Out & About
"Every Christmas Story Ever Told!" previews at 8 p.m. today and Friday at the Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. The show opens Saturday and runs 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays; 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 29. $27-$38 show only. Dinner and show packages available. (630) 584-6342 or " target="new">www.noblefool.org.
The Grinch, Frosty, Linus and Rudolph liven up this irreverent, family-friendly show by Michael Carleton, John Alvarez and Jim Fitzgerald loosely and lovingly adapted from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." John Gawlik directs Noble Fool's Chicago-area premiere.
-- Barbara Vitello
"The Alpha Geek," 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Free admission. Donations accepted for the Raue Center. (815) 356.9212 or www.rauecenter.org.
Crystal Lake natives Kurt Larson and Michael Marsico made this independent comedy film on $75,000 and with a lot of help. The story concerns Riley Benson, a young man struggling with a discouraging dad and a true love who dumped him. So, Riley goes on a journey of self-discovery.
-- Dann Gire, film critic
"Chill," an international wine culinary event," 6 p.m. Friday at LuxeHome in the Merchandise Mart, Kinzie and Wells streets, Chicago. $75 Benefiting Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. (312) 628-0251 or luxehome.com.
Chefs from fine restaurants in Chicago will serve signature dishes to accompany wine in each showroom of LuxeHome, which features kitchen design. Wine Spectator magazine hosts, and 35 wine makers pour varieties from America, Europe and elsewhere.
-- Deborah Donovan, homes writer
"Peter Pan -- The High-Flying Musical," 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $49.50-$56.50; $29.50-$36.50 kids. (630) 896-6666 or www.theparamounttheatre.com.
The latest tour of "Peter Pan" comes with a new tagline of "The High-Flying Musical." Whether that beloved 1954 Broadway musical based upon J.M. Barrie's play about a boy who refuses to grow up really needs that tagline is up to debate, since "I'm Flying" is one of the show's most famous tunes.
--Scott C. Morgan, staff writer
Thanksgiving on the Weber, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at Weber Grill restaurant, 1010 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg. $75. (847) 413-1277.
Leave the oven to the biscuits and green bean casserole and learn from Weber's experts how to cook the turkey and other side dishes on the grill.
-- Deborah Pankey, food editor
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, 8 p.m. Saturday, at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. $35-$55. (312) 334-7777 or www.harristheaterchicago.org.
Ready to give a new ballet company a chance? The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet steps into town, making its Chicago debut. But it has some local cred: Joffrey Ballet veteran Tom Mossbrucker serves as artistic director. The three-work program includes the Chicago premieres of "1st Flash" by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo and "Noir Blanc" by MOMIX's Moses Pendelton, plus Twyla Tharp's "Sweet Fields."
-- Pam DeFiglio, staff writer