Weekend picks: Zanies hosts April Macie
Rebel redhead
If you loved comedian April Macie from “Last Comic Standing” or as a guest on “The Howard Stern Show,” then don't miss her live starting Wednesday at the Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 25-26; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27; and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Holy Bingo!
Fans of the long-running Chicago show “Late Nite Catechism” won't want to miss the interactive comedy “Bible Bingo: An Act of Charity ... in Two Acts,” where audiences get quizzed on their knowledge of Catholic theology while playing for quirky prizes. See it Thursday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $28. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26
Pillow talk
Hip hop stars Chris Brown and Trey Songz headline the “Between the Sheets Tour,” which also features Tyga tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $39.75-$251.50; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27
'Shout!'
North Central College students present “Shout! The Mod Musical,” showcasing tunes from the 1960s, in the college's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. The musical comedy also looks at the role of feminism in the '60s. Featured songs include “Goldfinger,” “Downtown,” “To Sir With Love” and many others. $10-$15. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1
Celtic bash
Get a jump on St. Patrick's Day celebrations by seeing The National Dance Company of Ireland presentation of “Rhythm of the Dance” tonight at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $45-$55; $60 VIP table. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27
Comic Cummings
Comedian Whitney Cummings, a co-creator of sitcoms “2 Broke Girls” and “Whitney,” performs her standup routine five times this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. Tickets are going quickly, so grab them now. $32 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27; 7, 9:15 and 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Genre jumpers
Electronica jam rockers The Coop — Jake Barinholtz, Danny Biggins, Joe Re and Cason Trager — formed in Chicago in 2004 and have been mixing and mashing genres since. Teaming up with improvisational and experimental funk rockers Ethereal Groove, Inc., the guys are playing a 21-and-over show at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, with opener Chachuba laying down the trance-fusion grooves. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; visit durtynellies.com or call (847) 358-9150. 9:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27
High Wheeler Train Show
Railroad enthusiasts can view 20 running model train layouts at the High Wheeler Train Show in Harper College's Sports Center, Building M, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Special kids' activities include coloring and crafts. The event is sponsored by the Fox Valley division of the National Model Railroad Association. Admission is $9 for ages 13 and older; $7 for seniors ages 65 and older; $2 for kids ages 5-12; kids under age 5 are free. Cash only. highwheelertrainshow.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, March 1
Chicago Family Palooza
Step out of the cold and into a giant indoor festival, featuring a zip line, a petting zoo, inflatables, train rides. a climbing wall, entertainment and more at the Chicago Family Palooza, in the Mega Center and ballroom at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Purchase a general admission wristband for $8 or an activity wristband for $15. (630) 584-6300 or chicagofamilypalooza.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, March 1
Home and Garden Show
See the latest products for remodeling and updating homes at the Chicago Home and Garden Expo at the Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Talk with experts, attend seminars and see a variety of displays about interior and exterior home improvement. Admission and parking are free. (630) 953-2500 or freehomeshow.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, March 1
Book Blast
Youngsters can head to the Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee or to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg to celebrate the world of reading during the Simon Kidgits Club's Book Blasts. Highlights include crafts and book-related activities. For the Gurnee Mills event, youngsters are invited to bring a new or gently used book for donation the Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee. Gurnee Mills is at the intersection of I-94 and Grand Avenue, Gurnee. Woodfield Mall is at 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. Free admission. simon.com/kidgits/. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 28, outside of dining pavilion at Gurnee Mills; noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, in the Grand Court at Woodfield Mall
Discovery Day
Bring a favorite rock, fossil, leaf or other natural object from your collection to Discovery Day at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. Museum scientists will identify the items and discuss how the items fit into nature. Guests who bring in a specimen to be reviewed will receive free admission to the museum. (773) 755-5115 or naturemuseum.org. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Musical magic
The Waukegan Symphony Orchestra presents its Young People's Concert, featuring classical selections and music from the “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings” films. The event takes place in the Trapp Auditorium at Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave., Waukegan. Students are free. Adults are $5 when accompanied by a child. waukegansymphony.org. 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Singing praises
Grammy Award-winner Donnie McClurkin and nominee Anita Wilson are the featured soloists for the College of Lake County 31st Annual Salute to Gospel on Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $28-$33. (847) 543-2112 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Brass Ambassadors
The Brass Ambassadors of the Great Lakes Naval Band perform in concert at the Village Church of Lincolnshire, 201 N. Riverwoods Road, Lake Forest, Five professional brass instrumentalists perform classical, Dixieland and march selections. Light refreshments follow concert. Free. (847) 295-7707 or evcl.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Bringing the heat
Brazilian modern dance company Grupo Corpo shows off the heat and sensuality of its country quite literally this weekend with two performances featuring brief nudity at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $25-$65. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1
Returning home
Get some highly anticipated laughs from hometown heroes when Jim Belushi & the Boards of Comedy perform a show of improvised comedy on Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $55. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Winning jazz
See jazz vocalist Gregory Porter perform selections from his Grammy Award-winning album “Liquid Spirit” at his rescheduled show tonight at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $49; $59 VIP tables. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 1