Weekend picks: Get up and dance with Dot Dot Dot at HOB

Party time

Suburban pop band Dot Dot Dot will bring its infectious live show to the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Dot Dot Dot plays a mix of covers and original tunes, all of which recall the best of 1980s synth-pop party songs. The band makes it a priority to get the audience dancing at its shows, so this would be a good bet if you're looking for some upbeat fun. The show also includes sets by AM Taxi, State & Madison and The Scissors. $12.50. Go to houseofblues.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3

Guitar passion

Classical guitarist Jason Vieaux performs Joaquin Rodrigo's romantic “Conierto de Aranjuez” with Elgin Symphony Orchestra for its concert “My Passionate Valentine” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $24-$70. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

Uniform central

Historical re-enactors who specialize in ancient Roman garb to World War II uniforms won't want to miss the Military History Fest 7 when it returns this weekend to the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 one-day pass; $30 three-day pass. Free admission for kids ages 15 and younger and veterans on Friday, Feb. 3. (630) 584-6300 or militaryhistoryfest.com. 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

'Dare to Dream'

Rapunzel from “Tangled” joins the pantheon of Disney princesses like Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” and Cinderella who each don ice skates for the latest Disney on Ice show “Dare to Dream” at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $15-$75. (800) 745-3000 or disneyonice.com. Various times Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-12

Storytelling songs

Joe Pug and The Hundred Mile Band performs the title composer's pop songs for a return engagement Friday at The Union, 129 W. Benton Ave., Naperville. $10-$12. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3

Rough riding

Professional Championship Bullriders: World Tour Finale VI comes with the added attraction of the country-western duo Montgomery Gentry in concert after the competition this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $17-$54; $10-$12 kids ages 12 and younger. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4

Second billing

Find out if the comedians Riki Lindhome (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Kate Micucci (“Scrubs”) have some second-tier celebrity issues to work out when their comedy routine “Garfunkel and Oates” plays this weekend at the UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., 3rd Floor, Chicago. $25. (312) 662-4562 or upcomedyclub.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4

‘Sirens,' a love story

Married actors Ellen and Scott Phelps play husband and wife in Citadel Theatre Company's production of “Sirens,” by Deborah Zoe Laufer. The romantic comedy is about a songwriter in a creative rut who accompanies his wife on an anniversary cruise to the Greek Islands where he's tempted by one of the mythic creatures. Will Casey directs the show at the West Campus Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. $32.50, $37.50. (847) 735-8554 or citadeltheatre.org. Begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3

Young guns

The members of Chicago's Smith Westerns, though just a few years out of high school, have already cultivated quite a career for themselves. The band has played huge festivals all over the world, including recent shows at the Pitchfork and Lollapalooza festivals here in Chicago. And it has earned critical raves for its most recent album, 2011's “Dye It Blonde.” Smith Westerns specialize in guitar-based rock that draws from influences as varied as 1970s glam rock and the Britpop bands of the 1990s. Experience them live at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $19. Go to metrochicago.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3

‘Wonders of Winter'

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County invites guests to take part in wintry activities at its “Wonders of Winter” celebration at the Mayslake Forest Preserve, 1717 W. 31st St. in Oak Brook. Learn how to ice fish and walk in snowshoes. Guests also can go on horse-drawn wagon rides and see birds of prey from the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Activities inside of the historic Mayslake Hall include games, crafts and s'mores. Free admission and parking. (630) 933-7248 or dupageforest.org. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4

Balancing dragons

Centre East celebrates the recent start of the lunar Year of the Dragon by hosting a return engagement of the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats on Saturday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $20-$38. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4

Wine for animals

Raise your glass to improve the lives of animals at a wine tasting at Wine Styles in Glen Ellyn, 715 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn. For $30, enjoy wine, cheese and other hors d'oeuvres. Proceeds support the West Suburban Humane Society. (630) 469-9463 or email director@wshs-dg.org. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4

‘Elvis Lives'

Tribute artists present a live, multimedia tribute to Elvis Presley in “Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $24.50-$49.50. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4

Nostalgia time

Get ready for a jazzy jam when the Texas-based White Ghost Shivers play tunes from the 1920s and '30s this weekend at the Elgin Community College's SecondSpace Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $20-$25. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

Breweriana show

Guests can buy, sell and trade a variety of breweriana, including beer cans, signs, mirrors and more, at the “Super Bowl Trade” breweriana show at the American Legion Hall, 514 S. Main St., Wauconda. The show is hosted by the Bullfrog chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America. Admission is $1. (847) 202-1877, or visit bcca.com. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

‘Arlington Heights: Through the Decades'

Learn about the people, places and events that have shaped the village of Arlington Heights at the “Arlington Heights: Through the Decades” exhibit at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum and Heritage Gallery, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. The exhibit features photographs and artifacts from the Arlington Heights Historical Society's collections. Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $2 is recommended. (847) 255-1225 or ahmuseum.org. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

‘Happy birthday, Charles Dickens!'

Join in the celebration of author Charles Dickens' 200th birthday at the “Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!” event at the Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. The library celebrates the milestone with birthday cake, scenes from films based on Dickens' books and stories about the author himself. Film clips from “Oliver Twist” and “David Copperfield” will be shown. Free. Registration is recommended. (224) 543-1485 or calendar.vapld.info. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

Author appearance

Author William Landay discusses and signs copies of his new thriller, “Defending Jacob,” at Barnes and Noble at Old Orchard, 55 Old Orchard Center, Skokie. There is a charge for those wanting to purchase the book to be signed by the author. (847) 676-2230 or barnesandnoble.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

Movie music

Guitarist Steve Askins performs some of the best-loved songs from the world of film, including selections from Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, at the Dundee Township Public Library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee. Free. Registration is recommended. Call (847) 428-3661, ext. 308, or go to the “Events & Registration” page at dundeelibrary.info. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

Multitask bowl

Not content to just watch the Super Bowl from the couch? Then try Bowl During the Bowl, where you can play free rounds of bowling while watching the Super Bowl at these Pinstripes locations: 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323, or 10 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. ($4 shoe rental). (847) 844-9300 or pinstripes.com. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5