Weekend picks: Lee DeWyze returns to Viper Alley

Lee DeWyze returns

Last year was one of both triumph and struggle for former "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze, a native of Mount Prospect. He's written a new album, which was partially inspired by a Nashville trip. You can hear him again in person in an intimate show at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets start at $20. See viper-alley.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Libertyville artists on parade

Artists that live in and/or work in Libertyville showcase their work at “The David Adler Music and Arts Center Celebrates the Arts” exhibit at the David Adler Music and Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Free. (847) 367-0707 or adlercenter.org. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; closed on Sundays; 1 to 9 p.m. Mondays; 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays; and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; runs through April 5

Story times

Bring the kids to see Theatreworks USA's tour of “Fancy Nancy & Other Story Books” this weekend at Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $10-$12; $5-$7 kids. (630) 637-7469. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Tapping the trees

Learn the time-honored method of collecting sap the old-fashioned way at Maple Sugaring Days at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Visitors can then sample maple syrup and take recipes to make at home. $6.50-$9. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.museum. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 11

Make them grow

Get great traditional tips and ideas on the latest gardening trends when the Chicago Flower & Garden Show starts up Saturday at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $17 on weekdays; $19 weekends. (312) 595-7437 or chicagoflower.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday from March 10-18

What a Rush

It's the season start for the Chicago Rush arena football team, so especially cheer on guys with local ties like Rush Michna (an Eastern Illinois University and Conant High School graduate) and coach Bob McMillen of Naperville when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $10-$100. (800) 745-3000 or arenarush.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10

‘Chords for Kids'

Children with autism and their families are invited to attend the “Chords for Kids” concert at Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Free. For tickets, call (630) 637-7469 or go to northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. For information on the concert, visit chordsforkids.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Crunch time

See car-crushing trucks like Monster Bear, Sir Crush A Lot, Demolition Diva and more when the Monster Truck Nationals come this weekend to the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10

‘Lovemaster' lug

See multitalented comedian Craig Shoemaker and his persona as “The Lovemaster” at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Approaching the Ides

Jim Peterik, leader of the veteran Chicago rock band Ides of March, has a resume most musicians would dream of. He spent time in chart-topping bands like Survivor, wrote or co-wrote enduring pop hits like Survivor's “Eye of the Tiger” and .38 Special's “Hold on Loosely,” traveled all over the world, and remains active in music with multiple bands and projects. Saturday he'll perform at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont, with his very first band, Ides of March, who scored hits in the 1960s and 1970s with songs like “Vehicle” (recently revived by “American Idol” contestant Bo Bice). $20. Go to montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Zydeco folk

Hear some great Louisiana zydeco music when Buckwheat Zydeco plays at two area venues — on Saturday at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org, $38, $26 seniors, $28 kids; also on Wednesday at the Montrose Room at the InterContinental O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 544-5300 or montroseroom.com, $18-$25. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10, in Glen Ellyn, and 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in Rosemont

Broadway back story

The arrival of a young actress to the Wisconsin retreat of married stage legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne leads to a romantic upheaval in “Ten Chimneys,” Jeffrey Hatcher's comedy about Broadway legends who hosted some of the most influential stage and screen stars of their time. BJ Jones directs Northlight Theatre's production featuring V. Craig Heidenreich, Lia Mortensen, Linda Kimbrough, Janet Ulrich Brooks and Lance Baker and others. See it at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $25-$60. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org. Previews run 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 11

Homestyle bluegrass

Special Consensus is a Chicago-based bluegrass band that delivers all the energy and acoustic power of traditional bluegrass with a dose of modern attitude. Suburban resident and band co-founder Greg Cahill has been with Special Consensus since the 1970s, and in the process has become a fixture in the bluegrass and roots-rock scene in the Chicago area. The band will bring its powerful songs and wonderful harmonies to Fitzgerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20. Go to fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10

Indie darling

One of the more talked-about acts to hit the indie-rock scene last year was EMA (short for Erika M. Anderson). The South Dakota native turned heads with her debut full-length record, “Past Life Martyred Saints,” and her blazing performances at key events like the Pitchfork Music Festival. EMA specializes in visceral, atmospheric rock highlighted by her striking voice (a soothing whisper one second, a piercing yell the next) and her love of guitar feedback. See her at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $12. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, March 10

‘Reptile Rampage'

The Wildlife Discovery Center of Lake Forest hosts its “14th Annual Reptile Rampage” educational event at the City of Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings, Lake Forest. Guests can get an up-close look at alligators, lizards, rattlesnakes, turtles, tortoises, frogs and other reptiles. Talk with experts from zoos, universities, museums and nature centers. Other highlights include hands-on art stations, a silent auction, refreshments and more. Admission is $8 adults; $5 children. For a $1 off admission, go to visitlakecounty.org/coupons. Visit wildlifediscoverycenter.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 11

Olympic memories

It's been 10 years since the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and this year's edition of Stars on Ice (directed and choreographed by Kurt Browning) features skating stars like Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman from the last Winter Games held in the U.S.A. See these champion skaters and more Sunday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$150. (800) 745-3000 or starsonice.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11