Looking Forward
This week's happenings in news, sports, and entertainment.
FRIDAY
True story ‘Defiance’ opens in theaters
“Defiance,” starring Daniel Craig, Liev Shreiber and Jamie Bell, opens in theaters.
Based on a true story, the movie involves three Jewish brothers who escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and others in danger.
“Defiance” is rated R for violence and language.
THURSDAY
Guest speak to offer look at publishing
Richard Babcock, editor of Chicago Magazine, will give a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world 10 a.m. Thursday at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock.
Babcock also is the author of two novels and a native of Woodstock.
Tickets, which cost $23, are available by calling 815-338-5300.
SATURDAY
Jacobs boys face Schaumburg at Sears Centre
Center Conrad Krutwig and the Golden Eagles boys basketball team will face the Schaumburg Saxons at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates as part of the 12th annual High School Hoops Showdown.
Tickets for the game can be bought at Jacobs High School for $12. The Eagles are led by Krutwig, who is averaging 22.1 points and 8.9 rebounds a game.
FRIDAY
Hawks continue homestand
The Blackhawks will wrap up a three-game homestand this week, facing off against Buffalo on Wednesday and the New York Rangers on Friday night. The Hawks have been dominant at home. Both games start at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on Comcast SportsNet, with the radio broadcast airing on WGN-AM 720.
WEDNESDAY
Boat, RV show at McCormick Place
The 79th annual Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show takes place Wednesday through Sunday at McCormick Place – North Building, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.
This recreation and leisure show features more than 500 boats, RVs, marine accessories, outfitters, interactive and educational activities.
Hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $10 adults, $4 children ages 13-15, free for children ages 12 and younger. On senior day Jan. 14, all seniors ages 65 and older receive a $2 admission discount.
For information, call 312-946-6200 or visit www.chicagoboatshow.com.
‘Art Excursions’ event to take look at Lincoln
The McHenry Public Library will host Jeff Mishur from “Art Excursions” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the library, 809 N. Front St., McHenry.
Mishur will teach participants about the different ways artists have portrayed Abraham Lincoln. Afterward, participants will have the opportunity to make their own drawing of Lincoln.
The activity is geared toward families with children in grades 1 through 8.
The event is free, but registration is required and can be done by calling the library, (815) 385-0036, visiting www.mchenrylibrary.org or stopping in the library.
FRIDAY
Cary Park District to celebrate with seniors
The Cary Park District is hosting a special New Year's celebration for seniors.
The event will feature lunch, bingo and one-man band Mike Pleska. Pleska, who has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," plays the keyboard, trumpet, xylophone, flute, banjo, guitar, mandolin and other instruments.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Foxford Hills Golf Club, 6800 S. Rawson Bridge Road.
A buffet lunch will be served. Bingo also will be played, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Reservations are required and can be made at the Cary Park District Community Center, 255 Briargate Road, Cary.
The cost is $18 for park district residents and $19 for nonresidents.
For information, visit www.carypark.com.
Woman's club discusses proper eye care
The Marengo Woman's Club will host its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Friday, where Dr. Jon Russell of the Marengo Vision Center will be a guest speaker.
Russell will discuss proper eye care with club members during the even at Marengo United Methodist Church, 119 E. Washington St.
Members are encouraged to attend and bring any new or gently used household items to be donated to local veterans. Those who might be interested in joining the organization are also welcome at the program.
The club hosts a general meeting once per month at the Marengo United Methodist Church.
‘Notorious’ about rapper opens in theaters
“Notorious,” starring Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie, opens in theaters.
The movie is the life and death story of Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher Wallace), who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm.
The film is rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexuality including dialogue, nudity, and for drug content.
‘Xanadu’ to roll onto Drury Lane stage
The award-winning musical “Xanadu” opens Friday and continues through March 15 at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago.
The musical tells the story of the nine magical muse-daughters of Zeus, who come to earth in 1980 (disguised in roller skates, leg warmers and Australian accents) to inspire humans to create truly great work and discover the meaning of the universe’s greatest secret.
Tickets, priced at $25-$87.50, are available by calling 312-902-1400, at all Ticketmaster locations or visit www.broadwayinchicago.com.
Gospel-bluegrass arts to play at Raue
Gospel-bluegrass artist Susan Werner performs 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake.
Werner's repertoire ranges from hand-clap choir rousers such as “Help Somebody” to the introspective “Forgiveness” and “Sunday Mornings.” Werner opened for George Carlin at Raue Center in 2007 and was part of the inaugural Raue Cabaret Festival.
Tickets, priced at $33-$35, are available by calling 815-356-9212 or visit www.rauecenter.org.
SATURDAY
Birds of prey will be featured at library
Learn about magnificent birds of prey during a hawk program Saturday at the Marengo-Union Public Library.
The program, which begins at 1 p.m., will be presented by the McHenry County Wildlife Resource Center and is scheduled to include a live bird.
This hourlong event, designed for children in first grade and older, takes place at the library, 200 S. State St. in Marengo.
Registration is required.
For information, call the library at 815-568-8236 or visit www.muld.org.
British Isle topics subject of meeting
British Isles topics will be the theme of “Show-N-Share with Genealogy Experts” at the British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois meeting Saturday.
The event will run from 10 to noon at Grace Lutheran Church, 6000 Broadway, Richmond.
Attendees will be able to talk with experts on six topics at six tables in an informal setting. The topics are Illinois and Chicago, to be addressed by Maureen Brady; Ireland, by Dan Kane; Wisconsin, by Rollie Littlewood; Scotland, by Linda Robertson; England, by Ann Wells; and publications and publishing, by Roger and Fran Higgs.
The church is just off Route 173 or Kenosha Street in Richmond.
For information, visit www.bigwill.org.
Zion Lutheran Church offers ‘Narnia’ production
Marengo-area students join on Saturday for two multi-school theatrical interpretations of "The Chronicles of Narnia."
Performance times are set for 2 and 6:30 p.m. in the Marengo Community High School auditorium, 110 Franks Road, Marengo.
Local student actors with Zion Lutheran School, Faith Lutheran High School and Marengo Community High School will present the event. Organizers say Zion students have been working on the production since the beginning of the school year, extending auditions to the high school students.
For information about the event, call Zion Lutheran School at 815-568-5156.