Worth the drive

Less than 1 hour

Cache River Wetlands Center, Cypress, Ill.

The Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge will host the first of two workshops on photographing wildlife from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Cache River Wetlands Center.

Photographer Dave Brewer will teach participants how to photograph waterfowl. In January, waterfowl numbers peak in Southern Illinois.

For more information on the program, call the wetlands center at 618-657-2064.

Less than 2 hours

Fox Theatre, St. Louis

A different kind of show is coming to the Fox Theatre.

Part gaming, part rock concert, part symphony orchestra, it's called "Video Games Live." The show combines performances by orchestras and choirs with clips from popular video games from the medium's beginning to present. Random audience members are asked to come on stage and compete in video games while an orchestra plays in synchronization with the games on the screen. The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26.

Ticket prices range from $32.50 to $42.50 and include access to a pre-show festival and post-show meet and greet. For tickets, call MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or go to www.metrotix.com. For more information on Video Games Live, go to www.videogameslive.com.

Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis

The Sixth Annual St. Louis Food and Wine Experience will bring in foodies from miles around Jan. 26 and 27. Chefs, exhibitors and wine makers from around the world will be in attendance, including Ellie Krieger, host of The Food Network's "Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger" and others.

Show hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 26 and noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 27.

Advance tickets are $35. Proceeds from the event benefit The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or go to www.repstl.org.