Best bets: Chicago Auto Show revs up at McCormick Place

All about autos

See the latest models and concept cars when the Chicago Auto Show revs things up for its 105th edition starting Saturday at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $12; $6 admission for seniors ages 62 and older and for kids ages 7 to 12. chicagoautoshow.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, through Sunday, Feb. 17, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18

Old/new houses

Need ideas on remodeling or sprucing up your home? Then don't miss The Old Home New House Home Show, which returns this weekend at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $7; $4 seniors; kids and teenagers younger than 18 admitted free. (630) 515-1160 or pheasantrun.com or kennedyproductions.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Big wheels

See big trucks crunch smaller vehicles this weekend when Monster Jam returns to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $21-$57.50; $10 opening night. (800) 745-3000 or monsterjam.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-10

Persian, like the cat

Comedian Maz Jobrani (“Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!” “The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour”) puts his spin on life in the U.S. as an Iranian-American out there at the Improv Comedy Showcase and Restaurant, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $27 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Comic Klein

Comedian and Second City alum Robert Klein has been seen on Broadway (“They're Playing Our Song,”), the big screen (“Primary Colors”) and TV (“The Tonight Show”). Now catch Klein live Saturday at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35-$39. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9

Classical choral

The Elgin Choral Union and Heartland Voices join with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the concert “Choral Fantasy,” which features pianist Alexander Schimpf and conductor Donato Cabrera performing music of Brahms, Beethoven and Schubert. Performances are this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Creole stew

Get in the mood for Mardi Gras celebrations by catching the rock and bluesy band Creole Stomp Sunday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Dance masters

Celebrate great U.S. choreographers when the Joffrey Ballet presents the concert “American Legends” featuring the work of Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, Gerald Arpino and Stanton Welch at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $31-$152. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 15, 21, 22; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 23; and 2 p.m. Feb. 17 and 24

Woodwind 5

Latin, African and European music traditions are interpreted through woodwind instruments with the Imani Winds, which plays the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $22-$28; $21-$27 seniors; $15 teens. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14