For those who want a taste of Italy, Palermo’s Pizza is a delicious choice.

• Background: Famous for its frozen pizzas, Palermo’s Pizza is headquartered in Milwaukee and gives factory tours Monday through Friday. Public tours are held on Fridays, while group tours are given Monday through Thursday with a minimum of 10 people. Both types of tours need a reservation. The tour includes a history of the company, tour of the facility and eating freshly made pizza in the Palermo’s Café.
• Pricing: Because of its low cost, the tour is both a fun and economically smart choice for spring break. Palermo’s has decided to work out a special deal for Marquette students during spring break only. Students who can provide a valid Marquette ID will receive a free T-shirt and only pay $5.00 for the tour, which is a $7.50 value.
• Commentary: “Our tour is a high energy presentation that gets you involved in the pizza process,” said tour director Barbara Hess.

If you’re looking to travel somewhere else through music, check out some of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s three concerts that will take you on a vacation through sound.

• Background: “Paris in Springtime” on March 8 at 4 p.m. is an opportunity to experience Paris through the sounds of a string quartet without leaving Milwaukee, said Regina Dolan, junior in the College of Communication and marketing intern for the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. De La Buena on March 12 at 7:30 p.m., features a nine-piece band that is a mixture of Latin and African music with seating arranged café style to set the mood, Dolan said. Kayme Henke will showcase Celtic music on March 15, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, said Dolan.
• Pricing: “Paris in Springtime” is $18; De La Buena is $14; Kayme Henke is free, said Dolan.
• Commentary: “Milwaukee winters make it difficult for college students to find fun things to do,” said Dolan, “The Conservatory offers a great way to stay entertained. It’s perfect for a girls’ night out, a date or just anyone looking to listen to some high-quality and talented musicians.”

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition opened Oct. 10 at the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., just a few blocks from Marquette’s campus. It has impressed visitors of all ages, and for good reason. The exhibit, shown worldwide, features actual artifacts recovered from the underwater ruins of the ship.

When one enters the exhibit, they are greeted and handed the replica of a boarding pass from an actual Titanic passenger. Exhibit visitors are told later whether or not they survived the ill-fated voyage.

Visitors travel chronologically through the ship’s life. In the first room of the exhibit, details of the ship’s construction are presented, from concept design to the actual building process. Tools used by the crew are displayed to show the ship’s construction. The next several rooms cover life aboard the ship, including everything from room replications to dining menus. Women dressed as stewardesses and nurses give detailed accounts of their everyday lives, making the ship life seem all the more real.

Suddenly, the rooms grow darker and colder. Visitors sense the unmistakable dread — the ship has crashed. To demonstrate the crash, a miniature iceberg, much like the one the Titanic hit, is available for visitors to feel. A two-ton piece of the ship’s hull is suspended in the air with one of the supposedly unbreakable watertight doors a few steps away. After a display of many passengers’ possessions, the exhibit comes to a close with a list of the survivors and those who unfortunately did not make it.

The Milwaukee Public Museum did an excellent job putting on this world famous exhibit. The environment was very professional yet relaxed, which allowed for maximum entertainment. The staff was helpful and made sure everything flowed smoothly. The price is a deal for the rarity of the artifacts on display and for the effort put into making the experience enjoyable.

Student tickets cost $18 on weekdays and $20 on weekends. Ticket price includes museum general admission. Advance tickets are strongly recommended and can be purchased by visiting the museum Web site, by visiting the museum box office at 800 W. Wells St. or by calling 414-223-4676.

The exhibit runs until May 25, 2009 with entry from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends.

For those interested in having as close an experience to this famous catastrophe as possible, this exhibit is strongly recommended. The past is unforgettable in this presentation — these prized artifacts will keep the story alive forever.