Best bets: Groove with Robin Thicke, Chaka Khan at V103 concert
Top pick
R&B rally
R&B music stars Charlie Wilson, Chaka Khan, Robin ThickeandBell Biv Devoewill be on hand for theV103 25th Anniversary celebration concert Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $49-$125. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
This weekend
Crafty, tasty
More than 75 craft beers from more than 20 microbreweries can be sampled at the 2nd Annual International Craft Beer Tasting at the Itasca Holiday Inn, 860 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca. $40, for ages 21 and older only. itasca.com/craftbeer. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4
Scary clowns
Indulge in your fear of clowns at the new circus- and carnival-inspired Halloween attraction Carnevil starting this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $35 (houses and mazes); $60 (all houses, mazes and unlimited carnival rides and priority entry). (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4 through Oct. 13, then 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 17-27, and 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 30-31
Double cabaret
Cabaret lovers won't want to miss this two-for-one offer this weekend at the Arcada Theatre, since the purchase of one ticket gives you the chance to see both Barbra Streisand's sister Roslyn Kind and 1980s film superstar Molly Ringwald perform over two separate nights. Catch them both at 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$75. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. Kind at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4; Ringwald at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
Jealous Moor
The Lyric Opera of Chicago opens its 2013-14 season with a revival of Verdi's Shakespearean tragedy “Otello” starring Johan Botha, Ana Maria Martinez and conducted by Bertrand de Billy Saturday at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $79-$600 gala opening night; $39-$254 regular run. Performed in Italian with projected English translations. (312) 332-2244, ext. 5600, or lyricopera.org. 5 p.m. gala opening night Saturday, Oct. 5; also 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, 21, 25, 29 and Nov. 2 and 2 p.m. Oct. 13 and 17
Ballet sampler
The celebrated and eclectic Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns for a mixed repertory performance Saturday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $25-$75. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
Country locals
See Sean & Karen, one the top 10 finalists of the 2013 edition of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent, perform this Saturday with a full band at Duke's Alehouse, 110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9980 or thedukeabides.com. 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
Plan ahead
Return to Elm St.
The original Freddie Krueger, actor Robert Englund, will be on hand Oct. 25-27 for special screenings of the classic 1984 horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” firstat Hollywood Blvd., 1001 75th St., Suite 153, Woodridge, then at Hollywood Palms, 352 S. Route 59, Naperville. $6-$8. atriptothemovies.com. 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, and 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, in Woodridge; 4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, in Naperville
Rock progeny
Rather than take in a parade of Elvis Presley impersonators, why not see his flesh-and-blood daughter Lisa Marie Presley perform in concert on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$49. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26