Weekend picks: Comedian April Macie hits Zanies
'Standing' comic
Comedian April Macie, a famed finalist of “Last Comic Standing” and a frequent guest on “The Howard Stern Show,” performs this weekend at two Zanies locations: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484. $22 plus a two-item menu purchase. Then at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027. $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. Visit zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, in Rosemont and 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, in Chicago
FRIDAY
'Monumental'
Learn about the science and engineering behind many famous Greek and Mayan architectural monuments at the new “Monumental” traveling exhibit at the DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Guests can build mini monuments, wear costumes and try out props from various eras in Greek and Mayan history, create digital paintings and more. Admission is $10-$11. (630) 637-8000 or dupagechildrens.org. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Enchanted Railroad
See two levels of a large model train display chugging through a winter scene at the 12th annual Enchanted Railroad at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Admission is free with paid $9-$12 general admission to the arboretum. Children ages 1 and younger are free. Visit mortonarb.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5 (final day of exhibit)
Winter WonderFest
Celebrate winter while spinning on a giant hot cocoa cup ride or bouncing inside a 38-foot-tall snowman at the annual Winter WonderFest celebration at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Other fest highlights include an indoor ice skating rink, the Arctic Plunge inflatable slide and the Winter WonderFest Jr. section for children. General admission is free; there is a charge for various activities and rides. Visit winterwonderfest.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, and Saturday, Jan. 4; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, to Thursday, Jan. 9
Arlington Artists
The artwork of local artists is showcased in the “Arlington Artists on Display” exhibit at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. Admission is free; donations are accepted. (847) 255-1225 or ahmuseum.org. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday through Sunday, Jan. 26
Chicago WinterDance
Dancers of all ages and abilities are invited to hit the dance floor at the annual Chicago Winter Dance program, in the Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Professional instructors will guide participants; then open dancing follows. Free. Visit cityofchicago.org. 6 p.m. Friday, Jan 3, and Saturday, Jan. 4 (open dance from 7:10 to 9 p.m.); and at noon on Sunday, Jan. 5 (open dancing from 1 to 3 p.m.)
Funny lady
If you've loved seeing comedianLynne Koplitz on TV for Comedy Central specials and CBS' “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson,” then don't miss her in person when she does her standup routine starting Thursday at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17 plus a two-menu item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Sneezy & Friends
Get ready for an evening of rock as Sneezy & Friends headline at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. Concert is for those 21 and older. $5. Visit fuelroom.com. 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3
SATURDAY
Rah! Rah! Rah!
See which of 75 Illinois cheering and dance squads come out on top at the Winter Meltdown IHSA Cheerleading & Dance Competition Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $10. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
Kitty art
Get catty over art at the New Hope Art Auction, which features fine feline art for sale to benefit the Lombard-based shelter Cat Guardians. It's this Saturday at the Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery, 508 N. Center St., Naperville. Free admission. (630) 543-3395 or catguardians.org. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
Josh Wolf at Zanies
Start the year laughing with standup comedian Josh Wolf this weekend at Zanies Rosemont, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. A Seattle native, Wolf relocated to Los Angeles to perform and ended up writing for the sitcoms “Yes, Dear” and The CW's “All of Us” before landing regular gigs on “My Name is Earl” and “Chelsea Lately.” $25 plus a two-item food or drink minimum. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at Zanies Rosemont
'Funny: 2014'
Full-time WGN radio personality and part-time standup comedian Steve Cochran headlines the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, for its first comedy show of 2014. Opening for Cochran is comedian John DaCrosse. $30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
Folk tribute
Fox Valley Repertory presents the bandFortunate Sons, which performs a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute act Saturday at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $32. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
Piano man
Pianist Jeff Jacobs plays many of your favorite piano rock tunes by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John and more Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $20-$25. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
SUNDAY
Dollops of doo-wop
Before the hit Broadway show “Motown The Musical” comes to Chicago, get a head start on the famed record company's history by attending Jose Sandoval'spresentation “The Spirit of Motown” today at the Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Free admission, but registration required. (224) 543-1485 or vapld.info. 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Fundraising recital
Support students by supporting their teachers at a fundraising Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Faculty Concert Sunday at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Free, but donations appreciated. (800) 622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu or eyso.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Happy birthday, Carl!
Celebrate the 136th birthday of the late poet, historian and children's book author Carl Sandburg at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. The party features performances by folk singer and historian Becky Halker, birthday cake and a tour of the museum's current “Carl Sandburg in Elmhurst” exhibit (running through April 20). Free. Call (630) 833-1457 or visit elmhursthistory.org. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra rings in 2014 with a benefit concert in the Spartan Auditorium at the Performing Arts Center at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Concert is free; donations to the EYSO scholarship fund are welcome. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling (847) 622-0300. Visit eyso.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Sandburg Salutations
In conjunction with its current exhibit on the late poet who first called Chicago the “City of Big Shoulders,” the Elmhurst Historical Museum is throwing a Carl Sandburg Birthday Party with cake and a folk music performance by Bucky Halker today at 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. No admission charge. (630) 833-1457 or elmhurst.org/elmhurst/museum. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Early music
Second City Musick performs intimate chamber music written between the 16th to 18th century today at the Morton Arboretum's Thornhill Education Center, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $29. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Waltz right in
There's still time to celebrate the arrival of 2014 with the return of the orchestral and danced Salute to Vienna concert Saturday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $39-$105. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5