Things to do and see around the city.
ART
THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: 111 S. Michigan Ave. 312-443-3600. “A Voyage to South America: Andean Art in the Spanish Empire” on display through Feb. 21, 2016. “Holiday Thorne Rooms” and “Neapolitan Creche” on display through Jan. 10.
CHICAGO ARTISTS COALITION: 217 N. Carpenter St. 312-491-8888. Create Webinar Recordings through June 2016.
EVANSTON ART CENTER: 2603 Sheridan Road. 847-475-5300.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: 220 E. Chicago. mcachicago.org.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART: 1852 W. 19th St. 312-738-1503. Exhibit “Nuestras Historias: Stories of Mexican Identity from the Permanent Collection” on display through Nov. 30, 2017. “Deportable Aliens: New Work” by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas through Feb. 28, 2016.
NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM: 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773- 326-0270. Permanent exhibit include “The Things They Carried.”
UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART: 2320 W. Chicago Ave. 773-227-5522; www.uima-chicago.org.
ZHOU B ART CENTER: 1029 W 35th St. 773- 523-0200.
COMEDY
More Top Picks Vision Therapy For Adults Is It Ever Too Late
HEMMENS CULTURAL CENTER: Corner of Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue, Elgin.
SECOND CITY: Piper’s Alley, 1608 N. Wells. 312-337-3992. “Soul Brother, Where Art Thou?,” “103rd Mainstage Revue: Panic on Cloud 9,” Second City’s “Game Night,” “#DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment,” “Holidazed & Confused Revue” will be performed through December. Tickets are $23-41 for each.
ZANIES: 1548 N. Wells. 312-337-4027. Mike Lebovitz, Dec. 26-27. Ron Funches, Dec. 29. Michael Palascak, Dec. 30, Jan. 2-3. Jessimae Peluso, Dec. 31.
ZANIES: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. 847-813-0484. Michael Palascak, Dec. 29. Jessimae Peluso, Dec. 30. Ron Funches, Dec. 31. Mike Lebovitz, Jan. 2.
MEDLEY
DALEY PLAZA: 50 W. Washington St. 312-494-2175.
LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER CHICAGO: Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. 312-558-1770. Annual Holiday Bricktacular through Jan. 3. Children will also receive a free, exclusive holiday-themed factory LEGO brick. Festivities include building ornaments for the Center’s massive, new LEGO tree; adding cheerful elements to a very merry Holiday Village, including Santa’s workshop and gingerbread houses; holiday photos with life-sized Santa and Snowman LEGO models, and more. Admission is $18. Buy special rate tickets online. New Year’s celebration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Balloon drops with the kids happen at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Cost is $18 with discounts available online.
MILLENNIUM PARK: 201 E. Randolph St., between Michigan and Columbus avenues. www.cityofchicago.org. Ice rink open through March 6, weather permitting.
NAVY PIER: 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-5200. Chicago’s “coolest” ice rink returns in Snow Much Fun through Jan. 10. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $13-14. PNC Bank Winter WonderFest through Jan. 10. Features 170,000 square feet of carnival rides, giant slides, holiday-themed activities, the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Skating Rink, and more. Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. New Year’s Eve at The Crystal Gardens beginning at 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Tickets start at $115. Annual Resolution Gala beginning at 8:15 p.m. Dec. 31. Tickets start at $109. Enjoy the lakefront fireworks show at midnight Dec. 31.
SHEDD AQUARIUM: 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. www.sheddaquarium.org. Exhibits include Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone and more. Holiday One World festive aquatic show daily through Jan. 2, excluding Dec. 25.
MUSEUMS
ADLER PLANETARIUM: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-922-7827. “Destination Solar System,” a live show that takes adventurous space explorers on an immersive tour of the Solar System. “Mission Moon,” a permanent exhibit that follows the legendary career of Captain James A. Lovell Jr. — an astronaut immortalized on film as the Commander of Apollo 13 — from his rocket crazed childhood through his quest for the Moon. “Community Design Lab” is a flexible, creative space that celebrate the Adler’s 85-year history and offers guests hands-on, minds-on activities that will challenge them to think about science in new ways. The World’s Largest Snow Globe will be available to visitors through Jan. 3. Be whisked around Chicago and see famous landmarks in their holiday finery.
ELGIN PUBLIC MUSEUM: Lords Park, 225 Grand Blvd. 847-741-6655. Enjoy an up close and personal look at the bison, deer and elk at the Lords Park Zoo Dec. 26. Meet at the Museum for a short introduction after which we head to the zoo to assist the Lords Park Zookeeper in feeding these magnificent creatures. The bison feeding will begin at 7 a.m. at the Museum building. Cost is $2, $1 for children $1 and members are free. Registration required.
FIELD MUSEUM: 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. Permanent exhibits include “The Crown Family PlayLab,” “Evolving Planet,” “Sue the T-Rex,” “Cyrus Tang Hall of China” and more. “The Greeks — Agamemnon to Alexander the Great,” a once-in-a-lifetime look at 5,000 years of Greek innovation and influence on Western Civilization, will be on display through April 10. It’s an historic opportunity to experience and learn about the ancient Greeks through an exhibition of more than 500 priceless treasures from 21 Greek museums. Many of the objects have never been displayed outside of Greece. The Greeks exhibition is made possible by a generous donation from The John P. Calamos Foundation, and John P. Calamos Sr., chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Hellenic Museum. The National Hellenic Museum, the premier Greek cultural institution in North America, is co-sponsoring this exhibition.
ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. 847-967-4889.
KOHL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: 2100 Patriot Drive, Glenview. 847-832-6600.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 773-684-1414. The exhibits on display include “80 at 80,” “Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze,” “Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle” and more. Materials Science on display through Jan. 31. Explore the history and future of materials that impact our lives everyday. Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light on display through Jan. 3. This year’s colorful theme is inspired by the Museum’s temporary exhibit — “Robot Revolution.” Interact with a cutting-edge collection of robots from around the world. The 45-foot Grand Tree holds court in the Rotunda, decked out with more than 30,000 twinkling colorful lights and hundreds of ornaments and bright, vibrant trimmings. Surrounding it, more than 50 dazzling trees and displays are beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities, offering insight into their diverse cultures and holiday traditions. Stroll through this festive forest as you enjoy holiday tunes and the sight of “snow” falling every half hour. On the weekends and select weekdays, Holiday Stage performances by various dance and choral groups.
NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM: 333. S. Halsted St. 312-655-1234; www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org. A new exhibition on the landscape of Greece will run through August. “Aegean: Creation of an Archipelago” will explore the evolution and geology of Homer’s “wine dark sea” and its dazzling islands through digital and audiovisual material, as well as tangible artifacts that include underwater findings, ancient fossils, and a 14-meter petrified tree trunk. Greek history and culture will be examined through unique discussions, debates, performances, staged readings, and other events that provide a forum for conversation, self-reflection, and entertainment on topics that encompass a vast range of issues, both ancient and contemporary. Storytelling from Agamemnon to Alexander the Great at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Loot of the Afterlife at 1 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 3. Activity will include a docent led tour of the Aegean exhibition. For ages 5-16. Little Homer story hour at 11 a.m. Jan. 2. Enjoy a bilingual story time where children will have the opportunity to act out a Greek myth and participate in a craft. Cost is $5 and free for children ages 2-12.
PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM: 2430 Cannon Drive. 773-755-5100. Features Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse filled with pools of water, flowers, tropical trees and 1,000 butterflies, including those never-before-seen in our region. Release of new butterflies at 2 p.m. daily. Permanent exhibit “Nature’s Lunchbox” shines the spotlight on healthy eating. New exhibits include “City Creatures: Animal Encounters in Chicago’s Urban Wilderness” on display through Jan. 3; and “Peanuts…Naturally” on display through Jan. 3.
POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA: 984 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-384-3352; www.polishmuseumofamerica.org. One of the nation’s oldest and largest ethnic museums features a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits as well as events and resources for the Polish community.
MUSIC
BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS: 700 S. Wabash. 312-427-1190; www.buddyguy.com. Live blues every night. Set times are 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and jam until 12:45 a.m. Monday; 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and jam from 11:30 p.m. until 12:45 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; opening band 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., headliner 10:30 p.m. to midnight and jam from 12:30 to 1:15 a.m. Saturday; and Sunday Night Jazz Party is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cover charge is $10 for the Sunday through Thursday night shows and $20 for the Friday and Saturday night shows.
THEATER
APOLLO THEATER: 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-935-6100. “Million Dollar Quartet” through Jan. 17. Tickets are $25-85.
ATHENAEUM THEATRE: 2936 N. Southport Ave. 773- 935-6875.
AUDITORIUM THEATRE: Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway. 800-982-2787; www.ticketmaster.com. Joffrey Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” through Dec. 27. Tickets start at $74.
BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE: 18 W. Monroe St. 800-775-2000.
BRIAR STREET THEATRE: 3133 N. Halsted St. “Blue Man Group” open run. Tickets are $49-$69.
CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE: 151 W. Randolph St. 800-775-2000; broadwayinchicago.com. “The Lion King” through Jan. 17. Tickets are $35-180 at 800-775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.
CIVIC OPERA HOUSE: 20 N. Wacker. www.lyricopera.org. Lyric Opera’s production of “Bel Canto” runs through Jan. 17. Tickets start at $34.
DEN THEATRE: 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. 866- 811-4111; irishtheatreofchicago.org.
DRURY LANE, OAK BROOK: 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111. “White Christmas: The Musical” through Jan. 3. Tickets are $35-55.
More Top Picks Hard Drive
FLAT IRON ARTS BUILDING: 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. bailiwickchicago.com.
THE GIFT THEATRE: 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. thegifttheatre.org
GOODMAN THEATRE: 170 N. Dearborn St. 312-443-3800. “A Christmas Carol” though Dec. 27. Tickets start at $26. “Twist Your Dickens” through Dec. 27. Tickets start at $15.
METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE: 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. 847-577-2121. Donate a non-perishable item for those in need during the Food Drive through Dec. 31. Drop-off will be in the lobby. Second City performs its holiday sketch comedy revue “Holidazed” through Dec. 31. Tickets are $30-35. New Year’s Eve tickets are $50-60. Featuring the classic rock music of Earth, Wind, and Fire, Shining Star performs at 7 p.m. Jan. 2. Eleven highly talented vocalists and musicians harmoniously join forces to present a celebration of the four decade strong success, popularity and resilience of one of the most successful musical stories ever told. Hear Earth, Wind and Fire’s top charting hits. Tickets are $30-35.
NORTHBROOK THEATRE: Leisure Center, 3323 Walters Ave. www.nbparks.org.
NORTH SHORE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMNG ARTS: 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. 847-673-6300; www.northshorecenter.org. .
PARAMOUNT THEATRE: 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. 630-896-6666. “A Christmas Story: The Musical” will be performed through Jan. 3. Tickets are $41-56.
ORACLE THEATRE: 3809 N Broadway (252) 220-0269; publicaccesstheatre.org.
ORIENTAL THEATRE: 24 W. Randolph St. 312-977-1700.
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. 815-356-9010. “Plaid Tidings” will be performed through Jan. 3. Tickets start at $32.50. Steve Cochran New Year’s Eve comedy show at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Tickets start at $52.
RED ORCHID THEATRE: 1531 N. Wells St. 312-943-8722.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE: Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-5633. “A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol” will run through Jan. 3. Tickets start at $20. “The Heir Apparent” through Jan. 17. Tickets are $53.
SKOKIE THEATRE: 7924 Lincoln Ave. 847-677-7761. Singer, Musician, Composer, guitarist and critically acclaimed Barbra Streisand impersonator Michelle Monet presents her one woman show ‘SHE, Streisand and ME, Monet’ at 8 p.m. Dec. 26. Tickets are $25. Sean Masterson’s Magic Matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 27. Tickets are $12. Funny Old Broads New Year’s Eve at 8:30 p.m. Dec 31. Tickets are $42.
WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE: 121 Van Buren St. 815-338-5300.
UNDER THE SUN
BROOKFIELD ZOO: First Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street. 708-688-8000. Holiday Magic open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in December plus Dec. 28-31. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Includes over one million twinkling led lights, new polar lights, an interactive light extravaganza and dazzling music, a 41-foot talking tree, interactive tic-tac snow board, train display, carolers, ice carvers, and more. Zoo Year’s Eve Dec. 31. There will be live DJ music, games, party favors, prizes and an early countdown at 8 p.m. Also, kids can make their own noisemaker.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. 847-556-1778, www.chicagobotanic.org. Wonderland Express daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Jan. 3. Exhibition of miniature trains winds over bridges, under trestles, and through mini-replicas of Chicago’s favorite landmarks. Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors and children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under.
LINCOLN PARK ZOO: 2001 N. Clark St. 312-742-2000; lpzoo.org. Ice Skating through Feb. 28. Admission is $5 and skate rental is $5. ZooLights 4:30–9 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 3. Free family-oriented holiday celebration, featuring luminous displays and holiday-season activities throughout zoo grounds.
MORTON ARBORETUM: I-88 and Route 53, Lisle. 630-968-0074. Gnome Homes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends through March. After taking a hike through the Children’s Garden to hunt for all of the hiding gnomes, create a keepsake, light-up gnome home of your own. Gnome Hunt in Children’s Garden is free. Gnome Home is additional fee of $10. Winter time fun painting snow, building a fort and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in December, weather permitting. All tools provided to have some frosty fun. Illumination: Tree Lights through Jan. 2. Cost is $17-20, and $11-13 for ages 2–17.
Twitter @newssun