Sunday picks: Beauty in bloom at Chicago Botanic

Impressive blooms

Get in the greenhouses to see more than 10,000 orchids at The Orchid Show, which begins a monthlong run at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $10; $8 seniors and kids on top of $25-$30 parking per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

Auto mania

Get a glimpse of future car makes and models when the Chicago Auto Show, the largest of its kind in the nation, returns this weekend to McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $12; $6 seniors (ages 62 and older) and kids (ages 7 to 12). (630) 495-2282 or chicagoautoshow.com. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 21; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22

Cycle center

Bikers can head to the International Motorcycle Show to see the latest models this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $17 one-day admission; $25 two-day pass; $35 three-day pass. (847) 692-2220 or motorcycleshows.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

Modern ballet

Three local premieres fill the bill of the Joffrey Ballet concerts “Unique Voices,” including the Johnny Cash-inspired “The Man in Black.” See them at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $32-$155. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

You Don't Know Jack

Janus Theater Company presents several short works by playwright Jack Helbig, onetime Daily Herald correspondent, this weekend at the Blue Box Cafe, 176 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The performances will help fund Janus' trip later this month to the Piney Fork Theater Festival in New York City where the company performs Helbig's one-act, “Thinking of Her Made Him Think of Her,” which premiered last September at the first Elgin Fringe Festival. $10 donation. See thehelbigplays.eventbrite.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

'Stuart Little'

Vero Voce Theater, at 951 State Ave., Suite F, St. Charles, presents the classic children's tale “Stuart Little” by E.B. White as part of its Young Performers Series. The story focuses on a mouse who is born into a human family. Tickets cost $9 children; $15 adults. (630) 584-0139 or verovoce.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

'Love Letters'

Steel Beam Theatre continues its Valentine's Day tradition of staging A.R. Gurney's epistolary two-hander “Love Letters,” which tells of the lifelong friendship and love affair between Melissa and Andrew exclusively through their letters to each other. At Steel Beam Theatre, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $28 Friday and Sunday; $35 Saturday tickets include champagne and dessert. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

All about Ben

Actor and historian Terry Lynch stars as inventor, scientist and U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin in a program for families at the Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. “Franklin” will interact with the audience and reminisce about his scientific inventions, his writings and his political life. $15 (discounted family price of $30). maplestreetchapel.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

Latin heat

Chicago A Cappella teams up with Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater for a concert that blends Latin songs and dancing in “A Cappella en Español” at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$38; $25 seniors; $12 students. (773) 281-7820 or chicagoacappella.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15