Weekend picks: Dinos come to life in Rosemont
Discover the Dinos
Get up close and personal with more than 60 mechanized and museum-quality extinct beasts at the Discover the Dinosaurs event with interactive displays and more starting this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $15; $10 kids/seniors (some attractions require extra fees). (847) 692-2222 or rosemont.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 7 and 14; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 8 and 15; noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16
Artistic faculty
Waubonsee Community College's Annual Faculty Art Exhibition features the works of 13 faculty artists in the Dickson Center at Waubonsee Community College, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove. Works include sculpture, ceramics, paintings, drawings, photography and more. Free admission. (630) 466-7900, ext. 2487. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Get active
Michael Ventrella, winner of the 2010 edition of NBC-TV's “The Biggest Loser,” makes an appearance Saturday to encourage people to get fit in 2012 at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center's Second Annual Open House. It's at 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn. Free admission. (630) 317-0130 or ackermansportsandfitnesscenter.com. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Antiques galore
Browse through thousands of antiques and unusual collectibles at the Zurko Antiques and Collectibles Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Country furniture, estate jewelry, Victorian items, postcards, art glass, old toys and vintage clothing are just a few of the items featured. Admission is $6. (847) 680-7200 or visit lcfair.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
Annual Hometown Concert
Folk performer Lee Murdock presents his Annual Hometown Concert at the Kaneland High School Theater at 47W326 Keslinger Road in Maple Park. Each year, Murdock welcomes a new guest artist to appear onstage to sing and swap songs and stories. This year, rock/folk performer Jim Post is the special guest. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the door. (630) 557-2742 or visit LeeMurdock.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Still ‘Feeling' it
Fran Cosmo and Anthony Cosmo, the former lead singer and guitarist, respectively, of arena rockers Boston, will visit the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, this weekend for “A Nite of Boston.” The pair, who played with Boston in the 1990s and 2000s, will perform the group's many hits — “More Than a Feeling” and “Peace of Mind” among them — which continue to be staples on classic-rock radio. The band Infinity opens. $19 to $45. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
A Steely tribute
Get ready to tap your feet to pop hits like “Do It Again” and “Hey Nineteen” and more when Reely Dan: The Steely Dan Tribute Band performs on Saturday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25-$35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Fox Valley Rep laughs it up
Fox Valley Repertory starts 2012 with a performance of comedy-infused combat courtesy of master swordsmen Dirk Perfect (Douglas E. Mumaw) and Guido Crescendo (David Woolley). See it at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets cost $32 for The Swordsman. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Nature in music
Daniel Hege is the guest conductor for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra's “Forces of Nature” concert featuring fiery selections by Stravinsky, Haydn and Kodaly at two locations: Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, then at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $24-$70. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, in Elgin
Celebrate soup with Mon Ami Gabi
It's National Soup Month, and Mon Ami Gabi celebrates with soup flights for $5.95. The French bistro features a trio: onion soup au gratin with bubbling Gruyere cheese, four mushroom soup with roasted wild mushrooms and herb brioche croutons, and the always-changing cream of root vegetable soup. Mon Ami Gabi is located at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook. (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com. Throughout January
Abstract images
Abstract art by painter Ana Žanic goes on display as part of her exhibit “Small World” starting Sunday at North Central College's Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St., Naperville. Free admission. (630) 637-5543 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. Sunday, Jan. 8, through Thursday, Feb. 16; gallery hours: 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday
Girl talk
Filmmakers Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson's cross-country documentary about women and girls' lives called “Finding Kind” will receive two screenings sponsored by Girls on the Run of Northwest Illinois on Sunday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Suggested donation at the door. Recommended for ages 11 and older due to language and some content. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
Callipygian Players
The instrumental musicians the Callipygian Players present a concert featuring works by British composers from the Baroque era in the Thornhill Education Center at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. A reception follows the performance. $28. (630) 725-2066 or mortonarb.org. 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
Historical hero
Actor and historian Terry Lynch portrays Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union army, in the Naper Settlement History Speaks lecture, “U.S. Grant: The Hero of Appomattox.” Lynch discusses how the Civil War impacted the lives of all Americans at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Admission is $6-$7 at the door. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.museum. 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
Jazz Consortium Big Band
Spend a jazzy evening with the Jazz Consortium Big Band at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $10. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
Wu-Tang Clan
The internationally renowned hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan makes a stop at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, for what promises to be a high-energy show. Tickets cost $25-$100. Call (773) 598-0852. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8