Weekend picks: Improv hosts actor/comedian Adam Ferrara

Actor-comedian Adam

Catch up with TV actor (“Rescue Me”) and standup comedian Adam Ferrara when he begins an engagement starting Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, April 24; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 25; and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Money rarities

Talk, trade or gape at rare money at the Central States Numismatic Society 76th Anniversary Coin Show, which is open to the public starting Thursday at the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Free admission. (847) 303-4100 or centralstates.info. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 24; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Drumming display

Catch the big percussive beat of Japanese drumming when Chicago-based Tsuksasa Taiko performs Thursday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $20. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23

Fan frenzy

See all kinds of die-hard fans of comic books, sci-fi series and more gather together for the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) which returns this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago. $35-$40 daily tickets; $65 three-day pass. (312) 791-7000 or c2e2.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 24; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Come on! Feel the Illinoise!

Sufjan Stevens, the singer-songwriter with a penchant for collections, has been strumming out concept music since before his 2000 release of “A Sun Came.” But his career finally appeared on the map with the 2003 launch of his Fifty States Project and its much publicized first, “Michigan,” a love song to his home state. His second (and probably final) album in the States collection, “Illinois,” hits home with references to locations and history. Hear him play in support of his newest album, “Carrie & Lowell,” at The Chicago Theatre Friday and Saturday. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 North State St., Chicago. Tickets start at $33. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com.

Blue Arcada Cult

Even though its arguably greatest hit came out 39 years ago, I still get a little thrill when I stumble across Blue Öyster Cult's “(Don't Fear) The Reaper” on the radio. The band's catalog has grown some (and its lineup has rotated some), but that hard-driving rock spirit lives on. The Cult brings its guitar-driven jams to the Arcada Theatre Friday, along with Canadian power-balladeers April Wine. 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles. Tickets start at $39. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Spousal tribute

Comedian Rex Havens celebrates men's better halves in the show “Bidding You a Fond 'I Do'” tonight at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 24

Mallrats

Rock band Mallrats plays popular songs from the early 1990s at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. For ages 21 and older. durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Friday, April 24

Artistry in Wood

The North Suburban Carvers woodcarving group joins Cantigny Park to present the Artistry in Wood woodcarving and woodworking show at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. The show features carvings, turnings, wood-burning art and hand-carved ornaments from woodcarvers from across the Midwest. Free with paid $5 parking fee. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Suzuki All-Strings Festival

The Community School of the Arts (CSA) of Wheaton College presents its Suzuki All-Strings Festival, which showcases students playing classical selections in their final Suzuki presentation of the year. It takes place in the college's Edman Memorial Chapel, at Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. Free. wheaton.edu. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25

Extreme Block Party

If you're fascinated by reptiles, check out Dave Dinaso's Traveling World of Reptiles show during the Multi-Chamber Fifth Annual Extreme Block Party in the field house at Vernon Hills High School, 145 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. The community event features more than 100 health and wellness screenings, local vendors, food and more. The event is hosted by the GLMV Chamber of Commerce, serving Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills. Free. (847) 680-0750 or glmvchamber.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25

46 years and counting

See works by more than 60 juried artists and artisans from around the Midwest during the 46th Annual North Shore Unitarian Church Art Fair at 2100 Half Day Road, Deerfield. Enjoy live music and food, too. Free. (847) 234-2460 or nsuc.org. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Irish Fest

Everyone is Irish for the day at Mount Prospect's annual Irish Fest, at Emerson Street and Busse Avenue in downtown Mount Prospect. Festival features Irish fare and beer, live Irish music, performances by the Tully Irish Dancers, the Sullivan Irish Dancers, the Trinity Irish Dancers, The Dooley Brothers and many others. Free. Event takes place rain or shine. mpirishfest.com. 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Astronomy Day — at night!

Learn about the sky above us at Astronomy Day in Building Z of Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Take part in indoor lectures, demonstrations, telescope exhibits and tours of the college observatory. If skies are clear, telescopes will be set up outdoors to view the moon, planets and stars. Scouts can receive an “Astronomy Day” patch. nsaclub.org. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Looking back on life

Internationally acclaimed opera star Frederica von Stade broke off her previously announced retirement to star in the 2014 opera “A Coffin in Egypt” by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Leonard Foglia. Chicago Opera Theater presents the Windy City premiere of the work with von Stade starting Saturday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $45-$125. (312) 334-7777 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Wednesday and Friday, April 25, 29 and May 1; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3

Rock tour

Guitar rock fans won't want to miss Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock Tour featuring Herman Rarebell, Francis Buckholtz, Doogie White, Wayne Finlay and Enuff Z'nuff on Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$79. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Vegas special

Acclaimed comedian Rita Rudner ventures east from her home base in Las Vegas for a standup show Saturday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $38-$56. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Ebonies and Ivories

Hear specially transcribed classical, ragtime and pop music tunes when the Six Piano Ensemble performs this weekend at Oakton Community College's Footlik Theater, 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines. $17; $14 students and seniors. (847) 635-1900 or oakton.edu/tickets. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25; 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Mellow yellow

Fans of spring blooms won't want to miss the final day of the Midwest Daffodil Show today at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but parking is $30 per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.com. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Body slams

See John Cena take on Rusev, Randy Orton take on Seth Rollins and more wrestlers compete at WWE Extreme Rules today at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$500. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26