Lifestyle

Best Bets: Christmas crafts, car show, Thanksgiving Day parade

Posted November 17, 2009 10:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Mannheim Steamroller performs holiday music at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Crafty Christmas

Get ideas for holiday decorating this weekend from more than 150 booths of projects and presents at the 2009 Christmas World Gift & Craft Fair. Get crafty at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $3. Kids ages 15 and under admitted free. (847) 303-4100 or christmasworldfair.com. Noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

King of swing

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra honors the 100th birthday of the late Chicago native and world famous jazz band leader Benny Goodman this weekend with concerts featuring clarinetist/conductor Carl Topilow. Hear jazz hits like "Sing, Sing, Sing," "Stardust" and more at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25. (847) 888-4000 or ElginSymphony.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Steam-rolling along

Mannheim Steamroller celebrates a quarter-century of its best-selling album "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas" with a 58-city 25th Christmas Anniversary Tour. Catch it locally tonight at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $69-$149 ($15 parking). (800) 745-3000 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20

He's a character

Actor/comedian Kevin Pollak has more than 60 films to his credit, often working with the same high-profile stars he impersonates in his act. See who Pollak parodies tonight and Saturday at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $24. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21

Revved up

Automobile enthusiasts enamored with rare and powerful cars won't want to miss the Nickey Chicago Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. See these competing cars in addition to a swap meet Saturday and Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 River Road, Rosemont. $15. Free admission for kids under age 12. (847) 692-2222 or mcacn.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Big play pen

A lot of toy expos are closed to the public, but not this weekend's The Chicago Toy and Game Fair. Get your hands on some of the latest gizmos for kids at Navy Pier's Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $10; $5 kids. (847) 677-8277 or chitag.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22

Triple threat

Why pay for three performers separately when you can get all three in the touring Sensational, Psychic, 3-D Spectacular? Sunday's show features juggler/comedian Mark Nizer, ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger and psychic/mentalist Joshua Kane on the same bill at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $25-$35. (630) 896-6666 or ParamountAurora.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Tenor times 10

That famed Australian troupe known as The Ten Tenors offers 10 times the tenor power in such ballads as "Danny Boy," "What a Wonderful World" and more at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $40-$70. (800) 775-2000 or TheTenTenors.com. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 27; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28; 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29

Love a parade

Catch oversized balloon characters, marching bands, equestrian troupes and a whole lot more in the 2009 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which travels north along State Street from Congress Parkway to Randolph Street in Chicago. Free. Chicagofestivals.org. 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26

Check out a 1968 Pontiac GTO at the Nickey Chicago Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

See an oversized Paddington Bear balloon and more at The 2009 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade along State Street in Chicago.

The "Sensational, Psychic, 3-D Spectacular" plays at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra honors the 100th birthday of Benny Goodman with three concerts.

See giant balloons and more at The 2009 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade along State Street in Chicago.

Glen Smith of Mannheim Steamroller plays the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Check out a 1965 Shelby Cobra at the Nickey Chicago Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Even the costumed characters want to get their hands on the toys at The Chicago Toy and Game Fair at Navy Pier in Chicago.

A balloon of Animal from "The Muppet Show" hovers over the crowd along State Street during a past McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago.

Check out a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger at the Nickey Chicago Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Comedian and character actor Kevin Pollak appears at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

A balloon of Super Grover from "Sesame Street" hovers over the crowd along State Street during a past McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago.

Even "Star Wars" storm troopers want to get their hands on the toys at The Chicago Toy and Game Fair at Navy Pier in Chicago.

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