Weekend picks: John Heffron hits Improv

Comedy alum: Comedian John Heffron traces his standup origins to his college days and has since gone on to perform on many late-night talk shows. See Heffron live starting Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19-$22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

FRIDAY

Resilient trees: Marvel at finely sculpted miniature pine, plum and bamboo plants at the Three Friends of Winter Bonsai Silhouette Show this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission; $25-$65 parking fee. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Jan. 24-26

Something fishy: Get ideas for the latest lures, rods and travel spots at the Chicagoland Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo starting Thursday at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12. (847) 303-4100 or sportshows.com. Noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

Icy speed: See some of the country's best competitors in the growing sport of synchronized skating at the 2014 Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $30 one-day ticket; $20 senior one-day ticket; $60 all-event ticket. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com or 2014midpacsynchronsectionals.org. 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25

'Anything Goes': Schaumburg On Stage presents the classic musical comedy “Anything Goes” at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. The story focuses on the zany antics on the S.S. American ocean liner, heading from New York to London. The production features music and lyrics by Cole Porter. $15. (847) 345-0092 or schaumburgonstage.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24

Tapping up a storm: Tony Award-winner Savion Glover appears in his latest tap dancing show “STePz,” which also features tappers like Marshall Davis Jr., and members of 3 Controversial Women tonight at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$55. Glover also brings his family show “Glover & Friends” for a Saturday matinee. $10-$15. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, for “STepz”; 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, for “Glover & Friends”

Celtic bash: Championship Irish musicians, dancers and entertainers are all featured in The Irish House Party, which returns for a third annual engagement tonight at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $20. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24

Working man: Comedian Erik Griffin (Comedy Central's “Workaholics”) draws from his mixed heritage and many more topics for his humor. Catch him this weekend at two Zanies locations: 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027; then at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, $25 plus a two-menu item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in Chicago; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in Rosemont

Flyin' Ryan Brothers: The Flyin' Ryan Brothers present a concert of rock cover tunes at Blues Bar, 2 W. Busse Ave., Mount Prospect. The group specializes in guitar rock. $5. (847) 788-9977 or blues-bar.com. 9:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24

SATURDAY

Husky Heroes: Watch Siberian husky sled-pulling and speed demonstrations at the Morton Arboretum's annual Husky Heroes program. Guests can get an up-close view of the dogs, pose for photos and view a film focusing on the lives of huskies. Free with paid $9-$12 admission to the arboretum. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 26

Ribfest: Lake Villa celebrates the season with its annual Winter Ribfest in Caboose Park, 37908 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa. Highlights include a rib-eating contest, crafts, children's games, hayrides (weather permitting) and more. Free admission; guests are asked to donate one nonperishable food item. (847) 356-2116 or lakevillatownship.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25

Many keys: Nearly 500 local performers of all ages and abilities play 12 grand pianos in the American Grands XIX concert Saturday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $24; $15 students. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/americangrands. 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25

Chilly harvest: Learn how farmers in the 1800s cut out blocks of ice from bodies of water at the annual Ice Harvest event at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Visitors can pitch in (weather permitting) to help cut and transport the ice blocks to the old-fashioned ice house. They also can use the farm's icebreaker bars and saws from the 1890s. Free. (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25 and 26

SUNDAY

Snow hike: See if you can be a speedy snowshoe runner when The Smart Farm of Barrington sponsors The 4th Annual Frozen Zucchini 5K Snowshoe Adventure today at Citizen's Park, 511 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington. Free admission, though snowshoe rental is extra. Other outdoor activities for kids will also be offered. (847) 304-3400 or smartfarms.org. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 26

Drowsy princess: The Russian-based Nureyev State Ballet Theatre features a company of more than 60 dancers, and they perform the classic Tchaikovsky ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” today at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $32.50-$52.50. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

Reincarnation symphony: The Northwest Symphony Orchestra performs the world premiere of composer Angel Lam's “Memories from My Previous Lives” along with other works by Beethoven, Purcell and Franck today at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. $20; $15 seniors; $10 students; kids under age 14 admitted free with paying adult. (847) 718-7702 or northwestsymphony.org. 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

Voices elevated: The nine-voice male ensemble Cantus perform works from the Renaissance to the 21st century in a Sunday concert at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $30-$50; $15 students; $12 kids. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 Zany cabaret: Becca Kaufman and Dick O'Day celebrate their long collaborative friendship as The Show Biz Kids with a comedy cabaret revue called “21: Legal At Last” tonight at North Central College's Madden Theater, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

Sceptered sounds: Music favored by royalty is the theme for Music of the Baroque's “Crowning Glories: The Coronation Mass” concert featuring Mozart's “Coronation Mass,” Haydn's Symphony No. 85 (“La Reine”) plus two coronation anthems by Handel. Hear the concert conducted by Jane Glover at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $38-$75. (847) 673-6300 or baroque.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26

Classical evening on campus: Northwestern University alumna and soprano Amanda Majeski presents a classical concert with works by Haydn and Schumann at Lutkin Hall at Northwestern University, 700 University Place, Evanston. Majeski will be accompanied on the piano by Alan Darling. $8-$12. (847) 467-4000 or pickstaiger.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26