Weekend picks: Comedian Mitch Fatel brings standup to Schaumburg
Funny Fatel
Catch up with comedian Mitch Fatel as he returns to perform standup this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26; 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Geneva Restaurant Week
There's still time to take advantage of Geneva Restaurant Week, as restaurants are running specials now through Sunday, Jan. 27. Lunch and dinner deals typically range from $9 to $39, and some include multiple courses and/or a drink. Participating restaurants include: 1910 Bar, Altiro Latin Fusion, Atwater's in The Herrington, Chianti's, Cotto A Legna, Craft Urban, Del Barrio Mezcaleria, FoxFire Restaurant, Geneva Ale House, GIA MIA, Houlihan's, The Little Traveler Atrium Café, Livia Italian Eatery, Old Towne Pub Geneva, Osteria Bigolaro, Preservation, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Sergio's Cantina, Stockholm's and The Walrus Room. Find details at genevachamber.com/.
Dog pageant
Different breeds of canines compete in the Cool Cluster Dog Shows sponsored by the Chain O' Lakes Kennel Club this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Free, but $5 parking. (847) 680-7200 or lcfair.com. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 27
Such howlers!
See demonstrations of dogs doing sled-pulling and "skijoring" (dogs pulling a person on skis), or find out about adoption programs as part of the annual Husky Heroes this Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $15; $13 seniors; $10 kids ages 2 to 17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 26 and 27
Nosh time
Bring adventurous appetites to try all kinds of tasty treats at the Kane County Food Truck Festival on Saturday at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. $6-$10; kids ages 10 and under admitted free with paying adult. (630) 584-6926 or kanecountyfair.com or brewavenueevents.com. Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
Ebonies & ivories
Nearly 500 local performers of all ages play 12 grand pianos provided by Cordogan's Pianoland for the 24th annual American Grands show on Saturday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $24; $15 kids ages 12 and under. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
Big trucks
See oversized vehicles crush cars and do other stunts with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks LIVE! this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $29-$39; $9 kids ages 12 and under. (847) 649-2222 or searscentre.com. 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26; 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Viennese high jinks
Fidelity-tested spouses and practical jokers run amok in "Die Fledermaus" ("The Bat"). Kirk Muspratt conducts the New Philharmonic in performances of the 1874 comic operetta by Johann Strauss II this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $59. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Waltz kings
Andrew Grams conducts the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in waltzes, polkas and more by the Strauss family in "A Night in Old Vienna" this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$75; $10 youth. (847) 888-0400 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Purple tribute
Die-hard fans of the late singer and songwriter Prince won't want to miss "Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show" this Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $37.50-$57.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
The Imperial Sound at Hey Nonny
Skokie's Kenn Goodman and Freeport's Rick Mosher harness their considerable talents from their time on the Chicago scene for their most recent project together, The Imperial Sound, a full-bodied swing band that encompasses a mix of pop, rock and Chicago's soul legacy. Together with their bandmates - Jason Batchko, Gary Schepers, David Winer and David Smith - they produce a sound lively with power chords and jazzy horns, beautiful harmonies and danceable rhythms. The Imperial Sound celebrates the recent release of its debut album "The New AM" with a show at Arlington Height's Hey Nonny with Rachel Drew and Tony Richards. 8:30 p.m. (doors at 7:30) Saturday, Jan. 26, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$30. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.
Libation Trail Tastin' Tour
It's almost here: The first Libation Trail Tastin' Tour, a brewery bus tour from Visit Lake County and Vorlauf Brew Tours, rolls out at noon Sunday, Jan. 27. The tours starts at Half Day Brewing Company, 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire, before traveling by luxury shuttle to Roaring Table Brewing in Lake Zurich, Tighthead Brewing in Mundelein and then finishing back at Half Day. The tour, which ends at 5 p.m., includes catering at Half Day Brewing, a craft beer tour guide, three beers (one per location), one surprise bus beer, a VIP brewery tour at Tighthead Brewing, a survival goody bag, and "Jebeerdy" trivia and prizes. It's $69.95 per person (21 and older only). Order tickets at vorlaufbrewtours.com/events-1/libation-trail-tastin-tour. For details, see visitlakecounty.org/libation-trail.
Wintertime fun
The Busy Brains Children's Museum sponsors the family event Beat the Winter Blues, which features storytelling, STEM projects, contests and more at the Lake Villa Township West Campus, 37850 IL Hwy. 59, Lake Villa. $5 with a donation of a new winter hat or gloves; $7 per family otherwise. (847) 356-2383 or busybrains.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Remembrance event
To mark the International Day of Holocaust Remembrance, the Illinois Holocaust Museum presents the lecture "The Work of Father Patrick Desbois and Yahad-In Unum." Yahad-In Unum research director Patrice Bensimon discusses the organization's efforts to discover and document the European locations of mass graves. The event is on Sunday at 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Free. (847) 967-4800 or illinoisholocaustmuseum.org. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Jazz & ragtime
Pianist Matt Peterson performs music of Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock and more in the St. Charles Public Library's Carnegie Community Room, 1 S. 6th St., St. Charles. Free. (630) 584-0076 or scpld.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Icy competition
Gold medal paralympian Brody Roybal is a special guest for the 9th Annual The Sleds Are Coming sled hockey showcase at the Lake Forest College Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, 555 Sheridan Road, Lake Forest. Free. (847) 735-5285 or glasa.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27
Underbelly Hours kickoff at Cairo
Adela and Dan, hosts of The Underbelly Hours radio show on Elmhurst College's WRSE-88.7 FM, are throwing a kickoff party for the 2019 season of the radio show, and you're invited! The party features some of the show's favorite underground acts from last year - The Child of Eve, Elysian Green, Pino Farina, From the Start, The God Awful Small Affairs and Rotten Mouth - along with raffles, food, brews and more. 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Cairo Ale House, 2009 Franciscan Way, West Chicago. $5. (630) 876-9600 or cairoalehouse.com.
Concert highlights
Punk Goes Prom with Tricky Mission, Sell Out: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $7-$10. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.
"MJ Live" - Michael Jackson Tribute, Wedding Banned: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$69. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com/theatre/.
Diamond Live - The Tribute Celebration of Neil Diamond's Birthday: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at The Mainstage Theater at Pheasant Run, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25. (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com.
Englebert Humperdinck: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $59-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
The Piano Man's Piano Man - A tribute to the music of Billy Joel: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $15-$25. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.
The Rhythm Rockets: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Frankie's Blue Room, 16 W. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $10. (630) 416-4898 or frankiesblueroom.net.
Matt Derda & The High Watts: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Johnny's Blitz, 20 N. Cass Ave., Westmont. Free. (630) 541-9015 or facebook.com.
Terrapin Flyer: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 537-4440 or chopshopchi.com.
Flat Cats: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Club Arcada, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $15. (630) 962-7000 or clubarcada.com.
The Jades, The New Zeitgeist, Jeff Brown, Emily White: 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Subterranean Downstairs, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
A Dozen Paces, Foresight: 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Crown Liquors & Taproom, 2821 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 252-9741 or crownliquorschicago.com.
• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.