On The Go

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and if you haven't made plans yet, here are some venues offering Valentine's Day specials you may want to take advantage of.

Deciding on where to dine this weekend for Valentine's Day with your significant other is a question on a lot of people's minds. But there's another reason to dine - and especially party - this weekend.

The Chew Chew restaurant in Riverside is celebrating Mardi Gras all week long, starting Wednesday, Feb. 10. The restaurant will have beads, a fortune teller, belly dancers, live music, strolling magic and costumed staff to celebrate the New Orleans day.

Mardi Gras dining specials include Blackened Red Fish, Bayou Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Alligator Jambalaya, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Traditional King Cake and more. Reservations are recommended. Call (708) 447-8781.

The Geneva Park District is offering young collectors the opportunity to show-and-tell on a much larger scale than their classrooms.

Children can have their collections on display for about a month at the Geneva Community Center or the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center. Examples of collections, include snow globes, Legos, Barbies, Spiderman, stuffed animals and more. A brief description is provided that includes the child's name, age, school and a brief description about their collection, including how long they've been collecting and more.

If children are interested in participating, their parents can call (630) 232-4542 to be added to the list. Upon calling, please specify which building you'd prefer to have the collection displayed.

The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage has added “Loud and Rich: Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson” to the current season.

The concert, featuring the fan favorites, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

A darkly witty and touchingly personal songwriter and storyteller, Loudon Wainwright III is one of America’s most cherished music icons. He has recorded more than 20 albums, acted in a long list of productions, from “M.A.S.H.” to the “40-Year-Old Virgin,” and has created music for film and theater. This year brought him a 2010 Grammy Award for his album “High Wide & Handsome — the Charlie Poole Project.”

Richard Thompson is founder of British musical pioneers Fairport Convention and was named by “Rolling Stone” as one of the top 20 guitarists of all time. He’s created critically acclaimed music both as a solo artist and through collaborations.

For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000, or visit: www.atthemac.org.

Stepping into the new role of director, theater veteran Robert Plowman is immersed in rehearsals for "On Golden Pond," a show he has felt passionate about bringing to the stage for years. It will be presented by La Grange Repertory Theatre, which he co-founded a year ago.

Why did you pick this show for your directorial debut?

This February, get your sweetie some sweet potatoes from Sweet Tomatoes.

The area restaurants are bringing back guests' favorite menu item all month long. And on top of that, Sweet Tomatoes will have new potato-inspired menu items and their classic baked potato bar available to customers throughout February.

Which Beatle actually wrote "All You Need is Love?"

Don't know the answer? Well, find out Valentine's Day weekend at the second Friends of the Elmhurst Library’s Trivia Night at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Elmhurst Public Library. Doors open at 7 p.m. for participants to meet and strategize in the Large Meeting Room.

The charge to participate is $15 for Friends members and $20 for non-members. Players will compete in teams, and participants are invited to sit with up to 10 of their friends or be put in a group where they can meet new friends. Soft drinks and snacks will be available, and participants may bring in beer, wine or champagne.

Registration closes Feb. 10, and space is limited. Registration forms are available at www.elmhurstpubliclibrary.org. 

Like most artists, Joyce Owens doesn’t stay within the confines of a box when it comes to her creative expression. But, the wood containers have proven to work as great canvases for the Chicago artist. Owens’ latest painting series, “Out of the Box,” is on display at the Elmhurst College’s Frick Center in the Founders Lounge, until Feb. 19. Owens and 10 other women - all members of the Chicago-based professional African-American women artists collective, Sapphire and Crystals - currently have their paintings, photography, mixed media and ceramics on display at the college in recognition of Black History Month. A reception with some of the artists in attendance will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 in the Frick Center. The reception and exhibit are open free to the public.

(left) Joyce Owens, and her painting (right) "Man in White Shirt, Striped Tie" from her "Out of The Box" series. The art is painted in acrylic on a wood box (13.75" x 24" x 4.5"). SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Geneva couple Jim and Susan VanderVeen may not have all their dance moves down to salsa Saturday, but they certainly have a positive attitude. The VanderVeens are one of six couples participating in Dancing With The Geneva Stars event, which challenges couples in the community to learn a particular dance. The Geneva Academic Foundation and Geneva Cultural Arts Commission presents the fundraising event at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva. The VanderVeens have no prior dance experience, but that doesn’t stop them.

Dancing with the Geneva Stars contestants Susan and Jim VanderVeen rehearse at State Street Dance Studios in Geneva on Saturday, January 23. STAFF PHOTO BY STEVE BITTINGER