Weekend picks: Get some laughs in

Scuba duba: Anyone who is interested in scuba diving shouldn't miss the Our World Underwater show, which features displays, seminars, travel information and more this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont: (847) 692-2222 or ourworldunderwater.com. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17

2013 Chicago Auto Show: See 1,000 vehicles on display, along with auto-related exhibits, special celebrity appearances and more at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Admission is $12 adults; $6 for seniors ages 62 and older and kids ages 7-12; free for kids ages 6 and younger when accompanied by a paying adult. Visit chicagoautoshow.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sunday, Feb. 17

TGIF: After 5 p.m. Fridays in February, Navy Pier offers special discounts for many of its restaurants, shops and attractions. Parking in the Navy Pier garage will be $5 and all Ferris wheel rides are $1 (instead of $6). Stop by Harry Caray's Tavern, Bubba Gump, Margaritaville, McDonald's, Connie's Pizza and others for discounts on food and drinks. Chicago Shakespeare Theater is offering a $15 discount on tickets to “Julius Caesar” and enjoy $5 off all movies at the IMAX Theater. After 5 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 15 and 22, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. navypier.com.

Irish Mill Inn presents: The Irish Mill Inn jams out on the first Friday of lent with Whitey O'Day from 6 to 9 p.m. and Terry Spizzirri from 9:30 to 1 a.m. Friday drink specials rotate weekly but will likely include $4.50 20-ounce drafts of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's and $3 Killian's Irish Red. No cover. Stop in early for Lake County's favorite fish fry. Irish Mill Inn, 26592 N. Route 83, Mundelein. (847) 566-7044 or irishmillinn.com. 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15

Andy Cohen: Memphis guitarist Andy Cohen plays southern country blues tunes from the 1920s to the 1950s at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove (630) 969-9720 or twowaystreet.org. $7. 8:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15

'Local' band: Local H, a power duo consisting of Lake County natives Scott Lucas and Brian St. Clair, released one of its most acclaimed records in 2012, “Hallelujah! I'm a Bum,” a double-LP that bristled with political songs. (The web magazine PopMatters.com called it “the best rock album of 2012.”) The band is always a powerful force on stage, and it is making a stop in Palatine this weekend at a special free show! 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. For a free ticket, go to durtynellies.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15

Loads of Legos: Watch as Lego trains race through Lego towns, and see scenes from popular movies in Lego form at the Lego Train Show at the DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. The exhibit features works by the Northern Illinois Lego Train Club. Free. (630) 510-4941 or dupagemuseum.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17

Here, kitty! The Lincoln State Cat Club hosts its All Breed-Cat Show in the Wellness and Sports Center (Building M) at Harper College, 1200 W, Algonquin Road, Palatine. Guests can meet various cat breeds, watch competitions and purchase food, collectibles and other cat-related supplies from vendors. Admission is $8; free for kids under age 6. Visit harpercollege.edu or lscats.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17

Winter Wood Wonders: Wood artists showcase and sell a wide variety of wooden artwork at the Winter Wood Wonders art festival at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Wood carvers, wood burners, scroll sawers and other artists will be on hand to give demonstrations. Vendors will sell supplies. Food is available for purchase. Suggested donation is $3 for adults. Free for kids under age 12 and active military personnel. Visit winterwoodwonders.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17

Family Fun Fest: Head to Lombard's Yorktown Center at 203 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, for the Family Fun Fest. Forty exhibitors will be on hand, showcasing unique gifts, handmade items and more. Other highlights include music from Randy Erwin, face painting, food, dance performances and family activities. Free. Visit yorktowncenter.com. Events begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, and run throughout the day

Canvas attack: See how abstract painters in the mid-20th century assaulted their canvasses in the new exhibit Destroy the Picture: Painting the Void, 1949-1962, starting Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. $12; $7 students/seniors; Free for Illinois residents Tuesdays. (312) 280-2660 or mcachicago.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17

President's Day at Susanna Farms: Head to Susanna Farms in Lake Villa to meet the new Scottish Highland bull calves during the farm's President's Day weekend event. The two bulls were born in early January and are now able to meet the public. A naming contest is under way, and visitors can vote for their favorite names. Other weekend highlights include a straw maze and hayride through the (possibly) snow-covered fields. Susanna Farms is at 24153 Townline Road, Lake Villa. Admission is $2 per person; $5 per person for hayrides. (847) 838-0798 or susannafarms.com. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17

Winter fun: Embrace the winter weather by attending the Chicago Park District's 8th Annual Polar Adventure Days this Saturday. On tap are dog sled demonstrations, hot cocoa and more activities at Northerly Island, 1400 S. Lynn White Drive, Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-4907 or chicagoparkdistrict.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Heather, ha ha ha! Comedian Heather McDonald has made a name for herself as a writer and performer on “Chelsea Lately,” but her roots are in improv and sketch comedy. Catch McDonald this weekend at two Zanies locations: 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342; then at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in St. Charles; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in Rosemont

Heartland rockers: The BoDeans exploded out of Wisconsin in the mid-1980s with a classic debut record, “Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams,” which featured literate and rootsy rock songs. Singer-songwriter Kurt Neumann is the only original member remaining, but the band continues to make compelling rock 'n' roll. Tickets for the Prairie Center for the Arts show, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, start at $34. Go to ci.schaumburg.il.us/PCA. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Kinetic Keller: The true-life tale of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan is retold through movement by co-choreographers Melissa Thodos and Ann Reinking when Thodos Dance Chicago presents the premiere of “A Light in the Dark,” this Saturday, Feb. 16, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $36-$46. (847) 673-6300; then at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$60. (312) 334-7777 or thodosdancechicago.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 in Skokie; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in Chicago

Sister act: Sisters and Broadway veterans Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway return to town to perform their acclaimed show “Sibling Revelry” Saturday at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. $20-$50. (847) 499-5000 or viper-alley.com. 6:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

African harmony: Though most people were first exposed to Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Paul Simon's “Graceland” album, the South African a cappella group has been around since the 1960s. Hear this acclaimed ensemble this Saturday at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Hit the road: The Chicago Jazz Orchestra plays “A Tribute to Ray Charles” with soloists like singer/songwriter/composer Allan Harris and Chicago favorites, Dee Alexander, Joan Collaso and Yvonne Gage as the fierce “Raelettes” this Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35 (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

'Alice in Wonderland': Emerald City theater group adapts Lewis Carroll's classic tale “Alice in Wonderland” and brings it to the stage at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines. Guests of all ages can watch Alice's adventures after she falls down a rabbit hole and enters a magical world. Free. (847) 376-2804 or dppl.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17