Weekend picks: TruTV's Mo Mandel comes to Rosemont

Drinking doom

If you're a fan of the truTV show “Barmageddon,” then don't miss its host Mo Mandel performing standup comedy locally starting Wednesday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, Rosemont. $22, plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 7 and 8; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10

'Dido and Aeneas'

Wheaton College's Opera Music Theater presents the three-act opera “Dido and Aeneas” by composer Henry Purcell in the Barrows Auditorium in the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, 500 College Ave., Wheaton. $10. Tickets available at the door or in advance at the ticket and information office at 418 N. Chase St., Wheaton. (630) 752-5010 or wheaton.edu. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 14-15

Maple leaf land

If you're considering an outdoorsy vacation north of the border, then don't miss the All Canada Show starting Thursday at the Pheasant Run Mega Center, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10; $8 seniors; free admission for youth ages 17 and younger. (800) 474-3272 or allcanada.com. 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8; 3 and 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

Love me tender

If you believe imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then grab your blue suede shoes and head to The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular Birthday Edition at two locations: first on Thursday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $22-$51. (847) 673-6300; then on Friday at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $29.50-$49.50. (847) 931-5900 or elvisbirthdaytribute.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, in Skokie; 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

FRIDAY

Big fish

Learn about the latest rods, reels and other products to help you catch the big fish of your dreams at the Muskie Expo Chicago this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $10; free for kids ages 12 and under. muskieexpo.com or searscentre.com. 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

Frosty Fest

Bundle up and head outdoors for an evening of winter family activities at Frosty Fest at Bittersweet Golf Course, 875 Almond Road, Gurnee. Events include dog sled demonstrations, visits with Frosty the Snowman, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice sculpting, a snowman building contest, music, crafts, s'mores and more. Note: Activities may change based on the weather, so call ahead. Free. (847) 623-7788 or gurneeparkdistrict.com. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

Irish dance

The Weber Irish Dance troupe performs reels and jigs during Family Fun Friday Night at the DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Audience members can participate and dance along. $10-$11. Free for museum members. dupagechildrensmuseum.org. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

'The Addams Family'

Step into the sometimes spooky and zany world of characters Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and others as the Fox Valley Park District's Winter Stage group presents the musical comedy “The Addams Family” at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. $8-$10. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

Faculty spotlight

Hear musical selections — both voice and instrumental — at Geneva School District's Faculty Benefit Recital and Reception at Geneva United Methodist Church, 211 S. Hamilton St., Geneva. Instruments include trumpet, flute, violin, guitar, piano, cello and more. After the concert, a reception features a variety of treats. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family. All proceeds benefit the Geneva Music Boosters Scholarship Fund. genevamusicboosters.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

Balancing acts

Get ready to ask yourself “How can they do that?” when the New Shanghai Circus brings its celebrated troupe of contortionists, acrobats and more tonight to the Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $46; $34 youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

Shepard play

Director Carin Silkaitis teams up with students to adapt Leslea Newman's novel “October Mourning” for a new theater piece exploring the 1998 murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard starting Thursday at North Central College's Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $8-$10. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 8 and 9; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

DIY comedian?

Find out if comedian Ben Moore has ever faced a trademark lawsuit by the makers of a certain brand of house paint that sounds very similar to his moniker when he performs this weekend at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9 and 10

Playin' the blues

Jimmy Nick has been turning heads in Chicago clubs with his blues-guitar work since he was a teenager. Now Nick and his band, Don't Tell Mama, are bringing their high-energy blues-rock attack to the suburbs with shows in Crystal Lake and Lombard. Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, and 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Tickets are $20 at Raue Center and $7 at Brauerhouse. Go to rauecenter.org or brauerhouse.com.

Blending styles

Chicago roots/Americana band Old Shoe makes original music by blending disparate styles like bluegrass, rock and jazz. Its 2013 album “Family” was named one of the best of the year by WXRT's “Local Anesthetic” program. The band will perform at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, with Family Groove Company opening. $12. Go to durtynellies.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

SATURDAY

Collectibles Show

Sports card collectors can browse through thousands of card choices at the Collectibles Show at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. Find baseball, basketball, football and hockey cards, along with card sets, unopened packs, wax boxes and more. Free admission. For details, call Corkey at (847) 658-4981 or email collectable2@yahoo.com. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10

Hold on

See which contestants can stay in the saddle the longest when the 2015 PBR (Professional Bull Riders): Built Ford Tough Series bucks into town this weekend at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$130. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

Holiday leftovers

If you're suffering from the post-Christmas season blues, laugh them off with “Mary Mack's Holiday Recovery Comedy Show” on Saturday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10

Passionate scores

Violin soloist Philippe Quint joins with conductor Andrew Grams and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for concerts featuring the works of Smetana, Barber and Dvorak this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$60. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11

Pop bliss

The Vulgar Boatmen is an odd band because it's really two bands — a recording unit based in Florida and a touring unit based in Indiana. The leaders of the two factions, Robert Ray in Florida and Dale Lawrence in Indiana, composed a series of infectious, blissful, guitar-oriented pop songs that filled two full-length records, “You And Your Sister” and “Please Panic,” in the early 1990s and a third, “Opposite Sex,” that never saw proper release in the U.S. Lawrence continues to tour with his group, which performs at Schuba's Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $12. Go to lh-st.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10

All about the music

United2Nite presents its weekly Saturday night dance party at GRANDBAR Whiskey Lounge, 1600 W. Grand Ave., Chicago. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., DJs Tsunami, CZR, RJ Pickens and more will be dedicating their best mixes to foster a "come as you are, be who you are" atmosphere. Free cover; wristband and bottle packages available. housemusicsavedmylife.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10