Best bets: Wine and song fill the suburbs
Talents abound
Perhaps it was the 12-year-old ballroom dancers, or maybe the Mississippi singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Grimm who grabbed your TV-viewing attention. Either way, if you're a fan of reality TV, then you'll probably want to catch these acts and more when “America's Got Talent Live comes Wednesday to the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $37.50-$97.50. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20
So very sweet
Sample more than 60 wines along with hors d'oeuvres, chocolates and more at the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce's Sweetest Day event at the Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $40-$45 ($55-$60 for the extra five vintage wine tastings). (847) 253-1703 or www.arlingtonheightschamber.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15
Ross the roaster
Comedian Jeffrey Ross is so famous for trashing celebrities that he is a perpetual guest on Comedy Central's Celebrity Roasts. Catch Ross this weekend at two Zanies locations: 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, $30. (630) 584-6342; also at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. $30. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in St. Charles; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16
Schumann and more
Chicago cellist Wendy Warner is the featured soloist when the Lake Forest Symphony performs music of Schumann and Bruckner for its weekend concerts at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $32-$54; $16-$37 students; $27-$37 seniors. (847) 295-2135 or lakeforestsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15 and 16
Unaccompanied minors, majors
Who needs a band when these vocalists can harmonize glorious music on their own? See troupes like Vocal Chaos, Chapter 6 and more in workshops and performances as part of the Midwest Acappellafest Chicago this weekend at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $15 day events, $20 evening performance. $30 all-day pass. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16
Mexican movement
Aurora's own Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl does its part to celebrate the Mexican Bicentennial with a special performance of regional folk dances and music on Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $23.50, $16.50 kids. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16
Nostalgia time
If you're a lover of rock and roll from the 1950s and '60s, then you might want to catch The Neverly Brothers' renditions of pop standards by Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and more this Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $24-$30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16
Cho to it
Comedian Margaret Cho didn't make the cut on “Dancing With the Stars, but let's hope she has plenty to say about her reality TV show experience in her latest show, “Cho Dependent, playing Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $28.50-$65. (312) 263-1138 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16
A Butoh show
The Museum of Contemporary Art and The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago present the acclaimed Japanese Butoh dance group Sankai Juku and its performance of “Hibiki: Resonance from Far Away this Wednesday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $35-$65. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20