Weekend picks: Race mom to Arlington Park
Who's top dog?
See which cunning canine comes out on top in traditional agility competitions (and more oddball ones like “Best Trick” and “Fastest Eater”) at the Eighth Annual Rover Rescue Pet Dog Show Saturday at the Aurora Turners Club, 1335 Mitchell Road, Aurora. Free admission; $5 to register dogs. (630) 897-7454 or roverrescue.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7
Full gallop
Arlington Park's grand opening weekend gets off to a galloping start with two major events. “Chicagoland's Largest Kentucky Derby Party” provides an occasion to wear fancy hats and swanky spring clothes to watch all the horse races on Saturday, while a special Mother's Day promotion falls on Sunday (the first 5,000 women through the gate get a free rose). Arlington Park is at 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $10 admission. (847) 385-7410 or arlingtonpark.com. 12:15 p.m. Saturday, May 7, for Derby Party; 11:15 a.m. Sunday, May 8, for Mother's Day
Big top fun
The Piccadilly Circus shares its 25th anniversary celebrations locally with elephant acts, motorcycle daredevils, a contingent of clowns and more for eight performances this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $32-$44; $13-$23 kids $10 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; 1 and 3:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 8
‘Diva' dames
Get into the spirit of “girl group” songs and humor with the Saturday concerts of The Four Bitchin' Babes present “Diva Nation” at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7
America's Sister
If you love comedian Loni Love from her appearances on “Chelsea Lately” and her Comedy Central special “America's Sister,” then don't miss her weekend engagement at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $20. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, May 7; 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8
The music survives
The Chicago Arts Orchestra commemorates early 20th century composers like Franz Schreker and Hans Krasa (whose works were banned or who perished in Nazi concentration camps) in the concert “Works of Survival: A Holocaust Concert” this Saturday at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $15-$25. (800) 745-3000 or chicagoartsorchestra.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7
Flowers for Mom
The Midwest Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society presents a display and sale of more than 150 rhododendron and azalea varieties in the Fairchild Room, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Admission to the botanic garden is free. Parking is $20 per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8
Free ride
On Mother's Day, mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and stepmoms ride trolleys free with a paid child's fare at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. La Fox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. Moms ride free. Fares for other riders are $3.50 for adults; $2 seniors and children ages 3-11. Kids younger than 3 ride free. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 8
Feeling bookish?
Author Matthew Algeo reads from his new book, “The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose The Truth.” Algeo will also be signing copies of his book at the International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The event is free with paid $12-$22 general museum admission. (312) 642-6502 or imss.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8
‘Conductor Highlights'
The Fox Valley Concert Band concludes its 2010-11 season with a “Conductor Highlights” concert at Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles. Free admission with open seating. (847) 695-7096 or fvcb.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 8