Weekend picks: Jim Belushi opens COD's McAninch Arts Center
Comedy opening: There are very few tickets remaining to see Jim Belushi and The Chicago Board of Comedy perform on Saturday as they officially open College of DuPage's recently renovated McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44; $42 seniors; $32 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8
SATURDAY
Bird walk: Stroll along the McHenry Dam, looking for geese, mallard ducks, great blue herons, wood peckers and other birds and wildlife during the two-mile Bird Walk at the dam, on McHenry Dam Road, west of River Road, south of McHenry and north of Island Lake. Participants ages 6 and older are welcome. Bring binoculars or borrow them from event leaders. Free. Registration is recommended; walks-ins also welcome. Meet at south end of parking area. Call (815) 344-1294. 8 a.m. Saturday, March 8
Time for tykes: Bring the kids for lots of indoor fun at the 2014 Chicagoland Kids Expo. There promises to be loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10; $5 kids ages 3 to 12. (847) 303-4100 or chicagokidsexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9
Button up: Vendors will sell a wide variety of buttons, jewelry, arts and crafts and more as The Button Room Museum of Gurnee hosts its third annual “MyStache” of Buttons button and button craft show at the Millburn Church, 19073 W. Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa. Other highlights include a bake sale, silent auction and more. Admission is free. For information, call (224) 399-9870, or visit thebuttonroom.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8
Glass and Pottery Show: The 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois hosts its 42nd annual Antique American Glass and Pottery Show and Sale at the Concord Plaza Midwest Conference Center, 401 W. Lake St., Northlake. More than 25 dealers from around the country will showcase early American pattern glass, depression glassware, kitchen glassware and more. Also featured is an identification table where guests can bring in their own glass pieces. $8 per person. Visit 20‑30‑40society.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9
Lego show: The Northern Illinois Lego Train Club displays a variety of model buildings and a running Lego train set at the Lego Show at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. $5 adults; $3 for kids ages 10 and under and museum members. (630) 232-4951 or genevahistory.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9
Musical mash-up: “Glee” star and Broadway veteran Matthew Morrison (“Hairspray,” “The Light in the Piazza”) performs at the 34th Annual Trustee Benefit and Gala this Saturday at Dominican University's Lund Auditorium, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. $27-$77; $350 gala package with concert, reception and dinner. (708) 488-5000 or events.dom.edu. 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8
Chords for Kids: North Central College hosts its eighth annual Chords for Kids, a concert for kids with autism and their families. The concert takes place in the college's Wentz Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center, at 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The program features a variety of music from classical songs to tunes from the “Sponge Bob Square Pants” cartoons. Audience members can move about and make noise during the performance. Free, but tickets are required. Call (630) 637-7469, or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8
Cristela's comedy: See comedian Cristela Alonzo (“Sons of Anarchy,” Comedy Central's “The Half Hour”) draw from her Latina upbringing for a laugh-packed standup comedy routine starting Wednesday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8
Murphy's law: If you love comedian Charlie Murphy from TV's “Chappelle's Show,” “Boondocks” and more, then don't miss his standup set this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $33 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, March 8; 7 p.m. Sunday, March 9
A classical great: Conductor Andrew Lewis leads the forces of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Choral Union and the UIC Symphony Choir for the concert “Beethoven Inspired” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$60. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9
James Gordon: Folk singer and songwriter James Gordon performs at the Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Gordon, the founder of the Canadian folk group Tamarack, is best known for his songs about social justice and environmental issues. Tickets are $15. (630) 627-0171 or maplestreetchapel.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8
SUNDAY
Cold splash: See costumed charity fundraising divers take a cold dive at the Fox River Shiver today at Broken Oar Beach, 614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington. $5 spectator donation to benefit the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. (847) 639-9468 or brokenoar.com. Noon Sunday, March 9
Chamber baroque: Musicians from the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra get up close and person with the concert “The Intimate Baroque” today at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. $25; $23 seniors; $7 students. (630) 941-0202 or elmhurstsymphony.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9
Chi-Town Jazz Fest: Head to FitzGerald's nightclub, at 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, for the Chi-Town Jazz Fest. The evening features performers such as Tammy McCann and the Reunion Orchestra, Mosaik, Mitch Paliga and Kirk Garrison and others. $15. Proceeds will benefit hunger relief organizations. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Events begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, March, 9. Doors open at 5 p.m.