Best bets: All things anime, plenty o' flowers, magazine convention
JapanamationLovers of all things tied to Japanese animation won't want to miss Anime Central the thirteenth this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. There are exhibits, fashion shows and so much more. Full weekend: $55; $15 (kids ages 6 to 12); $35 Friday or Saturday only; $25 Sunday only. (847) 692-2222 or (224) 676-0003 or acen.org. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 14; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 15; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 16Flower powerThis year's Bloomin' Festival at the Chicago Botanic Garden includes A Bloomin' Sale and coincides with the Midwest Bonsai Society's Spring Show and Sale. Check out what's in bloom this weekend at 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but parking is $20 per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 14; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16He who PunksComedian Steve Rannazzisi is famed for tricking loads of celebrities on MTV's "Punk'd" and for playing that annoying pen salesman in the flick "Paul Blart: Mall Cop." Now see Rannazzisi perform his stand-up routine at two locations of Zanies: 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342; and at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030. $25 plus two-item menu purchase. zanies.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, May 14 in St. Charles; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15 in Vernon Hills'So Excited'Get ready to "Jump (For My Love)" when The Pointer Sisters sing their pop hits of the 1970s and '80s at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $60-$75. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/show. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 15Unique Mo'NiqueHot on the heels of her Academy Award win for her performance in the film "Precious: Based Upon the Novel Push by Sapphire," Mo'Nique's returns to her comedy roots with a stand-up engagement Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $37-$67. (800) 745-3000. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 15Annie the firstAndrea McArdle's legendary place in Broadway history was cemented in 1977 when she was the first actress to play the famed title orphan in the smash hit 1977 Broadway musical "Annie." Now see this Broadway veteran ("Les Miserables," "Beauty and the Beast") in concert Sunday at the Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette. $48.50. (847) 251-7424 or wilmettetheatre.com. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 16For womenActress Dana Delany, authors Lee Woodruff and Jenny Sanford, and financial guru Jean Chatzky are just a few of the notable people appearing at the More magazine Reinvention Convention on Monday at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $195 registration fee (includes breakfast, lunch, full day of events). (212) 455-1254 or more.com/reinvention. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 17Rock and suchCanadian grunge band Nickelback returns with its Dark Horse Tour featuring opening acts Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and Sick Puppies Tuesday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $46.50-$85. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18Music machinesFulcrum Point questions whether new classical music will come from "Machines" in its upcoming concert featuring amplified and computer-assisted works by Tomi Raisanen, Christopher Burns, Hilda Paredes and more on Wednesday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19False20001333Actress Mo'Nique is set to perform standup comedy at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. False