Entertainment

Best Bets: 'I Love the '90s' tour headlines Aurora's RiverEdge Park

Posted August 02, 2022 6:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Coolio performs Sunday, Aug. 7, as part of the concert tour "I Love the '90s" at RiverEdge Park in Aurora. Courtesy of Scott Harrison

Nostalgia trip

Revel in the music of Coolio, Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Color Me Badd, TONE LOC and more during the "I Love the '90s" concert tour at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $43 general admission. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7

Vanilla Ice is on the bill of the "I Love the '90s" concert tour at RiverEdge Park in Aurora on Sunday, Aug. 7. Courtesy of Scott Harrison

Cultural pop

Celebrate all things tied to sci-fi, fantasy and other entertainment genres with the return of the C2E2 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend at McCormick Place, South Building, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago. $99 three-day pass; $40 Friday; $50 Saturday and Sunday. Kids ages 6-12: $20 three-day pass; $10 Sunday. (312) 791-7000 or c2e2.com. Starts at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5-7

Mighty frights

Fans of slasher flick franchises such as "Halloween," "Friday the 13th" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" won't want to miss the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention. Catch stars like Robert Englund, Alex Winter and more at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $40 Friday and Sunday; $45 Saturday. Kids 7-11: $10 daily; $25 weekend pass. (847) 647-3124 or flashbackweekend.com. Begins at noon Friday, Aug. 5; 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6; and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7

The Destination Asia Festival returns to The Morton Arboretum in Lisle Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5-7. Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum

Eastern journeys

Sample a variety of Asian music, dance and food this weekend with the return of the Destination Asia Festival at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $16; $14 seniors; $11 kids 2-17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. Opening ceremony: 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6-7

Outdoor orchestra

The New Philharmonic concludes the 2022 outdoor summer concert series at College of DuPage's Lakeside Pavilion Friday. The symphonic concert bill includes selections from film scores and music with Ukrainian ties. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for the concert adjacent to the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Free. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5

The New Philharmonic performs a concert honoring Ukraine at College of DuPage's Lakeside Pavilion in Glen Ellyn on Friday, Aug. 5. Courtesy of Elias Morales

Arts aplenty

More than 60 visual artists will participate in the 41st Annual Festival of the Arts at Cook Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The free event includes music from Sneezy, the Highland Park Pops, Inversion Jazz Band and more. (847) 367-0707 or adlercenter.org. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7

Latin celebration

Catch up with artists such as Los Rakas, Angelica Garcia, Sotomayor and more at the fourth annual Latinxt Music Festival at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Free. (800) 595-7437 or navypier.org. 2-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and 2-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7

South Asian dance

Prashant Shah & Dancers perform Indian classical dance in a performance called "Let It Be: An Evening in Celebration of Dance" at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $15-$20; $60 VIP tickets. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

Island pride

The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra tours back to Chicago for the first time in two decades with a concert called "Sonidos De Mi Isla" ("Sounds of My Island") at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $50-$150; $25 students. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

Tony Award-winner Heather Headley performs as part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert "Yours, Stephen Sondheim: His Letters, Mentorship and Music" at the Ravinia Festival Sunday, Aug. 7.

Sondheim memories

Broadway stars Heather Headley, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Alexandra Billings and more star in "Yours, Stephen Sondheim: His Letters, Mentorship and Music." This Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert celebrating the legacy of the late theater composer and lyricist takes the stage at the Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $35-$145 pavilion seating; $15 lawn seating; $65 premium lawn blocks. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7

Educated comedy

Educators who have shared their humor online join together for a live gathering with the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $33-$53. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8

Natalie Dessay stars as the title heroine in Donizetti's romantic comedy "La Fille du Régiment" ("The Daughter of the Regiment"). The Metropolitan Opera's critically acclaimed 2008 production is rescreened to select cinemas on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Courtesy of Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Orphan soldier

Donizetti's family-friendly and romantic comic opera "La Fille du Régiment" ("The Daughter of the Regiment") returns as part the summer encore series of The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. Director Laurent Pelly's acclaimed 2008 production is screened on Wednesday at select movie theaters. Sung in French with English subtitles. Ticket prices vary by venue, but are in the $20 range. metopera.org or fathomevents.com. 1 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10

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