Alicia Spates

The Arcade Theater in downtown St. Charles is rocking against hunger with a benefit concert on Nov. 27 to support the Feeding Northwest DuPage food pantires.

Opening the show at 7:30 p.m. will be The Cavern Beat recreating the dramatic introduction of America to the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, and Supernaut featuring Dave Uhrich performing songs from the 70's to today.

Guests will get to listen to a night of rockin' music and get a chance to win an electric guitar signed by Dave Uhrich.

Tickets are priced at $40, $25, $20 and $15. A special promotion up on the Rock Against Hunger Web site is that they are offering tickets for buy two, get one free. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Arcada box office at (630) 587-8400.

Downtown Downers Grove is spreading the holiday joy this weekend with "It's A Wonderful Weekend in Downtown Downers Grove."

From Nov. 27-29, families can kick off the holiday season with shopping and dining in Downtown Downers Grove with some extra treats. The streets will be lit by luminaries and filled with the sounds of caroling.

Before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, feast your eyes on what various animals eat as their Thanksgiving meals, during the Brookfield Zoo's Thanksgiving Day Feast for the Animals.

At the special event, which begins at noon on Thursday, Nov. 26, families can watch Bluebell and Moodspot (draft horses); Mac and Cheese (Nubian goats); Magnolia, Emma, and Crissey (Holstein cows); and Heidi (reindeer) all being fed by zookeepers. And zoogoers may get the chance to assist Children’s Zoo keepers in feeding them nutritious tasty treats. Menu items include apples, carrots, sweet corn, oranges, timothy hay, alfalfa, hog chow, grapes, lettuce, bananas and duck chow.

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Author Bill Trombello of Wheaton learned to work outside of his element. A former educator and senior instructor with the Electro-Motive division of the General Motors Corporation in La Grange, Trombello is all about the facts when it comes to writing educational books on trains. But for his latest and third book, “The Willow Falls Christmas Train,” Trombello had to learn to write a story. The three-year project is finished, just in time for the holidays, and is available through Trombello’s company, Technical Training Consultants based in Lisle, and through online book stores like Amazon.com. Trombello says the book is up for a possible publishing deal to be distributed in Office Depot stores nationwide.

Children's author and locomotive training specialist Bill Trombello is about to release his third book - a holiday book - called "The Willow Falls Christmas Train." STAFF PHOTO BY JOHN COX

Scrapbooking is about more than encapsulating family memories into a book.

For one group of friends, it’s a regular, enjoyable outing for creating their own memories.

The social aspect of scrapbooking is what brings together sisters Carol Duerkes of Brookfield, Sue Svehla of Oswego and Kathy Feltz of Sandwich, along with their friend Kristen Rios of Downers Grove.

“We get to catch up,” Svehla says.

“It’s our girls night out,” Duerkes adds.

Comedian John Caponera celebrates 30 years of comedy this year with a new live DVD and a new take on comedy. Caponera shows that his impersonations, which includes Chicago baseball announcer great Harry Caray, aren’t the only jokes he has up his sleeve with several performances next week at the Zanies Comedy Club in St. Charles. While Caponera has enjoyed stints with voice-overs and television appearances, including his own series “The Good Life,” stand-up comedy has always been and continues to be his “bread and butter.” His DVD, titled “John Caponera Live,” is available online and at his shows.

John Caponera. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Christina Salerno of Clarendon Hills took her childhood passion of ballet and turned it into a successful career. As a professional ballerina, Salerno has toured the world, performing in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan and the United States. She danced on the Bolshoi stage in Moscow and the Maryinski in St. Petersburg, and spent eight seasons with the Boston Ballet. All the while, she never forgot her hometown roots of Westmont and credits Salt Creek Ballet for her start into the ballet world. Now, she’s able to share her extensive experience and knowledge with the students of Salt Creek as its executive director.

Salt Creek Ballet Executive Director Christina Salerno in one of the dance studios. STAFF PHOTO BY ERICA BENSON 

"A Classic Christmas in St. Charles" will benefit more than those who attend.

A portion of the proceeds made during the three-day event at Onesti Italian Steakhouse and Supper Club in St. Charles will go toward the St. Charles School District 303's Suicide Prevention Program. Guests must mention this program in order to have a portion of their bill to go toward this cause.

Also, Onesti Italian Steakhouse is offering a complimentary dinner for 25 unemployed couples, through private consideration and confidential reservations during the holiday season.

Peter Mayer, the lead guitarist of the Jimmy Buffett band, the Coral Reefer Band, will bring his holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 5 to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Downers Grove.

Mayer will play his original songs and a few holiday favorites in his Stars & Promises Concert, starting at 7 p.m. at the church, 5211 Carpenter St. Opening acts are Chris Walters, Marc Torlina, Scott Bryan, Mark Holland and Maggie Estes.

Peter Mayer. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director Bill Osetek of Berwyn is all for wanting the best for his theater. But for the past couple of months, he’s also had to think about what’s best for the show. Osetek is directing the Drury Lane production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” with the hopes of retaining the flavor of the slick Tony-Award winning musical. The romantic-comedy takes place during the Roaring ’20s and tells the story of a young girl from Kansas who takes New York City by storm at a time when women were just entering the workforce and rewriting society’s rules.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie." SUBMITTED PHOTO

Bill Osetek, Drury Lane's Artistic Director and director of Drury Lane's current show, "Thoroughly Modern Millie." SUBMITTED PHOTO