Weekend picks: Big Time Rush takes over Rosemont

Big Time Rush

The hockey-to-boy-band guys of Nickelodeon's hit TV series “Big Time Rush” perform in concert tonight at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $23-$47.50. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

Top dogs

From toy-sized poodles to giant schnauzers, see dog breeds great and small at the 2012 International Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore, Chicago. $18. Free for kids ages 12 and younger with adult ticket purchase. (312) 791-7000 or ikcdogshow.com. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Feb. 24-26

Link to the links

A mild winter probably means that golfers will be able to get out on the green sooner. Get a jump on the latest gear and more at the Chicago Golf Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $5 Friday; $10 Saturday or Sunday. $4 youth ages 12-15. Free for younger kids. (847) 692-2222 or chicagogolfshow.com. Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25; 9:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25

Soap Box Derby

Kids can stop by for a free test run in a soap box derby car at the All-American Soap Box Derby Indoor Race at the Charlestowne Mall, 3800 E. Main St., St. Charles. The event features racing for youngsters ages 7 to 17, who compete in official All-American Soap Box Derby cars. Spectators are welcome. Free for spectators and kids taking test runs. Visit chicagosoapboxderby.org, or call race director Stan Iglehart at (630) 841-8832. Free test runs offered from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, or from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26. Races run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26

Fish on Friday

The Palatine American Legion Auxiliary Post 690 hosts a Fish Fry Dinner for the public at the American Legion Hall Post 690, 122 W. Palatine Road, Palatine. The meal includes oven-fried pollock, soup, tator tots, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, rye bread and dessert. A full-service bar will be available. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids younger than 8. (847) 359-1606 or alpost690.us. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

‘Alice in Wonderland'

Bartlett Adult Theatre presents “Alice in Wonderland,” a two-act play, written by Wheaton College students Morgan Malloy and Paul Danielson, at the Bartlett Nature Center Auditorium, in the James “Pate” Philip State Park visitor center, 2054 W. Stearns Road, Bartlett. Tickets are $10; $8 for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets include dessert, following the play. (630) 372-4152 or artsinbartlett.org. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25

Mystifying man

Magician Joel Ward performs sleight-of-hand tricks and larger-scale illusions this weekend at the Laughing Chameleon at The Glen Town Center, 1830 Tower Drive, Glenview. $18-$25. (847) 834-0291 or thelaughingchameleon.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25

Delicate moves

Local dance troupe Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak presents a new iteration of a three-year project titled “The Delicate Hour” this weekend at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $26-$30. (312) 344-8300 or colum.edu. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25

Being Green

If you can't get enough of comedian Tom Green in films like “Road Trip” or his Internet talk show, “Tom Green's House Tonight,” then catch him locally at two Zanies locations, first at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, then at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $30 in Chicago, $25 in St. Charles (both require two menu item purchase). (312) 337-4027 or (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in Chicago and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 in St. Charles

7th Heaven

The rock band 7th Heaven performs tunes from legendary music groups Def Leppard, the Beatles, Bon Jovi, Journey and U2 at John Barleycorn, 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg. $10. (847) 619-5540 or johnbarleycorn.com. 9:30 p.m. Friday Feb. 24

Rolling down the rails

The Lake County Model Railroad Club hosts its 40th Anniversary Early Spring Open House at 107 S. Main St., two blocks north of Route 176, Wauconda. Visitors can see the club's HO scale permanent operating model railroad, occupying more than 1,500 feet. Other events include a scavenger hunt for kids. Guests are asked to bring an item for donation to the Wauconda Food Pantry. Those donating an item will get a free raffle ticket toward a door prize. Admission is free. Visit lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25-26

Celebrating Black History Month

Zion Park District's 22nd Annual Black History Program features dancing and performances by local choirs and gospel singer Cynthia Metcalf Williams. Local poet Sharon Epps recites poetry. The celebration takes place at Zion Benton Horizon Campus High School, One Z-B Way, Zion. For all ages. Free admission. Free dinner served, following the program. Visit zionparkdistrict.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Lily's comedy

Comedy legend Lily Tomlin brings some of her most memorable comic characters from years gone by to the stage of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $42-$76. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Singing praise

VaShawn Mitchell, The Brown Sisters and the choir Gospel Music According to Chicago are just some of the acts lined up for College of Lake County's 28th Annual Salute to Gospel this Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $17-$19. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

‘Heroes and Hard Times'

Husband-and-wife folk duo Sparky and Rhonda Rucker present “Heroes and Hard Times: African-American History Through Song and Story” at the Lisle Public Library, 777 Front St., Lisle. The program looks at three centuries of African-American history, including slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War and the civil rights movement through folk songs and stories. Free. (630) 971-1675 or lislelibrary.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

Meet Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini, author of “The Wedding Quilt,” discusses and signs copies of her latest novel, “Sonoma Rose,” at the Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Chiaverini will also discuss and sign her other titles. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Free admission. Registration is required. (847) 244-5150 or wnpl.info. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

Northbrook Symphony

The Northbrook Symphony presents its classical “Turkish Delights” concert at the Sheely Center for the Performing Arts at Glenbrook North High School, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook. $25-$45 for adults; $8 for children/students with an ID. Visit TheNSO.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

Herman hurrah

Naperville cabaret singer Joan Curto performs her Broadway revue, “No Tune Like a Show Tune: The Words and Music of Jerry Herman,” this Sunday at North Central College's Madden Theatre, 161 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $27. (630) 637-7469 or tickets.noctrl.edu. 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26