Lifestyle

Best bets: Hockey in Hoffman Estates, lights at the zoo

Posted December 28, 2009 10:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Time is running out to see the lights at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Stick to it

Last year Notre Dame won its premiere Notre Dame Shillelagh Hockey Tournament. See if they can retain their title in the tournament against North Dakota, Colgate and Niagara. Catch some college ice hockey at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Single-day pass: $15-$40; two-day combo pass: $20-$60; free parking. (800) 745-3000. 3:05 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 2-3

Zoo twinkles

Time is running out to take a gander at ZooLights, which features more that 1.5 million lights throughout Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-2000 or lpzoo.org. 5 to 9 p.m. nightly through Sunday, Jan. 3

Big guy comedy

You may remember comedian Billy Gardell in films like "Bad Santa" or "You, Me and Dupree." Now see him perform live at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3

Southern-fried fun

Chicago-based comedian Sonya White finds humor from her native Virginia with a special stand-up routine at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 (plus two menu purchases). (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2

Yule find it!

Get ready to gather every clue you can for the annual "Yule Log Hunt" and "Yule Twig Hunt" for kids at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $11; $10 seniors; $8 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3; kids hunt from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vienna waltzing

Never mind the calendar. Celebrate the new year in proper style a couple of days later at the "Salute to Vienna" New Year's Concert 2010. The Strauss Symphony of America and the Chicago Philharmonic join with dancers from Vienna City Ballet to waltz away at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $27-$115. (312) 294-3000 or salutetovienna.com. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3

'Widow' watching

"Die Fledermaus" may be the official operetta of the New Year's holiday, but "The Merry Widow," the epitome of Vienna's Silver Age of Operetta, is an equally exuberant substitute. See Gary Griffin's critically acclaimed new production at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $33-$207. (312) 332-2244 or lyricopera.org. Performances resume at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, and run through Saturday, Jan. 16

The King lives

Curious to see why Shawn Klush has been named the official Ultimate Elvis Presley Tribute Artist? Or why Steve Kabakos is considered to be Canada's top-winning Elvis Tribute Artist? Then go to the Elvis Birthday Tribute Artists Spectacular at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $35.50-$49.50. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7

Sketchy people

More than 150 sketch comedy troupes from around the globe will slip into the Windy City for the 9th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (aka Chicago Sketch Fest). Laugh it up at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Admission $12.50 for each time slot; $150 for an all-festival pass. (773) 327-5252 or ChicagoSketchFest.com. Festival begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, and continues through Sunday, Jan. 17

Comedian Billy Gardell performs at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

Calle Ridderwall of Notre Dame is set to compete at the Notre Dame Shillelagh Hockey Tournament at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Dancers from Vienna City Ballet perform as part of "Salute to Vienna" at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago on Sunday, Jan. 3.

Real-life married couple Monique Madrid and Corey Rittmaster make up the sketch comedy duo The Union, just one of the performers at the Chicago Sketch Fest.

American soprano Elizabeth Futral, center, stars in the title role of "The Merry Widow" playing at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Comedian Sonya White headlines at Zanies in St. Charles.

Jon Barinholtz and Chris Witaske of the sketch comedy duo Buffet Shark appear at the Chicago Sketch Fest.

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