Weekend picks: Doug Benson shares standup, podcasts at Zanies in Rosemont
Comedy bud
Comedian Doug Benson returns to town for a Cinco De Mayo Celebration standup show and two podcast tapings of “Doug Loves Movies” starting on Thursday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $20 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com/rosemont. Podcast taping: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4, and 4:20 p.m. Saturday, May 6; standup show: 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Out of the gate
Horse racing season begins again with Opening Day & Kentucky Derby Day events this weekend at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $10 opening day general admission; free tickets are available online. (847) 870-7223 or arlingtonpark.com. 3:15 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 1:25 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Bring your appetite
More than a dozen local and regional food trucks will offer a wide variety of eats at Aurora's Downtown Food Truck Festival, on Benton Street, from River to Water streets in downtown Aurora. Plus, take in live music, art exhibits and more. Free. auroradowntown.org. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 5
Jazz past & future
The SFJazz Collective and jazz violinist Regina Carter team up for the double-bill concert “The Music of Miles Davis & Original Compositions” and “Simply Ella” in honor of the 100th anniversary of late singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $28-$60. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Metal men
Fans of heavy metal rock won't want to miss seeing Queensrÿche in concert at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Jam is in season
Spring Jam is back for its 13th year of toe-tapping funk, foot-stomping bluegrass, and deep, deep jams from Chicago and throughout the suburbs. Friday night features tunes by Cymatic, Thinner Teed, Great Sky Band and Sean Shiel Music. Saturday packs the Concrete Roots, Urban Pioneers, PolySci and The Stringed Beans. Join the celebration at Mackey's Hideout for $10 each night. 8:15 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Mackey's Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry. $10. (815) 363-7040 or mackeyshideout.com.
Childish comedy
Comedian Christopher Titus mines his troubled early family life for humor with his “Born With a Defect” tour, which plays the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $33-$35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Go Fly a Kite
Hundreds of kites are expected to soar at the grand launch at 11 a.m. Saturday during the Wheaton Park District's Go Fly a Kite event in Graf Park, 1701 Manchester Road. See kite-flying demonstrations by the Chicago Fire Kite Team and participate in a highest-flying-kite contest or a most-unique-kite contest. Children can take part in a kids' candy drop and more. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the event. Free; no registration required. wheatonparkdistrict.com. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Derby de Mayo
Double your celebratory fun by commemorating both the Cinco de Mayo holiday and the running of the 2017 Kentucky Derby with the Derby de Mayo Pub Crawl starting at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. $10 registration. downtownmountprospect.com. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Olympic preview
See skating champions like Karen Chen, Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner and more when the tour of “Stars on Ice” returns to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$165; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Orchestral paintings
Lyric Opera of Chicago baritone Takaoki Onishi and the Elgin Master Chorale join with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to close out its season with a concert bill featuring Mussorgsky's “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Vaughan Williams' “Serenade to Music” and Mahler's “Songs of a Wayfarer” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65; $10 students. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7
New release by Killing gods
Born of rock and metal, Killing gods' sound wraps its hands around myriad influences and holds on tight, telling stories of life and redemption. Hear new songs when the band - Danny Koziel, Greg Sturmon, Oswaldo Rodriguez and frontman Jordan Gomer of Naperville - releases its third EP, “Tartarus,” at Bottom Lounge Saturday with Bubbles Erotica, Marwood's Fall, Bullet to the Heart and Comfort Scarcity. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Yesterday & Today
I wonder if when Y&T first started (as Yesterday & Today) they knew they'd be as influential to the rock scene as they have become. And that they would put out 18 albums? And that they'd still be touring 40 years later? Catch the hard-rock pioneers when they play St. Charles' Arcada Theatre this weekend. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
Brahms guitarist
See classical guitarist Paul Galbraith perform works by Mozart, Bach and others at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. Galbraith uses a special eight-string “Brahms guitar” that he helped to develop. The instrument has extra high and low strings. $10. No lawn sales. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Beer Can and Breweriana Show
The Bullfrog Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America hosts a Spring Beer Can and Breweriana Show at the American Legion Hall, 514 S. Main St., Wauconda. A variety of breweriana, including beer cans, trays and more, will be available. $1 admission. bcca.com. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Animal band
Bring the kids to see four farm animals triumph over a band of robbers when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Once Upon a Symphony outreach program performs “The Bremen Town Musicians” at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $16; $14 kids. (630) 942-4000, atthemac.org or cso.org. 1:30 and 3:15 p.m. Sunday, May 7
'Tomorrow is another day'
Actress and historian Lynn Rymarz explores the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning “Gone With the Wind” author Margaret Mitchell in the History Speaks Lecture Series “Margaret Mitchell - Before and After Scarlett” in the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Learn about Mitchell's childhood in Georgia and how she came to write a best-selling book that became a film which received eight Academy Awards. Photos and letters will be shared as part of the program. Reservations are recommended. $7-$10. (630) 420-6010. napersettlement.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Songs of Africa
The African Children's Choir performs African songs and dances, along with spirituals and gospel selections, in a concert at Faith Lutheran Church, 1745 Kaneville Road, Geneva. The choir has performed in front of Queen Elizabeth II and has sung with musical artists such as Paul McCartney, Keith Urban and many others. Free. A freewill offering will be collected to help support the African Children's Choir programs, including those relating to care, relief and education. (630) 232-8420. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7