Weekend picks: 'Sesame Street Live!' spends two days in town

Elmo & friends

Meet up with many of your favorite Sesame Workshop characters when "Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic" plays six performances this weekend at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $20-$75. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-10

Fishin' fun

No matter the weather or temperature, the Northern Illinois Conservation Club sponsors the 59th Chain O' Lakes Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival this weekend at Turtle Beach on Channel Lake, 42273 N. Woodbine Ave., Antioch. $3; two tickets for $5. (847) 395-6422 or mynicc.org. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Car collective

See the auto industry's latest models and special concept cars at the 111th Chicago Auto Show starting this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $13; $7 seniors 62 and older and kids 7-12. (312) 791-7000 or chicagoautoshow.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, through Sunday, Feb. 17, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18

Blossom time

The Orchid Show returns for a six-week run with the new theme "In the Tropics" starting Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $12; $10 seniors; $25-$30 parking. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, through Sunday, March 24; Orchids After Hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, through Thursday, March 14

'Seussical' returns

The Cat in the Hat serves as narrator for "Seussical," the musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on such Dr. Seuss stories as "The Cat in the Hat," "Horton Hears a Who" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" among other tales. Evan Tyrone Martin plays Horton and Jonathan Butler-Duplessis plays the Cat in director William Carlos Angulo's production for Marriott Theatre's young audiences. Previews at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-10, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens Feb. 16. $18.23. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Crafty collection

Bright Star Events presents a Winter Craft Fair featuring jewelry, bath products and gifts made by local artisans this weekend at Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee. Free. (847) 263-7500 or simon.com/mall/gurnee-mills. 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Holy trilogy, Batman!

Charles Ross pays tribute to blockbuster films "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings" in one-man parodies during which he recounts the heroes' journeys in 60 minutes. Ross performs this weekend at the Raue Center for the Arts. "Star Wars" is at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; and "Lord of the Rings" is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25, $30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Up and At Them!

Wheaton native Johnny Perona brings back his labor of love - Up and At Them! A Benefit to End MS - now in its sixth year. The concert, which raises funds for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society, will feature performances by Chicago blues-jazz outfit The Claudettes, Lisle fuzz-rock duo SKYD, Perona's rocking Davenport Ed and singer-songwriter Laura Glyda. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, Chicago. $12. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Starry subcontinent

More than 100 years of Hindi cinema is the inspiration for the touring song and dance revue "Bollywood Boulevard." Two shows play this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $50-$65. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Chopin & company

Pianist Natasha Paremski joins with conductor Andrew Grams and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the concert "Natasha and the Romantics." Hear the music of Brahms, Chopin and Schumann this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$75; $10 kids. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Styx in Waukegan

Styx returns to hometown Chicago for a show at the Genesee Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $59.50-$99.50. (847) 406-3156 or geneseetheatre.com.

Teatro Vista premiere

Teatro Vista, which premiered Stephanie Alison Walker's "The Madres" last year, premieres her sequel "The Abuelas." It's about an Argentine symphony orchestra cellist and new mother, who learns a 37-year-old secret that threatens to upend her life. Teatro Vista artistic director Ricardo Gutierrez directs.Previews at 8 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 9 and 14, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 15. $20-$35. (773) 871-3000, teatrovista.org or victorygardens.org.

Slavic songs

Chicago A Cappella shines a spotlight on Slavic culture with "Polish Splendor: Songs and Traditions From the Crossroads of Europe." The concert tours to four locations: first at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; then at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park; then at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; then at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $35-$45; $32-$34 seniors. (773) 281-7820 or chicagoacappella.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in Evanston; 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, in Oak Park; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in Naperville; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, in Chicago

Evanston's own

Take part in "A Live Conversation With John Cusack" following a screening of the acclaimed 2000 film "High Fidelity" on Sunday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $52-$150. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10

Concert highlights

Sleep On it, Bearings, When the Sun Sets: 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. $15 at the door only. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.

Welcome to Jonestown, Man Eating Lion, Tough Ombres, The Coils: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. $10. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.

Portals, Synovial, Dead/Awake, The Green Leaves, Aerius: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $12-$15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

After The Message, 45Fix, Vyse, Sweet Chicle: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Blackened (Metallica tribute): 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Basecamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $8. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

Paradise Waits, Northbound Train: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Kashmir: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $8-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Watermelon Slim, The Grease Brothers: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Molly Hatchet: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$79. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Counterpunch, Still Alive, The Linden Method, The C-Sides: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

The Bank Notes, Invisible Cartoons, The Roaches, Nosey Neighbor: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $10. (773) 248-8400 or tonicroom.ticketfly.com.

House of Fagen: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

King By Friday: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $8. (847) 549-1972 or fuelroom.com.

Kent Rose: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $10-$25. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Stoop Goodnoise, The Burst and Bloom, Fall Classic, Flake Michigan: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Blue Future, Ryan Viser, ZeroGravity, Manthom Phenace, Moore, Bucknasty: 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 796-5879 or bourbonondivision.com.

Frank Catalano and Jimmy Chamberlin: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15 for general admission; cabaret and premiere seating sold out. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Space Mafia, Tonic Freight Train, The Ncompltz, Fight Like Sin: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

6th Annual Up and At Them - A Benefit to End MS with The Claudettes, SKYD, Davenport Ed, Laura Glyda: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $12. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Masons Case, Ignescent, Winded City: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $8-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

80s Metal Night with Dr. Feelgood, 8 Track: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Crystal Waters & Tim "Spinnin" Schommer: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $15-$20. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

Eddy & the Arsons, Lights Over Bridgeport, Amuse, Parker: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Reggies Music Joint, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $8-$10. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

Jaret Reddick's (of Bowling for Soup) "Heartache & Hilarity Too Tour" with Guardrail: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $20-$23; $40-$60 for VIP upgrades. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

Hip Pockit: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Frank Catalano and Jimmy Chamberlin: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$40. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Twin Talk album release, Mike Lewis, JT Bates, Jeremy Ylvisaker: 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Hideout Inn, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 227-4433 or hideoutchicago.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.