So what is Cavalia? It's an "equestrian arts" show featuring more than thirty horses including magnificent, long-maned, white Lusitanian stallions. These well-trained animals interact with acrobats, aerialists, dancers, riders, and musicians combined with visual effects and live music. The show's creator and artistic director, Normand Latourelle, is one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, so it's pretty much guaranteed that the spectacle is pushed to its limit. A unique show like Cavalia begs for a unique venue and they have one -- a large, white, big top circus tent is being erected for the occasion in Chicago's West Loop.

• What: Cavalia equestrian arts show
• Where: Jackson Street and Racine Avenue, Chicago
• When: July 14 through July 26, 2009
• Tickets: Adults, $45.50 - $190.50; Seniors and students, $40.50 - $171.50; Children 2-12, $31.50 - $133.50. Tickets are available online

In conjunction with the current Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, the MSI will be premiering the new film Harry Potter and the Half-Blodk Prince at their Omnimax Theater. The Omnimax has a screen that is 5 stories tall, so it will offer a unique viewing experience beyond the cineplex at the mall -- it's one of only 3 large-format theaters in the country showing the film on its premiere date. They will be kicking off the festivities with midnight screenings starting at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, July 15 (what one would normally think of as Tuesday night) through 12:01 a.m., Sunday, July 19 (Saturday night). The film will then be screened at regular intervals daily through September 27.

• What: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Where: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois
• When: July 15 - September 27, 2009. View screening times and purchase tickets online
• Admission: $15 adults, $13 children 3-11. 12 p.m. showings also require purchase of general admission to the museum.

Since Michael Jackson's recent death, a Chicago-based tour company is getting attention for their King of Pop Hometown Tour, which takes curiosity seekers on a bus tour of Michael Jackson's hometown, Gary, Indiana. For just $55 a person ($45 for children), you, too, can view the marvels of the one-story home where Jackson was raised as an infant, the corner store where Mrs. Jackson bought bread, and even the steel mill where Michael's father, Joe, worked hard to provide for his family (up until the day the family started providing for him). And they'll even pick you up from select downtown Chicago hotels. Sounds exciting, right? If you're interested in taking a tour of the former homicide capital of the United States, be sure to check out the King of Pop Tours website for more information.

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Following the lead of Toronto's CN Tower and the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the Sears Tower Skydeck has opened "The Ledge" to give visitors the chance to experience a dizzying view straight down. And I don't mean a forehead-pressed-against-glass view, rather a floating-in-air one. Four glass boxes extend just over 4 feet from the west side of the Sears Tower at 1,353 feet above the ground, and provide what is certainly one of the most unique views in Chicago. If you want a little taste for what you're in for, here are some great pictures and a short video from my recent visit to The Ledge. Read more about how to visit The Ledge, including hours and admission, by visiting my Sears Tower Skydeck profile.