Best bets: Saturday Night Fight, Joan Rivers, Ski Dazzle
Broadcast bouts
Feel the chill of old Cold War winds when No. 1-ranked MMA Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko of Russia does battle with undefeated American Brett Rogers in the STRIKEFORCE/M-1 Global Saturday Night Fights. This to-be-televised event on CBS-TV also features four other bouts at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $37-$502. (800) 745-3000 or searscentre.com. 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Pre-slope shopping
More than 125 exhibitors and sponsors showcase the latest in skiing and snowboarding products at Ski Dazzle-The Chicago Ski Show & Snowboard Expo at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $12 admission; $3 kids ages 6-12. (847) 692-2222 or skidazzlechicago.com. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Larry! #*@%!
Susie Essman has gotten so famous for cussing out Larry David's character on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" that people regularly approach her in the street to yell at them. See what Essman says when she performs at two Zanies locations: 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027, and at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills, (847) 549-6030. $30 plus 2 menu-item purchase at both locations. zanies.com. In Chicago: 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8; In Vernon Hills: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 7
It's magic!
After a week of "MatheMagic!" shows for school kids, magician and Broadway veteran Bradley Fields performs "Out of Thin Air!" for the general public at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $21-$28. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Lady Dee Dee
Tony Award-winning jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater pays homage to legendary jazz chanteuse Billie Holiday with her show "To Billie with Love-A Celebration of 'Lady Day.'" Hear a stack of classic song standards at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $46; $44 seniors; $36 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Two-decade dance
River North Chicago Dance Company celebrates its 20th anniversary with an expanded program at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr., Chicago. See two world premieres plus five repertory pieces for $30-$65. (312) 334-7777 or rivernorthchicago.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Raucous Ms. Rivers
Through all the comedy, plastic surgery and reality TV appearances, Joan Rivers continues to be one of the hardest-working performers in show business. See Rivers return to her standup roots at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $62-$68. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
American originals
The Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble reconstructs traditional dances and music from the Lakota, Ojibwe, Oneida and Comanche nations. Get in touch with Native American culture at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $38; $36 seniors; $28 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Feeling sew-sew
The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo hits the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Go shopping for the latest sewing products or attend classes led by quilting experts. $10 daily admission; $19 per class session (preregistration recommended). (847) 303-4100 or sewingexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12 and 13; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14