Weekend picks: Feel the beat with Beatolution
Beatolution
Spend a rocking evening with the Beatles tribute band Beatolution at the Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. Following the concert, guests can meet the band members. Admission is free. (847) 541-4700 or cubbynorth.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
SATURDAY
Tweeter accounts
Learn all about Winter Birds that brave the cold in Illinois in a lecture and outdoor stroll Saturday at the Creek Bend Nature Center within LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles. Free, but advance registration required. (630) 444-3190 or kaneforest.com. 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
Joy from Joffrey
Time is running out to catch the final few performances this year of the Joffrey Ballet's “The Nutcracker.” The classic Tchaikovsky Christmastime ballet plays through Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $31-$132. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org or auditoriumtheatre.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
Motown in your town
“Motown The Musical” may be packing them in on Broadway, but why see impersonators when Mary Wilson (of the Supremes) appears with guests The Four Tops for a special two-week holiday concert series starting Monday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $59.99-$129.99. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28; 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29
Festival of Lights
The Cosley Zoo, at 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton, hosts its annual Festival of Lights. Guests can see 20,000 twinkling lights and holiday displays, view the animals, purchase hot cocoa and more. Admission is free. (630) 665-5534 or cosleyzoo.org. 3 to 9 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 30
ZooLights
Stroll through Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago, for the annual ZooLights holiday celebration. View colorful displays featuring more than 2 million lights, make crafts, take a train ride and see the zoo's animals. Other highlights include music, food and family activities. Free admission. (312) 742-2000 or lpzoo.org. 5 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 5
Truth in titles
The hit off-Broadway revue “Old Jews Telling Jokes” is still cracking up audiences at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $49-$69. (312) 988-9000 or oldjewstellingjokesonstage.com. 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28; continues through Sunday, March 30
Go acoustic
Northwest suburban native and resident William Beckett, former leader of the pop-rock band The Academy Is ..., will headline the 4th annual Holiday Acoustic Show this weekend at Reggie's Rock Club. Since his old (and successful) group disbanded, Beckett has composed, recorded and released on his own a slew of personal pop songs set to acoustic guitars and electronic beats. Nick Santino & the Northern Wind, Mark Rose, Mighty Fox and Valaska will also perform. 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Reggie's Rock Club, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. $15. Go to reggieslive.com.
Puppet man
Comedian, ventriloquist and Hinsdale native Taylor Mason returns with his puppet entourage for a run of performances this weekend at Zanies Comedy Club at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
Project Two
The 12-member Project Two music ensemble, featuring performers from the Northwest suburbs, presents its “Project Two Music: Home for The Holidays” concert in the performing arts center at Huntley High School, 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley. The program showcases holiday classics and includes a 14-piece horn section, specializing in big band music. Proceeds will benefit Huntley High School's Thespian Troupe. Tickets are $5 for students; $10 adults. For tickets, visit projecttwomusic.com. 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 28
Too much time?
Hear popular hits from the 1970s and beyond like “Too Much Time on my Hands” from the band Styx tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $58-$83. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29
Holiday prog
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a progressive-rock group known for elaborate holiday-themed rock operas, will bring its spectacle-laden live show to the suburbs this week. The group combines intense hard-rock music with lush orchestration and symphonic song structures. Its song “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” has become a staple of holiday-season music playlists. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $40. Go to ticketmaster.com.
R&B holiday
Kem, Faith Evans and El DeBarge are the R&B stars of the specialHoliday Jam Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $55-$95. (800) 745-3000 or ariecrown.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
'80s hair
Fans of 1980 heavy metal music can revel in their favorite hits when the cover band Hairbangers Ball plays Saturday at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
SUNDAY
Sacred and secular
Soprano Solange Sior and pianist and organist Vilma J. Dydas are featured in the Soirée Lyrique concert of sacred and secular holiday music called “Hear the Angels Sing!” today at St. Mary Church, 397 Fulton St., Elgin. $10-$30 suggested donation. (224) 595-1526 or solangesior.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29
Big band in Berwyn
Hear the jazzy tunes of the 17-member Jazz Consortium Big Band in an evening concert at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. The band features a variety of music styles, from original tunes by its members to swing-dance selections. $5-$10. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29