Weekend picks: 'City of Dreams' combines poetry, Latin jazz
Jazzy Latin
Poetry and Latin jazz combine when David Gonzalez and the Poetic License Band perform the concert “City of Dreams” at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $36; $34 seniors; $26 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, April 6
‘The Blues: From the Heart and Soul'
“The Blues: From the Heart and Soul” exhibit continues its run at the Lake County Discovery Museum, at 27277 N. Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda. The exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most influential periods of modern music and showcases memorabilia from local blues legend “Barrelhouse” Chuck Goering of Libertyville. $2.50-$6. (847) 968-3400 or lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 6-7
Good Friday concert
The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Brass Choir is joined by the First Congregational Church Choir of Elgin and the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren Choir for a Good Friday concert at the First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Free and open to the public. Good will offerings accepted. (847) 841-7700 or visit eyso.org. Noon Friday, April 6
Whale Shark Expedition
Kids are invited to learn about whale sharks, creatures the size of a school bus, in the Whale Shark Expedition program at the Dundee Township Public Library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee. The event includes unique props and photography. Free. (847) 428-3661, ext. 210. 2 p.m. Friday, April 6
Francesca's Bellezza's jazzy nights
Get ready for some cool drinks and jazzy nights with Francesca's Bellezza's new live jazz performances on Fridays. The specials are half-price appetizers in the bar from 4 to 7 p.m. Francesca's Bellezza is located at 75 S. La Grange Road, La Grange. (708) 579-3500 or miafrancesca.com. Friday nights
The RAM's curls
It's curls for curling at The RAM Restaurant and Brewery, which has locations in Rosemont, Schaumburg and Wheeling. Get the signature taster curl with six, three-ounce samples of the RAM's most popular craft brewed beers for $4.99. Fifty cents of the proceeds goes to promote the growth of USA curling. Sample brews include the blonde, amber, a seasonal, the 71 and IPA. See theram.com. All weekend long
Three-ring fun
Elephants, tigers, acrobats, motorcycle daredevils and more are all featured in the George Carden Circus Spectacular this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $20-$45; $14 for kids (excluding Ringmaster Seats). (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 6; 11 a.m., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7; and 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 8
‘Fela!'
See “Fela!,” the Afro-beat Broadway musical about the life of African activist/musician Fela Kuti, at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $25-$90. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 6; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8
Comedy veteran
Comedian Tim Walkoe is back again this weekend to spread plenty of mirth at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two-menu-item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 6-7
‘The Turn of the Screw'
First Folio Theatre presents “The Turn of the Screw,” Jeffrey Hatcher's acclaimed adaptation of Henry James' novella about a British governess who believes ghostly figures are negatively affecting the children in her care, at Mayslake Hall at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, entrance at 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. $20-$37. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 6-7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8
Nostalgia trips
Baby boomers can relive their younger days during two tribute shows happening this weekend at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. The first show takes place Friday and features Paradise Waits, a band that brings the music of The Grateful Dead back to psychedelic life. On Saturday, the band ABBA Salute will take the stage and deliver an eerily accurate re-creation of the Swedish pop legends. Pick a show — or go to both — and take a trip down memory lane. Tickets start at $10 for both shows. Go to viper-alley.com. Paradise Waits and its opening band, Phish tribute group The Vasoconstrictors, perform at 9 p.m. Friday, April 6, and ABBA Salute performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7
Joanna Connor Band
Get ready for an evening of blues as the Joanna Connor Band headlines the Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Admission is $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com. 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 6
Heirloom search
Scope out vintage clothes, accessories and more when the Grayslake Antique Market returns this weekend to the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 Peterson Road, Grayslake. $6. (715) 526-9769 or lcfair.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 7, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8
Easter parade
Wave at the Easter bunny and go on an egg hunt this weekend during the 21st Annual Eggcellent Adventure & Parade starting at Park Avenue along Main Street and then at Williams Park in Antioch. Free. (847) 395-1000 or antioch.il.gov/events.html. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7
The Paul Abella Trio
The DuPage Children's Museum, at 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, welcomes the Paul Abella Trio for a jazz concert for guests of all ages. The program features well-known jazz tunes along with new compositions. Free with paid $8.50-$9.50 general museum admission. (630) 637-8000 or dupagechildrensmuseum.org. 10:45 a.m. Saturday, April 7
Material girl
Long before pop star Madonna sang about the glories of materialism, there was the title good-time girl in Massenet's classic opera “Manon.” See Russian soprano Anna Netrebko star as this tragic 19th-century opera heroine on the big screen courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD simulcast on Saturday at select movie theaters. Tickets vary, but are largely $22; $20 seniors and $18 kids. fathomevents.com. 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7
15th annual Easter egg hunt
Youngsters ages 1 to 9 are invited to search for more than 7,500 Easter eggs with more than 300 prizes at the 15th annual Easter egg hunt at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Egg-hunting groups are divided into three age levels. Participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to a local food pantry. Free admission. (847) 223-7878. Free. 11:30 a.m. sharp on Saturday, April 7
‘The Phantom Tollbooth' artist
Meet Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist (from The Village Voice), children's book author and illustrator Jules Feiffer, known for illustrating the classic “The Phantom Tollbooth,” at the Jean Albano Gallery, 215 W. Superior, Chicago. Books will be available for purchase, including Feiffer's memoir, “Backing Into Forward,” and a selection of his picture books for children. The event is co-sponsored by the Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka. Free. (847) 446-8880 or (312) 440-0770 or visit thebookstall.com. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 7
Chess hustle
Chess hustlers battle each other and their personal demons over the course of a hot, New York City day in “Fish Men” by playwright and chess master Candido Tirado, a Teatro Vista resident playwright. Teatro Vista artistic director Edward Torres directs the world premiere production in collaboration with Goodman Theatre at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Raul Castillo and Howard Witt head up the multicultural, multigenerational cast. $12-$42. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org. Previews starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 8; the show opens April 16
Badu for you
Erykah Badu, Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick are just a few of the stars performing in the Hip Hop Meets Soul Concert this Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $59-$79. (800) 745-3000 or ariecrown.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7
Bring the family to Pinstripes' Easter event
Hunt eggs. See the bunny. Fill your belly. Do it all at Pinstripes' Easter event. The spread includes carved prime rib, fresh seafood, waffles, made-to-order omelets, a salad bar, desserts and more. The buffet includes one mimosa for adults and costs $28 per person. Kids 6 to 12 eat for $14, while those younger than 5 eat for free. The Easter egg hunt starts at 9:30 a.m. at 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. (847) 844-9300 or pinstripes.com. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8