Be like the Inuit/Eskimo people of the far north. . . or at least check out Northern Lights: Celebrating Winter in the Arctic at the Orca Aart Gallery, 812 N. Franklin (at Chicago Avenue). Art depicts life in and around the igloo. Free, on-going, and open to the public. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm, Fri until 7pm. (312)280-4975.

Disney on Ice-Hercules . Can it get any better than this? Greek gods, muscular heroes, scary monsters, cool costumes, and ice skates. Take the kids or leave the kids -- it's fun for all ages. $12.50-$22.50. Rosemont Horizon, Jan 21-25 and at the United Center, Jan 27-Feb 8. (312)559-1212.

Roll into February on in-line skates. . . indoors! No more embarrassing wipe-outs in frigid lakefront temperatures! Indoor IN-Line Skating every weekday from 4pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 10am to 11pm, and Sundays from 10am to 9pm at Navy Pier Festival Hall. Plus experts from Chicago Skate Patrol will be there to supervise. $5 admission. Rental skates and pads available. Feb 6-Mar 1. (312)595-PIER.

Obsessed with aliens? Believe in the "X-Files"? Ever wonder if we are alone in the universe? Spend a day this winter scratching your head at the Adler Planetarium. The new program "In Search of New Worlds" is a good place to start. $3 regular admission with an additional $3 for the sky show. 9am to 5pm Mon-Thu, until 9pm Fri, and until 6pm Sat and Sun. Opens Jan 30. (312)922-STAR.

Whales on OMNIMAX at the Museum of Science and Industry features the large ocean mammals captured on film in Alaska, Newfoundland, California, Patagonia, Hawaii, and Columbia by the same cinematographer who brought us "The Abyss" and "The Deep." $11. Jan 30-Apr 16. Every fifty minutes from 10am to 3pm, alternating with "Thrill Ride." 57th and Lake Shore. (773)684-1414.

The Street basketball photo exhibit at the Field Museum features legends of urban lore from Rucker Park in New york City to Nat King Cole park on Chicago's South Side. Photos by sports photographer John Huet. "Soul of the Game" runs through March 15. $7 general admission. 9am-5pm. Roosevelt and Lake Shore. (312)922-9410.

in Raised by Wolves : Photographs and documents of Runaways, San Francisco Photographer Jim Goldberg presents pictures of homeless youth and teenage runaways on California's streets. Jan 31- Mar 21. Free. 10am-5pm weekdays, Thu until 8pm, and Sat noon- 5pm. Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan. (312)663-1600.

Skate on State until March 1. Free Thursday-night "Late Skates" until 9:45pm. Otherwise, skate from 9am to 7:30pm. Lessons at 9am Saturdays. Polar bear display, commerative tree planting (for Chicago's sister cities), and loads of fun for all ages. State and Randolph. Skate rentals: $3 adults, $2 kids. (312)744-3370.

The 36th Annual CarQuest World of Wheels rolls into Chicago January 30-February 1. See a car that can travel over 400 mph, witness the BMX bike extreme stunt show, and check out a '40 Ford owned by a member of Van Halen. $11 adults, $4 kids. Jan 30, 5-10:30pm; Jan 31, 11am-11pm; and Feb 1, 11am-7pm. McCormick Place (East Building). (708)354-4014.

Winterdance dance series every Friday in February. 7pm- lessons; 8pm-dance. Free. Various locations including GAR Hall, Preston Bradley Hall and the Randolph Cafe. (312)346-3278.

Vvvrrrooooommmm!! ! Easy Riders Custom Motorcycle Show screeches into Navy Pier's Festival Hall on January 24. One hundred bikers will compete. Noon to midnight. $12 adults, $6 kids, and free for children six and under. (312)595-PIER.

Celebrate the Super Bowl with all of your animal friends except the Bears at Lincoln Park Zoo's Cafe Brauer, 2021 N. Stockton, Jan 25. $35 adv, $45 door. Tailgating begins at 4pm. (773)202-5353.

or drink in the Bud Bowl Super Bowl Bash at the Hyatt Regency Jan 25. Beer, fifteen-foot screens, snacks, etc. $8. 4pm. 151 E. Wacker. (312)565-1234.

or, Watch the Super Bow l on a giant movie screen and drink beer at Brew and View Jan 25. Show up one hour before gametime. The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield. (312)618-VIEW.

Happy Chinese New Year! Celebrate the Year of the Tiger (calendar year 4696) at Alfred Hsu's Szechwan East, 340 E. Ohio. Cocktails, tea and a ten-course dinner. $19.95 per person Jan 26-31. At noon on Jan 28, check out the Chinese Lion Dance and comb over the $8.95 buffet. Otherwise show up at 7pm -- make reservations if you are part of a party of six or greater. (312)255-9200.

Rap for a good cause. "The Awakening" Hip Hop Winter Jam benefits the Columbia College Scholarship Fund for Chicago Public High School students. New York's finest including Lord Finesse, Show and AG, and BigL of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew meet Chicago's Rubberoom, E.C. Illa, and DJ's Wild Boar and PNS. Jan 30, 6pm. $20. Congress Theatre, 2135 N. Milwaukee. (312)663-1124 or call TicketMaster.

Look at great big ice sculptures instead of complaining about the weather. The Crystal Carnival Weekend Jan 31-Feb 1 kicks off the 1998 WinterBreak Chicago Festival. Oooh and Ahhh down the Magnificent Mile at several unique masterpieces -- unless the sun melts them. (312)642-3570.

it's Groundhog Day at the Brookfield Zoo-and pretty much everywhere else-Feb 2. Will our furry friend predict six more weeks of winter? Or is spring right around the corner? Find out at the Children's Zoo! $6 adults, $3 kids and seniors. 10:30am. 8400 W. 31st. (708)485-0263.

Got the blues this winter? So does Big Chicago Records. Dave Specter and the Bluebirds, featuring vocalist Lenny Lynn, help launch the Winterbreak Blues Weekend celebrating the release of the "Chicago Blues Club Tour" CD. Free. Feb 5, 5pm-8pm. Randolph Cafe, 77 E. Randolph (at Michigan). (312)744-1430.

Play Winter Softball all weekend Feb 14 and 15. The tournament benefits the March of Dimes programs for the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality. Advance registration required, $200 per team. All games start at 9am. Men's 16-inch in Orland Park (West Avenue and 147th Street), Oriole Park (5430 N. Olcott Avenue), and in Elgin (McLean Boulevard and Spartan Road). Men's, Women's, and co-ed 16-inch in Lincoln Park. (312)435-4007.

Stroll through the Valentine's Day art walk at several galleries in the same building (beat the cold-impress your Valentine). Art Encounter helps you explore art at Gallery A, Catherine Edelman Gallery, Judy A. Saslow Gallery and Belloc J. Owndes Fine Art Gallery. $10. 1040 W. Huron. (847)328-9222.

To commemorate fond memories of a neighborhood power outage, the Flat Top Grill will pull the plug on you and your sweetheart this Valentine's Day. Create your own stir-fry on this very unusual and romantic evening. So make reservations. North Avenue Location, (312)787-7676; Washington Location, (312)829-4800; or the Evanston location, (847)570-0100.

cozy up to the Ice Breaker event at the Lincoln Park Zoo. There'll be ice sculpture, kid's activities, arts/crafts and refreshments. Feb 14-16. 10:30am-3:30pm. 2200 N. Cannon. (312)742-2000.

The WinterBreak Co-ed Volleyball Tournament will start digging Feb 21 at 9am. Register by Feb 14, $80 per team. All participants receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and a "goody bag." Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. (773)883-9596.

March 1 is National Pig Day. Join pig lovers at the Brookfield Zoo to find out what makes our porky pals so interesting and intellectual. Children's Zoo area. $6 adults, $3 kids and seniors. 11am. 8400 W. 31st. (708)485-0263.

A Picnic in the Snow benefits Free the Children Chicago. Food, cash bar, silent art auction, etc. Feb 5, 5:30-9pm. $45. Harold Washington Library, Winter Garden Room, 400 S. State. (312)335-1456.

Intuit exhibition Getting There! features more than fifty works of art dealing with planes, trains, automobiles and other modes of transportation. Feb 1-Mar 21. Wed-Sat, noon-5pm. 1926 N. Halsted. (773)929-7122.

Hinsdale Center for the Arts offers its Winter Exhibit 1998 Feb 1-Mar 7. Mixed media, ceramics and watercolors. Free. Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat, 9am-1pm. 5803 S. County Line Road, Hinsdale. (630)887-0203.