Lifestyle

Weekly picks: Holiday hits with Mannheim Steamroller

Posted December 15, 2017 5:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Holiday hits

Mannheim Steamroller rolls into the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $39. (847) 671-5100 or rosemont.com/theatre. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

Metal mayhem

Rockers can commemorate the 25th anniversary of 95 WIIL Rock with the "Poison the Parish Tour" featuring bands Seether, Shamans Harvest and more at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. $23.75-$295. (847) 549-1972 or lcfair.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

A cappella caroling

Marvel at the abilities of just the human voice to make percussive and melodic a cappella music when Ball in the House performs the concert "Holiday Magic" at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $28-$36. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

TruTV "Impractical Jokers" cast members Brian Quinn, from left, James Murray, Sal Vulcano and Joe Gatto are known as The Tenderloins come to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont with the tour of "Santiago Sent Us" on Friday, Dec. 15. Associated Press, 2017

Arena comedy

Fans of the truTV show "Impractical Jokers" starring The Tenderloins won't want to miss the "Santiago Sent Us Tour" playing at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $54.50-$70; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

Comedian Jim Breuer performs at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Friday, Dec. 15. Courtesy of Comedy Central

Remember Goat Boy?

Longtime fans of "Saturday Night Live" and more recent sitcoms like "Kevin Can Wait" should check out actor and comedian Jim Breuer perform his "Family Warrior Tour" at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $23-$43. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

Bryan Callen performs this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. Associated Press, 2017

Callen response

Catch up with comedian Bryan Callen ("The Goldbergs," "The Hangover") when he performs a series of standup shows at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $24 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

Listen Local

Local H, one of the suburbs' musical claims to fame, brings 27 years of experience perfecting alternative rock to the H.O.M.E. Bar stage at 1227 N. Rand Road in Arlington Heights. Hard-rocking Jimi Falls joins the show, supporting their recent dual-single releases, "Rise" and "For the Broken." Don't miss this epic local bill. $7. (847) 749-0253 or homebarchicago.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

Salt Creek Ballet's version of the Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" plays at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Courtesy of Salt Creek Ballet

Classic 'Nutcracker'

Salt Creek Ballet presents its take on Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" this weekend at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $20-$42. (847) 673-6300 or csparks.org. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

'Nutcracker' tots

More than 100 performers are featured in Berkshire Ballet Theatre's take on Tchaikovsky's Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker," which features a "Mouse Queen" for the first time. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $28-$30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Kenneth von Heidecke's Chiacgo Festival Ballet teams up with New Philharmonic to present "The Nutcracker" at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

More Tchaikovsky

The von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet teams up with the New Philharmonic for another annual run of "The Nutcracker" this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44; $34 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

PJ storytime

Bring the kids for a PJ storytime party (hot chocolate included) with author Sherri Duskey Rinker as she presents and signs "12 Sleighs of Christmas" at Anderson's Bookshop, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove. Wear your jammies. Free, but registration is required. (630) 963-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com/. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

Tuscany's Ugly Sweater Party

It's time to dust off that dated holiday sweater for Tuscany's Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and Contest. Get excited for Rod Stewart impersonator Clifford Tartaglia, giveaways, half off drinks and holiday-themed drinks throughout the evening. The winner of the ugly sweater contest will receive a $50 Tuscany gift card. Tuscany is at 550 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 465-9988 or tuscanychicago.com/location/wheeling/. 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

98 Degrees brings some Christmas spirit to the Genesee Theatre Saturday, Dec. 16.

98° in December

Boy bands were royalty at the turn of the century, and one of the top groups holding court was 98°. Catch Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffree as they heat up the holidays with the dance moves and harmonies you remember with "98° at Christmas" at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets start at $40; VIP and meet-and-greet packages are available. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

Brunch with Santa

Santa Claus is coming to brunch at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook. He'll hear last-minute gift requests and pass out treats to the kids. Reservations required. Mon Ami Gabi is at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/home/?loc=oakbrook. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Brunch & Pajamas

Put on your PJs and head to e+o food and drink for a special holiday Brunch & Pajamas. The buffet includes a special hot cocoa bar. Get in on a holiday photo shoot with a professional photographer. Brunch is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids. Reservations required. e+o food and drink is at 125 Randhurst Village Drive, Mount Prospect, (847) 398-3636 or eofoodanddrink.com/. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Alex Koffman, violinist and band leader of The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. The ensemble performs two Hannukah Concerts at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Hurrah for Hanukkah

Jam with The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at two Hanukkah Concerts at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $20-$23; $25-$30 parking fee per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Spectrum singing

Families with autistic children are invited to attend a concert featuring Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes for a Holiday Sing-Along at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $28; $27 seniors; $8-$15 kids. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Handel with care

Handel's beloved Christian oratorio "The Messiah" will be performed this week in different forms at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The Apollo Chorus performs a traditional concert today (tickets are $30-$70), while the International Music Foundation invites audience participation with the "Do-It-Yourself Messiah" on Monday and Tuesday (tickets are $15). (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. Apollo Chorus at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17; Interactive versions at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 18 and 19

Petula Clark comes to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. Associated Press, 2013

Go 'Downtown'

British 1960s pop star Petula Clark ("Sign of the Times," "I Know a Place") performs in concert Sunday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

Rocking Christmas

Classical Blast! melds rock music with symphonic orchestrations for the concert "Dark Side of the Yule" at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17

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