Winter wonderland: Lincoln Park Lagooners is offering a chance for a weekend getaway in Madison, Wis., at the Best Western 'Inn on the Park.' The hotel is close to local dining, shops and not far from Devil's Head Ski Resort. Weekend package includes lodging, Friday dinner, breakfast coupons, free parking and snacks and beverages all weekend. Cost is $122 per person for a two-person room. Other options are available. Call Gary at 773-293-2040 to reserve or for more info. Register at www.lincolnparklagooners.org .
Chi wiz: A tai chi class tailored for the needs of people with chronic illnesses, including HIV/AIDS is starting at the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA's Center at 1922 W. Montrose. The new classes will be 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 2-3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Call 773-275-5992, visit www.taoist.org/usa/illinois, or e-mail chicago@taoist.org .
Suicide group: An LGBT suicide survivors' group meets every second and fourth Monday at Howard Brown, 4025 N. Sheridan. Contact Edmond Yomtoob, Psy. D., at 773-450-4434 or Edmond.Yomtoob@psychologistchicago.com .
Test factor: Project VIDA and AIDS Foundation of Chicago are collaborating on a new case management model that pairs clients and health case managers. Participants will be able to, among other things, experience support with one-on-one counseling and relax with complimentary alternative therapies. Contact Debra Jordan at 773-522-4570 or Luis Quezada at 773-277-2291 for more info.
It's just physical: Tickets are on sale for Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, which opened at the Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, on Wed., Jan. 17. See www.msichicago.org or call 773-684-1414.
And isles to go before I sleep: 'Steppin' Razor: Voices of Caribbean Poets'—which will feature Caribbean poets Roger Bonair-Agard, Rohan Preston and Staceyann Chin with their different views of island life—will take place Wed., Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan. Admission is $10 for the general public, $8 for students and nothing for SAIC students faculty and staff. Call 312 899-1229.
Media wars: 'Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media,' a dialogue with author Eric Klinenberg, will take place Wed., Jan. 17, 12-1:30 p.m., at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum, 800 S. Halsted. The program is free and lunch will be provided. RSVP at 312-413-5353 or jahh@uic.edu .
I hear a symphony: Symphonica Toscanini will present a special performance of works by Rossini, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Tchaikovsky at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan, on Wed., Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. The Chicago appearance will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of legendary Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini. Tickets are $18-$49. Call PhoneCharge at 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114, or see www.cso.org .
Bringing smiles: The Citadel Theatre is working with United Cerebral Palsy in bringing together theater and education with the play, A Nervous Smile, which runs Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 18-Feb. 11 at the Citadel Theatre, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. ( The New York Times called it ' [ p ] rovocative…honest, funny, and compassionate.' ) Tickets are $20-$25. Call the box office at 847-735-8554 or see www.citadeltheatre.org .
Deep MPAACT: On Thurs., Jan. 18, at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark, at 7:30 p.m., MPAACT—a Chicago-based multi-disciplinary theater arts organization specializing in African-centered theater—will celebrate its new anthology, The Blaq Market: Essays and Plays from African Centered Theater. There will be a staged reading of Carla Sitwell's play, The Divine Order of Becoming, performed by Jefferson Award-winning original cast members Demetria Thomas and Daryl Charisse. Call 773-769-9299 or see womenchildren.booksense.com .
World in my eyes: The University of Chicago's Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research will present 'Exporting Homeland Morality: U.S. Policy and Global Reproductive Health' on Thurs., Jan. 18, at The University of Chicago's International House, 1414 E. 59th, 4-7 p.m. Admission is $10 for the general public, but free for students. E-mail fpinfo@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu .
Political pun-dits: The political satire group Capitol Steps—which consists entirely of former Congressional staffers—will perform at the Centre East Theatre of The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, on Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 18-21. Tickets are $40-$45, depending on the day. Call 847-673-6300.
Undercover brother: On Fri., Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Norah Vincent will discuss her book Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back Again, at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark. Call 773-769-9299 or see womenchildren.booksense.com .
It's all downhill from here: The Chicago Gay Skiers, the only gay ski and snowboard club in the Midwest, will sponsor a Midwest ski weekend trip at Granite Peak in Wausau, Wis., on Fri.-Sun., Jan. 19-21. E-mail information@chicagogayskiers.org or see www.chicagogayskiers.org for more info.
Casting a spell: The Chicago Chamber Musicians, together with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, will present 'Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Magic of Shakespeare' on Fri.-Sat., Jan. 20-21, at 800 E. Grand. Call 312-595-5600 or go to www.chicagoshakes.com .
Blast call: Blasted, a production that looks at terror brought on by violence at home and abroad, will run Mon.-Sun., Jan. 22-March 4, at Red Orched Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Tickets are $20-$25. Call 312-943-8722 or see www.aredorchidtheatre.org .
Rights here, rights now: To commemorate the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Chicago NOW will host a screening of Speak Out: I Had an Abortion—which presents the stories of 11 women who have had abortions—on Mon., Jan. 22, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Chicago Foundation for Women's conference room, 1 E. Wacker, 20th Floor. RSVP online at www.cfw.org; e-mail at rsvp@cfw.org; or call 312-577-2801, ext 229.
Network to do: The Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will hold a Mix & Mingle on Wed., Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m., at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark. Register at www.glchamber.org .
The wheel deal: BEHIV and TPAN will hold their Ride for AIDS Chicago 2007 kick-off party on Thursday, Jan. 25, 6-8 p.m., at Chicago in Bloom Floral and Events, 4223 N. Lincoln. The ride will take place June 2-3. See www.rideforaids.org for more info.
Condition of the heart: Michael Tarbi's 'The Human Condition'—an exhibition of art that contemplates 'weighty themes of life and death through anatomical imagery'—will be shown through Fri., Jan. 27, at Thomas Robertello Gallery, 939 W. Randolph. Call 312-421-1587 or e-mail info@thomasrobertello.com .
It's Greek to me: Vittium Theater at Northwestern University Settlement House, 1012 N. Noble, will show The Search for Odysseus Fri.-Sun., Jan. 27-Feb. 18. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students. Call the box office at 773-342-4141 or visit www.vittumtheater.org .
Art-felt: The 2007 Lake View East Fine Art Festival is seeking entries from up-and-coming artists. Entries are due for jury selection by Thurs., Feb. 1. Artists must be at least 18 years of age; reside in Cook County; and must submit four ( 4 ) 35-mm slide images of work and one ( 1 ) slide showing booth display along with a $25 jury fee. See www.amdurproductions.com .
Grub and happiness: Renowned East Coast chef Christopher Prosperi will cook up a gourmet storm to benefit Gerber/Hart Library on Fri., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 3300 N. Ashland. Prosperi will prepare a three-course tasting and demonstration menu; he will be assisted by Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune food and wine reporter and Gerber/Hart board member. Tickets are $50 per person, and may be purchased through PayPal on the Gerber/Hart web site, www.gerberhart.org; by calling Gerber/Hart at 773-381-8030; or by stopping by Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville.