While non-Indians may not be as familiar with the stories and rituals associated with the traditional Indian celebration of Holi––the two-day festival (beginning this year on March 8) known for its party-like atmosphere, which often includes the custom of celebrants throwing colored powder at one another in a symbolic welcome to the new season––anyone who has spent a few winters in the Midwest knows that any good spring party is an opportunity not to be missed. So even if they’re not slinging the colored powder at all of these great Indian restaurants around town, you can bet there will be a little extra excitement in the air:

Chicago Curry House
The off-the-beaten-path neighborhood location keeps things a bit lower-key here, but the consistently fresh ingredients, inventive preparations, and impeccable service are helping to get the word out on this hidden gem in Chicago’s South Loop. Curry House is getting in on the Holi Days festivities by offering guests a special 3-course lunch ($22) and dinner ($33) menu offering a mouth-watering selection of Tandoori Prawns, Chef Special Lobster Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala and more. 899 S. Plymouth Ct; 312/362-9999.

Indian Garden
Tandoori favorites and a handful of lamb and vegetarian specialties highlight the wide-ranging menu, while the lunch buffet remains a huge draw. On Saturday, March 10th, dress in your most vibrant and colorful frocks and head to Indian Garden to celebrate the arrival of spring and harvests to come. The day’s festivities will include stop a grand buffet, wine & beer, Indian DJ, Bhangra and Bollywood Dancing from 11:30am-3pm for $40pp. 247 E. Ontario; 312/280-4910.

India House
If you can find a moment to look away from the 150+ item menu, you’ll be able to watch the chefs pull some delectable possibilities from the traditional tandoor oven in the glass-enclosed kitchen. Take advantage of the exceptional lunch buffet offered Mon-Wed for $14.99 and Thu-Sun for $15.99.  Because a good Indian menu tends to be wide-ranging to the point of daunting, the buffet set-up is a natural, giving veterans and newcomers alike a chance to sample many of the great lamb, chicken, seafood and vegetarian selections for one low price. 59 W. Grand; 312/645-9500.

Although typically a relatively rare sight to see in Chicago, the Snowy Owls from the Arctic have invaded the city in record numbers this winter. In fact, a new female owl, hatched in 2011 at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, recently arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo to become a companion for a resident male owl.

            “Snowy owls rarely winter south of the Canadian border except in what we call invasion years,” explained Colleen Lynch, Hope B McCormick Curator of Birds at Lincoln Park Zoo. “These years are characterized by harsh winters with low rodent populations, driving the owls to venture further south. Luckily the Northern Illinois shoreline is a hotspot for snowy owls in these years.”

Come visit this cold-weather species in the Zoo’s Birds of Prey exhibit.

Lincoln Park Zoo, a historic landmark founded in 1868, is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience. Open daily from 10am-4:30pm. 2001 N. Clark. 312/742-2000. 

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Experience fine dining without breaking the bank with CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK. For ten days, from February 17 – 26, 2012, over 200 restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33/$44 for dinner. Take this opportunity to sample hundreds of the city’s best restaurants – from venerable old favorites to the hottest newcomers – with little regard for the cost. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included.

Participating restaurants may offer Restaurant Week menus for lunch (L), dinner (D) or both - at their discretion. Menu details found here. Reservations not required, but recommended.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Aria (200 N. Columbus; 312/444-9494) (L, D)
  
• Catch 35 (35 W. Wacker; 312/346-3500) (L, D)
• Chicago Curry House (899 S. Plymouth Ct.; 312/362-9999) (L, D)
  
• Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse (33 W. Kinzie; 312/828-0966) (L, D)
  
• Indian Garden Restaurant (247 E. Ontario, 2nd Floor; 312/280-4910) (L, D)
• Italian Village Restaurants (71 W. Monroe; 312/332-7005) (L, D)
• Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli (1141 S. Jefferson; 312/939-2855) (L, D)
  
• Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse (505 N. Michigan; 312/321-8823) (L, D)  
• Shula’s Steak House (301 E. North Water; 312/670-0788) (Dinner only!)
• Tavern at the Park (130 E. Randolph; 312/552-0070) (L, D)
  
• Texas de Brazil (51 E. Ohio; 312/670-1006) (Dinner only!)
  
• Vivo (838 W. Randolph; 312/733-3379) (L, D)
• The Weber Grill Restaurant (539 N. State; 312/467-9696) (L, D)

_ Throughout the years – 85 of them, in fact – the legendary Italian Village has been the go-to dining destination in the Loop for generations of out-of-towners and locals alike. From rehearsal dinners to pre-theater meals to family gatherings, the restaurant’s three distinctive Italian experiences have satisfied all comers for decades, but few occasions demonstrate the charm and appeal of the Village quite like Valentine’s Day.

Throughout the complex, music and romance will fill the air, as this special edition of date night manifests itself on three levels. In the restaurant’s subterranean grotto, you’ll find lovers sharing intimate conversation and delicious steaks, seafood and chops amid the wine cellar surroundings of La Cantina. At street level, the see-and-be-seen crowd will be sampling modern takes on Italian favorites at Vivere. And upstairs, the twinkling lights, small-town setting and cozy private booths will draw traditionalists to the popular Village.

In all three settings, however, the message will be the same – Chicago loves the Italian Village! 

Located at 71 W. Monroe Street. Reservations recommended, 312/332-7005.

_ 2012 marks the 104th anniversary of the CHICAGO AUTO SHOW. Don’t miss your chance to see all of the shiny new domestic and foreign models under one enormous roof, to nestle into the leather embrace of that dream sports car, to check out the futuristic designs of the concept vehicles, and, perhaps most importantly, to soak in a healthy dose of that wonderful new car smell of the nearly 1,000 vehicles on display.

New this year is the logo reflecting the city of Chicago and its heritage and an updated and redesign website, which offers visitors an interactive look at the show.

The 2012 public show runs daily from 10am to 10pm February 10th thru 18th (closes on at 8pm on 2/19) at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr. Adults $11, seniors & children 7-12 $7, 6 and under FREE. Call 630/495-2282 or visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

_ Don’t let the winter blahs get you down, no matter what the season, there is still plenty of fun to be had here in the Windy City.

SNOW DAYS CHICAGO is a free three-day winter festival that brings people out of hibernation for some fun in the snow. The festivities take place in Navy Pier, and include a snow sculpting competition, a dog sled demonstration, a snowboarding jail ram, and an Activities Igloo for kids. Teams of professional snow sculptors from all over will work to create beautiful and unique sculptures out of man-made snow over the three-day span. Visitors to the competition will have the chance to vote on the best sculpture, and see the winner honored at the awards ceremony.

The festivities takes place Friday & Saturday 11am-8pm, and Sunday 11am-6pm at Nave Pier at 600 E. Grand. Admission is free. 312/595-PIER. Need a winter warm-up? Stop by Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (312/252-4867) or Harry Caray’s Tavern(312/527-9700), both located on the Pier grounds.

_Think the New Year’s celebrations for 2012 ended when the last fireworks fizzled out and confetti was swept up on January 1? Think again. In Chicago’s vibrant Chinatown enclave, the party is just getting started. Considered the most important holiday of the year for the Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year celebration brings hundreds of thousands of revelers to the streets of Chinatown to soak in the lively atmosphere and colorful displays of their annual Chinese New Year Parade.

The 2012 Lunar New Year celebration not only marks the Year of the Dragon, but also marks the 100th Anniversary of Chicago's Chinatown. The parade steps off at Wentworth and 24th at 1pm on Sunday, January 29, and promises a dazzling array of marching bands, floats, dance teams, and, of course, a traditional paper dragon made out of silk, paper, and bamboo. Additional activities start as early as 11:30am.

            After the parade, follow the crowds as they take the party into some of the neighborhood’s most popular eateries, including favorites like Three Happiness (209 W. Cermak; 312/842-1964) and Phoenix Restaurant (2131 S. Archer; 312/328-0848).

_ The Chicago Theatre will be packed this weekend for two big shows with comedian Kathy Griffin, who brings her great appreciation for both pop culture and the skewering thereof to town in the form of a reliably hilarious and snarky standup act.

Also sure to be packed both before and after those shows is the most recent addition to Chicago’s burgeoning gay and lesbian nightlife scene that just happens to sit outside of the usual North Side LGBT havens – the nearby Downtown Bar & Lounge. Expect a nicely diverse crowd of both gay and straight patrons, plenty of plush, eclectic ornamentation, and an ebullient, energetic vibe throughout the room. Just don’t expect food – this is a bar and lounge, after all, and not a bar and grill.

So come prepared with an appetite for fun and drink (and drink and drink), and don’t be surprised if the celebrity gossip continues all night long. 440 N. State. 312/464-1400.