advertisement

Weekend picks: Erin Jackson conquers comedy at Zanies

Standup woman

Comedian Erin Jackson takes on matters of love, friendship and modern technology in her standup routine 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. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, May 11

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

Face paint

See expressionist portraits by a Belgian artist 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. 11 a.m. to 4 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

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

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

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

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. Saturday, May 11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12

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

Belgian artist Charles Szymkowicz’s “Abraham Lincoln” is part of his exhibit “Faces Behind the Truth: The Mirrors of Charles Szymkowicz” at Oakton Community College’s Koehnline Museum of Art in Des Plaines.
Bird walks are part of the fun at the International Migratory Bird Day Celebration at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage
The Palatine Park District hosts its annual catch-and-release Fishing Derby for all ages from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11. Courtesy of the Palatine Park District
Hubbard Street 2 dancers Emilie Leriche, Andrew Wright and Alicia Delgadillo perform in Penny Saunders’ “Bonobo.” The troupe performs Saturday at Fermilab in Batavia. Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg
Comedian Lewis Black is set to perform at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Saturday, May 11. Associated Press File Photo
Mothers and grandmothers can hop on a trolley for a free Mother's Day trolley ride at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin.
See a screech owl and other birds as part of a Mother’s Day with Birds of Prey event this Sunday at the Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington. Daily Herald File Photo by Mark Black/mblack@daily
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.