Best Bets: Horror fans converge on Rosemont for Flashback Weekend
The fright stuff
Horror fans converge on the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, for the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention featuring a salute to the film “Scream” (and its sequels) on the 30th anniversary of the original film and featuring franchise stars David Arquette, Marley Shelton, Dermot Mulroney, Joseph Whipp and others. Other celebrities scheduled to appear are David Naughton (“An American Werewolf in London”), Jane Levy (“Evil Dead”), Steven Webber (“Chicago Med,” “13 Reasons Why”) and William Katt (“Carrie,” “The Greatest American Hero”), among others. The largest and longest-running event of its kind in the area, Flashback Weekend also includes a “Halloween II” screening (featuring composer Alan Howarth performing the score live), Svengoolie hosting a talk show, and a costume contest, a dance party and other events. Advance tickets start at $40, $80 for a weekend pass, $375 for an ultimate pass. Tickets at the door start at $45; $85 for a weekend pass. Proceeds from the convention support the Midway Drive-In in Dixon and 35 mm film preservation. flashbackweekend.com/. Opens at noon Friday, July 31, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2
Destination Asia
The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, hosts Destination Asia, a cultural celebration that spans the weekend and includes performances of Japan’s national stringed instrument the koto; curated displays of Japanese textiles; access to select Japanese whiskies; a bonsai show; the Toro Nagashi lantern ceremony; and other events. $50 for the opening event “An Evening in Japan”; other activities are free with arboretum admission starting at $17.95. mortonarb.org. “An Evening in Japan”: 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 31; Destination Asia: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2
An evening with Stewart Copeland
A few tickets remain for an evening with composer and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s appearance is a stop on his spoken-word tour “Have I Said Too Much: The Police, Hollywood, and Other Adventures.” $44-$178.88. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31
Swingin' at North Central
The Glenn Miller Orchestra performs the greatest hits from its namesake conductor, arranger and composer at the Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The program includes: “In The Mood,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “American Patrol,” “A String Of Pearls,” “Little Brown Jug,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” Miller’s signature tune “Moonlight Serenade” and more. $65. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 31 and Aug. 1
Baseball at Cantigny
Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, invites baseball fans to experience how America’s pastime was played more than 100 years ago, according to 1850s rules and regulations. That means the hometown DuPage Plowboys and the Flossmoor Railsplitters (Aug. 2) and the Creston Regulators (Aug. 16) will play without baseball gloves. There’s also no overhand pitching, no called balls and strikes, no stealing bases, no sliding and no leading off. Parking is $6 per car. cantigny.org. Noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 2 and 16
Art at the Al Larson Center
The Al Larson Cultural Center, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, presents “Written by Light,” an exhibition of experimental, botanical-inspired cyanotypes created by artist Catherine Tully through a slow-reacting, cameraless photographic printing process. prairiecenter.org. Sunday, Aug. 2, through Aug. 29
Windy City Comedy Fest
More than 50 comedians will perform during the Windy City Comedy Fest taking place at Chicago venues including The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave; Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.; iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St.; the Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave.; Newport Theater, 956 W. Newport Ave.; Second City, 1616 N. Wells St.; Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State St.; Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; and The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway. Comedian and classical violist Isabel Hagen and Bob Keen kick off the festival on Thursday, Aug. 6. Tickets start at $10. Some shows require a two-item minimum. windycitycomedyfest.com. Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 6-9
LookOut welcomes Tony winner
Tony Award-winner (and Melania Trump impersonator par excellence) Laura Benanti brings her solo comedy show, “Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares,” to Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Part of Steppenwolf’s LookOut series, the performance marks the first stop on Benanti’s national tour. Rooted in Benanti’s musings on motherhood and aging, the show features original songs by Benanti and Todd Almond. $70-$125. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6-7; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8; and 3 p.m. Aug. 9