EVENTS ----------------------------------------------
Shirley MacLaine ~ Downton Abbey's "Martha Levinson" (American mother of Lady Grantham)
Fri, Feb 22, 8P, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, $42-$125
Academy Award-winner and recent guest star on PBS' "Downton Abbey" shares reminiscences about her storied acting and writing career on Broadway and in Hollywood. www.oshows.com
7th Annual PAWS Chicago Animal Magnetism Event
Fri, Feb 22, 7P, Galleria Marchetti 825 W Erie St, Chicago (River West), $125-150
Dogs and their owners will put their bestpaws forward and hit the dance floor! Chicagoans can connect with fellow animal lovers and their furry loved ones while enjoying dinner, dancing, photos with their pet and a one-of-a-kind live and silent auction. www.animalmagnetism.pawsevents.org
"I Won't Stand For" USA Network's Characters Unite Experience
Fri, Feb 22, 11A, Millenium Park, FREE
The Characters Unite tour is making a stop in Chicago to spread the message to stop hate and all forms of discrimination. Participants can create a free shirt, get the chance to film a video, and also take photos with their gallery. www.charactersunite.com
Chili Fest
Sat, Feb 23, 5P-7P, American Legion 123 Main Street, West Chicago, $6-$8
You decide on the best chili around! Area Fire Departments, Police Departments as well as other entities will compete in a chili cook-off. Hot Dogs and all the fixings will be provided. Proceeds from this event go to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, "Camp I am Me". Raffle and Split-the-Pot drawings will top the evening off.
www.we-goparks.org/special-events/2008-2-firehouse-chili-fest.asp
World's Largest Indoor Bar Crawl
Sat, Feb 23, 12P, Navy Pier, $20
Take a break, escape the chilly weather and head to Navy Pier for The World's Largest Indoor Bar Crawl to join the Players Sport & Social Group along with seven bars and restaurants along the pier for an escape from winter with plenty of adult beverages. www.playerssports.net
Wauconda Chamber of Commerce EXPO
Sat & Sun, Feb 23 & 24, 11A-3P, Wauconda High School, 555 N. Main St., Wauconda, FREE!
With a theme of "Rolling Through the Decades," the annual Wauconda Chamber of Commerce Community EXPO and Craft Show features musical performances, an exotic reptile show, a canine police dog program and more than 70 exhibitors will be on hand. www.aucondaareachamber.org
The Oscar Viewing Party
Sun, February 24, 6:30pm, Rockit Bar and Grill 22 W Hubbard St Chicago (River North), $50
Richard Roeper and Billy Dec team up for their 3rd AnnualOscar Viewing Party! Test your movie knowledge for a good cause and join them for a VIP Reception, Red Carpet, and live telecast with a portion of the proceeds benefiting After School Matters! www.rockitbarandgrill.com
30th Chicago Golf Show
Fri-Sun, Feb 22-24, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, $5-10
Get ready for your first tee time of the season! Practice with the newest equipment, take one-on-one swings and putting lessons, and check out all the bargains available! www.chicagogolfshow.com
African-American History Month Celebration
Sat, Feb 23, 10A-4P, Homan Square Park 3559 W Arthington (West Side) FREE!
Celebrate the diverse elements of Black history and culture at this annual event with music, readings, and refreshments. www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/homan-square-park-umoja-celebration
2013 International Kennel (IKC) Club Dog Show
Sat & Sun, Feb 23&24, 8A-5P, McCormick Place, $14-20
A taste of Westminster in Chicago! There are many special events at International including special obedience demonstrations, agility, Canine Good Citizen and a Pro Plan Performance Team. Over 160 booths offer a broad range of dog-related products from artwork to dog collars and everything else in between. $2 dollar off coupon here… www.ikcdogshow.com/documents/Coupon2013_000.pdf www.ikcdogshow.com/Index.html
WingFest
Sun, Feb 24, 1P, Bailey Auditorium 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago (Near West Side), $25
How many wings can you try?! Our city's best wing-slinging restaurants will compete under one roof to claim the title ofBest Wings in Chicago at this annual event! Fun fact: WingFest has raised over $135,000 for various charities, and this year Chicago Neighbors United will be the beneficiary! www.wingfest.net
FAMILY EVENTS ----------------------------------------------
Daddy Daughter Princess Ball at Wheaton Park District
Fri, Feb 22, 6P-8P, Community Ctr. 1777 S. Blanchard Rd., Wheaton, Ages 4-10, $35-48
Dads and daughters make special memories at The Princess Ball. Girls receive a carnation corsage and crown on arrival. Commemorative photos taken during the first hour. Guests enjoy great music, dancing, craft projects, a sundae bar and a surprise princess visit! Please come dressed in suits for dads and dresses or princess dresses for the girls. www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/general/specialevents.html#daddy
Twilight Tubing Plum Creek Nature Center
Fri, Feb 22, 5P-10P, Plum Creek Nature Center 27064 Dutton Road, Beecher, FREE!
With nothing but Moon glow to light your way down the sled hill at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, you won't want to miss this special opportunity to tube after hours. A warm fire will await you as you take a break to re-energize and sip some hot chocolate.You may bring your own sled (no steel runners, snowboards, or steerables). $1 Tube rental is optional.
www.reconnectwithnature.org/calendar/events/2-22-2013/Twilight-Tubing_F2012
Carol Stream Pk. Dist's Daddy-Daughter Dance at St Andrews Golf Course
Fri & Sat, Feb 22 & 23, 6:30P, St Andrews Golf Course 2241 Illinois 59, West Chicago. $33-49
Dads – it’s time to start practicing your dance moves! Daughters (ages 4yrs+) can let their hair down and dance the night away at this year’s formal dance. The annual event returns to St. Andrews Golf Club for an evening of dinner, music and entertainment. Register at Simkus Recreation Center or register online.
www.csparks.org/index.php/2013/01/28/daddy-daughter-dances-return-feb-18-19/
Karaoke Costume Party
Sat, Feb 23, 3P-4P, Glenview Public Library 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview, Ages 5-9, FREE!
Dress up like a rock star and sing karaoke style. We'll dance, party, and play some games, too.
FREEze Day at Brookfield Zoo
Sun, Feb 24, 10A-4P, Brookfield Zoo 8401 31st Street, Brookfield, FREE!
Enjoy the outdoors, and the indoors, at Brookfield Zoo’s FREEze Day! Bundle up and join the Green Valley Dog Drivers (GVDD) and their four-legged friends as they demonstrate dog-sledding from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the zoo’s West Mall. Members of the Lemont-based dog-sledding organization will engage guests in games and musher talks with their canine teams. Meet the golden retrievers from K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs from Addison, IL who supported the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy. There will also be a bald eagle Zoo Chat at 11:00 a.m.
www.czs.org/CZS/Brookfield-Zoo/Events/FREEze-Day
Ella Jenkins Concert
Sun, Feb 24, 4P, Wonder Works 6445 W. North Ave. Oak Park, $12-16
Come see Grammy Award Winner Ella Jenkins known as "The First Lady of Children's Music," Ella is a Chicago native who has been educating children through her call-and-response song style for over 50 years. Children and parents have enjoyed singing with Jenkins and seeing her perform on NBC's "The Today Show," CNN's "Showbiz Today," "Sesame Street" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." The Chicago native encourages learning through play to teach kids about cultural diversity and creativity.
www.facebook.com/events/154255284691216/
CONCERTS & THEATER----------------------------------------------
Suzanne Vega Fri 2/22 7&9:30P SPACE Evanston $28-60
Soul Asylum Fri 2/22 8:30P Double Door $22
Baby Loves Disco Sat 2/23 12P Lincoln Hall $15
Bring the little ones to the monthly disco-themed dance party, complete with DJs, dancers, crafts, food and a cash bar for the parents.
THEATER
Fela! (pronounced Fay-La)
Wed-Sat, Feb 20-23, Arie Crown Theater McCormick Place, $20-$70
Being the creator of Afrobeat is meaningful, but perhaps the most meaningful contribution Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti has made is devoting his music and career to promoting the struggle for human rights and dignity. Doesn't necessarily sound like the stuff musicals are made of, but it works in Fela!, the Tony Award-winning stage show with big-name producers like Jay Z and Will Smith behind it. More stars to stud the affair: rapper and actor Tego Calderon and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child (and the Super Bowl halftime show). www.felaonbroadway.com/about/
SPORTS ----------------------------------------------
BLACKHAWKS
Fri, Feb 22 7:30P vs San Jose Sharks
Sun, Feb 24 6P vs Columbus Blue Jackets
