Best Bets: Cohen, Eldredge to hit Rosemont ice
Olympic memories
It's been 10 years since the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and this year's edition of Stars on Ice (directed and choreographed by Kurt Browning) features skating stars like Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman from the last Winter Games held in the U.S.A. See these champion skaters and more Sunday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$150. (800) 745-3000. 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11
Story Times
Bring the small kiddies to enjoy Theatreworks USA's tour of “Fancy Nancy & Other Story Books” this weekend at two locations: Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $7. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. Also at Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $10-$12; $5-$7 kids. (630) 637-7469. 9:45 a.m. Friday, March 9, in Elgin; 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, in Naperville
What a Rush
It's the season start for the Chicago Rush arena football team, so especially cheer on guys with local ties like Rush Michna (an Eastern Illinois University and Conant High School graduate) and coach Bob McMillen of Naperville when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $10-$100. (800) 745-3000 or arenarush.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10
Crunch time
See car-crushing trucks like Monster Bear, Sir Crush A Lot, Demolition Diva and more when the Monster Truck Nationals come this weekend to the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10
‘Lovemaster' lug
See multitalented comedian Craig Shoemaker and his persona as “The Lovemaster” this weekend at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 or 9:45 p.m. Friday, March 9; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, March 10
‘Simpsons' scribe
Die-hard fans of the animated TV show “The Simpsons” won't want to miss this appearance by Mike Reiss, one of the series' writers, as he offers insights and other showbiz anecdotes tonight at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $28; $26 students/seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, March 9
Make them grow
Get great traditional tips and ideas on the latest gardening trends when the Chicago Flower & Garden Show starts up Saturday at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $17 on weekdays; $19 weekends. (312) 595-7437 or chicagoflower.com. March 10 to 18; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Zydeco folk
Hear some great Louisiana zydeco music when Buckwheat Zydeco plays at two area venues — on Saturday at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn; $38, $26 seniors; $28 kids; (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org; also on Wednesday at the Montrose Room at the InterContinental O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont; $18-$25; (847) 544-5300 or montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10, in Glen Ellyn; 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in Rosemont
Celtic clogs
“Riverdance” may be coming back to Chicago for a weeklong run starting on Tuesday, but you can stay in Lake County to see other Celtic dancers in “Rhythm of the Dance” on Wednesday at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $28-$38. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets.7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14
Vegas chanteuse
Arlington Heights native Carly Matt has made a name for herself as a singer in Las Vegas. Hear her near her hometown when she offers four performances of ”Live from Las Vegas! Carly Matt Sings Cinema,” starting Thursday at the Des Plaines Theater, 1476 Miner/Dempster St., Des Plaines. (630) 254-5466. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15; 8 p.m. Friday, March 16; 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18