As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s city: Clearwater, Florida!

A paradise peninsula on Florida’s west coast, Clearwater is more than a top vacation getaway with award-winning beaches; it’s a wonderful place to call home! White sandy shores stretch for 35 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. Fantastic sporting and recreational activities abound, and you can enjoy fresh seafood and great shopping all around you!

Play a few rounds of golf at local courses. Go for a boat ride on the ocean. Explore the cultural attractions of nearby Tarpon Springs or Dunedin. This thriving area is only 30 minutes from Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes from Orlando theme parks like Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios.

If you’re looking for Florida luxury amongst a collection of distinct and charming neighborhoods, Clearwater is the place for you!

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale!

• $779K: 2 BR, 2 BA Beachfront Condo
• $589K: 5 BR, 4 BA Lakefront SFH
• $420K: 3 BR, 2.5 BA Condo
• $225K: 2 BR, 2.5 BA Townhome

Image Credit: Barefoot in Florida

As part of a new special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

First up, Lawrenceville, Georgia!

Located about 40 minutes northeast of Atlanta, this Georgia suburb has a Southern hospitality all its own! As the second oldest city in the state, Lawrenceville features beautifully historic buildings that house shops, boutiques and eateries. Strolling through the quaint downtown, you can’t help but be charmed!

Known as the Crepe Myrtle City, Lawrenceville is as beautiful as it is convenient: this is where you’ll find one of the major hospitals of the region, Gwinnett Medical Center, as well as the nearby Gwinnet Center, a facility for a variety of events and special performances, including sports and entertainment.

Must-see destinations include the Aurora Theatre, showcasing musicals and plays; ghost tours that highlight this town’s rich history; the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse that’s open for tours; and the Veterans Memorial Museum with its interesting war artifacts.

If you’re looking for a neighborhood that benefits from Atlanta conveniences and its own brand of Southern style, you’ll want to check out Lawrenceville.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale!

• $500K: 4 BRS/3.5 BATHS/Estates at Knollwood Lakes
• $430K: 8 BRS/5 BATHS/Great River at Tribble Mill
• $350K: 5 BRS/3.5 BATHS/4-Sided Brick Ranch
• $298K: 5 BRS/3 BATHS/Autumn View
• $199,900: 4 BRS/2.5 BATHS/Birchwood
• $143,900: 3 BRS/2 BATHS/New Hope Estates
• $139K: 3 BRS/2.5 BATHS/Garrison Square

Or head over to BuyOwner.com now to check out other available listings!

Photo Credit: Lentini

Whether you’re touching up your summer tan during the day or staying cool once the sun goes down, the Tampa area offers a variety of summer events to keep your schedule busy and fun! While some events only occur on certain weekends, many events last all summer long to fit any agenda. Check out the list and see which you’ll want to attend before summer ends!

Specialty Events & Festivals

On July 29, enjoy a free night of music and entertainment at Hyde Park Village, starting at 6 p.m. Hyde Park Jazz provides live jazz performances for you to enjoy while lounging in the park underneath a bright sunset or a blanket of stars. Another Hyde Park Jazz night is provided on Aug. 26.

Every Saturday year-round, Centennial Park in Ybor City supplies a Farmer’s Market full of fresh produce and fun! Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you can go home with anything from fresh bread, eggs, sauces and herbs, to unique gifts, photography, jewelry and more! Even pet treats are available for your welcomed pets.

During the month of August, participate in WaZoo at Lowry Park Zoo. While helping support zoo animals, you can enjoy a wide variety of brew samples, a serene wine garden, live entertainment, gourmet food and more!

Through Aug. 2, head to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to view a production of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women. From Aug. 6 to Aug. 23, enjoy a contemporary performance called Pericles: A New Rock Musical. For more upcoming shows, click here.

Through Aug. 17, head to Busch Gardens late at night! Summer Nights at Busch Gardens allow you more time to explore the exotic tigers and orangutans up-close, while feeling right at home with DJ-hosted music, stilt walkers, and food and drink vendors!

Through Sept. 7, head the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa for Animation. Learn more than you’ve ever known about the process of animation by surrounding yourself with larger-than-life graphics of famous cartoon characters from Cartoon Network. View all of the steps it takes to make these characters come to life in your favorite movies and shows.

On Sept. 12 and 13, test your spicy food skills by attending the ‘I Like it Hot!’ Food Festival & BBQ at Minnreg Hall in Largo. Here you can sample hundreds of hot sauces, spices and salsas, and you can even try your luck in hot pepper, hot sauce or hot salsa competitions!

The Taste of Clearwater is hosted on Sept. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sample foods from over 50 of the most renowned restaurants, and drinks from five local beverage suppliers in Clearwater. A judge will announce this year’s top food and beverage choices so that you’ll know where to take visiting guests!

Concerts at the Ford Amphitheater

Rascal Flatts on July 25 at 8 p.m.

Kenny Chesney on Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Dave Matthews Band on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.

Incubus on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

Crue Fest 2 on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m., featuring Motley Crue, Godsmack and more

Sporting Events

Summer is baseball season! Head over to a Tampa Bay Rays game and cheer on your home team. For a schedule and ticket information, you can visit their website here.

Football season is right around the corner. Keep updated with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training sessions by visiting their website here.

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For more information on specialty events and festivals, visit www.tampavisitorinformation.com, or www.visittampabay.com

For a list of permanent, year-round attractions, you can go to http://tampa.creativeloafing.com.

Spring is in the air, and there is no better place to be than Atlanta. From festivals to concerts to ball games, there are plenty of outdoor events for you to enjoy! Buy Owner is here to show you the best things to see and do in Atlanta this spring.

• OUTDOOR EVENTS get you out and about to enjoy the beautiful spring weather in Atlanta.

• Atlanta Jazz Festival
  How about 31 days of Jazz music? Enjoy all this and more during the month of May! The Atlanta Jazz Festival schedules events with famous artists and plenty of activities for friends and families. Be prepared to listen to all kinds of jazz music with Atlanta natives and Atlanta visitors from all over the world! The festival culminates during Memorial Day weekend with a three-day festival of fantastic performances.
• FREE Events
  Some of the best things in life are free! And this includes a bevy of events in Atlanta. Try one of the Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days at Centennial Olympic Park. One a month, bring the whole family to the park for a fun-filled day of educational activities, performances and more. The Friday and Saturday morning tours at Piedmont Park are available each week! Enjoy a free bus tour of Atlanta’s premier urban park, courtesy of BeltLine! You must check out the Spring Concerts on Douglasville’s O’Neal Plaza. Every Saturday in May, enjoy the Celtic musical stylings of Irish bands.

• ATLANTA SPORTING EVENTS are a great place to be this spring! The beginning of spring signifies the start of baseball season.

• At the end of March, The Atlanta Braves were leading the National League in Spring Training with 17 wins and 9 losses. It was definitely an improvement from their almost last place finish last season. The Braves are looking forward to a much better 2009 season. Be there for all the action! To find tickets, visit the Braves website or Ticketmaster.com.
• The Atlanta Hawks are one of eight teams in the NBA’s Western Conference that made the 2009 playoffs. See if they can go all the way to the championship! Check the Hawks website or Ticketmaster.com for more information on the playoff schedule.

• CONCERTS thrive in Atlanta during the springtime! Here are some of the upcoming concerts:

• Dave Matthews Band, April 28 and 29, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
• Nine Inch Nails & Jane’s Addiction, May 10, Lakewood Amphitheatre
• Divas Simply Singing (AIDS Benefit), May 16, Rialto Center for the Arts

There is no better time to tool around Tampa than during the spring! As always, Buy Owner has the inside scoop on the happenings around town.

• OUTDOOR EVENTS allow you to get out in the sunshine and experience all that Tampa has to offer!

Island Fest: The theme of Island Fest is called “Land, Air & Sea!” Bring everyone together for free airplane rides, youth sailing demonstrations, live entertainment and art/vendor exhibitions! There are also plenty of food and drink stands to keep you going throughout the day. This event takes place on Saturday, April 18.

Taste of New Tampa: The 16th Annual Taste of New Tampa is being held on Sunday, April 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s a Health and Business Expo coupled with the Taste of Local Area Restaurants to raise money for local charities. Local area restaurants come together with the local business and medical professionals to raise money for local children’s charities. On the day of the event, adults pay $15, children over the age of five pay $10 and those five and under are free. Visit NewTampa.org for more info.

Arthritis Walk: There is plenty of time to frolic around Tampa during the spring. But how about participating in a fun event that raises awareness? The Arthritis Walk is taking place at Al Lopez Park in Tampa on Sunday, May 2. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. You can choose between a one-mile or three-mile walk route. If you can’t make out to the walk, you can still donate to the cause!

• TAMPA SPORTS begin with a bang! Baseball is back! The Tampa Bay Rays had a winning season last year and made it all the way to the World Series. Their upsetting fall to the Philadelphia Phillies should fuel their desire to play hard and get back to the big game this October. The 2008 Rookie of the Year, Evan Longoria, hopes to lead the AL in homeruns and take his team to victory this time around.

And just because the hockey season is over for the Tampa Bay Lightning, it doesn’t mean that the fans have to stop supporting the team! You can always volunteer for the organization or buy some of the latest merchandise.

• CONCERTS abound in Tampa. But this time around, stay out of the huge indoor venues. Get outside and enjoy the music under starry skies. Here are a few shows taking place at outdoor venues in the Tampa area.

Some upcoming concerts include:

• Katy Perry, April 28, Jannus Landing
• Tribal Style (reggae), May 6, Skipper’s Smokehouse
• Gavin Rossdale, May 18, Jannus Landing
• Grateful Dead Night (tribute band), May 21, Skipper’s Smokehouse

Celebrate spring in Tampa! Get out there and enjoy some fun in the sun.

Spring in Florida means preparing yards for fresh summer flowers, heading to the beach and, possibly, getting ready to buy or sell a home! Loads of tourists swarm Central Florida for spring break, possibly steering you away from the area’s main attractions. But have no fear! Ample festivals and free events for locals are occurring in both Orlando and Jacksonville to fill up your spring calendars.

Get outside and enjoy the weather in this sunshine state! Here are some ideas:

In this economy, everybody should jump on the chance to enjoy outdoor fun with family and friends at the fair free price that these events offer!

Free events

During April and May, an abundance of parks in Orlando and Jacksonville provide free family-friendly movies in the park! Pack a picnic and a blanket and enjoy this outdoor experience! Some of the parks that offer this include Enzian Theater in Central Park and City Hall in Lake Mary on every second Thursday of the month, and Treaty Oak at Jessie Ball DuPont Park on April 17 and 24, and May 1 and 8.

Every first Wednesday of the month, downtown Jacksonville presents the Art Walk! Jacksonville streets fill up with all types of appreciative art forms. This includes an array of performing artists, such as Jazz trio performers, and visual arts with paintings and photography!

Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., head to Hemming Plaza Market for some midday entertainment and lunch! Shop around for just about anything, from baked goods and fresh produce to flowers and jewelry! Live music is performed while you look.

Every Friday evening through the month of April, take advantage of free admission that Morse Museum of American Art provides from 4 to 8 p.m. While appreciating art, you can also enjoy an array of live music. On April 10, for example, Beautiful Music Muse Trio will perform for your viewing pleasure!

Every Friday evening, enjoy a different assortment of live entertainment at Uptown Altamonte from 7-9 p.m. Friday Night Live changes it up every week, providing a variety of jazz, pop, contemporary and more! Each week is a new experience.

Always wished you were a surfer? Wish that you visited the beach more often? From April 10-12, head to Cocoa Beach to view the Ron Jon Surf Festival! Championship surfers from the ages 12 to 80 compete and show off their incredible surfing skills!

Start watering your lawns and gardens before April 11, so you are prepared for the annual rose and hibiscus sale at Leu Gardens! On May 9, enjoy a night of Florida’s top jazz and blues musicians! To attract gardening lovers year-round, Leu Gardens provides storytelling for kids on the third Monday of the month, three times a day.

On April 25, stargaze through telescopes from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Dark Sky Festival at Harmony in St. Cloud! While you search for constellations or shooting stars, guides will inform you of what you’re seeing and what it means! Live entertainment and a variety of informative speakers are also included.

Though these events and festivals aren’t free, they only come once a year! Pencil these into your schedule for a special, unique experience:

Specialty Events/Fests

Missed the opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras? No worry! Universal Studios is celebrating through April 18. Find some colorful beads and a vibrant mask and pretend the holiday is everyday!

From April 16 to 26, enjoy a traditional, old-fashioned festival at the annual Central Florida Fair at Central Florida Fairgrounds. Here you can check out arts and crafts, spin and flip on the rides, listen to live music, devour festival foods and so much more!

For all you car lovers, come view a collection of the most exotic, extreme cars at the Celebration Exotic Car Festival from April 17-19 at the Celebration waterfront. The Ferrari Club of America hosts the event and only displays the most impressive styles!

If you enjoy wine and live music, the Blues at the Winery allows you to enjoy them together from April 25-26. Visit Lakeridge Winery and taste an assortment of foods and wines while appreciating the sounds of blues music.

From May 9 to 10, enjoy food and wine varieties while appreciating the sounds of jazz!

During the last week of April, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all over again at the Jacksonville Irish Festival! Whether you’re Irish or not, you will still enjoy the Irish musicians and dancers while savoring Irish food favorites and admiring Irish crafts.

Last chance to value the sounds of jazz! From May 21-24, attend the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and listen to the unique tunes of jazz piano competitions! Even if jazz doesn’t interest you, you can still enjoy wine tasting and art displays.

Through May 31, Disney’s Epcot hosts the International Flower & Garden Festival! While you enjoy live entertainment and delicious food, you also receive education on all the types of lush, gorgeous flowers that exist!

For a rainy day, head to an indoor Broadway performance anytime you like!

Broadway

Upcoming shows at the Performing Arts Centre include the longtime favorite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from April 14 to 19, and a new favorite about The Four Seasons, Jersey Boys, from May 6 to 14.

At Moran Theatre, learn the history of the Wizard of Oz witches during Wicked, performed from April 23 to May 10.

For a different approach, appreciate the talent of Shakespeare at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Through April, you can catch “Much Ado About Nothing” and “The Merchant of Venice.”

Sports

Though sports are sparse this time of year in central Florida, you can still catch an Orlando Magic game before the basketball season ends! The last home games at RDV Sportsplex are on April 8, 10 and 15. Visit their website for ticket information.

In spring, Florida’s weather continues to warm up as the residents prepare for the upcoming tourist season. Before summer arrives, the Fort Lauderdale/Deerfield/Miami area hosts an array of special activities specially designed for the permanent residents of this sunshine state! If you currently live in or are moving to this area, read up on some of the upcoming spring events to look forward to!

Festivals/ Specialty Events

• On April 4 and May 2, the Family Fest at Ziff Ballet Opera House will provide a hands-on festival geared toward getting kids interested in the performing arts! Numerous activities allow parents to interact with their kids while together creating puppets, singing songs, trying out dance movies, learning about other cultures and more!
• From April 8 through May 3, the award-winning Jersey Boys will perform at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. This Broadway performance shares the heart-warming story of how four blue-collar boys turned themselves into The Four Seasons before the ages of 30!
• From April 10 to April 12, enjoy South Florida’s largest Easter Egg Hunt Celebration at the Miami Seaquarium! Besides the daily activity of hunting for eggs, kids can also enjoy musical performances, face painting, bounce houses and more! The Easter Bunny will introduce costumed friends that include Flipper the dolphin, Lolita the killer whale and more! Every participant will receive a prize gift bag.
• On April 11 and 12, head to Flamingo Gardens to shop for the best orchids and bromeliads this spring! Fill your gardens with vibrant foliage while being offered the best prices and answers to your questions from expert growers! On these days, you can also meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy daily wildlife exhibits and shows.
• On April 18, plan to attend the New Times 12th Annual BEERFEST at Esplanade Park. You can sample 225 types of beer from around the world while enjoying performances from the area’s most popular local bands and tons of food options!
• On April 19, enjoy the 2009 South Beach Wine & Food Festival! Savor a brunch, sample a variety of seafood platters, drink an assortment of wines and champagnes and relish a gourmet dinner. All the while, live entertainment surrounds you!
• From May 6 to May 10, celebrate women around the world at the Aqua Girl! Celebrated in various locations, this festival provides musical performances, dance performances, comedy shows, jazz specials and tons more! All the proceeds benefit the Aqua Foundation for Women that promote equality, strength and health for all women!

Sports

• Spring signifies one significant meaning in sports… BASEBALL SEASON!
  Score tickets now to see the Florida Marlins kick off their season! April 6 marks Dolphin Stadium’s opening day. Visit their website for tickets and information.
• Didn’t get to a Miami Heat basketball game this year? It’s not too late! Snatch a last-minute ticket to one of the final games of the year on April 7, 12 or 15!
• Not into professional sports? Create your own sports while taking advantage of your waterfront location by participating in water sports! Aloha Watersports offers you parasailing, wave runners, kit surfing and more!
• Full Moon Kayak allows you to enjoy quiet serenity on a two-hour kayak trip down a calm river surrounded by nature. Sea Experience Scuba Diving, Glassbottom & Snorkel Adventures offers exactly what their name describes! With one class, you can be ready to scuba dive that same day!

Concerts

Upcoming concerts in the Fort Lauderdale/Deerfield area:

• Chicago at Hard Rock Live- Hollywood on April 7 Lady Gaga at Revolution on April 8 New Found Glory at Revolution on April 13 Fall Out Boy at Mizner Park Amphitheater on April 21 Bob the Builder Live at Parker Playhouse from April 24-26

Upcoming concerts in the Miami area:

• The Cleveland Orchestra at Knight Concert Hall from April 3-4 Beatlemania at Coral Springs Center for the Arts on April 4 Fight of The Conchords at BankUnited Center on April 7 Jazz Roots at Knight Concert Hall on April 18 Fleetwood Mac at BankAtlantic Center on April 23

Winters in Atlanta, Georgia, mean weather that usually stays in the mid to upper 40s, so all you will need is a warm hat, a cozy scarf and a winter jacket to keep you nice and toasty. Local residents know what makes this area exciting year-round. In winter, here are some great activities to enjoy!

• WINTERY WONDERS lie all around Atlanta. The holidays may have come and gone, but the winter season isn’t going anywhere!

Snow Mountain: Bring your friends and family to Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta for a two-hour tubing session and more! Open through the end of March, Snow Mountain is a great place to spend some quality time with your loved ones. And even if white flakes haven’t reached Atlanta, Snow Mountain will always boast fresh powder!

Winter Flurry Race: During the offseason at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, drivers such as The Legends Bandolero and Thunder Roadster compete in a Winter Flurry Racing Series. General stands are closed, but fans are still able to attend the race with infield passes. These passes can be obtained at the Security Command building, located near the main entrance. They cost $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger receive free admission! The Winter Flurry ends in February.

• ATLANTA SPORTS are played all year in Atlanta! Football season may be over for the Falcons, but if you like basketball and hockey, you are in luck! The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers play at Philips Arena throughout all of the winter months.

• CONCERTS in Atlanta are available for any kind of music fan! Whether you like country, heavy metal, rock or hip hop, you are sure to find a band or a solo artist that will blow your mind. Search Ticketmaster for upcoming shows that interest your tastes.

Some upcoming shows include:
Rick Springfield, Feb. 6 at the Wild Bills in Duluth, Georgia
Umphry’s McGee, Feb. 19 & 20 at the Variety Playhouse
Britney Spears, March 5 at the Philips Arena
Elton John & Billy Joel, March 14 at Philips Arena

 THEATRE is not always considered to be a play or a musical. There are lots of comedic performances in Atlanta!

Here are a few you should check out:
World-renown funny man Robin Williams will be appearing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre Atlanta on Friday, February 27 and Thursday, March 12.

Also performing at the Fox, Larry the Cable Guy and George Lopez are sure to bring plenty of laughs on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, respectively.

Whether you’re a long-time Georgia resident or a new transplant, one thing’s for sure: winter in Atlanta is full of fun!

To browse for-sale homes in the Atlanta area, head over to BuyOwner.com!

The New Year has arrived! Start filling up your 2009 calendar now in order to make the most of Houston’s warm winter season. Plenty of yearly and specialty events exist for people of all ages. Winter can be just as fun as summer! Check out this list of upcoming events.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to spend more time outdoors or to become more active? Head to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center or to Water Wall, Houston’s two National Parks. Looking to meet new people at social events? Join Bayou City Outdoors, where events are occurring year-round! January events include Farmers Markets, social dances and slalom racing on the river!

Enjoy a night out at Alley Theatre while viewing the January or February production. In January, be swept away with the story of a mother and daughter’s journey through life as they deal with issues of love, money, sex and morality. Mrs. Warren’s Profession will take you by surprise with its unexpected twists and revelations.

From Jan. 22 to 25, broaden your horizons at the Tango Festival! Rice University creates the ideal atmosphere for this event with the overall theme being love. Express it however you choose on the dance floor! Classes are available for beginners and for the more advanced. Yoga classes are also offered that are geared specially for tango dancers!

In February, experience a bundle of emotions while watching Eurydice at Alley Theatre. The ancient Greek myth is brought back during this contemporary twist that the New York Time’s referred to as “a love letter to the world.” As Eurydice is about to marry Orpheus, she suddenly embarks on an adventure to the Underworld and must then decide where she’d rather reside.

On Feb. 7, visit the Museum of Natural Science for free! Learn about the evolution of the human body from anthropologists, invest how insects have adapted to changes through the years and discover what animals haven’t changed their biology for hundreds of years! Heard of the Galapagos Islands? Whether you have or not, you can help the museum look for clues of what Charles Darwin may have found there. Also, on Feb. 12, celebrate the special birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Eat birthday cake while learning more about Darwin’s findings on genetics and evolution.

The Houston Zoo is celebrating President’s Day on Feb. 16 by offering a free day at the zoo! Come by to learn about and appreciate all of nature’s wild animals without spending a dime. The zoo provides numerous special activities and events throughout the upcoming season.

The famous Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Houston’s Reliant Stadium doesn’t begin until March, but plan ahead by buying your tickets today! A show is offered almost everyday in March. Some days even include special concerts, such as the Jonas Brothers on March 8, Taylor Swift on March 20 and many more!

Don’t forget to root for Houston’s professional sports teams! This time of year requires wrapping up the Houston Texans football season while supporting the Houston Aeros hockey team and the Houston Rockets basketball teams! Visit the individual team websites for game schedules and ticket information.

Are you looking for an activity that reminds you its winter? Grab a coat or sweatshirt and test your skills on ice skates! The Memorial City Mall and the Galleria Mall both contain ice skating rinks that you can enjoy during shopping breaks!

You just cannot predict a Chicago winter. Contrary to what you’d think when visiting this time of year, the city’s temperature isn’t always 10 below zero, and the winter sometimes ends before March! However, no matter how long you’re bundled in wool hats and mittens, you can still plan all kinds of fun, seven days a week! Chicago offers tons of outdoor activities, sporting events, music shows and more.

If you’re looking for some winter fun in the Windy City, here are Buy Owner favorites to check out!

WINTER-THEMED EVENTS are happening all over the city! Just because the holiday season is over, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the white, snowy atmosphere for the next few months. Whether you enjoy bundling up and braving the cold, or you prefer a simulated experience in a warm, cozy building, there is something for everyone!

Polar Adventure Days: Have you ever witnessed an ice sculptor at work? Interested in a free cup of hot chocolate? Head to Northerly Island (1400 S. Lynn White Dr., on Museum Campus) for Chicago’s Fourth Annual Polar Adventure Days! This unique (and free) event will be held on just two Saturdays in 2009, January 17 and February 21, from noon to 4 p.m. The first 500 visitors each day receive a free mug with hot chocolate! There are plenty of winter activities to engage in around the island including nature crafting and snowshoe renting. For a complete list, visit this site.

Ice-Skating at Millennium Park: A fine successor to the Skate-on-State rink, formerly on State Street, The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park is scheduled to remain open throughout the season until March 15, weather permitting. Skating is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Perhaps the best part about this skating rink is that it is free and open to the public! However, if you do not own a pair of skates, rentals cost $10. The rink is nestled right on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison.

The Home Improvement Showcase: If you are held up in your home due a snowstorm, what better time to make some improvements on your house! The Home Improvement Showcase trade show provides you with a one-stop-shop for any home improvement product and service you can think of for remodeling and repairing. The show is being held at several locations, including the Libertyville Sports Complex and the Arlington Racecourse. For more info on this free event, contact info@freehomeshow.com.

CHICAGO SPORTS continue throughout the winter season. Each week, there is bound to be either a hockey game or a basketball game going on in the city. Both the Blackhawks and the Bulls call the United Center home. To find tickets, visit the respective websites: Blackhawks and Bulls.

CONCERTS in Chicago allow you to escape the blustery winds and enjoy any type of music: smooth jazz, upbeat pop, head-banging metal and more! Search Ticketmaster for upcoming shows that interest your tastes.

Some upcoming shows include:
• The Killers, Jan. 20 at the UIC Pavilion
• Styx, Jan. 22 at the Peoria Civic Center & Jan. 24 at the Star Plaza Theatre
• Brad Paisley, Jan. 30 at the i wireless Center
• Motley Crue with Hinder & Theory of a Deadman, Feb.15 at the Rockford Metro Centre

THEATRE is prominent in the Second City. In fact, an improv comedy theatre in Chicago even boasts this same handle! Escape from the stresses of every day life and dive into a world of imagination.

After a successful run of over three-and-a-half years in the Windy City, the Chicago company of Wicked will give its final performance on Sunday, January 25, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. This is your last chance to learn the untold story of the witches of Oz. Grab your ruby slippers and attend a performance any day of the week (except Mondays) until that final performance arrives.

A wave of artist-themed musicals jumped onto the theatre scene a few years ago. What exactly does this mean? An entire musical has been created based off of a legendary performers hit songs! In Chicago, enjoy the swinging sounds of Billy Joel in Movin’ Out. Choreographed by Twyla Tharp, this jumpin’ play is at the Rosemont Theatre for three days only! There are five performances to attend during the weekend of Feb. 20.