By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia Group

‘The Polar Express’ 4D Experience

Tom Hanks stars in "The Polar Express," playing in 4D in Dubuque. (Warner Bros. photo)

Through Jan. 29, 2012

All aboard for a magical trip to the North Pole. Santa’s there year-round, unless, of course, he and the elves are chillin’ in a tropical paradise about now. Who could blame them? But the kid inside all of us can be totally immersed in a polar experience close to home. Dubuque’s Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is showing “The Polar Express” in 4-D seven times daily through Jan. 29. Not only will you see the 3D sights via some stylin’ glasses, but you’ll get such 4D special effects as dramatic sound, wind, mist, seat movement and smells of the on-screen action. Now that’s locomotion.

‘The Polar Express’ 4D Experience: Through Jan. 29, 2012, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, 350 E. Third St., Dubuque; seven times daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $6, rivermuseum.com 

Comedian Mike Green

Comedian Mike Green

Jan. 4, 6 and 7, 2012

He’s a clean, Green joke machine. He racked up the honors in 2007 Las Vegas and New York comedy competitions and has worked with Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres. With a strong improv background, he strives to take audiences on an hourlong “comedy vacation” through his views on jump rope, talking sirens and the universal code for buying stuff. The Detroit News declares: “If you liked the kid in the lunch room who made you spit milk out your nose, you’ll love Mike Green.” We like milk mustaches from smart cookies.

Comedian Mike Green

Dubuque: 8 p.m. Wednesday (1/4/12), Mississippi Moon Bar, Diamond Jo Casino, 301 Bell St.; $10 to $15, (563) 690-4758 or www.diamondjo.com

Cedar Rapids: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6 and 7, 2012, Penguins Comedy Club, 208 Second Ave. SE; $13, (319) 362-8133 or penguinscomedyclub.com

Wylde New Year’s Eve

Westan and Steven James of Wylde Nept will bring their band to The Mill in Iowa City on New Year's Eve to give a Celtic kick in to 2012. (Brenda McDole photo)

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011

Ye’ll be dancin’ a jig when Wylde Nept gives New Year’s Eve a Celtic kickoff Saturday afternoon at The Mill in downtown Iowa City. The local Irish band of merry men will be slinging the tunes from 4 to 7 p.m. And when it’s midnight in Dublin — 6 p.m. Iowa time — ye can sling a sláinte soda or ale. The countdown to 2012 continues at 8 p.m. with The Diplomats of Solid Sound in a jazz, funk and soul groove, with Ben Driscoll of The East Side Motors. It’s open to all ages until 10 p.m., then limited to the 21 and older crowd. And that’s the tip of the Corridor celebrations. For more, check out hooplanow.com/music

Wylde New Year’s Eve: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday (12/31/11), The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, $10, all ages, icmill.com