Weekend picks: Todd Bridges sheds his 'Strokes'

Crossing Bridges

See if actor Todd Bridges (“Diff'rent Strokes,” “Everybody Hates Chris”) draws from his memoir, “Killing Willis,” for aspects of his standup comedy routine this weekend when he performs at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $25 plus a two menu-item purchase. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7

Murder, they wrote

Zoe Sharp, Denise Swanson and Robert Goldsborough are just some of the authors leading seminars at the Love is Murder XVI Murder Mystery Writers Conference this weekend at the Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. $369 all-session and meals weekend package; $99-$254 Friday only; $199-$418 Saturday only. (847) 544-5300 or loveismurder.net. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; 8:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 8

Ski by candlelight

Visitors can experience skiing by candlelight at the Sportsman's Country Club along the golf course. Children and adults can cross-country ski, as the glow of candles illuminates a trail. The Sportsman's Country Club is at 3535 Dundee Road, Northbrook. Admission is $5 per person, plus equipment rental (if needed). Call (847) 291-2351, Ext. 3. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6

Truck stunts

There's plenty of racing and free-wheelin' stunts in the Monster Jam at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $22-$60. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8

Bucking trend

See some of the top competitors hold on for dear life this weekend when the Professional Champion Bullriders World Tour Finale IX comes to the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $18-$63; $10 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7

Very French

Music of Poulenc and Ravel are in the spotlight for the DuPage Symphony Orchestra concert “Gallic Glory” on Friday and Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $35; $31 seniors; $17 students. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentral college.edu. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7

Matrimonial musical

Williams Street Repertory brings back Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto's popular regional four-actor musical “Married Alive” focusing on married life for a run starting Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $32.50-$38.50. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday from Feb. 6 through Feb. 15

Comic impressions

From spoofing Spanish language telenovelas to action movie previews, comedian Pablo Francisco knows how to take pot shots at pop culture. Catch him live starting Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. $24 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8

Snow Days Chicago

Watch 14 professional sculptors create works of art from 10-foot blocks of man-made snow during the Snow Days Chicago event at Polk Brothers Park at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Sculptures can be viewed both day and night, with special nighttime lighting. Other highlights include snowboarding for kids, snow painting and more. Free. Hours of events vary. navypier.com. Saturday, Feb. 7, and Sunday, Feb. 8

Bees, Bugs and Butterflies

Conservationist and nature photographer Joan Sayre presents the Bees, Bugs and Butterflies program at Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough St., Barrington. Sayre will discuss insects and their habitats and will share and discuss her photographs. Sayre is a member of the Riverwoods Nature Photography Society. The program is presented by the Citizens For Conservation group. $10 for members; CFC members are free. To RSVP, call (847) 382-7283, or send email to cfc@citizensforconservation.org. 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Coffee at 9:30 a.m. before the program

Home sweet home

Get some tips from Kelly Edwards of HGTV's “Design on a Dime” and other experts at the North Shore Home and Garden Show this weekend at the Westin Chicago North Hotel, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. No admission charge. (847) 777-6500 or homeshownorthshore.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7 and 8

Wonders of Winter

Embrace the snow at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Wonders of Winter event at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Events include horse-drawn hayrides, ice fishing and snowshoeing. Guests can also make s'mores, play games, make crafts and more. Free. Call (630) 933-7248. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Winter Pow Wow

The American Indian Center of Chicago hosts its Winter Traditional Pow Wow at Benedictine University's Krasa Student Center, 5700 College Road, Lisle. There will be intertribal singing and dancing, an art marketplace, native food and cultural presentations. Admission is $5 per person. Free for children ages 5 and younger. (773) 275-5871 or aic-chicago.org. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Grand entry at 1 and 6 p.m.

'Downton' drama

Actress/historian Leslie Goddard portrays servant Margaret Powell, whose memoir “Below Stairs” helped inspire the popular PBS TV series, “Downton Abbey,” in a program at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake. Learn about the lives of English servants in the early 20th century. Following the program, guests can explore the museum's World War I exhibitions. Suggested donation is $3 adults; $1 children. (847) 543-1745 or villageofgrayslake.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Symphonic Shakespeare

Guest conductor Michael Christie leads the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in concerts this weekend called “Much Ado About Music,” which prominently feature Korngold's “Much Ado About Nothing” Suite along with other works by Mozetich and Brahms. Hear the music at the Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin. $25-$60. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8

'Feelin' Alright'

Expect to hear hits from the albums “Mr. Fantasy” and “Traffic” when Dave Mason's Traffic Jam plays on Saturday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Blvd., Elgin. $39-$45. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Unforgettable legacy

Grammy Award-winner Natalie Cole performs her hits and some of her latest forays into Latin music on Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, Naperville. $75-$95. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Still rockin'

The Marshall Tucker Band has been going strong for more than 40 years now. The group, which brought country and gospel influences to its earthy rock sound, scored some big hits in the 1970s, including “Can't You See” and “Heard It in a Love Song.” Founder and singer Doug Gray has kept the group active ever since, and the band will perform Saturday at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Tickets start at $25. Go to tailgatersgrill.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

FREEze Day

Guests receive free admission and a chance to join in many winter-themed activities at Brookfield Zoo's annual FREEze Day. Events include dog-sledding demonstrations by the Green Valley Dog Drivers on the zoo's West Mall, crafts in the Hamill Family Play Zoo, birds of prey Zoo Chats with staff members and more. Admission is free (parking is $10 per car). For information, visit czs.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8

Russian and French

Award-winning pianist Winston Choi joins forces with the New Philharmonic to perform music of Ravel, Rachmaninoff and other composers at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $46. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8