Offers through Time Out Chicago
Wherever you see the Time Out Chicago logo below, click on it for the opportunity to win all kinds of cool stuff. Please include the name of the prize in the subject line and include your name, address and phone number in the body of the message. Good luck!

The real Hopper
Edward Hopper, creator of art that novelist John Updike described as "calm, silent, stoic, luminous, and classic," is one of the most enduring and popular American painters of the 20th century. A pivotal artist who was intensely private, Hopper made solitude and introspection important themes in his paintings, which have been celebrated as a part of the very grain and texture of the American experience. Edward Hopper and its companion exhibition, Watercolors by Winslow Homer: The Color of Light, provide a survey of the American realist tradition and chart the growth of modern subject matter-from Homer, America's first modernist, to Hopper, the nation's best-known 20th-century realist. Photo credit: Edward Hopper. Nighthawks, 1942. Friends of American Art Collection.
Open through May 10
Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave)
Tickets available at 312-930-4040 and artic.edu/aic.

Mama said knock you out
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win free tickets.
It's the final match of the regular season! That means this is your chance to witness the speed and the intensity of the Windy City Rollers before the 2008 Ivy Cup Championship game. Can the the Fury ruin Hell's Belles perfect, undefeated season? Which other team will rise up to separate themselves from the pack to challenge for the crown? Will leading scorer Varla Vendetta top 100 points for the season? Tonight answers all these questions. If you can't make it out to Cicero on your own wheels to catch the action, grab the Party Bus at Cobra Lounge! $8 gets you a round trip ticket from Cobra to the Stadium and back in time for the after party. Cobra opens at 3:00pm, and bus leaves at 4:00pm. Bus is BYOB! Everyone's invited to hang with the skaters at our official after-party headquarters, the Cobra Lounge, 235 N Ashland Ave., directly after the bout!
May 10
The Stadium (1909 S. Laramie, Cicero)
For more information, please visit windycityrollers.com.

Hut, one, two, three, four...five, six, seven, eight
Theatre at the Center presents the world premiere of the new musical Knute Rockne All-American, which celebrates the life of the man who created the American college football as we know it today. The ragtime rhythms of the turn of the last century and the wild jazz of the 1920s punctuate this moving story of the "winningest" coach in the history of American sport. From Rockne's meager beginnings as an immigrant living in Chicago's Logan Square, to his glory years as the pride of Notre Dame, the story of Knute Rockne, played by Jeff Award winner Stef Tovar, unfolds through the direction and choreography of Jeff Award winner David H. Bell.
Through May 11
Theatre at the Center (1040 Ridge Rd, Munster, IN)
For more information, visit theatreatthecenter.org.

Romance, suspense and strife
Running through May 11, the legendary musical Les Miserables has made its highly anticipated premiere at the Marriott Theatre. Having established a national reputation for launching Broadway musicals into the regional market, the Marriott Theatre is one of only five theatres chosen to produce this epic musical post-Broadway. Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Miserables travels through three turbulent decades of 19th-century France. Full of romance, passion, suspense and humanity, it is the story of one man, the fugitive Jean Valjean, who is pitted against the self-righteous Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to evade capture. Les Miserables is the winner of over 50 international theater awards, including eight 1987 Tony Awards (two of which were for Best Musical and Best Score).
Through May 11
The Marriott Theatre. (10 Marriott Dr, Lincolnshire)
For more information, visit marriotttheatre.com.

In your face
On May 15, join About Face Theatre at Gallery 1028 (1028 N Hooker St) for an evening of intrigue, passion and surprise at its annual Wonka Ball, all proceeds of which benefit About Face Theatre and About Face Youth Theatre. Working within and beyond the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, About Face Theatre is committed to innovation, artistic excellence and community transformation. Come see for yourself why About Face is a national center for the development of gay and lesbian theater.
May 15
Gallery 1028 (1028 N Hooker St)
Tickets available at 312-930-4040 and aboutfacetheatre.com.

Manifest Urban Arts Festival
Manifest is an annual celebration of Columbia's graduating undergraduate and graduate student body of work. The urban arts festival occurs on Columbia's vibrant South Loop campus and showcases the talent, celebrates the community, and engages the imagination while realizing the full potential of its students. The work of more than 2,000 graduating Columbia College Chicago students will be on display at screenings, lectures, gallery exhibitions, performances and more-and it's FREE and open to the public. Be sure to check Columbia's first art car festival TRANSMISSION, an environmentally mindful street exhibition of the most green and provocative auto and auto-inspired art by the Columbia community and beyond.
Friday, May 16
Columbia College campus (South Loop)
For more information, visit colum.edu/manifest.

Performed to the Nine(s)
Nine is an unconventional love story based on Italian film director Federico Fellini's masterpiece, 8 1/2. Soon to be a feature film, see it first at Porchlight Music Theatre as it presents the season finale of this sexy and sophisticated Broadway musical. Audiences have the chance to catch the musical live at Theatre Building Chicago until May 18 before this Tony-Award winning Best Musical takes on the big screen to become a major motion picture.
Through May 18
Porchlight Music Theatre at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W Belmont Ave)
For more information, visit theatrebuildingchicago.org.

Oh, so Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity, the Tony-Award winning musical packed with lively choreography, runs through May 18 at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace. The wildly successful musical, which opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 1965, features dialogue from the ever-funny Neil Simon. Based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for the 1957 film Nights of Cabiria, Jim Corti directs this production featuring Summer Smart as the gullible and guileless lady known as Charity Hope Valentine, in her misadventures in the ways of love.
Through May 18
Drury Lane Theatre Oak Brook Terrace (100 Drury Ln)
For more information about, visit drurylaneoakbrook.com.

A whole bunch of Nunsense
Nunsense, the hilarious off-Broadway musical sensation with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, previews May 14, opens May 21, and runs through July 13 at the Marriott Theatre. Starring Alene Robertson, Nunsense also features audience favorite Rachel Rockwell making her Marriott Theatre directorial debut. More than 20 years after it opened off-Broadway, Nunsense has been a hit in more than 26 countries and in more than 5,000 productions worldwide and has been translated into 21 languages. The original 1985 production won four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including "Best Off-Broadway Musical," and ran for 3,672 performances, making it the second-longest running off-Broadway musical of all time. Grab a seat for a holy mother of a good time.
Opens May 21
The Marriott Theatre (10 Marriott Dr)
For more information, visit marriotttheatre.com.

Bike Lake Shore Drive
Bike on world-famous Lake Shore Drive with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation May 25, 2008 for the seventh-annual Bank of America Bike the Drive. Choose your own pace and distance for the signature Memorial Day weekend event that benefits the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Savor the breath-taking views of Chicago's sparkling lakefront and striking skyline on this car-free bike ride. All participants receive an event T-shirt, access to three rest stops and a post-ride festival with a Beatles tribute band, American English. Support our work and become a Chicagoland Bicycle Federation member with your registration package.
May 25
For more information and to register, visit bikethedrive.org.

Wine down
Throughout May you are invited to taste the diverse wines of New Zealand throughout a select group of Chicago area restaurants who will be offering selections by the glass, special menu pairings and flights of various varietals. For a more in-depth experience, you will also have the opportunity to attend New Zealand wine dinners and tastings and because so many cuisines are represented among these restaurants, you will discover just how beautifully New Zealand wine pairs with a myriad of flavors.
Throughout May
At participating restaurants
For more information and to make your reservation visit newzealandwineandfood.com.

Great Chicago Places & Spaces
Established in 1999, the 10th Annual Great Chicago Places & Spaces (GCPS) festival honors the immense breadth and depth of architecture, design and planning that the Windy City has to offer. Out of its modest beginnings as a one-day festival with approximately 50 tours, GCPS now features an incredible lineup of over 200 free tours, events and activities downtown and at community sites throughout Chicago, including programs designed to inspire the imaginations of young children and much more!
For details, please visit greatchicagoplaces.us.

TOC on TV
Do you find yourself staying indoors because of the brutally cold weather? Have you been experiencing the winter blues because you don't want to take a chance of venturing out into teeth-chattering wind and snow, only to have a lousy time? Hey, that's why TOC is your year-round friend. Even in winter. There's the magazine and our comprehensive website, which both give you the scoop on how to best spend your time in Chicago. Now, TOC goes you one better. Every Thursday at 7pm, starting February 28, features editor Laura Baginski appears on WTTW Channel 11's Chicago Tonight. That's right, TOC on TV. Laura will run down the TOC top five things to do for the upcoming weekend and dish out the hot spots and fun excursions that will get you off the cozy couch and into an activity that will add fire to your social life, from museum mingling to culture cruising. Move over Phil Ponce, here comes Laura.
For details, please visit wttw.com.

Tune into spring
It's time to come out of domestic hibernation and explore the city. Located on the Magnificent Mile, the Hard Rock Hotel (230 N Michigan Ave) presents the Floranova package, an opportunity to experience the floral fiesta happening right now at Macy's with gift certificates and discounts as well as a chance to continue the party with discounted admission to select area attractions. Rather rock an art museum than shop till you drop? No worries. This spring you can also take advantage of the artROCK package, which includes overnight accommodations for two, as well as tickets to the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer exhibits at the Art Institute along with some museum shop mementos. Designed to bring the celebrity experience to every guest, the Hard Rock Hotel offers an escape with true rock star accommodations with these special packages.
For details, please visit hardrockhotelchicago.com.

Raise your hand
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win Noodle & Boo products.
Noodle & Boo was founded to meet the specific needs of children. But for millions of children around the world, tending to their most basic needs is a daily struggle without clean water. The Raise Your Hand Campaign was launched as part of Noodle & Boo's dedication to helping children in need. The campaign aims to fund water purification systems and make a difference in the lives of children in need. With the purchase of Noodle & Boo's new Believe Honey Bar, 100% of the profits go directly to the Raise Your Hand Campaign. The bar contains the same luxe, soothing ingredients found in Noodle & Boo products. The bar provides a rich, moisturizing lather that leaves skin feeling soft and fresh.
For more information, please visit noodleandboo.com.

Charitable trek
Come support runners young and old as they race to the finish line at Montrose Harbor after spending 24 hours on the Madison-Chicago 200 Relay. Over 200 miles will be covered from June 6-7 as relay teams cross state borders to generate funds to support the Special Olympics of Wisconsin and Illinois and the Avon Foundation's Need For Speed Against Domestic Violence program. Raising funds for worthy causes just got a little more fun.
For details, please visit mc200.com.

Hottie with a heart of gold
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win a DVD copy of The Hottie and the Nottie with a beauty makeover fun kit.
ON DVD 5/6. Paris Hilton, known for her clubhopping lifestyle, takes a break from the life of the rich and famous to star in the romantic comedy The Hottie and the Nottie as a perfect 10 woman, Cristabel Abbott, with a best friend, June Phigg, (Christine Lakin) whose looks are a little more than on the unfortunate side. Cristabel's loyal devotion to June causes her to remain by her friend's side until both find boyfriends. In order to win Cristabel's heart, Nate Cooper (Joel Moore) plays the man on the hunt for a suitor for the less-than-beautiful June. Get ready for some plot twisting, though, as roles transpose and the question of who plays the ugly duckling in the story becomes a little more complicated. RATED PG-13.

Blue State, eh?
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win a DVD copy of Blue State.
Now on DVD comes Blue State, a romantic comedy that revolves around an idealistic Democratic campaigner who makes the trek up north after vowing to move to Canada if John Kerry loses the 2004 election. John Logue (Breckin Meyer) makes good on his "campaign promise" and finds Chloe (Anna Paquin), a traveling companion who is not all that she appears to be and the trip ends up taking more twists and turns than either could have imagined. Instead of watching another presidential debate, try picking up a copy of this romantic comedy that's as poignant as it is "disarmingly fun."

Celebrate Earth Day
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win a DVD copy of Six Degrees Could Change the World..
On April 15, in the special-event DVD Six Degrees Could Change the World, National Geographic reveals the effects of global warming. National Geographic explores the startling theory that Earth's average temperature could rise six degrees Celsius by the year 2100 and reveals how each progressive degree could affect us all. Learn how existing technologies and remedies may help in the battle to dial back the global thermometer.

Rock out for a cause
Be a part of history at the first Rothbury Music Festival, July 3 through 6. Take in the scenery of Rothbury, MI, while enjoying the sounds of the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Modest Mouse, 311, Of Montreal and many more. The festival is working to create sustainability and a greater green awarenes. Gain access to musical performances, art exhibits, yoga classes and more at the only place to spend your Independence Day weekend.

July 3 to 6
For more information, visit rothburyfestival.com.

The space between
Click on the TOC logo to enter to win a DVD copy of Alex Haley's Queen.
Life becomes a little more complicated when you start searching for what lies between black and white. Celebrate Black History Month with the Emmy-nominated TV mini-series Alex Haley's Queen, released January 15 for the first time on DVD. Join the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots, Alex Haley, on the journey that retells the story of his grandmother Queen, the child born of a black slave and white plantation owner, and how Queen attempts to find where her light skin and mixed heritage belong in a post-Civil War society. Featuring the star-studded cast of Halle Berry, Danny Glover, Tim Daly, Ann-Margret and Martin Sheen, Queen demonstrates how finding out where you fit can be a struggle whether it's the 19th century or the 21st.

Loop the Loop
The Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) is proud to announce its Loop the Loop audio walking tours, now available at chicagoloopalliance.com. The program enables visitors to explore the diverse cultural vibrancy and architectural highlights of Chicago's famed downtown neighborhood. CLA has integrated a virtual tour, free downloadable audio and maps which bring Loop the Loop to life. Each Loop the Loop tour directs participants to visit some of the city's most renowned offerings: Art Loop-From Picasso to the Peristyle, Chicago's Loop is home to some of the most acclaimed and notable artwork and installations in the city. Highlights of the tour include Cloud Gate, "The Bean," in Millennium Park, Alexander Calder's Flamingo at Federal Center Plaza and Picasso's Chicago sculpture at Daley Plaza. Landmark Loop-The Loop is filled with architectural wonders and notable landmarks. Highlights of the tour include the Harold Washington Library, Macy's on State Street and the starting point of the historic Route 66. Theatre Loop-With hundreds of productions each year and nearly a dozen theaters within walking distance in the Loop, Chicago is the ideal location to take in a show. Highlights of the tour include the Cadillac Palace Theater, the Harris Theater and the Chicago Theatre. Loop the Loop is sponsored by TOC, Blick Art Materials, the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Where Magazine; supported by the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society; is made possible in cooperation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity/Bureau of Tourism.

Looking for a hot time in the old town?
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! is NPR's weekly hour-long quiz program. Thursday nights, on the radio, you can test your knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what's real news and what's made up. This week's panelists include Roy Blount Jr., humorist and author of Feet on the Street, Rambles Around New Orleans; Kyrie O'Connor, deputy editor of the Houston Chronicle; and comedian Paula Poundstone. Tapings will take place at the Bank One Auditorium in the Bank One Plaza Building in Downtown at 7:30pm.

Get all that for only $20. Buy tickets online at: www.chicagopublicradio.org
or by calling 312.893.2956.