Sunday picks: Spend 'An Evening With Groucho'
Wiggling cigar
Get a sense of the comic performing genius of the late Groucho Marx when Frank Ferrante brings his show “An Evening With Groucho” to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Everything's blooming
The Horticulture Department at Cantigny Park hosts its Cantigny Greenhouse Open House at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Garden enthusiasts are invited to step inside the 18,000-square-foot greenhouse — the indoor garden where more than 1,000 varieties of flowers are grown each year. Self-guided tours are offered. Other highlights include demonstrations of “green” activities for kids and environmental exhibits. Free admission and parking. Visitors for this event should enter Cantigny Park on Winfield Road, not at Shaffner Road. Complimentary trams will be running. Visit cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Bring your sweet tooth
Dig in to chocolate treats of many varieties at the annual Long Grove Chocolate Festival in downtown Long Grove, at Robert Park Coffin and Old McHenry roads, Long Grove. Fare includes chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate doughnuts and other specialty chocolate desserts, sauces and wines. Other event highlights include live music, kids' activities and more. Admission is $5 per person; kids younger than 12 admitted free. (847) 634-0888 or visitlonggrove.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Start your screams
Ride and roller coaster-deprived suburban residents can rectify this seasonal deficiency once Six Flags Great America reopens this weekend at I-94 and Route 132, Gurnee. $20.13 opening weekend only if purchased online; otherwise $41.99-$61.99 or $41.99 for kids under 48 inches in height. Kids ages 2 and younger admitted free. (847) 249-4636 or sixflags.com. 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5; season runs through October
'Touch A Truck'
The Women's Board of the Kohl Children's Museum of Glenview presents its 10th annual “Touch A Truck” family event Sunday at Fields Chrysler Jeep and Dodge, 670 W. Frontage Road, Northfield. Kids can explore 20 full-sized vehicles, including fire engines, dump trucks, semis and tractors. Other highlights include food, music, face painting and kiddie rides. All proceeds benefit the Kohl Children's Museum. Admission is $35 per family, for up to six people. For an additional $10, families can have exclusive early access, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., to the event. Visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org/truck. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Tokio Pub's $1 tacos
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Japanese fusion eatery Tokio Pub, 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, offers up one of its favorite items — $1 tacos — all day. Choose from crispy chicken, steak, nacho tacos, crying tiger shrimp, and crispy fish tacos. (847) 278-5181 or tokiopub.com. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Bike Safety Rodeo
Kids can test their biking skills on an obstacle course and then receive a safety certificate at a Bike Safety Rodeo at the Advocate Condell Conference Center, 700 Garfield Ave., Libertyville. Find out if your bike helmet fits properly while learning about bike and traffic safety. Open to children of all ages. Free. Call (847) 990-5017 or visit libertyville.com. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Big fat Greek Easter
Celebrate the Greek Orthodox Easter at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant in MB Financial Park, 5445 Park Place, Rosemont. Chefs will cook a whole lamb on the patio, and it will be ready to eat at noon. Dinner costs $15 and includes veggies and a choice of rice or potatoes. Greek beers will be on special that day. (847) 905-6828 or mybigfatgreekchicago.com. Noon Sunday, May 5
'Eggs to Chicks'
Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, hosts its “Eggs to Chicks” exhibit for the 11th year this spring. Watch the cycle of life, as more than 100 young chicks come out of their eggs in a child-height egg incubator. The exhibit also features a hatchery unit and a pen for the newborn chicks. Admission is $8.50-$9.50. Children younger than 1 admitted free. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org. Exhibit runs through Monday, May 13. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Celebrate Poland
Celebrate Polish Constitution Day by attending Polish Fest and May Fest Weekend, which features bands like Mucca Pazza, Rebel Roots and more at Copernicus Cultural Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $5; kids ages 12 and younger admitted free. (773) 777-8898 or polishfestchicago.com. Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Street fest at John Barleycorn
Today is the last day of John Barleycorn's outdoor music festival held under a big-top tent. Drink specials include sangria, mint juleps and Miller Lite beverages, as well as festival food from John Barleycorn and Moe's Cantina. Food and drink prices range from $5 to $10. Take it all in at John Barleycorn, 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg. (847) 619-5540 or johnbarleycorn.com. 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Rising scales
Violinist Isabella Lippi and conductor Andrew Grams team with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to perform Vaughan Williams' “The Lark Ascending,” Mussorgsky's introduction to “Khovanchina” and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5
New 'Spoon River'
Provision Theater Company presents a new version of Edgar Lee Masters' “Spoon River Anthology,” chronicling in poetry the life stories of the residents of a fictional small town. Artistic director Timothy Gregory adapted the script and directs the show featuring original music by Provision ensemble members Alaric Jans and Michael Mahler and Gary Fry. See the production at 1001 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. $10-$32. (312) 455-0066 or provisiontheater.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Comedy in the spotlight
Bronx native Mark Viera brings his own brand of comedy to the stage of the Chicago Improv, at 5 Woodfield Road, in Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. Viera is know for his stand-up routines about everyday life and for his impressions of well-known personalities. $19 plus a two-item minimum per person. For ages 18 and older. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5
High comedy
Comedian Doug Benson (“Super High Me,” “The Doug Benson Interruption”) will no doubt have kind things to say about Colorado and Washington state, which both recently passed marijuana initiatives, when he performs Sunday at Zanies Comedy Club, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $20 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Northlight premiere
Emmy Award winner Rhea Perlman joins Steppenwolf Theatre's Francis Guinan and Ed Flynn of Chicago's Gift Theatre Company for the world premiere of “Stella & Lou,” Jeff Award-winning playwright Bruce Graham's drama about a couple of kindred spirits seeking solace in a bar. See it at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens May 10. $25-$72. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org. Preview at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5