Renee Tomell

National award-winning guitarist and harp-guitarist Muriel Anderson returns to her native Downers Grove once a year to continue her beloved neighborhood tradition. Her 18th annual performance begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in Downers Grove North High School Auditorium.

Her parents, family and friends chip in to provide the legendary homemade refreshments and hot apple cider served at intermission. Guest harp-guitarist and humorist Andy Wahlberg from Florida joins her this year.

Muriel Anderson and her harp-guitar. She also will teach a guitar workshop that weekend. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Andy Wahlberg SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra presents “A Celebration of Youth” this weekend in Lombard and Elmhurst. Twelve-year-old cello phenomenon Johannes Gray, who has been winning competitions and establishing himself as an important new talent on the instrument, will be featured in Dvorak’s Cello Concerto.

Performances begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Biester Auditorium at Glenbard East High School, 1014 S. Main St., Lombard, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at its new venue in Elmhurst, The Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 155 Brush Hill Road.

Johannes Gray SUBMITTED PHOTO

Award-winning, singer-songwriter Greg Trafidlo will perform Friday evening, Nov. 27, at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, where doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The tenor has appeared from Wrigley Field to the U.S. Capitol, from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to Cork, Ireland, and as far as Beijing, China, singing his distinctive blend of folk, country, blues and bluegrass.
 
He’s shared the stage with such artists as Bill Monroe, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Tom Paxton and John Hartford. National Public Radio airs his song “(I Got Stuck Behind) Buford” on its nationally syndicated show, “Car Talk.”

The late Mike Fleischer of WDCB-FM in Glen Ellyn said, “Greg Trafidlo’s songs tickle your fancy, tickle your funny bone, tickle your thought processes, tickle your heart, and tickle your soul.”

For ticket information, contact Two Way Street Coffee House at (630) 969-9720 or www.twowaystreet.org.
 

To help guide you to the myriad entertainment options ready to be unwrapped this holiday season, we’ve collected a sampling of some of the best shows, festivals and activities around.

Symphony sparkles

WHAT Returning to its regular venue by popular demand, Elgin Symphony Orchestra performs “Home for the Holidays,” featuring the Elgin Choral Union, Elgin Children’s Chorus and vocal soloist Nathaniel Stampley. He was featured on the orchestra’s Copland recording and was one of three actors who played the patriarch lion Mufasa in the Broadway production of “The Lion King.” Robert Hanson will conduct the rousing holiday arrangements for which the award-winning orchestra is known.
WHERE The Hemmens Theatre, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
WHEN 3:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13
COST $28 to $62
CONTACT (847) 888-4000; www.ElginSymphony.org

Robert Hanson will conduct the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s “Home for the Holidays” performances with guest choirs and soloist Nathaniel Stampley of Broadway’s “The Lion King.” SUBMITTED PHOTO

Head out to Silverado bar and grill in Elmhurst on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and give thanks for an evening of rock and roll kicking off at 9 p.m. with The Purebred Stems.

The Elmhurst-based musicians report that after having rocked many a person over the past year, they are triumphantly returning to Silverado equipped with their own distinct brand of stripped down, grease-gun, rock and roll in a fight against hunger.

This year, The Purebred Stems, in conjunction with the UCCA and Silverado, will collect nonperishable foods for donation. The first 100 people to enter Silverado bearing a nonperishable or canned food item will receive a limited edition Purebred Stems print by local artist Mark A. Metzger (markametzger.com).

UCCA stands for United Community Concerns Association, a local organization that provides food certificates for Elmhurst families. Last year, the group helped feed 240 families, and this year is projected to assist more than 260 families.

Silverado Grill is at 447 Spring Road. For details, call the restaurant and bar at (630) 833-1602.

PLUM GOOD SHOW
Salt Creek Ballet stages the lovable holiday classic “The Nutcracker” in two shows in the auditorium of the Hinsdale Central High School. With a cast of 100 children and young adults, Salt Creek Ballet performs the whimsical tale of toys coming to life with special guest performers from New York’s American Ballet Theatre taking on the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier. Sunday’s show will be a special benefit performance followed by a Sugar Plum Party, where audience members get to meet each of the characters as they step off stage.
WHERE Hinsdale Central Auditorium, 55th and Grant Streets, Hinsdale
WHEN 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28 and 29
COST Saturday: $29 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under; Sunday: $35 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under
CONTACT Salt Creek Ballet, (630) 769-1199, saltcreek@saltcreekballet.org

The Salt Creek Ballet performs their yearly ballet production of "The Nutcracker." This year, they'll perform the production on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28 and 29 in the Hinsdale Central Auditorium. SUBMITTED PHOTO

For more than 20 years, the Canterbury Carollers have performed authentic Victorian Christmas carols throughout Chicago and the western suburbs. Now they are teaming up with several actors to present an evening of classic Christmas tales and favorite carols. They celebrate the start of the holiday season at two Thanksgiving weekend performances in Elmhurst.
 

The Canterbury Carollers have appeared at the White House. COURTESY OF www.canterburycarollers.com

 Several local actors will translate Christmas stories written by Charles Dickens and O Henry into an interactive performance for the whole family. Popular Christmas carols will be sung by the professional carollers in period costumes.

State Street Dance Studio in Geneva will team up with a dozen local vendors to present their first “Christmas Boutique” from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at 9 N. Fourth St. For people attending the town’s Christmas Walk festivities on the same day, it is designed to be a one-stop-shop for gifts. Professional portrait photography taken with props from the “Nutcracker” ballet also will be featured.

A portion of proceeds from the special fundraiser will benefit State Street’s annual production of the holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker,” being performed at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, in the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles.

The professional portraits are taken by Megan Kelly Photography in Geneva. The $75 fee is a $180 value, says Linda Cunningham, the dance studio’s artistic director. Reservations for the photography are limited and requested by Nov. 16.

When Jersey Mike's Subs officially opens its doors in Lombard next week, owners Susan Klein and Christie Baines will celebrate their new ties to the community with a fundraiser for Glenbard East High School. Their grand opening takes place Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The new restaurant at 2820 S. Highland Ave., in the Highlands of Lombard, will host a five-day fundraiser to benefit the school. Anyone who has a fundraising coupon can get a free regular sub for a minimum $1 contribution from Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 18 to 22.

As an antidote to stressful schedules and solitary online pursuits, family game nights are back in a big way.

Whether they feature board game classics or playful new offerings, they stand ready to sharpen minds at any age.

“Game nights are more about staying close to family; people are enjoying the quiet, family moments,” says Rosaleen Tully, co-owner of Learning Express of Homer Glen.

She says Gather ‘Round Dinner Game is specifically designed to keep kids at the dinner table longer.