Weekend picks: Comedian Damien Lemon hits Zanies

Guy comedy

Comedian Damien Lemon has appeared on “Guy Code” and “Guy Court.” Catch him live starting Wednesday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22, plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 and 5; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, March 6; 7 and 9:30 Saturday, March 7

Match of the day

Die-hard fans of ESPN will recognize the comedy twins known as the Sklar Brothers for their show “Cheap Seats” and segments called “The Bracket.” They're appearing live on Thursday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $19. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5

Hot blues

See acts like the Demetria Taylor Blues Band, Studebaker John and the Hawks and more as part of Ice Meltin' Blues Weekend today and Saturday at The Village Tavern, 135 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. $10 Saturday evening shows. (847) 634-3117 or visitlonggrove.com. Noon to 4 p.m. and 6 and 10 p.m. Friday, March 6; 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Animated performances

If your kids love the TV shows “Sofia the First” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” then take them to see the return of “Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure” starting Friday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $20-$75. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 6; 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Chinese spectacular

The touring classical Chinese music and dance spectacular “Shen Yun” returns with skilled performers in plenty of colorful costumes this weekend at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $60-$150. (800) 775-2000 or shenyun.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Worldly roots

Rusted Root, the Pittsburgh-based band known for it's earthy blend of rock and world genres, brings its percussion-heavy hits like “Send Me on My Way” to the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan, along with groundbreaking reggae artists The Wailers. Tickets range from $23 to $53. geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6

From 'Living Color'

If you love Marlon Wayans from his film and TV stints including “In Living Color” and “The Ladykillers,” then don't miss him this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $33-$43 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, March 6; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Standards time

Hear great song standards written by the likes of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and more when Chicago A Cappella performs a special “American Songbook” tonight at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Friday, March 6

Latin passion

Guatemalan singer-songwriter and former basketball player Ricardo Arjona performs a late night concert tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $69-$160. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 9 p.m. Friday, March 6

Pop-culture celebs

See and get autographs from stars like Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”), Karen Gillan (“Doctor Who”) and more at the Wizard World Fan Fest this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15 one-day admission; $25-$30 two-day admission. (847) 692-2220 or wizardworld.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Button up

Dress in your best “hippie” clothes for the Hip to be Square-themed Button Show hosted by the Button Room of Gurnee at Millburn Church, 19073 N. Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa. Find all sorts of buttons, button crafts, a bake sale, a silent auction and more. Free. (224) 399-9870 or thebuttonroom.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Model railroad club

See an HO scale permanent operating model railroad at the Lake County Model Railroad Club's Spring Open House at 107 S. Main St. (rear entrance), Wauconda. The railroad layout is more than 40 years old, but it is operated with the latest in digital technology. Free. Those who bring a nonperishable item for donation to the Wauconda Food Pantry will receive a free raffle ticket toward a door prize. lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8

Let it Snow ...

In an attempt to combat the late-winter blues, Chicago's Navy Pier is hosting its first winter one-day, electronic dance music festival Saturday, March 7. The Snowstorm Winter Music and Arts Festival lineup includes legendary international acts such as Moby and Zimmer, along with local artists Win and Woo, Orchard Lounge, Kody Madro and more. At Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Tickets range from $25 to $100 for VIP access. Visit snowstormfest.com. 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Jazz it up

Head out Saturday for a night of jazz, standards, big band, Dixieland, Latin and more when the United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors play the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 Washington St., Grayslake. The group is the official touring band of the U.S. Army. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Free. Limit of four tickets per person. clcillinois.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Gospel Extravaganza

It's Gospel time when the Elmhurst College Gospel Choir hosts its Gospel Extravaganza in the school's Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Performers include the more-than-50-member Joshua's Troop, with hip-hop, urban and contemporary gospel selections. Free. (630) 617-3492. elmhurst.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Hounds of Finn

The Minnesota-based band Hounds of Finn will play folk plus Celtic and Americana music at the Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. $15. (630) 627-0171 or maplestreetchapel.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Ballet A-men

Plenty of laughs are in store when the all-male drag Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performs classical ballet pieces (en pointe, no less!) on Saturday, at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $54-$65. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Master storyteller

Multiple Emmy and Tony Award-winner John Lithgow returns to the suburbs with his one-man show “Stories by Heart” featuring works by authors P.G. Wodehouse and W.W. Jacobs on Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $45. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Packing Heat

Since 1985, The Reverend Horton Heat has been playing their country-tinged rockabilly music to the masses. The '90s music scene was rife with blends of ska, big band and rock, proving a welcome birthing ground for some of the band's hits, including its biggest breakout, “Psychobilly Freakout.” The Reverend Horton Heat brings its special blend of country, rock and punk to Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, along with special guest Ha Ha Tonka. Tickets start at $22. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 7

Trains and more trains

Train enthusiasts can tour five buildings and outdoor grounds featuring operating model train displays, model trains and related items for sale at the Great Midwest Train Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Guests can also get their own model trains appraised and repaired at the event. $7 adults; free for kids younger than 12. greatmidwesttrainshow.com. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Dance, dance

See all kinds of dance styles, from ballet to jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, musical theater and African from many Chicago-area choreographers, when the M3 Dance Company takes to the stage at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tickets cost $10-$15. A portion of the proceeds ($3) will go to Marklund, an organization that serves those with developmental disabilities. brownpapertickets.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Prosecuting the wolf

The Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra teams up with Batavia High School Drama Club for a family-friendly twist on Prokofiev's “Peter and the Wolf” where the wolf is put on trial today at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $8; $4 kids ages 10 and under. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Chamber mirth

The Orion Ensemble performs chamber music of Beethoven and modern composers Stacy Garrop and Emil Hartmann for its Jubilation concert starting Sunday, at three locations: First Baptist Church, 2300 South St., Geneva; then at Nichols Hall at Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; then at PianoForte Studio, 1335 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $26; $23 seniors; $10 students. (630) 628-9591 or orionensemble.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8 in Geneva; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15 in Evanston; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 in Chicago

A cappella stars

Tickets are very scarce to catch the famed a cappella beatboxing troupe Pentatonix and its On My Way Home Tour on Sunday and Monday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $28.50-$58.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, March 8 and 9