Weekend picks: Daughtry rocks the Genesee Friday

Posted May 08, 2012 11:00 pm

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

Carolina rocking

The band Daughtry (featuring its "American Idol" finalist frontman Chris Daughtry) performs with opening act Safetysuit tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $42.50-$52.50. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11

Be a star!

Registration is now open for talented amateurs to audition in the first elimination round of the summer-long Suburban Chicago's Got Talent contest. Auditions run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 7-9, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Registration is required in advance. There is an entry fee of $5 for a solo act, and $10 for a group act (cash only). Suburban Chicago's Got Talent is jointly sponsored by the Metropolis, the Daily Herald and the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce. The top five finalists will perform as part of the Taste of Arlington Heights, while the winner will take an expenses-paid trip to audition for a future season of "America's Got Talent." For details on the rules and regulations (like no profanity or violence), visit metropolisarts.com/scgtauditions or call (847) 577-1212. Online registration is open now

'SCTV' siren

Award-winning stage and screen star Andrea Martin ("SCTV," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") joins with Broadway pianist and radio host Seth Rudetsky for the comedy show "Andrea Martin: Final Days! Everything Must GO!!" this weekend at the UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., 3rd Floor, Chicago. $50-$60. (312) 662-4562 or upcomedyclub.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11-12, and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Church in session

Eric Church scored with his 2011 album "Chief," which became a big seller and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. Church brings a bluesier "outlaw" flavor to contemporary country-pop, and he's considered one of the genre's bright young stars. He makes an appearance Friday at the Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Openers will be Blackberry Smoke, an Atlanta-based band that cheerfully revives classic Southern rock as practiced by such bands as Lynyrd Skynyrd. $39.75 to $47.50. Go to searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11

Steel Beam's 'Ladies"

A couple of unemployed actors hatch a plan to pose as long-lost nephews to an ailing, wealthy dowager in order to inherit her fortune, only to discover the relatives are nieces in the slapstick comedy "Leading Ladies," by Ken Ludwig ("Lend Me A Tenor," "Moon Over Buffalo"). Bernie K. Weiler directs Tony Lage and Plamen Pencheff as the scheming actors at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23, $25. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11-12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 13

At the Hop

The American Lindy Hop Championship jitterbugs its way to the Chicago area complete with classes and competitions this weekend at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Chicago O'Hare Airport, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont. Event tickets and weekend passes range from $20-$179. (877) 337-5793 or artspectrum.org. 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, May 11; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12; and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, May 13

Father and son

Alt-country singer-songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore has an amazing voice - strong, twangy, soulful - and stellar songwriting chops. He co-founded the beloved band The Flatlanders in the 1970s, and his career since has included everything from straight-up country to blues and rock. He'll perform Friday at a special show that also includes his son, singer-songwriter Colin Gilmore. See them at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $20. Go to montroseroom.com. 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 11

What a catch!

Palatine Park District's annual Fishing Derby offers a day of catch-and-release fishing at the Plum Grove Reservoir at 1200 W. Algonquin Road, near Harper College, in Palatine. The event features catch-and-release fishing for all ages, along with largest-fish competition, a kids' casting competition and raffle prizes. A $3 entry fee is payable at the event. Participants ages 16 and older must have a valid fishing license. Those under age 16 do not need a license to participate. For information, call Todd Ranum, the Palatine Park District's athletic coordinator, at (847) 496-6238 or email tranum@palatineparks.org. 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 12

Our feathered friends

A morning of bird-related activities for all ages is part of the International Migratory Bird Day Celebration at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Highlights include bird walks for adults, kids and beginning bird watchers, a bird-banding demonstration and a special kids' activity station. Bring your binoculars to scan the skies for feathered friends like cardinals, blue jays, Baltimore orioles and many others. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Free. (630) 933-7200 or willowbrookwildlife.org. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 12

An Arts & Crafts Adventure

The 22nd Annual An Arts & Crafts Adventure takes place in Hodges Park, at Prospect and Vine street in Park Ridge. Artists display everything from woodworking and photography to floral crafts, jewelry and garden art. Guests can also watch art and woodworking demonstrations. Free admission. Visit americansocietyofartists.org. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 12

It's a book-launch party!

Meet author Gary Buslik as he discusses and signs copies of his new novel, "Akhmed and the Atomic Matzo Balls," at a book-launch party at Barnes and Noble, 590 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. Refreshments will be served. Don't miss out on the prizes and giveaways, too. (847) 310-0450 or barnesandnoble.com. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12

Sleepy wedding

Colorado Ballet principal dancers Maria Mosin and Alexei Tyukov make guest appearances with the Salt Creek Ballet performances of the "Aurora's Wedding" sequence from "The Sleeping Beauty." See this and other repertory works this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $30; $25 seniors; $20 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 5 p.m. Saturday, May 12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Cruise nights

View a wide variety of automobiles on display at the weekly Bluesmobile Cruise Nights Car Show at the Mount Prospect Metra Station lot, at the southwest corner of Northwest Highway and Route 83, Mount Prospect. Each week offers a different Theme Night. Visit mpdma.org. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 12, (running weekly through Sept. 22)

Andrew Bird in concert

Singer-songwriter-musician Andrew Bird brings his style of indie folk/rock to the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago, this weekend. Tickets to hear the Chicago-area native in concert cost $29.50-$49.50. (800) 982-2787. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12

'Azoosment' anew

Santa's Village Azoosment Park reopened last year after many years of being shuttered. It's back again for a new season starting Sunday at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. There are different levels of pricing, but mainly $17.75 per person. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com. There's also more amusement park fun now that Six Flags Great America is also open for its season at I-94 and Route 132 in Gurnee. Tickets cost $59.99 for adults and $39.99 for kids under 48 inches. (847) 249-2133 or sixflags.com. Santa's Village reopens from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Sunday, May 13. The park is then open though Sunday, Oct. 28. Six Flags Great America is open through Sunday, Oct. 28. See website for hours.

Trolley rides for Mom

The Fox River Trolley Museum, at 361 S. La Fox St. (Route 31) in South Elgin, offers its annual free trolley rides for moms and grandmothers on Mother's Day. Mom and Grandma ride free with a paid child's fare. Fares for other riders are $4 adults; $3 for seniors, 65 and older, and $2 for children age 3-11. Kids younger than 3 ride for free. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Sushi for mom

She cuddled you during thunder storms. She supported your every endeavor. The very least she deserves is half price sushi. Make mom - and your wallet - happy with 35 sushi dishes ranging from $2 to $7 on Mother's Day Sunday at RA Sushi. Popular dishes include the Shrimp Tempura Roll, Viva Las Vegas Roll, "RA"ckin Shrimp and the Sweet Onion Salmon. RA Sushi has two suburban locations: 2601 Aviator Lane, Glenview, (847) 510-1100, and 310 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-6800. Visit rasushi.com. 11 a.m. to close on Sunday, May 13

'British Traveler Talk'

Re-enactor Ernie Klapmeier portrays an 1830s British country gentleman looking to buy land in pioneer Illinois in the "British Traveler Talk" at the Garfield Farm Museum, on Garfield Road, off Route 38, Campton Hills. Klapmeier will arrive on horseback and will discuss methods and obstacles to traveling in the 1830s. Admission is $8. Call (630) 585-8485 for reservations. For information, visit garfieldfarm.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Coriolis in concert

Coriolis presents an a cappella concert of choral music at the Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. $15. Tickets available at the door only. (847) 543-1202 or coriolisacappella.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Music for mom

The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra's Mother's Day Concert features the world premiere of Joel Puckett's "Double Concerto for Flute, Clarinet and Orchestra" featuring guest artists and alumni Demarre McGill (principal flutist of the San Diego Symphony) and Anthony McGill (principal clarinetist with the Metropolitan Opera) this Sunday at Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $20-$50. (312) 294-3000 or cyso.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Trumpet tops

Trumpeter and composer Chris Botti returns to the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont this Sunday for a concert of favorites. Catch him at 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $27.50-$63. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, May 13

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