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Best bets: The Globetrotters hit the court

Shoot and score

Expect plenty of comedy antics when the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters bring their entertaining brand of basketball for two games today to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$170. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30

The night before

Make serious ballroom moves before the dance floor is besieged with end-of-the-year revelers at the Night Before New Year's Eve big band dance featuring music by the Flat Cats tonight at the Willowbrook Ballroom, 8900 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs. $12. (708) 839-1000 or willowbrookballroom.com. 7:30 p.m. lesson; social dancing 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30

So much Strauss

Baritone Mischa Bouvier is the special guest for the New Philharmonic's annual concert “Viennese Pops New Year's Eve with an International Twist” on Saturday at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 4 p.m. show: $55; $53 seniors; $45 kids. 9 p.m. show: $65; $63 seniors; $55 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 4 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31

Vegas New Year

Get a sense of the glory days of Las Vegas lounge acts of the 1950s and '60s when Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show performs two special New Year's Eve shows Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $45. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31

Laugh it out

Comedians Corey Holcomb, Rickey Smiley and LaVelle Crawford are on the bill for the 9th Annual Greatest Night of Comedy, which plays two shows on Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $49.50-$99.50. (800) 745-3000 or ariecrown.com. 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31

Early ushering

Don't want to stay up too late on Saturday? Then don't miss “The New Year's Comedy Show for People Who Can't Stay Up 'Til Midnight” featuring comedians Rocky LaPorte, Tim Clue and Spike Manton with music by the Sons of the Never Wrong and more at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$45. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31

Viennese waltzing

It may be a tad late, but the annual tour of “Salute to Vienna” this Monday brings the beloved musical and dancing traditions of a Viennese New Year's Eve to Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $34-$99. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 2:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2

Continued levity

The new North Shore variety club The Laughing Chameleon hosts magician/comedian David Merry for a special run at 1830 Tower Drive, Glenview. $22-$30 plus a two-drink purchase. (847) 834-0291 or thelaughingchameleon.com. 7 and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 3-7; also 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8

Blues namesake

Living blues legend Buddy Guy returns to his namesake club for a 16-performance January engagement starting Thursday at Buddy Guy's Legends, 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago. $55 Thursday and Sunday night shows; $65 Friday and Saturday night shows. (312) 427-1190 or buddyguy.com. Buddy Guy performs Thursdays through Sundays, Jan. 5 to 29, following an acoustic set and an opening act. Times vary.

Buddy Guy returns to his namesake Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago for a 16-show run in January.
Baritone Mischa Bouvier is set to perform with the New Philharmonic for its “Viennese Pops New Year’s Eve with an International Twist” at College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.
Comedian Rocky LaPorte is featured in “The New Year’s Comedy Show for People Who Can’t Stay Up ’Til Midnight” at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show helps usher in the New Year at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
The 13th annual "Salute to Vienna" concert returns to Symphony Center in Chicago on Monday, Jan. 2.
Comedian and magician David Merry performs at The Laughing Chameleon in Glenview.