Weekend picks: Feel the roar at Rosemont's dinosaur exhibit

Robotic roars

Bring the kids to gawk at robotic recreations of extinct reptilian beasts at the returning “Discover the Dinosaurs” exhibit this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $24; $28 kids ages 2 to 12; $21 seniors; kids under 2 admitted free. (847) 692-2220 or rosemont.com. 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday to Monday, Jan. 16 to 18

Local humorist

Catch up with local comedian Mike Toomey when he performs standup sets starting Thursday at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 plus a two-item purchase. (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 14 and 15, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

Enchanted Railroad

See the 14th annual Enchanted Railroad, this year celebrating the four seasons, chug along at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Two platform levels will feature 12 model trains, including a replica of an Amtrak train. Guests can also see a Lego train car created by Sean Kenney, creator of the Nature Connects exhibit that was featured earlier this year at the Arboretum. Made of 2,500 Lego bricks, the train car was created for a 2009 episode of the TV show “30 Rock.” Along the railways, see figurines, highlighting Morton Arboretum events and landmarks. It all takes place in the Sycamore Room, near the visitors center. Free with paid $6-$9 general arboretum admission; free for kids 2 and younger and arboretum members. mortonarb.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends from Friday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 21

O Canada

Start getting ideas for outdoor vacations north of the border at the returning All Canada Show this weekend at the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10; $8 seniors; youth ages 17 and under admitted free. (630) 584-6300 or allcanada.com or pheasantrun.com. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

Celebrity chef

Get some insights into Italian cooking and culture with “An Intimate Conversation With Lidia Bastianich,” the host of public television's “Lidia's Italy,” on Friday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $37.50-$75. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15

Choo choo!

Model trains aren't in the title of the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour, but to enthusiasts that's just a given. Get on track for miniature train fun this weekend at the Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $15 per day; youth ages 16 and under admitted free. (847) 303-4100 or wghshow.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

Vernon Hills' Winter Fest

Take in sled-dog demonstrations and an ice-sculpting show, plus enjoy a campfire, ice skating, sledding and concessions in the pavilion during Vernon Hills' outdoor Winter Fest in Century Park North, north of Route 60, between Butterfield Road and Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Free. (847) 996-6800 or vhparkdistrict.org. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

Operatic oath

Before he stunned the world with “Carmen,” composer Georges Bizet lavished his melodic skill on “The Pearl Fishers” (“Les Pêcheurs de Perles”). This opera hasn't been seen at the Metropolitan Opera in almost 100 years, so catch this new production as part of the Live in HD series on Saturday at select suburban theaters in Deer Park, Crystal Lake, Mount Prospect, South Barrington, Batavia, Rosemont, Melrose Park, Evanston, Niles, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills and Gurnee. $25; $23 seniors; $17 kids. fathomevents.com. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

Spring Valley Winter Fest

Watch dog-sledding demonstrations and visit with representatives from the Adopt A Husky dog rescue group at the Spring Valley Winter Fest at Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Don't miss the crafts, winter snacks, horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoe walks and more. $3; $12 family. (847) 985-2100 or parkfun.com. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17

Let's dance!

The Greater Fox Valley chapter of USA Dance, in conjunction with St. John's Lutheran Church of Algonquin, hosts a 19th Birthday Celebration charity dance and food pantry drive at St. John's, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Take part in a free merengue dance lesson and then strut your stuff to swing, ballroom and Latin music provided by Dr. Rod. Birthday cake and coffee will be served. Attire is dressy casual. Admission is $8 for USA Dance members; $10 for seniors age 65 and older; $12 for nonmembers. Guests are asked to bring donations of nonperishable items. dancefoxvalley.org. 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Dance lesson at 7:35 p.m.

The return of pop punk

Pop-punk band Showoff has come a long way from its Villa Park inception back in the late '90s. With a record deal and a debut single hitting No. 36 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, the band faced some lineup shuffling and eventually dissolved in 2002. After a few trial runs in 2014, Showoff - now Chris Messer, Dave Hyde, Daniel Castady, Nate Thruman and George Castady ­- is back in business, ­echoing most of its original lineup and with a new album in the works. (In the meantime, check out “Wish You Were Her,” a previously unreleased album capturing the spirit of the band's earlier energy.) Showoff joins pop-punk headliners Mest and Much the Same at Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, for a 17-and-older show. $19.98 in advance, $25 at the door; (773) 570-4000, clubtix.com or concordmusichall.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

LOVEBLAST at Q Bar

Hard-rocking LOVEBLAST is working to make a name for itself on the local scene. Conceived in 2010 by Brian Durbin, the band's current lineup ­­- Durbin, Brian Gilmanov, Johnny Rox and Nick Pappas - has found the sweet spot, balancing the bigger-than-life sounds of arena rock, the driving rhythms of classic rock and the down-to-earth sensibilities of modern bar rockers. The Carol Stream-based band is joined by Code Blue, Chicago-area rockers specializing in the headbanging songs of '80s hair bands, for a Saturday night show at Q Bar, 2240 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. $7; (630) 893-9346 or qbarglendaleheights.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

Rejoice greatly

In honor of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the concert “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah” returns this weekend to once again raise the roof of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $29-$68. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

'Funniest' man

Comedian Bob Saget may be most famous for his TV stints on “Full House” and “America's Funniest Home Videos,” but his humor is much more blue and adult as a standup. Catch Saget live on Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $45-$50. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

Rock on

Catch up with a founding member of the band Survivor when Jim Peterik & World Stage perform in concert on Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $65-$75. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16

MLK tribute

Grammy Award-winner Victor Wooten is a guest soloist for the Chicago Sinfonietta and its annual “Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” concerts at two location: North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; then at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $10-$60. (312) 284-1554 or chicagosinfonietta.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 in Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18 in Chicago

Brotherly harmony

The Osmonds are some of the most famous performing families of the entertainment world. Catch three of the brothers performing in concert this evening at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $45-$95. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

Hello and goodbye

Downers Grove's The Resolution hasn't played locally in some time, but they've reunited for one last Chicago-area show Sunday at Berwyn's Wire. The band is paired with fellow DuPage rockers Red Light Compliance and Everyone Says, with Judah Michael, Georgio Moran, Claudia Mintz and Mike Mohawk rounding out the night's bill for the all-ages show. Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8 in advance, $10 at the door; (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

Clean comedy

Folk and comedy artists Christine Lavin and Don White team up for a night of music and clean comedy with “The Funny Side of the Street: A Night of Brighter Laughter” at Fatman Bowl, 13860 Rockland Road, Green Oaks. The performance is sponsored by the Lake County Folk Club. $10-$12; $5 for teens (suggested donation). (847) 602-8882 for reservations. thelakecountyfolkclub.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17

Upcoming concerts

Wendy & DB: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at Winter Wonderland celebration at Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Wendy & DB perform original songs that encourage children to use their imaginations and teach musical basics like melody and rhythm. $14-$24 admission to Winter Wonderland. Visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

Festival of Spirituals: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, The Village Presbyterian Church, 1300 Shermer Road, Northbrook. Concert commemorates life of Martin Luther King Jr., and raises funds for PADS, a charity for the homeless in Lake County. Freewill offerings welcome. (847) 272-0900 or tvpchurch.org.

Swamp Heat, Wallace Wilson Wundsam, B Forrest and the Bodhis: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, The Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted Ave., Chicago. Electronic R&B, soul. $10; (773) 248-8400 or tonicroom.ticketfly.com.

Echoes of Pompeii: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock; tribute to Pink Floyd. $19-$29. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Evil Engine, WASTE, The Audio Dead: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Punk rock, rock. $7; (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Mulligan Stew: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail St., Arlington Heights. $3. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Orange Star: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, River's Edge Bar & Grill, 12 N. River St., Batavia. Acoustic pop covers. (630) 406-9200 or facebook.com/theriversedgebatavia.

Pajamuary 2016 featuring EGi, Mungion, Bronson Rock: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. Progressive funk rock, jam rock. $10-$15, $5 with pajamas; (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Erik Lauren and The Blue Blood Sinners: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Blues, rock. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.

Fletcher Rockwell: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, BaseCamp, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. Americana rock. $5; (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

Hillbilly Rockstarz: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Country. $7. For ages 21 and older. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Kings of Class, Akib, Who Cares, Logistix, After Glow: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Drink, 871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg. Dance party. Free until midnight. (847) 397-3100 or drinknightclub.com.

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31 St., Oak Brook. Baroque. Featured soloists are Claudia Cryer and Jodi Taylor (flutists) and Laura Perkett and Andrew Nogal (oboists). $25 adults; $23 seniors; $7 students. (630) 941-0202 or elmhurstsymphony.org.

Heartache Tonight: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock; tribute to The Eagles. $14-$39. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Chachuba, LWKY, Stone Soul: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, The Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted Ave., Chicago. Trance, electronic jam. $10; (773) 248-8400 or tonicroom.ticketfly.com.

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, Pet Symmetry, Monobody: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Geek rock, jazz. $12-$14; (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

David Paige: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Dinosaur BBQ, 932 W. Weed St., Chicago. Guitar rock. (312) 462-1053 or dinosaurbarbque.com.

Zydeco Voodoo: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail St., Arlington Heights. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Sam Cockrell Blues Band: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Rhythm and blues. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.

Dave Rudolf's Beach Party: 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows, Grammy nominated Rudolf performs beach music. Free. Register by calling (847) 259-6050 or at rmlib.org.

Chicago Sinfonietta with “Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” concert: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Symphonic selections, gospel and more. $10-$60. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu.

The Osmonds: 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Pop, rock. $39-$95. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Sherm N Demand, Three-Fifths, Rough Draft, Paul-Ramey & Guests: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Classic rock. $11; (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Christine Lavin and Don White: 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Fatman Bowl 13860 Rockland Road, Green Oaks. Folk and comedy artists Christine Lavin and Don White team up for a night of music and clean comedy with “The Funny Side of the Street: A Night of Brighter Laughter.” The performance is sponsored by the Lake County Folk Club. $10-$12; $5 for teens (suggested donation). Call (847) 602-8882 for reservations. Visit thelakecountyfolkclub.org.

Ballyhoo!, Bullfights on Acid, OBY: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Reggies' Rock Club, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. Rock, groove, big band jazzhop. $14-$16, $30 meet-and-greet; (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $55-$150. Visit ticketmaster.com.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.