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Weekend picks: Comedian Billy Gardell plays the Genesee

Mike sans Molly

See comedian Billy Gardell outside of his "Mike & Molly" sitcom persona when he performs A Night of Comedy tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$55. (800) 982-2787 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 5

Harvard Milk Days

Hoof it to the annual Harvard Milk Days, a festival that touts a milk-drinking contest and cow chip lotto among more traditional suburban fest favorites. Check it out at Milky Way Park, 6600 Lawrence, Harvard. The festival also features a carnival, entertainment, a petting zoo, an antique tractor display, chain-saw carving and more. Fireworks take place each night of the fest. Parade at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6. (815) 943-4614. milkdays.com. Free admission; $5 daily parking or $10 three-day advance pass. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 5, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Java jive

The Coffee Festival features passionate roasters, baristas and shop owners who specialize in specialty coffee and teas this weekend at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $30 three-day admission. Kids ages 13 and under not admitted. There is also a 12-route coffee crawl scheduled as part of the event. (312) 595-7437 or coffeefest.com. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7

First Friday Art

Moon Art Gallery in Arlington Heights showcases the works of local artist Sue Turayhi at a First Friday community art viewing, where guests can meet the artist. Turayhi's work will be displayed the entire month of June. Moon Art Gallery is at 15 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. moongraphicfinishing.com. Free. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5

Antiques and more

Shop for antiques, furniture, vintage designer bags, artwork and more at The Summer Show at the Winnetka Ice Rink, 490 Hibbard Road, Winnetka. Admission is $8. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society. winpark.org. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 5; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Sky high

Cheer on the local WNBA franchise of the Chicago Sky when they take on the Indiana Fever for their home opener Friday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $16-$250; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or wnba.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 5

Brown is the New Black?

Elk Grove native Jeff Brown has influences and experience in genres as wide-ranging as heavy metal and classical. But his love of more melodic folk music, however, is where he's settled, sometimes blending in pop tones with the multilayered chamber influences. You can see him and his band, The New Black, as they bring their rich, soulful sound to the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago, Friday for an 18-and-older show. $12. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 5

Lipstick mom

Catch up with local comedian Patti Vasquez, famed for her party-girl-turned-mother stories, starting Thursday at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 plus a two menu-item purchase. (630) 584-6300 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, June 6

Comedy style

If you enjoy comedian Finesse Mitchell from his TV stints on "Saturday Night Live" or "According to HIM and HER," then catch one of his string of standup shows this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, June 5; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 6; 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Rockin' in the 1990s

Three tribute bands will rock the concert stage during '90s Hard Rock Night at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Lateralus (Tool tribute band), Calm Like A Bomb (Rage Against The Machine tribute band) and White Pony (Deftones tribute band) headline. Concert is for ages 21 and older. $8-$10. durtynellies.com. 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 5

Japan fest

Celebrate Japanese culture and traditions at the annual Japan Festival at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Taste traditional Japanese fare, view Japanese art, watch martial arts and take in flower-arranging demonstrations. Other highlights include Taiko (Japanese Drums), music, dancing, children's activities and more. japanfest-chicago.org. $5. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Red alert!

Redheads get their due as Highwood hosts its 2015 Redhead Days fest at Highwood City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave., Highwood. Redhead Days, which originated in Holland, culminates at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, with a gathering of redheads to be photographed from above in Everts Park, 130 Highwood Ave. All registered "gingers" are invited to wear a blue top to enhance the red hair in the photo. Other events include food, drinks and a carrot cake contest. facebook.com/rhdchicago. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7

Give a hoot

Learn about big and small ways to protect the environment and to battle climate change as part of several activities tied to World Environment Day on Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $12 keynote speaker with Danielle Nierenberg of Food Tank at 10:30 a.m.; other events free, though parking is $30. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6

Brewmaster bash

More than 45 breweries gather to share their specialty brews at the Craft Beer Festival on Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $70 VIP tickets with noon admission; $50 general admission; $15 designated driver admission. Only open to ages 21 or older. (630) 725-2066 or mortonarb.org. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6

Modern Day festival

Modern Day Romeos know how to play a party, and they're teaming up with Durty Nellie's for their annual MDR Festival Saturday, June 6. The free parking-lot party kicks off at 3 p.m. with SuperCrush, Jimmy Nick and Don't Tell Mama, capped off with a performance by the Romeos. If you're still up for more, head to the private indoor after-party, featuring Wedding Banned. A $15 ticket gets you VIP All-Access entry, which nets you rooftop seating, private bar and cover-free entry to the after-party. Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Free or $15 VIP All-Access Pass. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6

Down by the riverside

Mambo Express, Denise Jordan Walker, Walter Beasley and Hiroshima are some of the stars and acts slated for the outdoor SoulFeed Smooth Jazz Festival on Saturday at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $40. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 6

American inspiration

Vietnam Veteran James "Kimo" Williams is behind a special multimedia musical tribute that debuts in the Chicago Sinfonietta concert "United We Stand," featuring music of Ives, Williams and Dvorak on Saturday and Monday at two locations: North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; then at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $10-$58. (312) 284-1554 or chicagosinfonietta.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 6, in Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 8, in Chicago

Don't stop

Former Journey frontman Steve Augeri performs as part of the Turning Pointe Autism Foundation's Puzzle Run & Backyard Bash fundraiser today near 1500 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville. $25-$100 general admission. (630) 962-7000, (630) 570-7948, oshows.com or turningpointautismfoundation.org. Noon Sunday, June 7

Folk duo

Singer-songwriter Julie Patchouli and guitarist Bruce Hecksel comprise the folk duo Patchouli, which performs in concert today at the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles. $15; $10 kids ages 12 and under. (630) 584-7200 or norrisculturalarts.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Revisit your Soul

Minneapolis alternative rockers Soul Asylum were a huge part of the soundtrack of the '90s, with hits like "Black Gold" and "Runaway Train" - from what was arguably the band's most popular album "Grave Dancer's Union" - dominating MTV and my car radio. They're still riding that train, and this weekend they come to House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, bringing the Meat Puppets along for the ride. Chicago's own AM Taxi - alternative rockers bordering on suburban punk - start off the evening. $25. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com/chicago. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7

Jeff Brown & the New Black will play Chicago's Metro Friday, June 5.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.comComedian Patti Vasquez performs at Zanies in St. Charles.
Saxophonist Walter Beasley performs in the SoulFeed Smooth Jazz Festival at RiverEdge Park in Aurora on Saturday, June 6. Courtesy of RiverEdge Park
Comedian Finesse Mitchell appears at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.
Chicago Sinfonietta music director Mei-Ann Chen is featured in the concert "United We Stand" at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and Symphony Center in Chicago.
The musical duo Patchouli presents an show of folk songs at the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles on Sunday, June 7.
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