Weekend picks: Laugh it up with Ralphie May at the Improv

Ralphie May

Since Ralphie May's debut on season one of “Last Comic Standing,” audiences can't get enough of this larger-than-life comedian. See for yourself at the Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28. chicago.improv.com. 7 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Stitching time

The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo is back, so quilting fans can take in workshops, classes and exhibits at the Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $8-$10; kids 12 and younger admitted free with accompanying guardian. (847) 303-4100 or sewingexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 4-5, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Antique machines

Try your luck at finding a collectible “one-armed bandit” or a classic player of 45 vinyl singles at the Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot Machine & Jukebox Show this weekend at the Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $7 per day; $50 preview and three-day admission. (630) 584-6342 or pheasantrun.com or chicagolandshow.com. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. early bird preview Friday, April 5; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6; and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Who's been sitting in my chair?

See fairy tale favorite “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. A family of three bears living in the woods is set on edge when a girl named Goldilocks wanders into their home while they are away. The “fun” begins when the bears arrive home to find their house is a mess. $12-$14. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 5, and 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Touch-A-Tractor

Youngsters can get an up-close look at and sit on a tractor, while checking out other modern farm equipment at the Touch-A-Tractor event at the Kane County Farm Bureau, 2N710 Randall Road, St. Charles. Other event highlights include shelling corn, viewing farm animals and a raffle for a pedal tractor. Guests are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation; they will receive an extra entry for the pedal tractor raffle. Free admission. (630) 584-8660 or kanecfb.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Friday, April 5, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7

'Aprons: Ties to the Past'

The “Aprons: Ties to the Past” exhibit at the Grayslake Heritage Center, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake, uses both occupational and individual aprons to tell the stories of people who have been part of Grayslake's history. Highlights include a metal mesh apron, a blacksmith's apron and many kitchen aprons. Also featured are children's aprons, hostess aprons and aprons used for special occasions. Free; donations are welcome. (847) 543-1745. Noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 5-7; runs through Tuesday, April 30

Family folk fun

Teach the kids how much fun folk music can be by taking in a performance of the playful Billy Jonas & The Billy Jonas Band Friday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $17-$25; $6 students. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 5

I think I can fly

Four leading Chicago contemporary dance companies, The Dance COLEctive, Hedwig Dances, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre and Zephyr Dance, have formed a new partnership called FlySpace to engage audiences in contemporary dance. The new project launches this weekend with the FlySpace Dance Series, a two-weekend series that includes six performances featuring all four companies (two each weekend) with five world premieres by six choreographers. See it at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. Tickets cost $15. (773) 871-0872 or brownpapertickets.com. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Spring sonic

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra marks the season this weekend with the concert “Nature's Awakening” featuring music by Haydn, Nielsen and Beethoven with guest conductor José Luis Gomez and flutist Amy Porter at two locations: Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg ($28-$48), also at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin ($28-$68). (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, in Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, in Elgin

'Mozart Requiem'

The Wheaton College Conservatory of Music presents a performance of the “Mozart Requiem” by the Wheaton College Choir, the Men's Glee Club, the Women's Chorale and the Symphony Orchestra, in the school's Edman Memorial Chapel, at Washington and Franklin Streets, Wheaton. Admission is $5-$10; free for Wheaton College ID holders and for youth ages 18 and younger. (630) 752-5099 or wheaton.edu. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5

Moody holiday tale

Steel Beam Theatre's Donna Steele directs the company's production of “The Seafarer.” Written by the great chronicler of isolation and despair, Conor McPherson, the play unfolds on Christmas Eve day, in a ramshackle Dublin house shared by brothers Richard and Sharky, whose booze-fueled poker game with friends takes a dark turn with the arrival of a mysterious guest. See it at the theater, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $25, $23. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Warren B. funny

Comedian Warren B. Hall has appeared on “Comics Unleashed” and opened for acts ranging from Lewis Black to Tommy Davidson. Catch Hall as a headliner this weekend at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two-item menu purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, April 5, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Free Lucky Boys Confusion show

Local alt-rock band Lucky Boys Confusion will perform a “hometown” show this weekend at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. The band emerged in the late 1990s from Downers Grove and Naperville. It signed to a major label on the strength of its strong alternative sound, one that incorporated elements of ska and hip-hop. After enjoying mainstream success in the 2000s, the group's members have gone on to other projects, but they continue to play together as Lucky Boys Confusion for local audiences. No cover charge. Go to durtynellies.com. 9 p.m. Friday, April 5

Crafty

If handicrafting is your hobby, then don't miss the chance to see the merchandise and many displays on hand at this weekend's Festival of Arts and Craft Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 Peterson Road, Grayslake. $3. stepbysteppromotions.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Prehistoric times

The “Dinosaurs Alive!” exhibit returns Saturday to Brookfield Zoo featuring 24 life-size, animatronic prehistoric creatures, including Styracosaurus, Tuojiangosaurus and Pachycephalosaurus. Ferocious favorites like Tyrannosaurus rex and Dilophosaurus are back along with Stegosaurus and Triceratops. The winding trail showcases animatronic dinosaurs making a variety of sounds and movements and a tented area highlights the most recent paleontological findings, including scientific discoveries that show how birds evolved from dinosaurs. This zoo is located at 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield. Exhibit admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors 65 and older in addition to the general admission of $15 for adults, $10.50 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Parking is $10. www.czs.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Saturday, April 6, to Oct. 27

Do some good

International musicians, aid organizations and social justice lecturers all converge for the 6th Annual Global Activism Expo Saturday at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. Free admission. chicagopublicmedia.org. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Meet 'Beyonders' author

Brandon Mull, author of The New York Times best-selling “Beyonders” series for young adults, reads from and signs copies of his newest book “Chasing the Prophecy” at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Not slowing down

The hard-rock band Faster Pussycat will make a stop at the Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington, this weekend. Faster Pussycat was born in the late 1980s in the hard rock/glam/metal scene of Los Angeles. The band scored big hits in the late '80s and early '90s with its sleazy guitar-based sound. Guest bands include Bullet Train, Shokker and Agent 86. $12. Go to pennyroadpub.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Last of Lennon

Tim Piper portrays the legendary late Beatles member John Lennon in the concert “Just Imagine” playing Saturday at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $33-$35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Adam and Co.

Maroon 5 just announced a summer tour, but you don't have to wait to see Adam Levine and company if you snag tickets to their Saturday concert at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $29.50-$79.50. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Bob Seger in concert

Rock legends Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band headline the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets cost $65-$95. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6

'Busy as a Bee'

Learn how to plant a bee-friendly garden, examine a beehive, meet beekeepers and taste some honey in the one-hour Busy as a Bee program at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Program is for ages 7-12 (with an adult). $6 per person, To register, call (630) 876-5900. Sessions run on the hour and the half-hour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Greek journey in the Windy City

Navy Pier honors the city's Greek American presence with a lively afternoon Sunday of dancing, music, wine tasting, Greek food, art exhibits and more. Enjoy performances by the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society, Chicago Hellenic Choir, Cretan Youth Dance of Chicago and Pontian Young Dancing Troupe. Taste food by Greek restaurants including Athena, Greek Islands, Parthenon, Pegasus, Psistaria, Roditys, Taxim and Artopolis Bakery at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 595-7437 or navypier.com. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Mike Greenberg book signing

ESPN talk show host and author Mike Greenberg discusses and signs copies of his book “All You Could Ask For” at The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, 811 Elm St., Winnetka. (847) 446-8880 or thebookstall.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Magical mime

Enjoy magic, mime and puppetry during a “Tiny Great Performances” family production at the DuPage Children's Museum, at 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Admission to the show is free with paid $8.50-$9.50 general museum admission. (630) 637-8000 or dupagechildrens.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Singing Spavone

Tony Spavone will sing with your supper at a ChicaGourmets dinner at Tony Spavone's Ristorante, 266 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale. The evening includes passed hors d'oeuvres and wine, followed by traditional Italian cuisine. New members welcome. $59 members; $69 nonmembers (tax and tip included). Reserve by April 5 at chicagourmets.org. (630) 529-3154 or tonyspavones.net. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Never forget

Deborah E. Lipstadt, the author of the book “The Eichmann Trial” about the 1960 capture and trial of Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann, appears Sunday as Elmhurst College's 2013 Holocaust Guestship Lecturer at the Frick Center's Founders Lounge, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Free admission. (630) 617-3390 or elmhurst.edu. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Biblical chorus

Chicago's Music of the Baroque, led by conductor Jane Glover and a choral ensemble, tackle Handel's large-scale oratorio “Israel in Egypt” at two locations starting Sunday: the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 673-6300, then at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $27-$75. (312) 334-7777 or baroque.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, in Skokie, and 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in Chicago