This weekend: More pleasant than Oktoberfest

Sometimes, bigger is better. In our recent story The Next Big Thing, we found eight coming attractions that caught our imagination and got us thinking big about the future, from the half-mile-tall Burj Dubai to a 16-deck cruise ship with its very own Central Park. You can see them for yourself in our slide show. How 'bout that egg?

Missed the Pope the last time he came through? Never been to Vatican City? Now's your chance to see masterworks by famous artists, such as Giotto, Bernini, and Michelangelo. Vatican Splendors, a showcase of more than 200 rare art pieces and historical artifacts owned by the Catholic Church, is currently on display in Cleveland, Ohio. (The ongoing exhibit is available not only this weekend, but also through Sept. 7.) Many of the works have never been seen outside of Vatican City. Highlights include "The Madonna del Sassoferrato," an oil-on-copper painting of the Virgin Mary by Giovanni Battista Salvi, and "The Mandylion of Edessa," a linen artwork that is said to be one of the oldest representations of Jesus. The exhibit is on its second stop of a three-city American tour, with a final stop in St. Paul, Minn. Vatican Splendors is on display at the Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Blvd., in Cleveland, until Sept. 7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $14 for kids; click here to order.

Planning to visit Rome? If your trip includes visits to the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, or frankly any other monuments near the historical center, you'd better think twice before bringing drinks or snacks with you. City Hall has instituted a ban on eating near major tourist sights, which stays in effect through October—i.e. until all the tourists go home. Munchers caught ignoring the mandate will have to pay a fine of about $80. EARLIER Our Rome coverage

If you find yourself near Kirkland, Wash., a suburb northeast of Seattle, you'll definitely want to join the town's locals for a party by the water. Starting Friday at 2 p.m. and running through Sunday, this neighborhood right on Lake Washington will play host to Kirkland Uncorked, a festival of the "greatest hits" of festivals—wine, gourmet food, arts and crafts, and jazz. Vino is definitely the star of the show; be ready to taste more than 100 selections from about 20 Washington state wineries. The festival is free; admission to the Wine Garden for tastings is $25 at the door (see Wine Garden hours here). The event is in Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza Dr. and nearby downtown Kirkland, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Seattle. Come for the wine, stay for the dogs and cars. Sunday is the CityDog contest, where local dogs will compete for the cover shoot of Seattle's CityDog magazine. You can enter your pooch's pout for only $10; proceeds go to Pasado's Safe Haven. There's also a classic car show, featuring hundreds of hot rods and the like. PREVIOUSLY Oregon and Washington Getaways, From $89 Seattle: Eat Like a Local