Best bets: Batavia art fest, 'Girls Night Out'
Art for all
The Art in Your Eye Festival returns for its fifth annual outing along the Batavia Riverwalk, Houston Street and Island Avenue, Batavia. There's hands-on art projects, fine art displays, music and so much more. Free entry. artinyoureye.com or (630) 482-9157. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9
Man smart?
Noble Fool Theatricals host a special three-performance run of Robert Dubac's battle-of-the-sexes comedy "The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?" at Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39. (630) 584-6342 or noblefool.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8
The ladies who laugh
Leave the kids at home with a baby sitter and gather your girlfriends for the sketch comedy revue "The Second City's Girls' Night Out: Uncensored." Laugh along at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $28.50-$33.50. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturday, Sept. 19
'Gotta Hemi' guy
Jon Reep is not only the winner of the fifth season of NBC-TV's "Last Comic Standing," but he's also the "That thing gotta Hemi" guy in Dodge commercials. Catch Reep at Zanies, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6342. Also at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills, (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com. $25 plus purchase of two menu items. Call or visit zanies.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, in St. Charles; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in Vernon Hills
Trucks for tykes
Kids who have a hankering to get their hands on big trucks and other machinery get their chance when the St. Charles Park District presents a "Big Truck Show" at Langum Park, two miles south of Main Street between Riverside and 7th avenues in St. Charles. Free, but preregistration is requested. (630) 513-6200. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 8
Choco-cycling
Cycle around town with some tasty motivation on "The Sweet Ride: Palatine Chocolate Bike Tour." Get chocolate treats at stops like the Hotel Indigo, Durty Nellie's and at the beginning and ending spot of Morkes Chocolate, 1890 N. Rand Raod, Palatine. Preregistration required. $40-$55. $15-$30 kids ages 5-12; kids under age 5 admitted free. A portion of the proceeds benefit the World Cocoa Foundation.(847) 359-3454 or morkeschocolates.com. 7 to 9 a.m. signup; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ride Sunday, Aug. 9
Happy 70th
Sir James Galway turns 70 this year, so celebrate along with the world-famous flautist at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. Galway performs one night with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and another with the Latino singing sensation Tiempo Libre. $10-$65. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, with the CSO; 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, with Tiempo Libre
Dine-out movie
Bring out the picnic baskets and spread your family out on blankets for an outdoor screening of "The Tale of Despereaux" with music by The Country Doctors and a Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament. Sponsored by Capannari Ice Cream at the Old General Store, 10 S. Pine St., Mount Prospect. Free. (847) 392-2277 or capannaris.com. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11
Church comedy
Remember Warren Christopher as Father Mulcahy from the TV series "M*A*S*H"? Well, Christopher dons the clerical collar again (this time as an Episcopalian) in the touring comedy "Church Basement Ladies" at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $27-$45. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. Begins 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12; through Sunday, Aug. 16