plus 1, Text Size - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Text Size - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:26 AM PST

With so much water around, it's only natural to go for a boat tour, and here in South Florida you can choose from an old-time paddle wheeler for a lunch or dinner cruise, a glass bottom boat ride over a reef or an airboat adventure into the Everglades.

1. Pilgrim Belle Cruises – 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-747-3434. Pilgrim Belle offers two-hour narrated Intracoastal cruises, brunch cruises, 75-minute harbor cruises and 90-minute sunset cruises. Based on the cruise, prices range from $15-27 for adults, $13-16 for seniors, and children (12 and under) $11-17.

2. Loxahatchee Everglades Tours – 15490 Loxahatchee Road, west of U.S. 441 north of Deerfield Beach, south of Boca Raton; 800-683-5873. Direct weather update: 561-482-8026

Airboat tours of the Everglades, with frequent sightings of alligators, wading birds and more. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours begin at 10 a.m. There are two tours - 55-minute 6-8 miled Evergaldes eco-awarness tour and a 40-minute 4-6 mile Everglades tour. The ec-awarness tour is $44 for adults and children (6-12) are $22. The Everglades tour is $32 for adults, $16 for childen and free for ages 5 and under.

3. Jungle Queen Riverboat -- A1A, Bahia Mar Yacht Center, Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-5596.

Barbecue and shrimp dinner sightseeing cruise with variety show departs nightly at 6 p.m.; Adults $36.95, children (2-12 years old) $20.50. Three-hour narrated sightseeing cruises depart at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; adults $16.50, children $11.75. Cash or traveler's checks only.

4. Carrie B. Harbor Tours – Las Olas Boulevard at SE 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale; 954-768-9920.

Seasonal sightseeing cruises of the New River, Intracoastal Waterway and Port Everglades featuring yachts and homes of the rich and famous. Hours: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Cost: Adults $16.95, children under 12 $9.95.

5. Chesapeake -- One of the few boat tours that offers ocean sailing.

Go aboard Walter Cronkite's former yacht, the Chesapeake, a 46-foot cutter yawl. Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Laudedale; 954-463-1414. Daily 3-1/2-hour sailing cruises by appointment. Tickets: $59.95-$79. Up to 10 people.

6. Water Bus of Fort Lauderdale -- 651 Sea Breeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-6677.

Makes regular stops at 11 different points between Oakland Park Boulevard and SE 17th Street along the Intracoastal Waterway, and west along the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale as far as the River House restaurant, from about 10:30 a.m. to after midnight. Fare: $10 for an all-day pass, with other passes available.

7. Everglades Holiday Park -- End of Griffin Road west, half mile past U.S. 27; 954-434-8111.

One-hour airboat tours include alligator wrestling. Free admission and free parking, but the airboat tour is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Full-service RV campground, boat rentals, gift shop, deli, Everglades bass fishing. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

8. Sawgrass Recreation Park -- On U.S. 27, 2 miles north of I-75; 954-389-0202 or 800-457-0788. Narrated Everglades airboat tours daily. Also features a live alligator and birds of prey exhibit, boat rentals, fishing, food and beverages. The tours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $19.50, children under 12 $10 (plus tax), free for children 4 and under.

9. Biscayne National Park – 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead; 305-230-1100 or 305-230-7275.

Three-hour glass-bottom bout tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The park is 95 percent underwater and features colorful coral reefs and undeveloped keys in Biscayne Bay, southeast of Miami. Directions: The auto entrance to the park is at Convoy Point, which can be reached by taking Florida's Turnpike south to Exit 6 (Speedway Boulevard), turning left from the exit ramp and continuing south to Southwest 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Turn left and continue to the end of the road. The entrance is approximately 5 miles on the left. Reservations are recommended for the boat tours, and six passenger minimum applies. Fee: $24.45 plus tax for adults, $16.45 for children under 12 years, and $19.45 for seniors. A $2.50 fuel surcharge will also apply.

10. Island Queen Cruises of Miami -- Leaves from Bayside Marketplace at Biscayne and Port Boulevards, Miami. 305.379.5119 ext. 201.

This 1- 1/2 hour cruise along Biscayne Bay takes in the downtown Miami skyline, the Port of Miami, Brickell Key, Fisher Island and the celebrity filled islands of Miami Beach known as "Millionaire's Row." Adults are $22; children (4 -12) are $16 and children under 4 years are free. Cruises are hourly from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to Sundays. The firm also offers nightly dance cruises.

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Entertainment Calendar - Northwest Herald

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 09:54 PM PST

What's happening in the county, the region and Chicago

ART

McHenry County

NORTHLAND AREA ART LEAGUE, Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Meetings at 7 to 9 p.m. second Tuesdays, September through April, at the Opera House. New members welcome.

OLD COURT HOUSE ARTS CENTER, 101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock, 815-338-4525 or www.oldcourthouseartscenter.com. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Schedule: through Jan. 10, An Artful Holiday presented by The Clayworkers' Guild of Illinois featuring handmade pottery, ornaments, holiday decor, paintings, jewelry and gifts.

VALLEY ART CLUB, Lakeside Legacy Arts Park (Dole Mansion) lower level Gullick Studio, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Featuring life drawing workshops 7 to 10 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Membership fee: $40 (membership not required to attend). Information: 847-426-8532.

WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE, 121 Van Buren St., 815-338-4212 or 815-338-5300. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and during theater performances. Come and view a new exhibit each month presented by local artists in the Community Room of the Woodstock Opera House.

Regional

BARRINGTON/NORTHWEST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATES OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, 847-358-3011. Schedule: 1 p.m. Jan. 12, Miranda Hofelt will present "Sunlight and Shadow: the Legacy of Adams, Weston, and Cunningham" photography program, at the Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Light refreshments at 12:30 p.m. Lecture cost: $15. Information: 847-842-1960.

Chicago

2ND FRIDAYS GALLERY NIGHT, 6 to 10 p.m. second Fridays, featuring a myriad of works shown in 35 galleries in the Chicago Arts District surrounding South Halsted and 18th streets, Chicago. Free. Gallery listing, location map and information: 312-377-4444 or www.chicagoartsdistrict.org.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-443-3600 or visit www.artic.edu. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday (with free admission 5 to 8 p.m.), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Target Free Thursdays 5 to 8 p.m. Admission: $12 adults; $7 for students and seniors, free for children younger than 12. Special exhibitions may require extra admission fee.

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, 312-742-1148, www.egov.cityofchicago.org. Viewing hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Free admission. Schedule: through Jan. 10, Tim Long: Daniel Burnham's Enduring Vision for the Philippines exhibition of photographs (Historic Water Tower); through Jan. 10, Barbara Crane: Challenging Vision; through October, Contemporary Sculptures from China exhibit (in Millennium Park).

GALLERY KH, 311 W. Superior St., Chicago, 312-642-0202 or www.gallerykh.com. Schedule: through January, Second Annual Small Works Show.

METROPOLITAN CAPITAL BANK, 9 E. Ontario St., Chicago, 312-640-2327. Schedule: through Jan. 14, Art Works Chicago - A Progressive Corporate Exhibition of Chicago Artists program with a new exhibit featuring contemporary quilt artist, Jane Sassaman.

SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, 37 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 312-899-5100 or www.saic.edu. Schedule: through Jan. 9, Learning Modern (Sullivan Galleries); through Feb. 13, Picturing the Studio (Sullivan Galleries).

AUDITIONS

Kane County

NOBLE FOOL THEATRICALS PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY, 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 10 and 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 11, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Open auditions for Disney's "Beauty & the Beast": Youth Ensemble Musical for ages 12-18. No appointment necessary. Teens should prepare and memorize a one-minute monologue and 16 bars of a song that best displays their talent. Accompanist provided. Bring sheet music. Bring shoes to dance in. Information: 630-443-0438 or ww.noblefool.org.

RIVERSIDE CHORUS OF SWEET ADELINES, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., West Dundee. Local barbershop singing chorus seeking women who like to sing. Rehearsals are like having voice lessons every week. Information: Lisa, 847-437-3310 or www.riversidechorus.com.

STEEL BEAM THEATRE, 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 9, 11 W. Main St., St. Charles. Auditions for a play version of "The Emperor's New Clothes" for young actors ages 9-16. No preparation needed to audition, first-come, first-served. No appointment necessary. Rehearsals on Saturday mornings starting Jan. 16. Performance dates Feb. 27 through March 27. Information: 630-587-8521 or www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

STEEL BEAM THEATRE, 7 p.m. Jan. 11, 11 W. Main St., St. Charles. Auditions for Alan Ayckbourn's mystery/comedy "It Could Be Any One of Us." Seeking a cast of six including three males in the 40s-50s age group, one female in her 40s, a female in her mid-30s and a 16-year-old girl. Auditions consist of readings from the script. Performance dates are weekends Feb. 26 through March 28. Adult actors are paid. Information: 630-587-8521 or www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

STEEL BEAM THEATRE, 11 W. Main St., St. Charles. Acting class schedule: 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Jan. 13 through Feb. 17, for Fairy Tale Theater - 3 Billy GoatsGruff for ages 6-10 (cost: $100); 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13 through Feb. 17, Improv - LOL for ages 11-14 (cost $100). Classes will take place at the Cedar Avenue Business Center, 125 N. 11th Ave., St. Charles. Registration and information: 630-587-8521 or www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

McHenry County

VOICES IN HARMONY, a community choir, is accepting new members for their spring concert. Neighbors: North and South will be performed April 18 at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake. Rehearsals 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays starting Jan. 18 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake. Information: 815-455-4879 or www.voices-in-harmony.org.

Regional

IMPROV PLAYHOUSE PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS, Jan. 8, On Your Toes Dance Academy, 1014 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove. Improv Playhouse Performing Arts now registering for the musical theatre production of "Seussical." Rehearsals will be 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Performance dates April 9 and 11. Information: 847-968-4529 or www.improvplayhouse.com.

COMEDY

Kane County

COMEDYCOMEDY AT WALTER PAYTON'S ROUNDHOUSE COMPLEX, 205 N. Broadway Ave., Aurora, 630-906-2277 or www.walterpaytonsroundhouse.com. Live stand-up comedy. Showtimes: 8:30 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $15 for ages 21 and older. Reservations recommended.
ZANIES-PHEASANT RUN RESORT, on North Avenue, St. Charles, 630-513-1761 or www.zanies.com. Showtimes: 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 & 9:45 p.m. Friday, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $23.

McHenry County

DUKE'S COMEDY CLUB, Duke's Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake, 815-356-9980 or www.thedukeabides.com. Stand-up comedians in partnership with The Edge Comedy Club. Schedule: 9:30 to 11 p.m. Jan. 16, featuring a lineup of hometown comics. Doors open 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 at www.eventbrite.com/event/529443580.

Regional

CHICAGO IMPROV, 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall Store K120B, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001 or www.symfonee.com/improv/chicago. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 & 10:15 p.m. Friday, 7 & 9:15 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday. Schedule: Jan. 8-9, Ralphie May ($25); Jan. 15-57, Orny Adams ($17).

IMPROV PLAYHOUSE, Black Box Theater, 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, 847-968-4529 or www.improvplayhouse.com. Schedule: 8 p.m. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, The Therapeutic Funtillectuals (tickets: $5 adults, $3 students, military and seniors); 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, Lost Not Stolen! ($8 adults, $5 students, military and seniors, $3 Improv Playhouse students).

LAUGH OUT LOUD THEATER, Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg, 847-240-0386 or www.loltheater.com. Schedule: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 7 through April 1, Instant Musical! A night of music set to improv. Tickets: $15.

MIDWEST COMEDY SHOWCASE, 8 p.m. every Thursday, Penny Road Pub, 545 S. Penny Road, South Barrington. Focusing on the best comedians from Chicago and the surrounding areas to the suburbs. Co-produced by Matt Drufke. Tickets: $6. Information: 815-762-9749; www.midwestcomedyshowcase.com or matt@midwestcomedyshowcase.com.

ZANIES-VERNON HILLS, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, 847-549-6030 or www.zanies.com. Showtimes: 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $23.

Chicago

BLUE MAN GROUP, Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago, 773-348-4000. Daily performances. Performance times vary and subject to change. Tickets: $49-$64. Tickets and information: 312-902-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com.

CHICAGO SKETCH COMEDY FESTIVAL, ninth annual, Jan. 7-17, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Festival will feature more than 100 sketch comedy groups performing 150 shows and other special events in two weekends. Visit web site for comedy groups and time schedule. Tickets: $12.50 each time slot, $150 all-festival pass at 773-327-5252; 800-745-3000; www.ticketmaster.com or www.chicagosketchfest.com.

ZANIES-CHICAGO, 1548 N. Wells in Old Town, 312-337-4027 or www.zanies.com. Showtimes: 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday & Sunday; 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. Friday; 7, 9, & 11:15 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $22.

DANCE

Kane County

DANCE CONNECTION, ballroom dance club meets 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sundays at St. Charles School of Dance, 1429 W. Main St., St. Charles. Newcomers always welcome ages 18 and older. Cost: $8 a person. Information: 630-202-3222 or e-mail: dupageflute@aol.com or www.chrisburdick.com.

STATE STREET DANCE STUDIO, 9 N. 4th St., Geneva. Schedule: noon to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, Jazz Explosion workshops open to dancers ages 7 through adult. Advanced workshop starts at noon and beginner through intermediate starts at 3 p.m. Cost: $45 advanced, $35 beginner-intermediate. Registration and information: 630-232-0444 or www.statestreetdancestudio.com.

SUGAR SQUARES DANCE CLUB, Waubonsee Community College, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove. Featuring modern square dancing lessons 7 p.m. Sundays. Couples, singles and teenagers all invited. Cost: $40 a person for 10 weeks of lessons. Registration and information: 815-286-9702 or 630-377-3695.

McHenry County

B AND B SQUARE DANCE CLUB, Johnsburg Community Club, 2315 W. Church St., Johnsburg. Dances first and third Friday of every month. Rounds begin at 8 p.m., squares at 8:30 p.m. Cost: $4.50 members, $5 visitors. Information: 815-728-1026 or 847-395-1108.

DANCE! with Frank & Jackie Penze, ballroom, Latin and swing dance instructors, 847-639-8699. Cary Park District: 12:45-2:15 p.m. Jan. 10 to Feb. 14, Beginning Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha; 2:30-4 p.m. Intermediate East Coast Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha; 4-5:30 p.m. Advanced Waltz, Cha Cha, Merengue, American Tango, at Cary Park District, 255 Briargate Road, Cary. Cost: $87 resident couple, $94 non-resident, 847-639-6100. Crystal Lake Park District: 7-8:15 p.m. or 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 6 to Feb. 10, Beginning Salsa, Swing, Fox Trot, Tango; 7 to 8:15 p.m. to Feb. 11, Advanced Salsa, Fox Trot, East Coast Swing, American Tango; 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Intermediate Fox Trot, Salsa, Single Time Swing, Intro to Argentine Tango, at Rotary Building in Veteran Acres Park, 131 N. Walkup, Crystal Lake. Cost: $99 couple resident, $114 non-resident. Call 815-459-0680 or www.crystallakeparks.org. Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 to Feb. 12, Beginning Swing, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, Merengue; 7:30-8:30 p.m. Intermediate Swing, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, Argentine Tango ($70 resident, $80 non-resident); 8:30-10 p.m. Advanced Swing, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, Argentine Tango ($97 resident, $107 non-resident), at LaBahn-Hain House, 149 Hilltop Drive. Call 847-960-7460. Lake Villa: 7 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. Jan. 12 to Feb. 16, Beginning Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Merengue; 9 to 10 p.m. Intermediate Swing, Waltz, Argentine Tango, Merengue, at American Stars of Dance Studio, 133 Cedar Ave. ($90 a couple). Call 847-838-1234. McHenry Parks: 7 to 8:15 p.m. Jan. 18 to Feb. 8, Swing, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, at Edgebrook School, 701 N. Green St., McHenry Cost: $59 resident couple, $69 non-resident. Call 815-363-2160.

GREATER FOX VALLEY CHAPTER OF USA DANCE, A non-profit organization, designed to promote and sponsor amateur ballroom dancing for the general public. Information: Walt, 815-337-6860 or ok3wire@joltmail.com; Jackie, 847-639-8699, jackiepenze@aol.com or www.dancefoxvalley.org. Admission: $8 members, $10 seniors, $12 non-members. Dances take place 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturdays at McHenry VFW Hall (Normandy Room), 3002 W. Route 120, McHenry. Dances include a free dance lesson at 7:30 p.m., cake and snacks. Dance schedule: Jan. 23, Here's to Lucky Thirteen (Argentine Tango lesson).

ZUMBA CLASSES, 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, Simply Bliss Fitness, 1549 Carlemont Drive, Crystal Lake. Dance fitness aerobics workout to a fusion of mostly Latin dance rhythms. Cost: $10 per class. Registration and information: 815-546-1706 or www.simplyblissfitness.com.

Chicago

DISCO DANCING, Boutique Cafe & Lounge, 1324 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, 773-292-0585. Featuring disco dancing 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday.

FAMILY EVENTS

Kane County

ALL-CANADA SHOW, 27th annual, Jan. 14-17, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Adventurers interested in traveling to Canada will find information and exhibitors of a wide variety of fishing and hunting destinations. Show includes free seminars, maps, travel guides and more. Schedule: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors and children ages 13-16; free for children 12 and younger. Tickets and information: 800-325-6290 or www.allcanadashow.com.

"HANSEL AND GRETEL": Jan. 9 through Feb. 6, Steel Beam Theatre, 11 W. Main St., St. Charles. Classic tale geared for children ages 3 and older featuring a cast of local young actors ages 9-16. Schedule: 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m. select Saturdays. Tickets: $12 adults, $10 children younger than 16 at: 630-587-8521 or www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

"RABBIT HOLE": Jan. 8 through Feb. 7, Steel Beam Theatre, 11 W. Main St., St. Charles. By David Lindsay-Abaire. Story about four adult kindred and one stranger suddenly thrust on a journey having to copy with a myriad of emotions. Schedule: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $25. Discounts and group rates available. Tickets and information: 630-587-8521 or www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

McHenry County

MIKE TOOMEY'S TV AND ME, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. A one-man show, this production will take you on a hilarious journey back into '60s and '70s TV-land for an evening of clean, laugh-out-loud fun. Tickets: $25, $28, $31 at 815-356-9212 or www.rauecenter.org.

Regional

BAKU-CON REGIONAL TOURNAMENT, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 9-10, Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Bakugan championship brawler competition for ages 7-15 for the chance to compete in the Feb. 20-21 national championship event in New York City. Registration fee: $20 a person (ages 7-15) to compete, free for spectators. For registration and information, visit: www.baku-con.com.

"LOST IN YONKERS": Jan. 16 through Feb. 21, Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. By Neil Simon. Arty and Jay are left at their grandmother's house while their father pays off his debts to a loan shark. Grandma is anything but sweet and affectionate and all of her children have suffered from her tyrannical rule. All three generations learn in this Pulitzer Prize winning tale of old wounds and young discovery. Schedule: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: 425 adults, $20 seniors and students at 866-764-1010 or www.village-players.org.

SESAME STREET LIVE "WHEN ELMO GROWS UP": Jan. 8-10, Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. Join Abby Cadabby, Elmo, Zoe, Rosita and all of her furry and feathered friends when they ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Schedule: 7 p.m. Jan. 8; 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Jan. 9; 1 & 4:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Tickets: $12-$27 at 815-726-6600; www.rialtosquare.com; 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Chicago

"ANNIE": Jan. 19-24, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Tony Award-winning musical with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan. Based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip. Schedule: 8 p.m. Jan. 19; 2 & 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21; 8 p.m. Jan. 22; 2 & 8 p.m. Jan. 23; 2 p.m. Jan. 24. Tickets: $20-$75 at 800-775-2000; all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com.

CHICAGO BOAT, RV & OUTDOORS SHOW, 80th annual, Jan. 13-17, McCormick Place - North Building, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Featuring a large selection of boats, RVs, marine accessories, exhibits, demonstrations, products and more. Schedule: 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $10 adults, $4 children ages 13-15, free for children 12 and younger. Online discounts available. Information: 312-946-6200 or www.chicagoboatshow.com.

FILM

Chicago

THE FIELD MUSEUM, Ernst & Young 3D Theater, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 312-922-9410 or www.fieldmuseum.org. Schedule: shows daily through May, 2010, "Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies;" "Dinosaurs Alive! 3D." Admission: $5 with basic admission.

GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER, 164 N. State St., Chicago. Information, movie times and tickets: 312-846-2600, www.siskelfilmcenter.org. Tickets: $10 adults, $7 students with ID, $5 film center members. Schedule: Jan. 8, "Wild River," "The Sun," "Until the Light Takes Us;" Jan. 9, "Wild River," "The Sun," "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "Until the Light Takes Us;" Jan. 10, "An American Journey: In Robert Frank's Footsteps," "Wild River," "The Sun," "Until The Light Takes Us;" Jan. 11-13, "Wild River," "The Sun," "Until the Light Takes Us;" Jan. 14, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "An American Journey: In Robert Frank's Footsteps," "The Sun," "Until the Light Takes Us."

HENRY CROWN SPACE CENTER OMNIMAX, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street at Lake Shore Drive, 773-684-1414, 800-468-6674 or www.msichicago.org for show times and information. Admission: $20 adults, $19 seniors, $14 children ages 3 to 11 (includes museum admission). Tickets for museum and film must be purchased together. Schedule: through Feb. 11, 2010, "Wired to Win;" through Feb. 11, "The Human Body."

NAVY PIER IMAX THEATRE, 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Information: 312-595-5629 or www.imax.com/chicago. Call for showtimes. Tickets: $15 adults, $14 seniors, $13 children age 3-12; children age 2 and younger free. Schedule: "Avatar: An IMAX Experience;" starting Jan. 15, "Grand Canyon Adventure 3D."

MUSEUMS

Kane County

ELGIN PUBLIC MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTHROPOLOGY, Lords Park, 225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, 847-741-6655 or visit www.elginpublicmuseum.org. Winter hours: noon to 4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, September through May. Special interactive exhibits are featured, as well as a children's discovery room. Educational programs and birthday parties available. Admission: $2 adults, $1.50 seniors, $1 children ages 3-11, free for children younger than 3.

McHenry County

AUTO GALLERY MUSEUM, 2807 Route 12, Spring Grove, 815-675-3222 or www.autogallerymuseum.com. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Featuring 35 to 50 antique and specialty vehicles on display for sale. Gift shop offers automotive art, signs, models, posters and other items. Old town yesterday Main Street with a display of a wide array of items from the past and selected craft items. Vendors welcome. Free admission. Donations accepted.

Regional

BARRINGTON AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Old Barrington Centre, 212 W. Main St., Barrington, 847-381-1730 or www.bahsil.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Admission: $5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students and children.

BURPEE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, 815-965-3433 or www.burpee.org. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Housed in two historic mansions. Main exhibits include mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians, rocks and minerals, fossils and dinosaurs. Featuring the permanent exhibit Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur. Admission: $6 for resident adults ($7 non-resident), $5 for children ages 3-17 ($6 non-resident), free for members and children younger than 3. Donation Day will be on Mondays. Schedule: 3 to 4 p.m. Jan. 10, Rabbits & Guinea Pigs presentation by Critter Camp.

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, 385-acre living museum, 1000 Lake Cook Road (a half mile east of the Edens Expressway), Glencoe. Open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. Free admission. Parking $20, $7 for seniors on Tuesdays. Information: 847-835-6980 or www.chicagobotanic.org.

CIRCUS WORLD MUSEUM, 426 Water St., Baraboo, Wis., 608-356-0800 or www.circusworldmuseum.com. Museum conserves and exhibits the world's largest collection of antique circus wagons. Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $3.50 children ages 5-11, free for children 4 and younger in the off-season; $14.95, $12.95 and $7.95 during performance season.

CZECHOSLOVAK HERITAGE MUSEUM, 122 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, 630-472-0500 or www.csafraternallife.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Highlighting the history and culture of the Czech Republic and Slovakia featuring a wide variety of displays and exhibits including authentic Czech, Moravian, and Slovak costumes, crystals and ceramics, historical exhibits, dolls and puppets, and needlework dating from 1850. Admission: $5 adults, $3 seniors and students, $10 per family, $3 a person in groups (five or more).

DISCOVERY CENTER MUSEUM, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, 815-963-6769 or www.discoverycentermuseum.org. A hands-on, family-oriented museum in Riverfront Museum Park. First outdoor museum park in the U.S., with exhibits about sound, weather, water, cave exploration, and a two-story maze. Check the web site for a variety of home school and after school classes. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $6 adults, $5 children ages 2 to 17, free for children younger than 2 and museum members.

ERLANDER HOME MUSEUM, 404 South 3rd St., Rockford, 815-963-5559 or www.swedishhistorical.org. The cultural centerpiece of Rockford's Swedish-ancestry community. Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children ages 3-17, $15 family (two adults with children).

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME AND STUDIO TOURS, 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, 708-848-1976, www.gowright.org. This historic house museum, operated by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, served as Wright's residence, studio and architectural laboratory during the first twenty years of his career from 1889 to 1909. Oak Park contains the world's largest concentration of Wright-designed structures, 26 in all. Daily guided tours 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekends. Interior house tour admission: $15 adults, $12 seniors and youth ages 4-17, free for children ages 3 and younger. Other tour packages available. Schedule: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Jan. 16, Arts and Crafts influence at the Home and Studio tour and drinks ($40 Preservation Trust members, $45 non-members); Jan. 25-29, interior tours will be suspended for preservation and restoration activities (museum shop will be open).

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S ROBIE HOUSE, 5757 S. Woodlawn, Hyde Park, 708-848-1976, www.gowright.org. Tours by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust offer both a first-hand experience of its amazingly contemporary spaces and the current restoration work that is returning the house to its original magnificence in preparation of the home's 100th annivesary in 2010. Public tours will be conducted 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Other tour packages available. Interior house tour admission: $15 adults, $12 seniors and youth ages 4-17, free for children ages 3 and younger.

HISTORIC AUTO ATTRACTIONS, 13825 Metric Drive, Roscoe, 815-389-7917 or www.historicautoattractions.com. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Memorial Day to Labor Day, weekends after Labor Day. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students ages 6-15, free for children younger than 6. Tour rates available. Come take a journey through time and enjoy more than 70 historic vehicles and hundreds of pieces of history that takes you beyond the concept of most auto museums. Visit the John F. Kennedy Display. See the secret service limo from the Kennedy assassination, Richard Petty's oldest existing car, Batmobiles, Ghostbusters, Elvis' car & memorabilia, cars of gangsters like Al Capone and Bonnie and Clyde, Grateful Dead tour bus and more.

KLEHM ARBORETUM & BOTANIC GARDEN, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, 815-965-8146 or www.klehm.org. Explore every season in the heart of the Arboretum district with majestic colors of fall, hundreds of blooming crabapples in spring, butterfly gardens in summer and snow-covered evergreens in winter. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 1 to Oct. 31; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday, Nov. 1 to March 31. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year's Eve and Day. Admission: $6 adults, $3 seniors and children age 3-18, free for children 2 and younger. Every Monday is Donation Day and entry is free to the public with donations always welcome.

KOHL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, 847-832-6600 or www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $7.50 adults and children, $6.50 seniors, free for children younger than 1 and members.

LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM, Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 Forest Preserve Drive (Route 176 and Fairfield Road), Wauconda, 847-968-3400 or www.lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $6 adults, $2.50 children ages 4-17, free for children 3 and younger and members.

MIDWAY VILLAGE & MUSEUM CENTER, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, 815-397-9112 or www.midwayvillage.com. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. General admission: $6 adults, $4 children ages 3 to 17, free for members. Event admission: $6 adults, $4 children ages 3 to 17. A turn-of-the-century reconstructed village on 134 acres, including a church, school, town hall, blacksmith shop, bank, jail, hospital, farmhouse, hardware store, plumber's shop and water-powered machine shop.

MIDWEST MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, 815-895-9777 or www.mmnh.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and holidays. Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors and children ages 12 and younger and groups of 20 or more, free for children ages 2 and younger.

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, 414-224-3220 or www.mam.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays. General Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, free for children 12 and younger accompanied by an adult, free for members. Feature exhibit tickets: $12 adults, $10 seniors and active duty military, free for children 12 and younger and members.

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, 414-278-2700 or www.mpm.edu. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors age 60 and older, $10 children ages 3-17, $8 children ages 3-12, free for children age 2 and younger and museum members.

MORTON ARBORETUM, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, 630-719-2400, 630-968-0074 or www.mortonarb.org. An outdoor 1,700-acre museum with collections of several thousand varieties of trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world. Open daily. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier. Admission: $11 adults ($7 on Wednesday), $10 seniors ($6 on Wednesday), $8 ($5 on Wednesday) children ages 2-17, free for children younger than 2 and members. Schedule: 2:15 p.m. Jan. 10, Cavatina Duo chamber concert (tickets $28 a person); through January, "Darwin's Flowers: Unlocking Natural Selection" at the Sterling Morton Library.

NAPER SETTLEMENT, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, 630-420-6010 or www.napersettlement.org. A 19th century living history museum. The 13-acre village has 30 historic structures, including a Victorian mansion, homes, businesses, a log house, fort, chapel and one-room schoolhouse. Summer hours April through October: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $5.50 children ages 4-17, free for members.

VOLO AUTO MUSEUM, 27582 W. Volo Village Road, near intersection of Route 120 & Route 12, Volo, 815-385-3644 or www.volocars.com. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas). Admission: $9 adults, $7 seniors, veterans and active military personnel, $5 children ages 5-12, free for children younger than 5. Group rates. American Classic Shop offers unique auto-related books, clothing, toys and gifts, popcorn and candy. Free parking. Car museum includes more than 300 vintage collector and Hollywood cars.

Chicago

ADLER PLANETARIUM, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-7827 or www.adlerplanetarium.org. Museum of astronomy and space exploration featuring astronomer gallery talks, exhibits, astronomy artifacts, sky shows and more. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. first Fridays. General admission (exhibits only): $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children 4-17; Galaxy Package: $19 adults, $17 seniors, $15 children 4-17, includes admission and one Sky Show; Universe Package: $23 adults, $21 seniors, $19 children 4-17, includes admission and two sky shows.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-443-3600. (See Art section for exhibits.)

CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, 700 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier, 312-527-1000 or www.ChiChildrensMuseum.org. Interactive exhibits for children. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday evenings. Admission: $10 adults and children, $9 seniors, free for members and children younger than age 1. Permanent exhibitions: Dinosaur Expedition; The Inventing Lab; WaterWays; Allstate Foundation presents Play it Safe; Kovler Family Schooner; Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows for PlayMaze; Treehouse Trails, Artabounds Studio and Gallery; Kids on the Fly (located at O'Hare International Airport). Target Free First Sundays (free museum admission all day for ages 15 and younger). Kraft Free Family Night 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday evenings (free admission for everyone). Schedule: through Jan. 31, Forts exhibit; through March 1, Snow Much Fun!

CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM, Clark Street and North Avenue, 312-642-4600 or www.chicagohistory.org. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $14 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for children 12 and younger. Free general admission Mondays. Permanent exhibitions: Chicago Crossroads of America, the Dioramas and Sensing Chicago. Schedule: through April 12, Abraham Lincoln Transformed; and Benito Juarez and the Making of Modern Mexico.

DANK-HAUS GERMAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, 4740 N. Western Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago, 773-561-9181 or www.dankhaus.com. Schedule: through October 2011, Lost German Chicago exhibition.

THE FIELD MUSEUM, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-9410 or www.fieldmuseum.org. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (check for extended holiday hours and closings). General admission: $15 for adults; $12 seniors and students with ID; $10 children ages 3-11 (Gold Pass and Platinum Pass ticket options available). Permanent exhibits: What is an Animal? Africa; Sue the Tyrannosaurus rex; Inside Ancient Egypt; Nature Walk; Underground Adventure; Pawnee Earth Lodge; Pacific Spirits; Evolving Planet; The Ancient Americas; Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice DNA Discovery Center and many other exhibits. Schedule: through Feb. 28, Bunce Island: A British Slave Castle in Sierra Leone; through March 28, The Nature of Diamonds; through July 12, Travels of the Crow: Journey of an Indian Nation.

GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, 312-746-5100 or www.garfield-conservatory.org. Featuring the Sugar from the Sun new permanent exhibit. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Wednesdays until 8 p.m. Free admission.

HANCOCK OBSERVATORY, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 888-875-8439 or www.hancock-observatory.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. General admission tickets: $15 adults, $10 children ages 3-11, free for children age younger than 3.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 220 E. Chicago Ave., 312-280-2660 or www.mcachicago.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $12 adults, $7 students and seniors, free for children 12 and younger, members of the military and museum members. MCA Free Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave., 312-663-5554 or www.mocp.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, 773-684-1414; 800-GO-TO-MSI or www.msichicago.org. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. General admission: $15 adults, $14 seniors, $10 children ages 3-11, free for children younger than 3. Other packages available. Permanent exhibits: Petroleum Planet; The Great Train Story; Toymaker 3000; U-505 Submarine; Earth Revealed; Fast Forward. Special exhibits: Networld; Ships through the Ages; Reusable City; You! The Experience, and more. Schedule: weekends through Jan. 29, free general admission; through March 15, Art & Science = Architecture LEGO structure exhibit.

NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM, 801 W. Adams St., Chicago, 312-655-1234 or www.hellenicmuseum.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $5 adults, free for children younger than 12. Schedule: through Jan. 10, Neolaia/Pathos exhibition.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago, 312-738-1503 or www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday. Free admission. Performance festivals are ticketed. Permanent exhibition: Mexicanland: Our Past is Present. Schedule: through Feb. 14, Rastros y Cronicas: Women of Juarez.

PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, 773-755-5100 or www.naturemuseum.org. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students with ID, $6 children ages 3-12, free on Thursdays. Featuring permanent exhibits such as Birds of Chicago, Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, Mysteries of the Marsh, Extreme Green House, Hands-on Habitat, as well as science and nature workshops and a variety of ongoing programs. Schedule: through Jan. 31, Seashells: Inspired Form Paintings by Helen Oh; through April 11, National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal Eyes.

RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS MUSEUM, 40 E. Erie St., Chicago, 312-932-8665 or www.driehausmuseum.org. Housed in the historic Samuel Mayo Nickerson Mansion, built from 1879 to 1883, the museum is a showcase for late 19th and early 20th century art and design. The Marble Palace, as the house became known, was one of the grandest residential buildings of the 19th century Chicago. Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday for tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission: $25 adults, $17.50 seniors, $12.50 students with valid ID and children ages 12 to 16. Due to the fragile nature of the historic interiors, children younger than age 12 are not admitted and those younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

SHEDD AQUARIUM, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 312-939-2438 or www.sheddaquarium.org. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Featuring Caribbean Reef, Wild Reef, Fantasea, Amazon Rising, Oceanarium exhibits and more. The 4-D theater features "SpongeBob Square Pants" and "Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole" shows. Shedd pass admission: $17.95-$24.95. Visit the web site for other admission options. Schedule: Jan. 16-21, Community Discount/Free General Admission Week; Mondays and Tuesdays through January, Community Discount/Free General Admission Days.

SWEDISH AMERICAN MUSEUM CENTER, 5211 N. Clark, Chicago, 773-728-8111 or www.samac.org. E-mail: museum@samac.org. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission: $4 adults, $3 seniors, students and members, free for children younger than 1 year, $10 family rate. Free admission second Tuesday of every month.

UKRAINIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, 312-421-8020 or www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, by appointment only Monday through Wednesday. Admission: $5 adults, free for children younger than 12.

SINGLES EVENTS

Kane County

INTRO2SINGLES, western suburbs' premier event planning company for singles events such as dating parties, social mixers and wine tastings. No membership fee. Information: 630-845-8684. Calendar of events: www.intro2singles.com.

ST. CHARLES SINGLES CLUB, LTD., a social non-profit group welcomes ages 30 and older to dances at Riverside Receptions, 35 N. River Lane, Geneva. Dances are 7 to 11 p.m. on second, fourth and fifth Mondays. Lessons available at 6:30 p.m. Proper attire required. Admission: $6 members, $8 non-members on second and fourth Mondays; $8 members, $10 non-members on fifth Mondays with live band. Information: 630-340-6647 or www.stcharlessinglesclub.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Kane County

NORTHERN ILLINOIS BRIDAL EXPO, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 10, Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center at Northern Illinois University, 340 Carroll Ave., DeKalb. Featuring more than 40 exhibitors, groom's room, bridal fashion show and taste testing. Free admission. Information: 815-753-6389 or www.niu.edu/hsc.

Regional - Ongoing

VOLO BOG STATE NATURAL AREA, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, west off Route 12 between Routes 120 & 134, Ingleside, 815-344-1294; www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks or e-mail: dnr.volobog@illinois.gov. An Illinois Department of Natural Resources site. Registration required. Schedule: 10 a.m. Jan. 9, Of Bogs & Books discussion on "Reading the Landscape of America" by May Thielgaard Watts; 8 a.m. Jan. 10, Bird Walk (ages 7 and older); noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 10, WinterFest indoor and outdoor fun event (requesting a donation of $5 adults and $2 children).

Chicago

Regional

BROOKFIELD ZOO, 31st Street and First Avenue, Brookfield, 708-485-0263 or www.brookfieldzoo.org. Featuring more than 2,000 exotic and familiar animals on 216 acres. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12 adults, $8 seniors and children 3-11, free for zoo members and children 2 and younger. Parking: $8.

Chicago

LINCOLN PARK ZOO, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, 312-742-2000 or www.lpzoo.org. General hours: Grounds 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. buildings and farm 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Houses more than 2,000 birds, mammals and reptiles, including the world's largest collection of gorillas in the great ape house. Also, orangutans, chimpanzees, a children's petting zoo and Farm-in-the-Zoo. Free admission. There is a charge for parking.