Weekend picks: Hey, buuuddy! Pauly Shore plays Schaumburg
Bio-dome dude: Fans of 1990s films like “Encino Man,” “Bio-Dome” and “Son-in-Law” won't want to miss comedian and actor Pauly Shore performing this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, June 27; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 28
FRIDAY
Head to the 'Fling': Des Plaines celebrates summer with two days of music, food, family activities and arts and crafts at the Des Plaines Summer Fling, at Miner and Lee streets, downtown Des Plaines. Free admission. Visit desplainessummerfling.com. 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 27, and 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 28
Classics outdoors: The world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs a special series of outdoor concerts Thursday through Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $40-$45. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org or mortonarb.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28
Classic rock revisited: Rich Robinson rose to fame as the co-founder and guitarist of the Black Crowes, a band that hit it big in the early 1990s with a guitar-heavy sound that recalled classic Southern rock. Robinson has ventured out on his own since, and he will perform at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, along with the current iteration of the Yardbirds, the classic British guitar band that launched the careers of Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. (The band includes original member Jim McCarty.) Tickets start at $39, oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 27
Punk veteran: Dan “Vapid” Schafer is a longtime fixture of the Chicago punk scene who has played with such notable bands as Screeching Weasel (from the Northwest suburbs!). He is now leading a new music project called Dan Vapid & the Cheats. The band, which has released two full-length albums, will bring its tuneful punk to Lombard's Brauer House, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road this weekend. $10; brauerhouse.com. 9 p.m. Friday, June 27
SATURDAY
Speed racers: See boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 13 compete at the Geneva All American Soap Box Derby on Saturday at the intersection of Fulton and Campbell Streets in Geneva. No spectator charge, though advance registration is required to race. (630) 841-8832 or genevasoapboxderby.info or aasbd.com. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28
Wolf pack: Stars from MTV's popular series “Teen Wolf” — including Tyler Hoechlin and Orny Adams — will make appearances at The Days of the Wolf Fan Convention this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $20 on Saturday; $30 on Sunday. (847) 696-1234 or (919) 409-0960 or creationent.com. 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28; 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 29
Piling it on: Human pyramids glide across the water when the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team performs at the Mundelein Park & Recreation District's Community Picnic on Saturday at Diamond Lake Beach, 1016 Diamond Lake Road, Mundelein. No admission charge. (847) 566-0650 or mundeleinparks.org or wonderlakeskiteam.org. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28; water-ski display at 5 p.m.
Smooth operators: Musicians like Roland Gresham and Scott Allman will perform at the Smooth Jazz Fest on Saturday, at Memorial Park, in Wheaton. No admission charge. (630) 690-4880 or wheatonparkdistrict.com/jazz. 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 28
Art in the park: More than 50 juried artists display and sell their work for the 12th Annual Arts Festival this weekend at Bartlett Park, Oak and North Avenues, Bartlett. No admission charge. (630) 372-4152 or artsinbartlett.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29
Lake Count-I-Con: See comics, tabletop gaming items, art, retro toys and more at the Lake Count-I-Con pop-culture expo at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach. The expo features 8,000 square feet of activities, including workshops, a costume contest, gaming tournaments, comic book artist appearances and more. Admission is $5. Active duty military and children under age 12 are free. Visit counticon.com. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29
Independence Day of long ago: Kline Creek Farm takes guests back in time to celebrate Independence Day in the late 1800s at Celebrating the Fourth, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Experience 1890s games, music and speeches, including the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Free. Visit dupageforest.com. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. p.m. Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29
Picnic in the park: Dine on a variety of foods at the Taste of Grayslake and watch fireworks in the evening at the 17th annual Grayslake Family Picnic and Fireworks event in Central Park, 250 Library Lane, Grayslake. Other highlights include kids' rides, games and live entertainment. Free. Visit glpd.com. 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 28; fireworks begin at dusk
Play on: Musicians Kurt Bestor and Danny Wright share the bill for the Saturday show Piano Goes Broadway, which is part of the weekend-long National Piano Conference at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $29-$35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28
Neverly Brothers: The Neverly Brothers band presents a concert with tunes from rock 'n' roll's past, outside of the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Tickets $10 in advance; $15 at door. Kids under age 8 are free. Parking is free. Purchase at cantigny.org, or call (630) 260-8162. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 28
SUNDAY
Pioneer Day: St. John United Church of Christ, at 1475 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, invites the public to help celebrate the church's founding 168 years ago with its Pioneer Day. The day begins with an authentic 1846 church service at 9:30 a.m. Other highlights include demonstrations on candle making, weaving, blacksmithing, soap making and more. Kids hayrides, music, bake sale, raffles are also featured. Free; but a $2 per car parking donation is appreciated. Visit stjohnpalatine.org. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 29
Suburban blues: The Long Grove Arts & Music Council Summer Concert Series launches today with famed and longtime Chicago bluesmen Corky Siegel & Howard Levy at Fountain Square, Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin Roads. No admission charge. (847) 634-0888 or lgamc.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, June 29
Throwback tunes-day: The band Lance Lipinsky and The Lovers specializes in pop hits of the 1950s and '60s. See them today as part of the National Piano Conference at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $41-$47. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, June 29