What do “Young Girl,” “Kind of a Drag” and “Elenore” have in common? They are all tunes from the late 1960s, recorded respectively by Gary Puckett, the Buckinghams and Turtles (shown above). All three acts will team up to relive those bubblegum years at 8 p.m. Saturday at Star Plaza Theatre, Ill. Hwy. 65 at U.S. Hwy. 30 in Merrillville, Ind. Tickets are $22; call 312-734-7266 or Ticketmaster, 312-559-1212.
Steve Dale
Baseball . . . sort of
At least they’ll say “Play Ball” to kick off the 10th annual Chicago Cubs Convention on Friday through Sunday at the Chicago Hilton & Towers, 720 S. Michigan Ave. Harry Caray opens the festivities at 3 p.m. Friday, leading a sing-along to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Meet the new Cub management team: president Lee MacPhail, general manager Ed Lynch and manager Jim Riggleman. The Cubs steal Lou Brock back, and they don’t even have to return Ernie Broglio; they appear together, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Jack Brickhouse emcees a Hall of Fame session at noon Saturday with Ernie Banks, Brock, Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams. No current players can attend, however, because of the strike. A weekend pass is $25. Call 312-404-CUBS.
Steve Dale
The drive for dessert
Calling all ice cream aficionados/car enthusiasts. Ed Debevic’s and Edy’s will host an ice cream sculpt-off in which participants will attempt to turn a mound of the rich creamy stuff, cookies, sprinkles and other goodies into a ’50s Chevy or a pink Cadillac. The sculpting gets under way at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ed Debevic’s, 640 N. Wells St. Registration is strongly suggested. The winner receives a year’s supply of Edy’s Grand Ice Cream. Of course, if you’d rather eat ice cream than sculpt it, stop by and have a free World’s Smallest Hot Fudge Sundae. For more information, call 312-345-8500.
Shirley Henderson
Teacher’s life lessons
In “Ten Times People Attempted to Rob Me,” Michael H. Brownstein, a Chicago schoolteacher, tells all in a 75-minute confessional. He must cope with a catastrophic school system, bored or hostile students and bad luck-12 tales told at Cafe Voltaire, 3231 N. Clark St., through Jan. 30. Call 312-285-7972.
Lawrence Bommer
Orpheus’ ascending
1995 promises to bring a host of concerts marking the 300th anniversary of the death of English composer Henry Purcell. The first locally is “Orpheus Britannicus,” a Chicago Baroque Ensemble performance of vocal and instrumental works. Soloists will be soprano Patrice Michaels Bedi and trumpeter Robert Rieder. Members include John Mark Rozendaal (shown above). Concerts are at 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Giles Church, 3025 Walters Ave., Northbrook; 3 p.m. Sunday at Block Gallery, Northwestern University, Evanston; and 6 p.m. Monday at the Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd.
John von Rhein.
