Best bets: Princesses on ice, comedy from the frozen North
Icy 'Princesses'If you're a fan of both figure skating and Disney animated films, then grab your kids to catch Snow White, Cinderella and a cadre of other fairy tale characters in "Disney on Ice presents Princess Classics" at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $13-$24; $45-$70 VIP seats. (800) 745-3000 or disneyonice.com. 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 8-12 (Sunday evening show in Spanish); 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12Canadian comicCanada celebrates its Labor Day the same weekend as the U.S. (though they have an extra "u" in their spelling of Labour). In a spirit of binational unity, catch Canadian comedian Jeremy Hotz this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17-$19. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4; 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5Caring comedianIrish-Mexican-American comedian Patti Vasquez not only cares about comedy, but she's also a strong advocate for breast cancer research and awareness. Catch Vasquez this weekend at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $24 plus two menu items. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3 and 4Arts of Africa"Creating and Keeping the Culture" is the theme for the 21st African Festival of the Arts at Washington Park, 51st and Cottage Grove, Chicago. Headliners this weekend include Chaka Khan, Tito Jackson (of the Jackson 5) and West African singer Angelique Kidjo. $10-$15. (773) 955-2787 or africanfestivalchicago.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6Round the worldAnybody disappointed with a financially imposed "staycation" can get a slight taste of international travel in Long Grove's International World Tour 2010 (in downtown Long Grove near the intersection of Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads). It's free admission this weekend to experience bits of culture from around the globe. (847) 634-0888 or longgroveonline.com. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6Living historyTo get a living and breathing example of 19th century American history, check out the 10th Illinois Regiment's re-enactment of a Civil War Encampment this weekend at Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 S. York Road, Oak Brook. $3.50; $3 seniors; $1.50 kids. (630) 920-9720 or grauemill.org. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5Grover's Corners"Our Town," Thornton Wilder's classic 1938 American drama about small town life, gets lots of outdoor exposure this month via Theatre-Hikes at two locations: near the Hotel Florence on the Pullman State Historic Site, 11111 S. Forrestville Ave., Chicago. (773) 660-2341. Also at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $13-$19. (630) 725-2066 or theatre-hikes.org. 1 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, in Chicago; 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 11 to 26 in LisleCars for a causeThis year's benefactor of Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez's Charity Car and Motorcycle Show is the Kane County chapter of Court Appointed Special Advocates for children (CASA). See classic cars and motorcycles Saturday at Martin Family Farm, 2S111 Green Road, Elburn. No admission charge for spectators. (630) 208-2000 or casakanecounty.org. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4Painterly tourThe moody paintings of Ohio-based artist Chun Arthur Wang are featured in the exhibit "The Other Side of the Earth." It starts Sunday at North Central College's Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St., Naperville. Free admission. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/show. 8 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, noon to midnight Sundays from Sunday, Sept. 5, through Thursday, Oct. 14False18402000Ariel, the skating Little Mermaid, stars in "Disney on Ice presents Princess Classics" in Chicago. False