Weekend picks: Splurge on Joffrey's 'Nutcracker'

Nutcracker of the week

Time is running out to catch “The Nutcracker” this holiday season. Why not splurge on Chicago's biggest and most lavish production courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet, which presents the classic Tchaikovsky ballet at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$115. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24

Rally for R&B

Get your fix of R&B music acts like Mindless Behavior, Jacob Latimore and more at WGCI'S BIG JAM starring R. Kelly at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$125. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

‘Christmas Memories'

See Kline Creek Farm's 1800s farmhouse decked out in holiday greens, and savor the aroma and taste of festive treats at the farm's Christmas Memories House Tour. Cookie samples will be available. Take it all in at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Free. (630) 876-5900 or dupageforest.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

‘Symphony in Lights'

The annual “Symphony in Lights” holiday show features more than 250,000 brightly colored lights twinkling to the sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Free. Visit thepromenadebolingbrook.com. Begins at 5 p.m. and runs every hour on the hour until 9 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 31

Taco time at Tokio

Dollar tacos — that's what Taco Time is all about at Tokio Pub, 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg. Taste all of Tokio's tacos for $1, including the Angry Chicken, Braised Pork, Tuna Poke, Crispy Fish, Grilled Steak, Crying Tiger Shrimp and more. (847) 278-5181 or tokiopub.com. 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

Winter Wonderland

The Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, hosts its annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show, featuring 97 acres of holiday scenes and lights that you can drive through. $10 per car. Visit vernonhills.org or cuneomansion.org. 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

Comedy Cash

If you've loved seeing comedian Cash Levy on the cable network Comedy Central or on “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson,” then catch him at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $24 plus a two menu item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

‘The Sound of Music'

See “The Sound of Music,” Rodgers and Hammerstein's final musical collaboration, at the Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The story focuses on a young nun who becomes a governess to a widowed naval captain's large family during the 1930s. $35-$46. Dinner packages are available from $49.75-$68. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

Triadd and ugly sweaters

The acoustic trio Triadd performs hits from legendary groups including the Beatles, the Doobie Brothers and Bon Jovi in an evening of pop rock hits Friday at Viper Alley, Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. The evening is “Ugly Holiday Sweater Night,” which means that guests wearing an ugly holiday sweater get free admission to the show. Admission is $5 otherwise. (847) 499-5000 or viper-alley.com. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

Local singer

Singer-songwriter and Palatine native Andrew Ripp will perform a pre-Christmas show at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Ripp recently release an EP of holiday music titled “Light of Mine,” which is available digitally via iTunes. $7. Go to durtynellies.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

American English

The American English Beatles tribute band presents its holiday show at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $12-$15. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

Don't drink it cute

At John Barleycorn Wrigleyville's ugly sweater party Friday you don't want to drink 'til it's cute. The uglier the sweater the better — and it pays with a gift card to the winners. All night drink specials include $5 domestic bottles and $5 candy cane shots made with peppermint schnapps, white chocolate liqueur and 4 Rebels Premium Vodka. DJ Jet spins, and there's no cover charge. John Barleycorn Wrigleyville is located at 3524 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 549-6000 or johnbarleycorn.com. Friday, Dec. 23

Christmas at Timothy O'Toole's

After all of the Christmas cookies are eaten and the packages are unwrapped, head out to Timothy O'Toole's Pub, 5572 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee, on Sunday afternoon to watch the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers on television. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. No cover charge. (847) 249-0800 or timothyotooles.com. 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25

Un-kosher songs

Sean Altman, formerly of Rockapella, returns to Skokie to offer decidedly un-kosher comedy songs in his show “Jewmongous!” Sunday at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $18-$25. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheater.com. 8 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25

A Christmas ‘wedding'

The group Wedding Banned performs hits from the 1980s to the present, as they headline a Christmas evening of rock 'n' roll at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. A “bride” and “groom” will be selected from the audience to take part in the show. Admission is $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25