Weekend picks: Chicago Opera Theater stages Poe's 'Usher'

Opera chills

Welcome Chicago Opera Theater's new general director Andreas Mitisek with his debut production, Philip Glass' 1987 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's chilling “The Fall of the House of Usher,” starting Saturday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $35-$125. (312) 334-7777 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Green up time

Wrestling may be on the chopping block as an Olympic sport, but golf will soon be on the roster. So if you love your time on the links, don't miss the 30th anniversary edition of the Chicago Golf Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $5-$10; $4 kids. (847) 692-2222 or chicagogolfshow.com. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Wauconda Chamber of Commerce EXPO

With a theme of “Rolling Through the Decades,” the annual Wauconda Chamber of Commerce Community EXPO and Craft Show features musical performances, an exotic reptile show, a canine police dog program and more. More than 70 exhibitors will be on hand at Wauconda High School, 555 N. Main St., Wauconda. Free admission. (847) 526-5580 or waucondaareachamber.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Rolling down the rails

See a permanent operating model railroad, occupying more than 1,500 square feet, at the Lake County Model Railroad Club's Spring Open House at 107 S. Main St. (rear entrance), Wauconda. Free admission. Other highlights include a scavenger hunt and raffle. Bring an item for donation to the Wauconda Food Pantry and receive a free raffle ticket. Visit lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24

'Midnight Cowboy'

See a screening of the Academy Award-winning 1969 dramatic film “Midnight Cowboy,” starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The film is rated R. Admission is $7.25. Visit musicboxtheatre.com. 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24

No small crawl

Join the World's Largest Indoor Bar Crawl as Navy Pier partners with Players Sport & Social Group for a warm escape from winter. Seven bars at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, will offer low-priced beer and winter cocktails, food specials, entertainment and more. Walk the Pier and move from bar to bar with a drink all while remaining indoors. Your ticket entry includes one beer ticket, T-shirt, drink specials, complimentary ticket to ride the Navy Pier Ferris wheel and entertainment including live music, games, raffles, prizes and free trolley service to and from the Red Line Grand subway stop and partner hotels. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at playerssports.net or visit navypier.com. Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

Winter Jam 2013

Some of the top names in Christian music, including Downers Grove native Matthew West, will perform at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, this weekend as part of Winter Jam 2013. $10. Go to searscentre.com. 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

Gear head goof

Fans of comedian and “Top Gear” host Adam Ferrara can catch him this weekend at two locations: The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19-$22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com; then at the Volo Auto Museum, 27582 W. Volo Village Road, Volo. $13.95; $11.95 seniors; $8.95 kids. (815) 385-3644 or volocars.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in Schaumburg; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb 24, in Volo

Choral currency

The composer will be in attendance when the William Ferris Chorale presents the concert “Sacred & Profane: The Music of Grayston Ives” this weekend at two locations: Loyola University's Madonna della Strada Chapel, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago; then at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington Ave., La Grange. $20-$25; $15-$20 students/seniors. (773) 508-2940 or williamferrischorale.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, in Chicago, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in La Grange

McDermott returns

Chicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott returns to the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont, this weekend for a special “all request” show. McDermott emerged on the local music scene in the 1990s, when his debut album “620 W. Surf” produced the hit, “A Wall I Must Climb.” He's made literate, personal music ever since, his most recent album, “Hit Me Back,” came out last year. Tickets start at $15. Go to montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

Auto correct

A millionaire stumbles into the car dealership where Becky Foster works and offers her a ride that may change her life in “Becky's New Car,” Steven Dietz's comedy about a middle-aged woman who considers abandoning her marriage and job to start a new life. Marge Uhlarik-Boller, of Elgin, directs Steel Beam Theatre's production of the comedy about “the road not taken.” See it at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $25, $23. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

3 Bros in the 'burbs

Suburban newcomer Three Brothers Theatre revives Reduced Shakespeare Company's satirical “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” in which three actors perform the Bard's entire 37-play canon in about 90 minutes. Taking on what he calls “an actor's dream challenge” is Rick Adams along with Nick Ostrem and Matt Johnston. See it at Clockwise Theatre, 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15, $10. See 3brostheatre.com for ticket information. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Old Shoe, the musical kind

The Old Shoe band, a five-piece Americana/folk/rock band, headlines the Two Brothers Roundhouse at 205 N. Broadway in Aurora. Free. (630) 264-2739 or twobrothersroundhouse.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

Modern Day Romeos

The party band Modern Day Romeos performs classic rock, Motown tunes and hits from the '80s and '90s at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Admission is $7. Visit durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

'FREEze Day'

Winter enthusiasts can bundle up and head to Brookfield Zoo for “FREEze Day” on Sunday, Feb. 24, a free-admission day featuring activities for the entire family. Watch dogs and their owners from the Green Valley Dog Drivers group demonstrate dog sledding from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the zoo's west mall. (If there is no snow, sleds will be mounted on wheels). Other highlights include appearances by the K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs group of Addison and a special Zoo Chat on the bald eagle at 11 a.m. Free general admission. Note: $10 per car parking fee still applies. (708) 688-8000 or czs.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Bubbles by Ben

Bubble master Ben Jimenez brings “Ben's Bubble Show,” his blend of bubble art and science, to the Building J Theatre at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Along with the bubble show, guests can also attend a Fun Fair with a balloon artist, a bake sale, crafts, games and more. Admission is $10 adults; $5 kids; kids ages 1 and younger admitted free. (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu/boxoffice. 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Laugh it off

It's winter in Chicago, and who couldn't use a laugh? Born in Spain and based in Switzerland, La Ribot is known for her unique performance art involving laughter, action and the onlooker. Her work, “Laughing Hole,” presents three performers shaken by peculiar laughter who continually throw themselves on a floor covered with cardboard with odd handwritten words. No reservations are necessary for this durational piece, during which audience members are free to come and go as they please. The performance takes place in the first-floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. Free. (312) 744-3316 or cityofchicago.org/dcase. 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Selections in Snow

The Arlington Heights Community Concert Band presents its Selections in Snow concert featuring classical selections, along with Irish music and songs from “Les Miserables,” “The Lord of the Rings” and more at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Seating is limited. Free admission. Donations are welcome. (847) 718-7702 or arlingtonheightsband.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Family magic

The award-winning Spencer family magicians perform their illusion and spectacle-filled “Spencers Theatre of Illusion” at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Broadway beau

Musical theater veteran David Burnham (“The Light in the Piazza,” “Wicked”) performs his intimate concert “Mostly Broadway” at North Central College's Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Oscar glam

Get dolled up in your most glamorous gear and join Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire for a special Oscar Party where the proceeds go to benefit Variety, the Children's Charity of Illinois, Sunday at the Hollywood Palms, 352 S. Route 59, Naperville. $40. hollywoodpalmscinema.com. 6:30 and 9:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24