watt lights and crush of humanity from every corner of the world is beyond compare.

After about an hour of observation and a half dozen selfies we sauntered back to the Pestano stopping to pick up chocolate éclairs at a local bakery to enjoy with our Nespresso for a late-night snack.

We had a long day and were ready to chill. Also, I needed to finalize our schedule for the next day. However, anyone reading this with a little more energy might want to consider checking out nearby Birdland for some late-night jazz or any of the myriad activities in and around Times Square. You can explore into the wee hours but keep in mind you may want to get a reasonable start in the morning.

So, here’s how we spent the next day. Keep in mind we are not “crack of dawn” people, so, feel free to adjust to your own internal clock and particular needs.

In the morning, we availed ourselves of the free bagels, croissants and coffee at the hotel with the plan to be on our way by 10 a.m. to make the 20-minute walk over to Pier 79 at (roughly 39th and 11th Avenue). The 40-minute ferry cruise to Staten Island via New York City Ferry Service offers spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline with glimpses of the iconic Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. On the New Jersey side of the Hudson are some impressive mansions.

Then, there is finally a rather closeup view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If you do a little research, I am sure you will notice several other notable architectural and historic features along the way.

My objective was simply to enjoy the boat ride and see the views as they presented themselves. The fare for this “cheap cruise” was $4 each. The weather was beautiful but sadly we were not allowed to sit outside. Another drawback was that the windows were quite dirty so the views were a bit hazy and not ideal for picture taking. The fore and aft windows were much cleaner so I suggest stepping up to take a picture or get a clearer view. There were fewer than 20 people on a vessel that can fit more than a hundred so moving about was not an issue.

The idea was to spend an hour on Staten Island to have lunch and enjoy the view of Wall Street across the bay from the outdoor café at St. Georges Terminal. Another option is to visit the shopping mall, one of the historic districts or the Staten Island Zoo.

Since we were not very hungry, we opted to munch a few snacks we had with us, then, after about half an hour, take the Staten Island Ferry back to Battery Park.

This is the very large, free, yellowish orange ferry most people are familiar with or have heard about. Each of these boats are massive. The largest has the capacity to carry more than 5,000 people over the 5.2-mile 25-minute journey between the two boroughs leaving every 20 minutes.

Surprisingly the boarding was very efficient. We hastily made our way to the second deck on the west side of the vessel securing a very good outdoor seat that was sure to provide an excellent second view of the Statue of Liberty on our return voyage.

However, I soon learned that the later arrivals all stood at the rail effectively obscuring our view. A little disappointing but easily remedied by standing up and eventually securing a spot of our own along the rail. Be advised if you want a great view get up there fast and get a rail spot.

Battery Park has its own circus atmosphere with plenty of snack and souvenir vendors. Nearby, we found the SeaGlass Carousel, a charming ride comprised of fantastical large colorful luminescent fiberglass fish moving up, down and around to a background of soothing underwater new age music. This experience is suitable for both children and the young at heart. Ticket is $6 for 3 ½ minutes. Very relaxing. Alternatively, the 9/11 Memorial is a short distance away as an option.

After a little exploration we walked along the East River Esplanade to Pier 11 in time to get the 1:37 PM NYC Soundview Ferry travelling north up the East River to the 90th Street Landing. This was another $4.00 fare and about 40 minutes travel time. This ferry takes you under the Brooklyn Bridge and a number of other bridges while providing views of the East side of Manhattan. Keep in mind they have several other ferry options that zig zag across the East River with stops in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

Our afternoon destination was the Guggenheim Museum at 89th Street across from Central Park. The ferry landing is at Carl Shurz Park, a charming riverside oasis in the posh Upper East Side. It’s a good 30-minute walk slightly uphill from there to the museum. There are bus options as well as possible scooter and bike rentals for the more adventuresome.

Along the way we picked-up a spinach stromboli, cannoli and cold drink from Milano Market, an impressive Italian deli at 89th Street and 3rd Avenue, then enjoyed our late lunch al fresco on the edge of the park across from the museum.

The Guggenheim is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building is a unique circular structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that houses an eclectic assortment of modern and contemporary art. You enter the various galleries on each floor by ascending six floors up a circular ramp. The building and the artwork are two good reasons to make a visit. By the way they have a very nice café as well if you’re hungry by this time.

Getting from the Upper East Side back to Midtown can be a little tricky. We left the museum about 4:20 p.m. then walked back to the MTA subway Q line at 86th and 2nd Avenue which was about a 12-minute walk and 8-minute train ride back to 9th Avenue.

We made it back to the Hell’s Kitchen area for a very fast change of clothes in time to meet a friend at the Westway Diner for a pre-theater meal. This is an urban diner between 43d and 44th on 9th Avenue where the locals, including many theater people, eat.

It has an extensive menu of American fare including sandwiches, salads and hot dinners. The tab for three of us with no alcohol was less than $60 including tax and tip.

My friend is a member of Actor’s Equity so he was able to get us three heavily discounted tickets to a nearby off-Broadway musical. Afterwards we walked him home and returned to our hotel and crashed for the night. (Visiting the TKTS booth in Times Square is your option for ticket discounts or check the theater of a play you want to see for last minute “rush” tickets.)

On our final day, we grabbed bagels and coffee again in the lobby, packed our things so we could leave our bags at the front desk then headed out to do some investigative shopping at B&H Photo, a well-known mecca nearby for photography and video enthusiasts. Afterwards, we stopped at a streetside café for lunch before heading for a walk on the High Line which was our planned destination for today.

The High Line is a nearly 2-mile-long elevated linear park created on the former New York Central Railroad right-of-way, located on the west side of Manhattan that incorporates landscape architecture, urban design, and ecology.

We started our walk at 30th Street and 11th Avenue on to about 16th Street then turned around and walked back to the Hudson Yard Shops. If you have time, making the entire 3.5-mile round trip is not too difficult and provides many interesting views of the city along the way.

The Hudson Yard Shops on the north end of the High Line features a number of upscale shops and a wide-open plaza to just sit and relax. The Intrepid Museum on an actual aircraft carrier at Pier 86 at 46th Street, along the Hudson River is just another 15-minute walk further north.

Hopefully this has provided a few ideas for a way that you can utilize some of the ferry boats to get around Manhattan Island. This option can give you a leisurely perspective of the city by avoiding some of the crowded streets, subways and buses. The ferries offer intervals of respite while still taking in the sites.

My itinerary is included but think of this more as food for thought that might inspire you to create your own adventure.

*Reno Lovison is a frequent contributor to Chicago Theater and Arts and avideo marketing professional based in Chicago.

Jeff Equity nominations

 

Drury Lane Theatre
Drury Lane Theatre

The Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Awards honor outstanding theatre shows and their artists annually since 1968.  This week, they have announced their nominees for the 56th Equity Awards. The Award ceremony will be Sept. 30, 2024, at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

The nominees total 193 in 34 categories in shows that ran July 1, 2023 to June 30, 1924. As an example of the nominees note that Goodman Theatre received 20 nominations from nine productions of which two were co-produced with other companies. Next most was Mercury Theater Chicago with 18 nominations and Marriott Theatre with 17 nominations. 

Here are some of the categories and their nominees. For the full list visit Joseph Jefferson Awards.

2024 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES

Production – Play (Large)
“Birthday Candles” – Northlight Theatre
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” – Goodman Theatre
“The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
“Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
“Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare TheaterProduction – Play (Midsize)
“Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
“Silent Sky” – Citadel Theatre
“Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre

Production – Musical (Large)
“Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
“Guys and Dolls” – Drury Lane Productions
“The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
“Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre

Production – Musical (Midsize)
“Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“Rock of Ages” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
“Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago

Production – Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater

Ensemble – Play
“English” – Goodman Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
“POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive”
– Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
“Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
“Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble TheaterNew Work
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Samuel D. Hunter – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Nambi E. Kelley – “Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution” – Court Theatre
Brett Neveu – “Revolution” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre

Director – Play (Large)
Susan V. Booth – “The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Joe Mantello – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Tyrone Phillips – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Phylicia Rashad – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Director – Play (Midsize)
Mikael Burke – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Louis Contey – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Chuck Smith – “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” – American Blues Theater
Paul Oakley Stovall – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
Beth Wolf – “Silent Sky” – Citadel TheatreDirector – Musical (Large)
Jim Corti – “Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre
Jessica Fisch – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Katie Spelman – “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Michael Weber – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre

Director – Musical (Midsize)
Matthew Silar – “She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
L. Walter Stearns – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago

Director – Revue
Daryl D. Brooks – “The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
E. Faye Butler – “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Deidre Goodwin – “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” – Marriott Theatre

 

 

Yummy food tastings and toe tapping music at ‘Taste Of’

Taste of Chicago Grant Park_Photo by Walter S. Mitchell III, City of Chicago.JPG

(Walter S.  Mitchell, III, photo /DCASE/ City of Chicago)

If planning to make Chicago or friends who live there, a Fall vacation, try to fit the visit for when Taste of Chicago returns to the city’s Grant Park, Sept. 6-8, 2024.

What to expect:

Well, there’s always Eli’s Cheesecake to get for dessert, but there will also be more than 40 food booths and a dozen food trucks with tastings from a variety of cuisines ranging from Cuban, East Indian and African to Thai, pizza and the famed hamburgers of Billy Goat Tavern.

Tol relax, look for the beer hall or cocktail lounge.

Plus, you can down the food to musical headliners and popular rock and emerging artists.

Where to congregate: 

Take pictures and meet friends in the park at Buckingham Fountain (Jackson & Columbus).

No Charge or tickets: Taste of Chicago is free. and vendors take cash and credit cards. 

“The Taste of Chicago showcases the incredible culinary diversity of our city’s 77 neighborhoods,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “It offers a special bite of why we are the greatest culinary city in the world,” he said.
For more information, visit Taste of Chicago and Choose Chicago (city pr)
Jodie Jacobs

Two Chicago must do

 

The 'Bean' in Millennium Park. (J Jacobs photo)
The ‘Bean’ in Millennium Park. (J Jacobs photo)

 

Whether living in or near Chicago or visiting for vacation or a convention there are two really good items to put on the to-do list.

One:  Millennium Park, a wonderful place to explore, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with family events and performances July 18-21, 2024.

If there this Thursday-Sunday, celebrate with ¡Súbelo! and Fruko y Sus Tesos on Thursday, listen to the music of John Williams including Star Wars played by the Grant Park Orchestra Friday, or Grammy winner Common on Saturday and or R&B performers Sunday. Plus, there are family activities all day Saturday and Sunday. Check 20th anniversary above to see times.

But if those dates aren’t convenient, just go because there is the “Bean” (Cloud Gate) to see and the Fountain to splash in or photo. 

Anish Kapoor’’s massive Cloud Gate sculpture, familiarly called “The Bean” is now as synonymous with Chicago as Picasso’s sculpture by City Hall. A 12-foot-high central arch is the “gate” to the underside but also the streetscape.

Calling the two, 50-foot facing towers the Crown Fountain | Millennium Park Foundation doesn’t begin to describe what it is and does.

Designed by Jaume Plensa and built by Krueck + Sexton Architects, Crown Fountain is about water, video, light, and glass elements 

Changing images of Chicagoans are projected in a way similar to fountain gargoyles from which water flows out of their mouths. Really. The pooled water is often a splash and play area for children. 

 Then there is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion | Millennium Park Foundation. Designed by Frank Gehry, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is where crowds watch a variety of performers from bluegrass to classical music as they sit on reserved seats or on the grass.

The Pavilion which is 120-feet above ground with a billowing open top of  brushed stainless-steel ribbons that frame the stage connected to an overhead trellis of crisscrossing steel pipes, can be seen before even getting to Millennium Park if walking east towards Michigan Avenue down Randolph and Washington Streets. 

 Jay Pritzker Pavillion (J Jacobs photo)

In addition:

Also in Millennium Park, look for the Lurie Garden on the eastern side of the Pavilion  and the Boeing Galleries – Millennium Park Foundation (of art) at the north and south ends of the park. It’s also hard to miss the  Millennium Monument at Wrigley Square | Millennium Park Foundation in the peristyle that was at the park location from 1917 to 1953.

Plus there are two walkways crossing over roads to try. They are Gehry’s stainless steel pedestrian bridge that goes from Millenium Park over Columbus Drive to Maggie Daley Park and Renzo Piano’s (designer of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute) Nichols Bridgeway that he designed to go over Monroe from Millenium Park to the upstairs of the Chicago Art Institute.

The Fountain (J Jacob s photo)
The Fountain (J Jacob s photo)

Two: (but not second in sights and enjoyment) is the Architecture Boat Tour of the Chicago River.

Most well-known:CAC boat tour

Get tickets at the Chicago Architecture Center, 111 e Wacker Drive, around the corner from Michigan Avenue across from the Chicago River.

 Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady | Boat Tours | Chicago Architecture Center

trained docent volunteers have led the CAC River Cruise, sharing fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. Hear how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. In just 90 minutes, you’ll get the best overview of Chicago’s architecture and its history. $54.

(Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise)

Also good is the Chicago River Architecture Tour by Boat 2024 (viator.com) that has good speakers talking about Chicago’s architectural history. It is also 90 minutes and costs about $44.

Jodie Jacobs

Spring events you should know

There’s still time to plan a visit to see Tulip Time in Holland Michigan. ( J Jacobs photos)

The eclipse is here and gone and it was great – maybe beyond most expectations. But there are more interesting and fun events coming this spring.

 First, there are Earth Day walks in your area forest preserves and at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Morton Arboretum

Earth Day/s April 21-22

The Lake County Forest Preserves Hasting Lake site, 21155 W. Gelden Rd., Lake Villa, has an Earth Day walk April 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. (Shelter A)

This is a chance to visit and explore an area is the western part of the county you may not have visited before. Its for all ages and no registration is needed but adult supervision is required. (No pets but service dogs ok)

Event includes free, guided hikes and crafts. For more information visit Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG

 Chicago Botanic Garden

Also, April 21 at 2.p.m. is a 45 minute guided walk at McDonald Woods in Glencoe, IL (or do your own walk here at any time). There is a choice of a short (1/3 mile or longer loop of a 2/3 mile. (walks canceled if heavy rain) Parking and Garden admission charged for nonmembers. For more information visit Earth Day Walk in McDonald Woods | Chicago Botanic Garden

 

Tulip Time May 4-12

Then, in early May, tulips will be coloring the downtown landscape, parks and Windmill Island in Holland MI during Tulip Time, the towns, big, annual flower festival. Plus, there are traditional dances to watch and other activities during the fest. Tulip Time is worth the trip so book a B’n’B or hotel and get to know the town, its heritage and visit its wooden shoe factories on the outskirts of downtown. For more information visit Tulip Time.

Crane watching in Nebraska

 

Nebraska cranes at Platte River Watch shed 9J Jacobs)
At Platte River in Nebraska

Sandhill crane viewing

March 2024 is pretty warm for watching the crane migration on the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. But when I and fellow travel writers/photographers went a few years ago, the weather was in the 20s on a trip in 2013 and single digits on another trip in 2016.

So even though we were in the crane blind, a shed where the cranes wouldn’t see us, we had to really bundle up, add blankets and warmers. But the trips were so worth it.

Watch cranes waking up early in a.m. from shed ( Jacobs)
Watch cranes waking up early in a.m. from shed ( Jacobs)

We started at an information building then were taken to a shed with open lookouts for watching and photo shoots, first at night before the cranes landed, then back again in the morning to watch them take off.

Our starting points were the Crane Trust and the Rowe Sanctuary. Both times the sky was darkened by their numbers. We had our own accommodations, but the tours also have places to stay.

This year, 2024, the word is that there are many more cranes filling the skies over the Platte.

 

Where you start on your crane watching trip (JJacobs)
Where you start on your crane watching trip (JJacobs)

According to Earth/Sky news, wildlife biologist Bethany Ostrom reported in late February that the Crane Trust’s bird count saw about five times the usual numbers.

“Another record week? On February 24, 2024, we estimated 122,700 +9,100 sandhill cranes between Chapman and Overton, Nebraska,” Ostrom said. “On average, this time of year (week 2 of annual count) we see around 27,000 cranes.”

For more information visit Cranetrust viewing/tours

and Crane Season | Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

 

Lake Geneva Winterfest means Snow Sculpting

 

Winterfest 2023 1st Place Winner North Dakota

2023 1st Place Championship team from North Dakota. “The Nemean Lion” The team also won “People’s Choice Award (Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva CVB)

Next week, drive over to Lake Geneva, WI for  Winterfest Lake Geneva

Fabulous snow sculptures created by championship state teams from Alaska to Wisconsin are entered in the annual National Snow Sculpting Championship as part of Winterfest.

It starts with snow delivered to 15 team sites on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park.

Many visitors drive over on Feb. 2 or 3 to watch the sculpting and see the winners on Saturday when work stops and judges rate the sculptures. Visitors can also pick their favorites as People’s Choice. They fill in the time by seeing ice sculptures downtown, shopping and enjoying live entertainment

Some visitors just come in for the day but If looking for a place to stay consider the Grand Geneval Resort and Spa known for its Wisconsin Croissant, also called “Ouisconsin.”

For more information visit Winterfest Lake Geneva

Jodie Jacobs

 

 

Four events to look forward to in February

 

Past winner of Winterfest (Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva Chamber)
Past winner of Winterfest (Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva Chamber)

Many folks are ready to say goodbye to January’s below freezing temps and heavy snow shoveling. So here are some events to put on the calendar to help.

Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva Winterfest Jen 31-Feb 4

Amazing snow sculptures will be created along Geneva Lake during Lake Geneva, Wi’s US National Snow Sculpting Championship. It is part of the town’s 29th Annual Winterfest that includes several activities.

Although it begins Jan. 31, visitors won’t see the completed sculptures until that first Saturday in February. It takes a while to have the snow delivered to each sculpting team’s worksite and it takes time for them to carve out their masterpieces.

There will be 15 state championship teams competing from all over the US. Look for them sculpting at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park Judges will rate the work at about 1 p.m. Saturday. In past years, visitors also had a chance to vote for their favorites.

Strolling the downtown to shop, see ice sculptures, watch snow sculpting and enjoy live entertainment fills out the days until the winners are announced. Sculptures are still up on Sunday, weather permitting.

For more information visit Winterfest Lake Geneva

 

Woodstock IL town square filmed in Groundhog Day (JJacobs photo)
Woodstock IL town square filmed in Groundhog Day (JJacobs photo)

Groundhog Day is back in Woodstock, IL    (but also in Punxsutawney, PA)

Events surrounding the famed 1993 film start Feb. 1 but are celebrated with a redo of the weather predicting creature in Woodstock, IL on Feb 2. Suppposedly, film director Harold Ramis chose Woodstock for filming because the story-line location in Pennsylvania was far from his North Shore home in Illinois.

To see where weather forecaster Bill Murray and his station co-worker, Andie MacDowell fell in love, go to Woodstock, not Pennsylvania, a tourist destination northwest of Chicago with a picturesque square featured in the movie.

If in town early in the morning Feb. 2, you hear groundhog Woodstock Willie say when spring will come. But stay to tour the film’s sites and see the movie. 

For clips visit Groundhog Day utubeFor more Woodstock info visit Groundhog Day/Woodstock. For the Punxsutawney, PA site see Punxsutawney Groundhog ClubFor folklore and background on Groundhog Day go to Farmers’Almanac Groundhog Day.

(Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism site)

Asian (Chinese) Lunar New Year 2024 Feb.10-25

 Learn about the zodiac signs including yours, where the holiday is celebrated and where you can celebrate at Lunar New Year 2024/Animal, Dates and celebrations.

Although called Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, the festival is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam and Korea. 

Here, in the Chicago area, there are dragon parades and other events in a couple of neighborhoods such as Argyle Feb. 17 and Chinatown Feb.  18, plus lots of red decorations (for good luck) in Asian restaurants. This year is the Year of the Dragon.

nfl-shield

Football’s Superbowl Sunday Feb 11, 2024

The event will be at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the game doesn’t matter unless you are a fan of one of the teams. But the commercials are usually worth watching. Check top 10 for 2023 on UTube to see what was good last year. Peanuts (the edible kind) and M and Ms were still around.

For Super Bowl LVIII info visit 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Sunday – When, Where & More – NFL.com

International Puppet Theater Festival returns this week

“The Immortal Jellyfish Girl” Photo courtesy of Wakka Wakka Productions

There’s more to the already great Chicago Theater experiences than you might think.

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, begun in 2015 and now celebrating its 6th year, starts January 18 and continues through January 28, 2024.

Headquartered at the Puppet Hub in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, 433 S. Michigan Ave., Festival events and shows are held at venues across the city. It also includes free neighborhood tours co-sponsored by the festival, Chicago Park District, Navy Pier and neighborhood organizations. 

Considered the largest puppetry event in North America, the Fest draws artists from across the globe and features more than 100 activities ranging from performances and symposium to workshops and a Pop-Up Store. 

Where to stay.

Chicago has lots of options but there is an official hotel for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. It is the Warwick Allerton Hotel, 701 N. Michigan Ave. which has a discounted rate during festival dates. Use the  promo code, Puppetfest24. Visit Warwick Allerton or call (312) 440-1500 to reserve. This is where all of the artists stay and many visitors in town  for the Chicago Intl Puppet Theater Festival.

For Festival tickets, activities and more information visit Chicago Puppet Fest.