Colin Quinn
There’s a certain generation familiar with this Brooklynite’s sassy, gravel-voiced rants from his tenure on MTV’s early game show “Remote Control” and five seasons of “Saturday Night Live,” where he sat in the anchor chair on the “Weekend Update” segment. Despite a failed attempt at capturing Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show” lead-in audience with his own show, “Tough Crowd” on Comedy Central, Quinn hasn’t lost his edge and sharpens it regularly on the road as he tours the stand-up circuit. Quinn makes the most of his Irish working-class background, especially around St. Patrick’s Day. Ticket holders can purchase admission to a special pre-show reception and pay tribute to Guinness.
When: 7 & 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake
Price: $25-$30; 815-356-9212 or www.rauecenter.org
Trinity II Irish Dance Company
Backs straight, arms held stiff against the body, toes sharply pointed — that’s the stance of an Irish dancer. Sounds comfortable, huh? The point of Irish step dancing is not comfort, but precision and timing. Witnessing the fluidity of this group, consisting of 18- to 25-year-olds, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Tickets are also available for a preshow Irish brunch catered by Vic’s on Main.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy., University Park
Price: $35-$42 for adults, $27-$34 for children 16 and under; 708-235-2222 or www.centertickets.net
Flashlight Egg Hunt
Usually nighttime activities better suit a holiday like Halloween than, say, Easter. But try putting a new spin on a time-honored tradition by hunting for Easter eggs in the dark. It certainly ups the skill set needed to track down a collection of colored eggs. Armed with flashlights and baskets, children ages 9 to 13 can scour the landscape for these hard-boiled, incredible, edible bastions of protein.
When: 7:45 p.m. Thursday
Where: Wigwam — The Knoch Knolls Park, 336 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville
Price: $13-$9; 630-848-5000 or www.napervilleparks.org
Whirlyball
After a game of Whirlyball, a round of miniature golf will seem like a piece of cake. Engage the whole family in a game of wits and athletic skill. Part bumper cars, part basketball, part lacrosse and part hockey, Whirlyball uses all the senses and limbs. Played with whiffle balls, the multifaceted sport combines sheer competitive drive with the indelible, carnival-loving kid in everyone. While perfect for company parties or large group outings, Whirlyball also caters to the spur-of-the-moment family of four. Calling ahead to check on court availability is recommended.
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: WhirlyBall, 800 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard
Price: $10 per half hour; 800-8-WHIRLY or www.whirlyball.com
Erin Brockovich
It takes quite a woman to be portrayed by Julia Roberts in a movie based on your life story. By now most just remember America’s favorite “Pretty Woman” sporting a push-up bra as Brockovich in the 2000 film and subsequently winning the Academy Award for best actress. The real Brockovich, a legal clerk, scored a tremendous multimillion-dollar victory against Pacific Gas & Electric for the residents of Hinkley, Calif. The chat is part of the Smart Talk Women’s Lecture Series.
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Price: $34-$55; 815-968-2722 or www.coronadopac.org
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