Weekend picks: Lincoln, Obama portraits in Oakton's 'Faces' exhibit
Face paint
See expressionist portraits of famous faces like Abraham Lincoln as painted by Belgian artist Charles Szymkowicz in the exhibit “Faces Behind the Truth: The Mirrors of Charles Szymkowicz” at Oakton Community College's Koehnline Museum of Art, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Free admission. (847) 635-2633 or oakton.edu/museum. Now through July 19. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 10, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11
French flavor
Die-hard fans of the musicals “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables” are in for a treat when singers of Elgin Opera perform selections from both shows as part of “Phantom of Les Mis” at Eiffel Bistro, 100 W. Higgins Road, Suite Q-1, South Barrington. (847) 428-4783 or elginopera.org. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 10
Rugan's one-man band
Catch Joe Wray at Rugan's, 921 Toft Ave., Antioch — a wine and martini bar and alehouse serving tapas food. No cover. Daily drink specials vary. Look into joining the beer fraternity. (847) 838-0011 or rugans.com. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, May 10
Standup woman
Comedian Erin Jackson takes on matters of love, friendship and modern technology in her standup routine this weekend at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two menu-item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 10, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Bridal daze
Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, closes its 12th season with “Black Tie,” A. R. Gurney's comedy of manners centered around a family wedding that goes any way but smooth. Richard Westphal, of Aurora, plays the ghost of the family patriarch who appears to his son as that man is preparing a rehearsal dinner toast for his son and daughter-in-law to be. Elgin's Terry Domschke directs. $23, $25. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 10-11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12
Club 13's Seduction Fridays
Enjoy the best of Latin music — including salsa, bachata, cumbia and meringue — every Friday at Club 13 at Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Ave., Elgin. Each Friday features a new tequila shot special and beer specials that could include Corona, Modelo, Victoria and Bud Light. Reserve the VIP Room for private parties. No cover. (847) 742-0263 or villaverone.net. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday
Alex & The Allstars
The four-member rock band Alex & The Allstars perform party music along with classic and unique versions of rock songs at Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Admission is $3. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com. 9 p.m. Friday, May 10
Fine-feathered friends
Join in the fun at the International Migratory Bird Day Celebration at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Events include bird walks, a bird-banding demonstration and kids' activities. Free. (630) 942-6200 or visit dupageforest.org. Events begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 11, and run at various times throughout the day
Reeling them in
The Palatine Park District hosts its annual catch-and-release Fishing Derby for all ages at the Plum Grove Reservoir, on Algonquin Road, near Harper College in Palatine. The event features a casting competition for kids, a largest-fish competition, raffles and more. Entry fee is $3 and is payable at the event. Kids younger than 16 do not require a fishing license to participate. (847) 991-0333 or palatineparks.org. 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11
An Arts & Crafts Adventure
See a variety of artwork including paintings, pottery, graphics, woodworking, jewelry and more at the 23rd annual An Arts & Crafts Adventure in Hodges Park, 101 S. Courtland, Park Ridge. Many of the artists will demonstrate their artwork techniques for guests at this juried event. For information, call (847) 991-4748 or visit americansocietyofartists.org. Free admission. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Beer heaven
An estimated 10,000 beer lovers will congregate for their favorite beverage at the American Beer Classic at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. Sample hundreds of unique beers from breweries of all sizes, connect with brewers and other beer enthusiasts or visit the designated driver's suite, which will feature soda tastings. Educational sessions include learning about the home-brewing process from brewers. There also will be live bands performing and guided tours of Soldier Field. Tickets range from $55-$70 general admission, $110 VIP, $30 designated drivers. (312) 235-7000 or www.americanbeerclassic.com. Session 1 is from noon to 4 p.m. (VIP admission at 11 a.m.) and session 2 is from 6 to 10 p.m. (VIP admission at 5 p.m.) Saturday, May 11
Meet 'Give Me Chocolate' author
“Give Me Chocolate” author Annie Hansen discusses and signs copies of her new mystery, a book set primarily in the Tri-Cities, at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. For information, call (630) 232-4951. 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Devilish singing
Internationally famed opera bass-baritone Samuel Ramey appears with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra in the concert “The Devil You Say” Saturday at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst. $29; $27 seniors; $7 students; $65 family ticket (two adults and three students); $100 post-concert reception with Ramey. (630) 941-0202 or elmhurstsymphony.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Extended rant
Comedian Lewis Black isn't shy about letting you know what is testing his nerves. See what makes his comedic rant list Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$65. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Golden oldies
Two bona fide hitmakers from the 1960s, the Buckinghams and the Grass Roots, will perform during one night of classic pop music at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Expect to hear such hits as “Midnight Confessions” and “Kind of a Drag.” An excellent way to take a trip down memory lane. Tickets start at $39. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Rising dancers
College of DuPage presents the rising young modern dancers of Hubbard Street 2 Saturday at Ramsey Auditorium in Fermilab's Wilson Hall, Kirk Road and Pine Street, Batavia. $30; $28 seniors; $15 kids. (630) 840-2787 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11
Early holidays
Celebrate the holidays early when Santa's Village Azoosment Park starts its season Sunday with animal exhibits and rides at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. $18.75. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com. Opening day hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 12; open weekends through Memorial Day, then Tuesday through Sunday June 7-Aug. 18
Hop on, Mom!
Mothers and grandmothers can ride the trolley cars for free Sunday as the Fox River Trolley Museum, at 361 S La Fox St. (Route 31), South Elgin, celebrates Mother's Day. Moms and grandmas are free with a paid child's fare. Fares for riders are $4 adults; $3 for seniors ages 65 and older; $2 for kids ages 3 to 11. Kids younger than 3 admitted free. All-day passes cost $8. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 12
Concert in the park
A Lilac Time concert features Bill O'Connel's Chicago Skyliners Big Band in Lilacia Park, Park and Parkside, Lombard. See villageoflombard.org. 1 p.m. Sunday, May 12
Mother birds
Compare the maternal instincts of your mother to those of the feathered kind at the Mother's Day with Birds of Prey event Sunday at the Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington. $10 per car. (847) 428-6957 or stillmannc.org. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12
'Mommie Dearest'
For a different type of Mother's Day program, Camp Midnight hosts “Mother's Day With Mommie Dearest,” featuring a screening of the 1981 film “Mommie Dearest” at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The film, starring Faye Dunaway, is an adaptation of author Christina Crawford's best-selling memoir about growing up as the adopted daughter of legendary Hollywood actress Joan Crawford. Audience members are invited to dress up in matching mother/daughter outfits. Members of the Camp Midnight troupe offer comical commentary throughout the film. $12. Visit musicboxtheatre.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12
Music for moms
The Adlai E. Stevenson High School Jazz Band 1 and the Jazz Consortium Big Band headline an evening of music for moms on Mother's Day at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Concerts are for all ages. $5-$10. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12
Power trio
Fans who thought that primal, pounding “noise rock” died with the great Chicago band the Jesus Lizard should be smiling these days. Several new bands have delivered an updated version of that sound, none more viscerally than the Canadian trio Metz. Metz's self-titled debut, released in the latter half of 2012, is a blistering listen, full of slashing guitars, shouted vocals and a punishing drum sound that makes you feel as if the sticks are landing just inches from your ear. I haven't had a chance to see them live yet, but reviews suggest that the intensity actually goes up a few notches onstage. See them at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com. 9 p.m. Sunday, May 12