Weekend picks: Come and play ...

Cute monsters

Those friendly and furry public TV monsters step out to sing and dance onstage in Sesame Street Live with the show “1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15-$30. Also $40 gold circle and $85 “Sunny Seats” available. (800) 745-3000 or sesamestreetlive.com. 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, May 13; 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14; 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday May 15

InkFest

Need more ink? Then don't miss the urban tattoo expo InkFest Live 2011 this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15-$20 daily admission. (847) 692-2222 or inkfestlive.com. 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 13; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 14; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Talk, talk Tyler

If you love comedian Aisha Tyler from her many appearances on “Talk Soup,” “Friends” and more, then don't miss her engagement at Zanies, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. $7/$8 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, May 13; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Go, soap racer!

See who has the fastest time and sleekest vehicle (by racers ages 8 to 17) in the Official All-American Chicago Soap Box Derby Rally this weekend at the corner of Diehl and Frontenac roads in Naperville. (630) 841-8832 or chicagosoapboxderby.org. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15

Art exhibit and plant sale

The American Society of Botanical Artists' Circle and the Long Grove-Kildeer Garden Club host their sixth annual Botanical Art Exhibition and Plant Sale. A number of the works of art will be for sale. Guests can also take time to hike on the center's nature trails at the Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve Center, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Free admission. Visit amsocbotartists.org. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15

Blooming fun

A Bloomin' Festival offers green thumb enthusiasts sales and tips on ways to get your garden growing this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but $20 parking fee per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15

How does your garden grow?

Learn how to create, grow and maintain your garden with advice from more than 50 specialists and master gardeners at the third annual Gardenology event in downtown Geneva. Topics include herbs, flowers, vegetables, heirloom plants and perennials. Guests can also learn about attracting butterflies and birds to their yards, composting, using organic fertilizer and more. Plants and accessories will be available for purchase in downtown Geneva, along Third and State streets. Free admission. Visit genevadowntown.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14

Valkyrie ride

Did “Thor” whet your appetite for more Norse mythology? Then don't miss “Die Walküre,” the five-hour second installment of Wagner's massive four-opera “Ring Cycle” staged by Cirque du Soleil veteran director Robert Lepage. Wheeling native Deborah Voigt is among the stars. See the iconic “Ride of the Valkyries” and more as part of the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series of worldwide simulcasts shown in movie theaters. Prices vary by theater, but typically are $24 and $18 for students and seniors. Visit fathomevents.com for participating theaters. 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14

Taste of Greece

Guests can fill their plates with a variety of Greek fare from local restaurants at the annual Taste of Greece event at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1400 N. O'Plaine Road, Libertyville. The menu includes cheese and spinach pie, pork kebabs, traditional moussaka, gyro pizza, Greek sweets, a cash bar and more. Greek music is also featured. General admission and parking are free. (224) 513-5530 or visit stdemetrioslibertyville.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Blooming Buffalo Grove

The Blooming Buffalo Grove fundraiser features a display of 100 wooden boxes and framed mirrors, which have been painted and embellished by local artists at Buffalo Grove Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard. All boxes and mirrors will be sold by a silent auction or for a flat price. Other event highlights include a raffle, music and food. Proceeds will benefit the Saving Tiny Hearts Society, an organization that helps raise funds for research into congenital heart defects in children. Free general admission. For information, call Carol Berman at (847) 459-2530. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14

‘China Rose' dance

The Chicago area chapter of the USA Dance group invites the public to its China Rose social dance on Saturday, May 14, at the Centre at North Park, 10040 Addison, Franklin Park. An international cha-cha dance lesson will be offered for those wanting to brush up on dance steps, followed by social dancing (includes mixers). Admission is $8 for members; $10 for nonmembers and $6 for students (with ID). Visit usadancechicago.org. Doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14.

Twirling with the Happy Twirlers

Join the Happy Twirlers dance group for an evening of square and round dancing on the final evening of their current dance season on Saturday, May 14, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 855 Lee St., Des Plaines. Refreshments will be served. Admission is $6 per guest. For information, call Chuck at (773) 685-8407 or Carolyn at (847) 698-5501. Events begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14.

Four museums for free!

Elmhurst's four museums will open their doors free to the community to celebrate International Museum Day from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. The Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Ave., the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill Ave., and the Theatre Historical Society of America, 152 N. York, second floor, will each host special activities and exhibit tours in honor of the day. A complimentary trolley will run every 20 minutes between the museums to transport guests to each location. For information, visit elmhurstartmuseum.org, elmhursthistory.org, lizzadromuseum.org and historic-theatres.com. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Cantigny Ceramic Show

Artists from ClaySpace art studio will exhibit and sell a variety of their functional and sculptural pieces at the first Cantigny Ceramic Show at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Guests can view and buy items including platters, vases, wall sculptures, soap dishes and more. Free admission. Parking is $5. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15

‘The Glass Slipper'

The Children's Theatre presents “The Glass Slipper,” an onstage adventure that includes a fairy godmother, a fearless mouse, a timid cat and PumpkinHead, at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $10-$12. (630) 587-8521 or SteelBeamTheatre.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, May 15

‘Shakespeare in Hollywood'

GreenMan Theatre Troupe presents ”Shakespeare in Hollywood,” Ken Ludwig's farce based upon German director Max Reinhardt's efforts to film Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” in 1935 Hollywood, at United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Road, Elmhurst. $15; $13 students/seniors. (630) 464-2646 or greenmantheatre.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Afternoon with the symphony

The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra presents a classical program titled “Afternoon of Strauss and Tchaikovsky.” The program features Johann Strauss Jr.'s “Overture to Die Fledermaus,” along with several of the composer's waltzes and polkas at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $10-$37. Free preconcert lecture at 1:45 p.m. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15

Jazzy evening at Fitzgerald's

The Rob Parton Big Band, a 10-piece jazz ensemble, headlines at Fitzgerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Many of the ensemble's members also lead jazz groups of their own. Also performing is the New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble. $5-$10. (708) 788-2128 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15