Weekend picks: Cuneo's light show brightens your night
Lighting up the night
Drive through 97 acres of holiday lights and holiday scenes at the Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show at Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. $5 per car Monday through Thursday; $10 per car Friday through Sunday. Visit cuneomansion.org. 6 to 10 p.m. nightly starting Friday, Nov. 23, and running through Monday, Dec. 31
'Sister Act'
“Sister Act,” the musical version of the hit 1990s film that focuses on a disco singer who is hidden in a convent as part of a witness protection program, continues its run at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Tickets cost $28-$150. (800) 982-2787 or broadwayinchicago.com. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25
Taste the Q
Get a good taste of Q-BBQ for next to nothing. Sample-sized portions of pulled pork cost 12 cents on Black Friday through Sunday. Q-BBQ is located at 70 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, (708) 482-8700, and 103 S. Main St., Naperville, (630) 637-6400. Q-bbq.com. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 23-25
Smooth move
Take a breather from shopping and enjoy a free Cranberry Truffle Smoothie Friday with the purchase of any wrap, salad or sandwich at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 315 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Black Friday also happens to be National Cranberry Day, the inspiration for the new smoothie that blends cranberries, strawberries, yogurt and Ghirardelli white chocolate. The seasonal smoothie will remain on the menu through Jan. 7. (847) 749-6554 or il05.tropicalsmoothie.com. Friday, Nov. 23
Holiday Walk
Head to downtown Libertyville Friday for the village tree-lighting ceremony, which is followed by choral performances and a visit from Santa Claus. Afterward, downtown stores will have special treats and a preview of holiday decorations during the Libertyville Holiday Walk. Free. (847) 680-0336 or visit mainstreetlibertyville.org. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Pioneer Christmas
The Glen Ellyn Historical Society presents its Candlelight Tours and Pioneer Christmas celebration beginning at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Groups will gather at the history center and be guided to the nearby Stacy's Stagecoach Tavern Museum at 557 Geneva Road. Once there, activities will include cookie baking, ornament making, folk dancing and more. Free and open to the public. (630) 469-1867. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
'A Christmas Carol'
Students from the College of DuPage present Charles Dickens' classic tale “A Christmas Carol” in the Building K Theater at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $10 adults, $9 senior citizens and youth. (630) 942-4000. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25
Hair-metal hero
Bret Michaels — former leader of '80s metal band Poison and current reality show star — will bring his loud, swaggering, bombastic rock attack to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49 to $89. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Master songwriter
Influential Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen comes back to town with a concert at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $49.50-$95. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Fatel for fun
If you love comedian Mitch Fatel for his appearances on Comedy Central and satellite radio, then catch him live as he returns this weekend to the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. $19-$22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25
'Scrooge the Musical'
See the classic holiday tale of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge in the new staging of “Scrooge the Musical” at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$25. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25
Tough guys & toys
Wrestlers Steve Boz and “Strangler” Diego Corleone are just a couple of tough guys taking part in a fundraising bout for the Pro Wrestling Toys for Tots Toy Drive at the Pyramid Club, 236 W. Lake St., Addison. Admission is one new and unwrapped toy (no stuffed animals or toy weapons). (630) 458-0777 or pyramidclubaddison.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Mavis again
If you missed Mavis Staples when she performed her distinctive soul and gospel sounds in the suburbs, you have a chance to hear her this weekend at the City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Tickets cost $48-$75. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23-24
'Wonderful Life' on air
See “It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play” at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Williams Street Repertory presents the classic holiday film as a 1940s live radio broadcast. $22-$28. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Collectibles show
Search for collectible items such as sports cards, celebrity autographs and more at the Collectibles Show at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. Free admission. For information, call Corky at (847) 658-4981 or email collectables2@yahoo.com. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Handmade crafts
Seventy crafter booths with handmade items including jewelry, photography, paper crafts, apparel and more will be on hand at the Christmas on the Fox Art and Craft Show in the Prairie Events Center at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. $3 admission. Visit artoftheheartlandinc.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25
'Nutcracker' of the week
'Tis the season for battling mice, graceful snowflakes and cavorting confectionary. Yes, the Tchaikovsky ballet “The Nutcracker” is dominating local dance stages again. The Salt Creek Ballet presents its version at multiple locations: Hinsdale Central Auditorium, 5500 S. Grant St., Hinsdale; The Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway, off I-57 at Sauk Trail, University Park; and at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets vary by venue. Visit saltcreekballet.org for details. 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25 in Hinsdale; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in University Park; and 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, in Skokie
Guitar going
Folk guitarist Muriel Anderson continues her ongoing tradition of a special post-Thanksgiving concert at Downers Grove North High School Auditorium, 4436 N. Main St., Downers Grove. This Saturday's concert also features guest musician Howard Levy. $23-$25; $15-$17 students/seniors. murielanderson.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Isaak in concert
Fans of rocker Chris Isaak won't want to miss his show at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Tickets cost $44.50-$95. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Tough and twangy
If rockin' country sounds are your thing, you'll do no better this weekend than the Ha Ha Tonka show at Chicago's Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. The Missouri band combines the rootsy flavor of Ozark music with driving indie rock. Opening for them will be Lydia Loveless, a 21-year-old phenom (and fellow Bloodshot Records artist) who delivers country-punk songs with a caustic wit and a stunning howl of a voice. $12. Go to subt.net. 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Old man, young wife
A rich old man marries a younger woman to keep his fortune away from his nephew, but things don't go according to plan in Donizetti's comic opera “Don Pasquale,” which returns Sunday to the repertory of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. It's sung in Italian with projected English translations at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $34-$239. (312) 332-2244 or lyricopera.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25
Lights are on in Batavia!
The annual Celebration of Lights Festival returns to the Batavia Riverwalk, at Houston Street and Island Avenue. Join the Batavia Park District in a community singalong at 5:45 p.m., stay to see the ceremonial tree lighting at 6 p.m., and get a photo with Santa at the Peg Bond Center at 6:15 p.m. A story hour courtesy of the Batavia Public Library will run from 6:15 to 7 p.m. in the Batavia Depot Museum. Hayrides for $1 or a nonperishable donation to the Batavia Food Pantry. Free admission; free parking north of the Batavia Government Center. (630) 879-5235 or bataviaparks.org. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25