Cheap stuff to do: Free trolley rides, nature crafts
Free
Climb aboard, Mom!
The Fox River Trolley Museum is offering free trolley rides for mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers in honor of Mother's Day. The free rides are offered with a paid child's fare. Trolley rides for fathers and others are $2-$3.50. Children under age 3 ride free.
Facts: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Fox River Trolley Museum, at 361 S. LaFox St., on Route 31 in South Elgin. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org.
Honoring 'Mother Earth'
The American Girl Club invites girls ages 7 to 12 to talk about nature in a Mother Earth get-together. Participants will work with plants in pots to create gifts for their mothers in honor of Mother's Day. Girls are invited to dress as their favorite American Girl characters from the book series and bring their dolls to the event.
Facts: 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Barnes and Noble, 920 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. Free. No registration is required. (847) 793-8740.
Cinco de Mayo celebration
Celebrate the annual Cinco de Mayo holiday (a little late) at Elgin's Cinco de Mayo Festival and carnival. Dig in to a wide variety of food, take a spin on some carnival rides and hear live musical groups perform.
Carnival runs 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 8; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 9; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 10. Festival runs 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 8; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 9; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the corner of Kimball and N. Grove in downtown Elgin. Free admission. Note: There is a charge for carnival rides and food. Visit downtownelgin.com.
'Faces of War'
The Geneva History Center is hosting its new exhibition, "Faces of War," that examines stories of Geneva veterans. See original uniforms, artifacts, correspondence and photographs from Geneva men and women who have served their country. The exhibit runs through Veteran's Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Facts: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9; Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 10; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 to Thursday May 14, at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. Free admission, but donations will be accepted. (630) 232-4951.
$10 and under
Hits of the '80s
Selective Recall provides an evening of 1980s tunes, including works by bands such as The Cars and Simple Minds.
Facts: 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub, |8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $3 admission. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.
R-rated 'Alice'?
See "Alice in the House of Carroll," as Clock Production collaborates on Keely Haddad-Null and Laurence Bryan's ultraviolent take on Lewis Caroll's children's story about a girl who falls down a rabbit hole into a magical land.
Facts: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the National Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. For mature audiences only. $10. (773) 327-7077.