Weekend picks: New Jersey comedian Bret Ernst plays Pheasant Run

Jersey native Ernst

Comedian Bret Ernst ("This is Not Happening," "Beer League") returns to perform a series of standup gigs at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25 plus a two-item purchase. (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Blocky characters

The Legoland Discovery Center Chicago unveils a new Character Meet & Greet area for photo opportunities starting on Saturday at Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. $19.95. (847) 592-9700 or chicago.legolanddiscoverycenter.com. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday to Monday, Feb. 17 to 19

Outdoor overture

Start your outdoor vacation planning by attending the 50th Annual RV & Camping Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $12; $20 multiday pass; $5 kids; $8 kids multiday pass. (847) 692-2220 or chicagorvshow.com. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

Home improvement

Looking to do some remodeling inside or outside your home? Then get some ideas from the many merchants appearing at the Arlington Home & Garden Show at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (630) 953-2500 or homeshowarlington.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18

Gallery hopping

Catch up with the suburban arts scene at the monthly ArtWauk event on Saturday. Visit all kinds of art galleries, restaurants and performance venues in downtown Waukegan, mainly along Genesee Street. Free. (847) 623-6650 or artwauk.com. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Classic comedy

Get a sampling of comedy sketches stretching back 50 years and more with a tour of "The Best of The Second City" for two shows on Saturday at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $32-$46. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Evolution showcase

Evolution Music hosts a Saturday showcase of local musicians, featuring Ryan Borens' groovy stylings, upbeat alternative from Drew Neely & the Heroes, punk-infused confections from Paper Towels, the return of Whüzy, Papillon and 3 Below Green. See some fun area musicians in a growing suburban venue. Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com. 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

African dynamism

Be amazed by African-inspired balancing, juggling, contortionist acts and more Saturday when Cirque Zuma Zuma returns on tour to College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $37-$42; $36-$41 seniors; $12-$15 youth. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Weasel at Reggies

Ben "Weasel" Foster and his explosive band of merry suburban punk rock music makers Screeching Weasel are taking over two nights at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago. New York punk band CJ Ramone joins for both performances. Reggies Rock Club, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. $32; $65 for VIP which includes early entry and meet-and-greet session. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com. 7 p.m. doors Saturday, Feb. 17

American Blues premiere

A couple of burned-out Chicago homicide detectives investigating the murder of a CTA employee uncover a legacy of violence in "Six Corners," by Arlington Heights native Keith Huff ("A Steady Rain"). American Blues Theater's world premiere is directed by Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Gary Griffin ("The Color Purple") and features Brenda Barry and Peter DeFaria, who co-starred in Chicago Dramatists' 2007 professional premiere of "A Steady Rain." 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Opens Feb. 22. $19-$49. (773) 327-5252 or americanbluestheater.com.

'Sway' time

The jazzy Michael Bublé tribute show "Shades of Bublé" plays Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan, $35.50-$45.50, (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Sci-Fi circus

The Actors Gymnasium premieres a circus-theater production titled "Journey for the Sun: A Sci-Fi Cartoon Circus" featuring acrobats, aerialists and a robot. Written by Seth Bockley ("2666") and co-directed by Frank Maugeri and Lindsey Whiting, the play is about the owner of an Indiana drive-in movie theater who's tapped to "save the galaxy using only human and popcorn power." 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, and at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. It runs through March 25. $25-$60. (847) 328-2795 or actorsgymnasium.org.

Romantic trickery

Fidelity is tested in Mozart's classic romantic comedy "Così fan tutte," which is revived by the Lyric Opera of Chicago for seven performances starting Saturday at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $17-$299. (312) 827-5600 or lyricopera.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Russian favorites

The Lake County Symphony Orchestra performs Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Russian Easter Overture" as part of the concert "Timeless Classics" on Saturday at Village Church, 1319 Hunt Club Road, Gurnee. $15-$18. (847) 746-3472 or lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Tell me do you think it'd be all right ...

If it's true people really are the average of who they hang out with the most, members of the Gin Blossoms must have gained a healthy jangle from their country cousins and a dose of pop from their native '80s. Whatever it was that influenced them most, the combo did the Arizona band justice as the Gin Blossoms fit right in as members of the high court of '90s alternative rock. The then-ubiquitous "Hey Jealousy" may have first won fans' hearts, but it was the string of strong follow-up hits that kept fans coming back 25 years later. Band members fete the anniversary of their breakout album "New Miserable Experience" with a show at the Arcada Theatre, joined by DuPage rockers Take the Reins. Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Latin rhythms

¡Cubanismo! performs big band Cuban music in dance styles from around the world today at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44-$52. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

Classical quartet

Catch the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet in concert today at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $20-$30. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

Comic fairy tale

Experience Rob Reiner's beloved 1987 fairy tale/adventure film "The Princess Bride" on the big screen Sunday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Free. Rated PG. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

Concert highlights

• Stay Up All Night & Fight, Dead By Friday, The First Rule, Size 5's, Dead Wolf, Acyuta: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Cracken Cakes & more, 38594 Sheridan Road, Beach Park. $5. (847)-603-4966 or crackencakes.com.

• Dunn Dunn Fest: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16; and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20 Saturday. (708) 788-2118 or dunndunnfest.com.

• The Locals, Red Moons, Aaron Williams: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Subterranean Downstairs, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• City Mouth, Out the Car Window, Cup Check, Short Handed, The Flips: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $5-$8. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

• Trippin Billies: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5-$10. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

• Rebelution: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $47. (773) 561-9500 or aragonballroom.org.

• Turnspit (LP release), Retirement Party, Blood People, Third Twin Sister: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Gman Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St., Chicago. $8-$10. (773) 549-2050 or gmantavern.com.

• An acoustic evening with The Cold Mourning, Killing gods, Bubbles Erotica, The Hoodie Life: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $8. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

• Blinkin Park featuring Linkin Experience and There Goes the Neighborhood: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at H.O.M.E. Bar, 1227 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. $5. (847) 749-0253 or homebarchicago.com.

• Three Piece and a Biscuit, The Kings Rising: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Tivoli Bowl, 938 Warren Ave., Downers Grove. Free. (630) 969-0660 or tivolibowl.com.

• Whiskey Romance: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $43-$45. (773) 728-6000 or oldtownschool.org.

• Emanation XVI featuring Brash Flair, Weirdos, Akosuen: 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Century Mallet, 1770 W. Berteau Ave., Chicago. $5-$10 suggested donation. (773) 248-7733 or centurymallet.com.

• Paul Luc: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

• Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, Seth Lakeman: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $69.75. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

• Steve Winwood: 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $45. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.

• Taylor Phelan, Like Language, The Burst and Bloom: 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.