Weekend picks: Benatar hits Genesee with her best shot

Benatar belongs

The four-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind the hits “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Love is a Battlefield,” among others, brings her intrepid style to the Genesee Theatre for “A Very Intimate Acoustic Evening With Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo.” Singer-songwriter Todd Kessler, a staple on the Chicago music scene, opens with music from a new solo album awaiting release later this year. At the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39.50-$95. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 13

Prince tribute

See the late rock and pop artist Prince in his prime when the influential 1984 film “Purple Rain” is screened on Thursday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $5. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12

Ethical suggestions

Business ethicist Bruce Weinstein appears for the lecture “Bridging the Divide: How We Can Become Stronger Leaders, Citizens and Friends” on Thursday at Elmhurst College's Frick Center, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. $10. (630) 617-5186 or elmhurst.edu/tix. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12

Returning home

Comedian Kevin McCaffrey returns to his suburban roots for a series of 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 stcharles.zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 12 and 13, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Little City artists

Shop for artwork, T-shirts, notecards and other works created by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Little City Center for the Arts in Palatine at the Little City Art & Craft Showcase in the lower level of the J.C. Penney Court at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. All proceeds benefit Little City Foundation, an organization that assists people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. (847) 358-5510 or littlecity.org. Free. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 13-14

College creativity

Manifest is a student-run arts festival with more than 100 free public programs involving street performances, live bands, gallery walks, dance performances and more. It happens near Columbia College Chicago along the Wabash Arts Corridor in Chicago's South Loop between 9th and 11th streets. Free. (312) 369-1000 or column.edu/manifest. Noon to 9 p.m. Friday, May 13

Mammals of May

The Elgin Public Museum, at 225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, hosts its Mammals of May Science Night for kids and families. Learn about mammals in various shapes and sizes through experiments, demonstrations and a Mammal Olympics competition. $2. No registration required. (847) 741-6655 or elginpublicmuseum.org. 6 p.m. Friday, May 13

Eclectic pop

Fans of the 1970s British pop group Electric Light Orchestra won't want to miss seeing The Orchestra, a concert featuring former ELO members. The Orchestra performs at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$79. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 13

AM Taxi's mixtape

Chicago rock band AM Taxi debuts the new “Semi-Confessional (Mixtape),” which will be distributed digitally and on that perfect mixtape medium, the cassette tape, when they play with Crosstown, The Scissors and Blood People at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 489-3160 or doubledoor.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 13

Scott Stapp rocks Austin's

Known for his distinctive tones, former Creed singer Scott Stapp was one of the more notable voices making up the palette of modern rock music in the 2000s. Overcoming a somewhat turbulent personal life, Stapp splits his time between devoting himself to outreach programs to help others and his solo musical career. Catch him when he performs at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $25-$115. (847) 549-1972 or fuelroom.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 13

'Free' eats

Those who really need to watch what they eat to stay healthy might want to consider paying a visit to the Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel, 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $15 one-day pass; $25 weekend pass; $5-$7 kids. (630) 473-3202 or (847) 303-4100 or gfafexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15

A day at the farm

Purchase organic plants for your garden and support the work of local farmers during the Organic Plant Sale & Farm Open House at Prairie Crossing Farm, 32400 N. Harris Road, Grayslake. Visitors can take a hayride tour of the farm. Plus, there's a seeding activity for children, live music, a close-up look at farm animals and more. Free. Event runs rain or shine (with some activities depending on the weather). Note: Enter Prairie Crossing via Route 45 at Jones Point Road. Follow signs to the farm. libertyprairie.org. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14; hayride tours at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Fore!

Golf enthusiasts are invited to the Head to the Hills Family Golf Fest at the Palatine Hills Golf Course, 512 W. Northwest Hwy., Palatine. Festival features games, instructional golf clinics, contests and raffles. Food and beverages available for purchase. Free. (847) 991-0333 or palatineparks.org. 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Twistin' the Night Away

Chester Gregory, an acclaimed Broadway veteran who started out in Chicago's theater scene, performs the music of Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke in his revue, “It's a Man's World,” at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $34. (847) 214-7188 or elgin.edu/arts. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14

'Living Color' duo

Tommy Davidson and David Alan Grier, two stars of the 1990s FOX-TV comedy show “In Living Color,” share a standup comedy bill at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$48. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Trumpet man

Trumpeter Rex Richardson performs the “Rextreme Concerto,” a new piece by composer James Stephenson written specifically for its guest soloist in two concerts this weekend by the Lake Forest Symphony under the baton of conductor Vladimir Kulenovic at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $35-$59. (847) 543-2300 or lakeforestsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Tennessee native

Fans of country hit songs such as “Take a Back Road,” “Watching You” and “These are my People” won't want to miss Rodney Atkins in concert on Saturday, May 14, at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 Benton Ave., Naperville. $65-$85. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Breweriana Show

The Bullfrog Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America hosts its Spring Beer Can and Breweriana Show at the American Legion Hall, 514 S. Main St., Wauconda. See a wide variety of breweriana, including beer cans. Admission is $1. For details, call Ken at (847) 202-1877 or see bcca.com. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 15

How does your garden grow?

Learn about gardening, raising butterflies and other nature-related activities during the “God's Little Acre” planting and blessing event at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3201 Meadows Drive, Rolling Meadows. The church is planting vegetables to help those in need. Highlights include a picnic, crafts and a take-home plant for kids. Free. (847) 398-7122 or tlcrm.com. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15

20th Annual Museum Day

Elmhurst celebrates its 20th Annual Museum Day, where guests can ride a complimentary trolley to three Elmhurst museums, the Elmhurst Public Library and the Wilder Park Conservatory. The all-ages celebration features exhibits, tours, games, food trucks and more. Participating venues include the Elmhurst Art Museum at 150 Cottage Hill Ave.; the Elmhurst History Museum at 120 E. Park Ave.; and the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art at 220 Cottage Hill Ave. Free. elmhurst.org. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 15

ESO Family Concert

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra Family Concert Series presents the Pidluski String Quartet - with Eric Pidluski and Jen Leckie on violin, Loretta Gillespie on viola and Sara Sitzer on cello - at the Gail Borden Public Library District, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Concert includes folk selections from Central America, Africa, Asia and other locations. Before the concert, guests are invited to try out instruments at a musical instrument petting zoo. Meet the musicians and have refreshments following the concert. Free. Tickets are available at the Gail Borden Public Library or at library district's Rakow branch, 2751 W. Bowes Road, Elgin. (847) 742-2411 or gailborden.info. Preconcert musical instrument petting zoo at 1 p.m.; concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15

German heritage

Music director Lawrence Rapchak leads the Northbrook Symphony in music of Fasch, Weber and Schumann for the concert “Royal Treasures from Saxony” on Sunday at Glenbrook North High School's Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook. $30-$45; $8 kids and students with ID. (847) 272-0755 or northbrooksymphony.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15

'It's De-Lovely'

Expect an outpouring of jazzy melodies and innuendo-filled lyrics in the intimate concert “Joan Curto Sings Cole Porter, From Major to Minor” at North Central College's Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15