Happenings – Travel Smart With Jodie

Spring really starts this Thursday

Four large white and red parachutes are fully deployed above a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashing into the water.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore land in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, March 18, 2025 after an unpredictably long nine months at the International Space Station. Photo courtesy of NASA/Keegan Barber

We’re celebrating Spring, a good time to applaud the two astronauts’ return to Earth and the change of seasons.

It’s OK to be confused. Those of us recently told to “Spring forward” might have thought our weather was about to change along with our moving one-hour-ahead time.

For many of us in the Midwest it did. We didn’t get much flower and crop growing rain. But we experienced some warmer temps. Strangely enough they came every other day as if Mother Nature was trying to balance the seasonal changes in weather.

Well, now that we are actually checking our phone or2025 paper calendar we see that Spring is marked as happening on Thursday, March 20. Why?

In the Northern Hemisphere Spring is tied to the March Vernal Equinox. That is when the Sun crosses the middle of the equator moving from south to north. It is also the first day of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

In Chicago, Illinois, that happens at 4:01 am CDT, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Corresponding UTC is at 09:01.)

Remember that Meteorological Spring started on March 1 and runs through May 31 every year no matter the timing of the vernal equinox.

For more information visit Spring Time and Date and Farmers’ almanac Spring

BTW March 2025 may be remembered more as the month our two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station finally returned to Earth in time to celebrate the first day of Spring.

March moon at full and eclipse mode

The skies will be particularly interesting in March

Don’t forget to wear something green on St. Pats Day, March 15. But first mark March 13-14 for a lunar eclipse. Then, mark March 29 for when the New Moon covers part of the Sun in a partial solar eclipse.

The March Full Moon is known as the Worm Moon for when the soil and weather is right for earthworms to peek out. It is also called the Lenten Moon reflecting the timing of the pre-Easter Lent period.

The March full moon 2024 is the closest full moon to the March equinox. It’s also called the Sugar Moon for when to tap tree sap. (Check your local forest and park districts which may be holding sugar tapping events.)

Lunar Eclipse
It’s not just the sun that has eclipses. Watch the moon disappear March 13-14, 2025.

Visible from all of North America, the March full moon will have a total Lunar Eclipse. The Moon will enter its penumbra stage at 11:56 P.M. EDT (8:56 P.M. PDT), March 13 and the umbra at 1:09 A.M. EDT on March 14 (10:09 P.M. PDT, March 13).

It will leave the umbra stage at 4:48 A.M. EDT (1:48 A.M. PDT) on March 14 and the penumbra at 6:02 A.M. EDT (3:02 A.M. PDT). No solar glasses needed.

During a lunar eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a line with the Earth between the Moon and Sun. Therefore, our planet casts a reddish shadow over the Moon (also known as the umbra).

The full bright “Blood” or “Earthworm” Moon will be at peak illumination at 2:55 A.M. ET on Friday, March 14. However, look for a bright Moon rising above the horizon, Thursday evening.

Because it will look closer to us near the horizon, it will look large. That’s called a Moon illusion.

Partial Solar Eclipse

It can be viewed in northeastern North America around sunrise and mid-morning across Europe. (Sunrise is at 6:31 EDT in Boston.). The moon’s central shadow will miss Earth so no totality but it will still be a solar eclipse.

According to Space much of Europe will see a large partial solar eclipse.

The best views will be for in the far eastern area of North America, where an eclipsed sun will appear on the eastern horizon at sunrise.

For more information visit almanac and Space

Two Midwest events worth seeing

7_North Dakota_Some Things in Life

North Dakota “People’s Choice 1st Place 2024 Award”(Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva and the Snow Sculpting Invitational)

It’s easy to overlook events in late January and early February before we start planning short trips in spring when the weather is better. But here are two happenings really worth seeing and enjoying no matter the weather.

Lake Geneva, WI Winterfest

Enough snow to turn into very large sculptures won’t be a problem this year but even when it is the Lake Geneva Winterfest brings in huge blocks for teams to use as competition-worthy, story-telling objects.

A charming town that historically is known as a summer Chicago society getaway, Lake Geneva, WI has been holding the Snow Sculpting Invitational festival for 30 years. To mark its anniversary, 15 former championship teams from around the United States have been invited back for this year’s competition.

Held this year over the weekend of Jan. 29 through Feb, 2, 2025, visitors can watch the sculptors at work, see the final products and vote on Feb. 1, for a favorite. Judges will also be voting in various categories that day.

The event is free and held in Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park along the shore of Geneva Lake (yes, Lake Geneva, WI is on Geneva Lake). The sculptors get their snow block on Wednesday and have to finish on Saturday, February 1.

Sculptures will be displayed until they melt but most visitors drive over on Saturday and leave on Sunday. Meanwhile, do the Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, shop the boutiques and see art galleries and dog racing.

Lake Geneva has numerous restaurants and places to stay.

The Orchid Show of Wonders at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Chicago Botanic Garden

This event is indoors. Every February orchids take over the Greenhouses and main hall inside the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL. With a nod to Orchids’ exotic growing locals, this year the show is called “India Blooms” and runs from February 8 to March 23, 2025.

Plus and donor level members are free. Otherwise tickets are as follows: Adult $12 member / $22 nonmember, children ages 3 – 12 $8 member / $15 nonmember and children 2 and under, free. Parking fee is not included in price for nonmembers. Member Preview is Feb. 7 from 5-8 p.m. featuring light bites, live music and cash bar.

Special ticketed Events: Orchids After Hours Feb. 14 ,21, 28 and March 13, 14, 20 and 21 from 5 -8 p.m. cocktails and delicious bites.

In addition there is the Weekend Orchid Market Place on Feb. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and Mar.1-2 to buy orchids, and supplies from vendors, the Illinois Orchid Society Show and Sale on March 8 – 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to view orchid arrangements and shop and an Indian community Marketplace March 22-23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to shop for Indian products.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL just east of Edens Exp.

More information at Chicago Botanic Org/orchids

Put the Chicago Travel and Auto Shows on the calendar

2024-Gallery-Image

With two major shows coming to the Chicago area in early February the frigid month of January is really the get ready to go month.

First, is the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Hall F), 5555 North River Rd. in Rosemont, IL on Feb. 1 and 2, 2025. More than 250 exhibitors and dozens of speakers will be talking about places and type of trips from around the globe.

Times: Saturday, February 1 is 10 a.m. -5 p. m. and
Sunday, February 2 is 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cost: $15 parking. Tickets in advance: Adults 17 and over $16 one day, $23 two days.

What: More than 250 exhibitors to discuss places and type of trips around the globe. Check out the Speakers days and times to get the tips you want for where and how.

By The Way – the show is simply fun with goodies to pick up at booths, food and entertainment.

2024 Chicago Auto Show

Then, there is the Chicago Auto Show, the biggest and best of its kind, Feb 8-Feb 17,2025 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Dr, Chicago.

Cost: $17 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 62 and older, $12 for children 4-12, free admission for children 3 and younger when accompanied by a paying family adult.

Attractions: Indoor and outdoor test tracks, the concepts cars and kids play area are just a sample of what to expect. It’s busy but fun.

Wolf Moon

If your sky is clear tonight you are likely to see what looks like a full moon. It actually is at peak illumination tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 23,2025 at 4:22 p.m. CST, (2227 UTC according to the U.S. Naval Observatory) but it looks full the day before and day after that.

This full moon is called the Wolf Moon. It is also known as the Moon after Yule and the Ice Moon. A note on the NASA Science site says the January moon is “the start of Prayag Kumbh Mela; Shakambhari Purnima; Paush Purnima; the Thiruvathira, Thiruvathirai, or Arudhra Darisanam festival Moon; and Duruthu Poya.”

If you like to gaze at the sky or look for planets you should also note that the full Wolf Moon will pass in front of Mars but first watch for its rising in the eastern horizon around sunset. To find out when to see the January full moon check Moonrise Calculator.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists other names for the January Moon. And yes, the names apply to the whole lunar month, not just when it is full.

Here are some of those names: Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree) and Great Moon (Cree). There is also Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), Severe Moon (Dakota). Hard Moon (Dakota), Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki) and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe).

Since many full names reflect the season or weather the question is why “Wolf Moon?”

Wolves are thought to do more howling in January (winter) to find pack members, coordinate hunting and define their territory.

For more January Full Moon info click on The Next Full Moon is the Wolf Moon – NASA Science, Wolf Moon: Full Moon in January 2025 | The Old Farmer’s Almanac, January full moon 2025: The Wolf Moon hides Mars | Space.

Watch the sky before Friday dawn

The new year of 2025 opens with the peak of a meteor shower! But you have to get up really early to watch on Jan. 3 or stay up really late tonight, Thursday, Jan. 2. Also, look north.

It the the Quadrantid shower. And it’s a good one. However, unlike other meteor events the peak is short but sweet. Expect close to 100 meteors flying across the sky for a few hours before dawn, Friday. But even 200 have been known at its peak.

The Quadrantids actually started in late November and continue until mid January but their peak at more than 80 an hour. It is when their radiant is high overhead early this Friday morning. The sky should be dark because a waxing crescent moon will have set early the night before.

This shower gets its name from the Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation. Its radiant is near the Big Dipper which will be in the far northern sky tonight so not easily visible in the Southern Hemisphere. Its parent is the asteroid 2003 EH1.

BTW This is the only good meteor shower to watch until April.

For more info visit EarthSky, Time and Date, Space.

Catch falling stars but note full moon

Look up,the Geminids are here. They will be around until Dec. 24 in 2024, but they peak December 13-15.

Flying across the sky at about 120 to 150 per hour, the Geminids are among the best meteor showers of the year.

Instead of seeming to come from (known as the radiant) a comet, the Geminids are from the 3200 Phaethon which is an asteroid. That’s the good news.

Not so good is that December’s full moon, called the Cold Moon, will be lighting up the sky at the same time. It looks full Dec. 13-16 but reaches full illumination the morning of Dec. 15.

The problem is the full moon really will lite up not just the sky but your landscape making it hard to catch the Geminids. EarthSky has a couple of suggestions to counter the full moon including looking for a spot that is in shadow.

The moon’s”Cold” name reflects the weather at this time of year. However, it is also called the Long Night Moon because of its proximity to the winter solstice, Dec. 21. You’ll probably notice the morning starts darker now and night comes quickly.

For more info go to EarthSky, Time and Date and Old Farmer’s Almanac

Holiday lights and festivals

Light up the night at Lightscape

(Photo courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape)

It may seem almost overwhelming when considering all the festivals in the Chicago area this Thanksgiving holiday weekend so here are just a few to consider.

Magnificent Mile Light Festival

The main feature is The Parade led by Disney’s ® Mickie and Minnie Mouse that starts at 5:30 p.m. but you might want to go earlier for events along North Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile. The Parade starts at the north end at Oak Street and ends south at the Chicago River.

However, the festivities go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the south end of the Mag Mile in Pioneer Court next to the former Chicago Tribune building. They include photos with Santa, cheesecake decorating with Eli’s Cheesecake, free coffee samples and MUNCHKINS® Donut Hole Treats and DJ’s on stage.

Look for a good parade viewing spot early to see the floats, celebrities and bands and watch Mickey and Minnie turn on the million lights as they proceed up the Avenue. Overhead will be Muppet balloons, including a 60-foot-tall Santa Kermit The Frog .

Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape

Stroll on a set path around fields, plots and waterways accompanied by music and refigured by colored lights. As good as it was last year and the year before, the 2024 Lightscape is almost beyond imagination.

Stop along the way for a snack or go into the Education Building half way around to rest and eat because more amazing patches of illumination still lie ahead.

Lightscape is Nov 15 through Jan 5, 2025. The Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022. For tickets and more information visit Lightscape or call (847) 835-6801.

City of Chicago Tree Lighting

Go over to Millennium Park east of Michigan Avenue just south of Washington Street for Chicago’s annual Christmas Tree lighting November 22. The tree will be up through January 8, 2025 but on this Friday, there will be entertainment at 5 p.m. and a ceremony begins at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks. Enter through the south Promenade on Monroe Street or Randolph Street.

Take public transportation because Street closures begin at 10:00 a.m. on November 22 for Washington from Wabash to Michigan, Madison from Wabash to Michigan,Michigan Avenue from Randolph to Monroe and Garland Court from Randolph to Monroe. They end at midnight.

Jodie Jacobs

November moon is the Beaver

If you have had a clear night sky this past weekend and have been looking up you may have noticed that the moon before it was even full has been looming large. The November full moon is the last of the season’s four Supermoons.

Likely you remember that Supermoons look larger because they are closer to Earth than the other full moons. That would be within the 90 percent range of its closest orbital point.

To see it at its full illumination, check it out at 4:29 p.m. EDT on Nov. 15, (2024). Of course, as usual, it will appear full the day before and the day after.

The November full moon is known as the “Beaver Moon” because that animal is beginning to move into the lodge it has constructed where it has stored food for the winter.

Other November full moon names refer to other animal activities and the weather in Native American lore such as the Digging and Deer Rutting Moon or the Frost or Freezing Moon.

For more information visit Space and Old Farmer’s Almanac.

October Supermoon

October’s full moon, which is at full illumination on the 17th of the month, will be the year’s best Supermoon. It will look full Oct 16-19 and rise about the same time each night.

It will also appear brighter than past moons and its longer time lighting the sky has made it a good time for hunting but also a time to finish harvesting. BTW the October Moon is called the Hunter’s Moon. The September moon, a lunar cycle earlier was called the Harvest Moon.

“Super” as in Supermoon, is for what looks like its larger than usual size. That illusion is when its orbit, which is oval, brings it closer to Earth. That point is called its perigee. The Moon’s farthest point is its apogee

“Closer,” means 222,058 miles from Earth (357,367 kilometers). In comparison, September’s Supermoon on Sept. 18 was large but its perigee was 222,132 miles (357,486) from Earth.

Watch for the Hunter’s Moon on the horizon when the sun goes down but its peak illumination came already at 6:26 a.m., CT, Thursday.

For more information visit Time and Date and Old Farmer’s Almanac