Weekend picks: Piff packs magic, comedy and ... a dragon

Costumed comedy

If you rooted for costumed comedian and illusionist Piff the Magic Dragon on “America's Got Talent,” then don't miss him performing standup live starting Thursday at Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $27 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Something fishy

The Chicagoland Fishing Travel and Outdoor Show promises more than 100 exhibitors, most of the major fishing tackle manufacturers, local fishing retailers and almost 100 fishing boats this weekend at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12; $3 kids 5 to 11. (847) 303-4100 or sportshows.com/ chicago. Noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28 and 29; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Faithful rock

The touring Winter Jam returns with award-winning Christian rockers King & Country, Matthew West and more tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $10 cash or check admission; $15-$20 parking. (847) 635-6601 or 2016.jamtour.com. 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29

Bearded glory

ZZ Top rocker Billy Gibbons performs with The BFG's with guests Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown tonight at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $59-$125. (630) 962-7000 or oshow.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29

L.A. guy

California comedian James Davis has appeared on cable TV shows such as “Chelsea Lately” and BET's “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” See him live at standup gigs this weekend at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or rosemont.zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Rocking Winter Roots

Midwestival Productions presents some of the best Americana and roots rock music from around the suburbs and Chicago for the two-night Winter Roots fest at Mackey's Hideout. Miles Over Mountains headlines Friday, and Henhouse Prowlers presides Saturday over lineups that include The Leadfoot Band, The River Valley Rangers, Bones Jugs, In La Kesh, The Grateful String Band and Anderlik, Otto & Church. Performances start at 8 both nights, but see the events page for a full schedule. Mackey's Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry. $10 each night; tickets are available at the door. (815) 363-7040 or mackeyshideout.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29 and 30

Trouble at the Brauer House

Metal band Trouble teams up with the Judas Priest tribute band Judas Rising and metal band Deep Space Pilots for a show at the Brauer House, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$15. For ages 18 and older. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29

'Groundhog Day'

See a free screening of the 1993 film “Groundhog Day” at the Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St., during Woodstock's annual Groundhog Days festival. The film, featuring Bill Murray as a TV weather forecaster who relives the same day over and over again, was filmed in Woodstock. Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott also star. The fest runs through Tuesday, Feb. 2. woodstock groundhog.org. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30-31

Meet me at the fair

Celebrate different cultures at the World's Fair at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. The fair, which showcases the cultural diversity in the community, will feature food, music, decorations, clothing and more. Stevenson students will present a cultural performance at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Performing Arts Center. All proceeds go to the Action Against Hunger organization that provides meals for hungry children across the world. Free. (847) 415-4465 or d125.org. Booths are open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30-31, in the West Building

Doggy days

Siberian sled dogs are the stars of the Husky Heroes event this weekend at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Highlights include demonstrations of sled-pulling and skijoring, where dogs pull a person on skis. $9; $8 seniors; $6 youth ages 2 to 17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30 and 31

Riddle me this

Take in the visual and vocal splendor of Puccini's mythical Chinese opera “Turandot” in a glittering and grand production by director Franco Zeffirelli screened to select movie theaters on Saturday as part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. The simulcast can be seen in many local theaters. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Ticket prices vary by venue, though largely $24, $22 for seniors and $18 for students. fathomevent.com. Live relay at 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30; taped encore at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3

Plenty of pianos

See nearly 500 local performers playing 12 grand pianos provided by Cordogan's Pianoland in the 21st annual American Grands on Saturday at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $24; $15 kids ages 12 and under. (847) 697-1000 or elgin.edu/arts. 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Brews for you

Straight from the Tap: A VIP Craft Beer Experience features limited edition, early-release, never-released, experimental and rare craft beers from 13 breweries on Saturday at the Arrowhead Golf Club, 26W151 Butterfield Road, Wheaton. $60 (includes access to 32 two-ounce beer samples, food and more); $20 designated driver admission. (630) 653-5800 or arrowheadgolfclub.org/beer. 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Super Bowl snacking

As the world prepares to watch the 50th Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7, guests can celebrate the game, along with popular snacks and football memories, at “A History of Super Bowl Snacks, Traditions and Highlights” at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake. The program includes a look at five recipes, one for each decade of the Super Bowl; a review of iconic moments in football; various advertisements and more. A $1-$3 admission donation is suggested. (847) 543-1745 or villageofgrayslake.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Carnival celebration

Help celebrate Elk Grove Village's 60th anniversary and the Elk Grove Park District's 50th anniversary at the Carnival of Exceptional Character at the Elk Grove Park District pavilion, 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. The family-friendly event features carnival-style games and activities including ring toss, Bozo buckets, a bounce house and 35 carnival booths. Free food, while supplies last. elkgrove.com. Free. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Royal tribute

Rock crooner Elvis Presley may have died in 1977, but his music and persona endure. See how in the return of “Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event” on Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $39.50-$59.50; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Country connection

Hear great anecdotes, country standards and more when Wynonna Judd & The Big Noise: Stories & Song plays on Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $63-$93. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Climbing Kadooge

Rock band Kadooge has been building a following in the suburbs since 2012, helped along by their active live performance schedule, such as last year's appearance at the Homegrown Music & Arts Festival in Lisle. That growing awareness pushed their latest album, “Nothing is Almost Everything,” to recently rank 170 on College Radio Charts, a step in the right direction for this group of skilled and diverse musicians who decided to pool their talents and influences to create something unique. Catch Kadooge live as they play with Geneva reggae rockers Paragon and Algonquin-based progressive rockers Soulsharer at Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $5-$8. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Golden Grant

With his energetic sound and super-slick production, Beach Park native Grant Harris has been slinging upbeat, danceable hits since 2007 under the name Breathe Electric. His latest project, Goldhouse, has only been around for less than a year, but it's already putting out a prolific body of work and earning live gigs on some of Chicago's most respectable stages. Goldhouse headlines a set at Schuba's Saturday, teaming with pop rock band Comasoft, Palatine indie synth-rockers Ember Oceans and Wisconsin-based The Millennium. Schuba's, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Styka's songs

Chicago-area native and folk/roots artist Heather Styka performs at the Fatman Bowl, 13860 Rockland Road, Green Oaks. The concert is hosted by the Lake County Folk Club. Admission is $10-$15. thelakecountyfolkclub.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Class conscious

Jessica Fellowes, journalist and niece of “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes, tours to discuss the book “The World of Downton Abbey” and the acclaimed PBS TV series' global reach as part of the Daily Herald Author's Circle Book Club today at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $35-$55. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Diva in distress

Will an opera diva divulge secrets to save her tortured lover in 1800 Rome? Find out when Puccini's classic 1900 opera “Tosca” is performed this evening at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$69. (630) 962-7000 or oshow.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Upcoming concerts

NeW bEAt FUNd, Colours, Victorian Halls: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Indie rock. $10.11. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

The Blind Staggers, Turnspit, S.S. Web: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Alt-country, Americana, rock. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

The Shades: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 (doors open at 7 p.m. for The New Month Party), Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Acoustic pop. $5. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Man Called Noon (record release), Band Called Catch, Big Wig Mechanic, Burnside & Hooker, Leo Kidd, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Indie rock. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com/chicago.

Dishwalla: 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., Chicago. Rock performance at Gray Matters - an event to cure Huntington's. $75. (773) 381-4551 or maynestage.com.

88 Fingers Louie, Counterpunch, La Armada, Johnny Automatic: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Punk. $15-$20. (773) 489-3160 or doubledoor.com.

Greyson Chance, Kinky Love: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Pop rock. $15-$18. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

Jefferson Starship: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Classic rock. $29-$79. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Menacerno, Chris Buehrle Band, The Dirty Miners, Hyperplane: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Indie rock. $10-$12. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.