Weekend picks: See the Dead closer to home
Dead end
If you don't have tickets to see the Grateful Dead and its "Fare thee Well" tour live at Soldier Field in Chicago this weekend, then head to select theaters showing live simulcasts of each concert this weekend at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles (Friday only), and at other select theaters on Saturday and Sunday listed at fathomevents.com. Ticket prices vary by venue, but largely $18; $20 in St. Charles. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, in St. Charles only; also 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5, at other select theaters in Deer Park, Lincolnshire, Gurnee, South Barrington, Naperville, Woodridge, Warrenville and more
Manga meetup
More than 10,000 fans of Japanese animation and comics are set to converge on the Anime Midwest convention this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $55-$120 weekend registration; $40 one-day-only admission. (847) 692-2220 or animemidwest.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 4; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 5
Celebrate the Dead
Fans of the Grateful Dead, take heed. In honor of the Dead's sold-out 50th anniversary shows, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario St., is holding a three-day music fest, complete with two stages and loads of local talent, including Concrete Roots, Fersher and Jackpot Donnie on Friday; Bullfights On Acid, EGi and Genome Saturday; and School of Rock Chicago, Murley and Thinner Teed on Sunday. Admission varies by day, but a portion of the proceeds goes to Fight2Feed, a not-for-profit organization working to fight hunger in Chicago. See hardrock.com for the full lineup and fees. (312) 943-2252 or hardrock.com. 4:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Friday, July 3; noon to 4 a.m. Saturday, July 4; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 5
Ballpark fireworks
Win or lose, a fireworks display will follow the minor league baseball matchup between Kane County Cougars and the Clinton LumberKings on Friday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. $22-$30. (630) 232-8811 or kccougars.com. 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 3
Flannigan or Aldridge
Catch separate standup sets by comedians Jim Flannigan and Brian Aldridge on Friday at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $15, plus a two menu-item. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 p.m. for Flannigan and 10:15 p.m. for Aldridge on Friday, July 3
'Potter' in the park
Board your broomstick or find a more muggle-friendly form of transportation to see an outdoor screening of the 2002 fantasy film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. The PG-rated film, the second in the series, stars Daniel Radcliffe as the young wizard Harry Potter. Seating is on the grass by the red band shell. Blankets, chairs and snacks are welcome. Free with paid $2 parking fee. cantigny.org. 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 3
Browse or buy
More than 100 juried artists show off and sell their wares as part of an Art Festival this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. No admission charge, but parking is $25-$30 per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5
Let freedom ring
The tradition of ringing two historic bells at a celebration of Independence Day continues at the Tanner House Museum, 305 Cedar St., Aurora. The Tanner House bell-ringing will be timed to coincide with the ringing of other Independence Day bells across the nation. Other highlights include performances, a petting zoo, tours of the museum, children's activities and a pie-eating contest. Free. aurorahistory.net or facebook.com/aurorahistory. Events run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Bell-ringing takes place at 1 p.m.
American salute
Pianist Terrence Wilson joins the Grant Park Orchestra to perform Gershwin's Concerto in F as part of the Independence Day Salute Saturday at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. No admission charge. (312) 742-7638 or grantparkmusicfestival.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4
Prairie walk
Take a two-hour-plus prairie walk, led by museum biologist Jerome Johnson, at the Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. See the summer blossoms at Mill Creek Prairie and get a close-up look at the installation of a new bridge over Mill Creek. Admission is $6. Reservations are encouraged. (630) 584-8485 or email info@garfieldfarm.org. 9 a.m. Sunday, July 5
Settlement Sunday
Tour the museum and other historic buildings and dig in to ice cream sundaes during the Settlement Sunday celebration at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Take part in a number of hands-on family activities. Admission is $12 adults; $10 seniors; $8 kids 4-12. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 5. Ice cream is served from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and is limited to the first 250 guests
Music majors
See the Top 20 finalists of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent compete in the first round of public performances for the summerlong talent competition this evening at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $10. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5
Together again
Soprano Dawn Upshaw teams up with The Knights orchestra for an evening of Dvorak, Legeti, Zhou Long and more Sunday at the Ravinia Festival's Martin Theatre, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $40-$60 indoors seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 5