Evanston entertainment news and information

entertainment

Table Hopping: Norton’s secret for success? Simply good food

“Give people what they want,” is the no-nonsense motto of Richard Holleb, owner of Norton’s restaurant in Highland Park. The casual and friendly atmosphere he and partner, Jeffrey Mages, have created over the last 14 years in their “Cheer’s”-worthy haunt is a direct result of that credo.

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New releases on DVD, Blu-ray

Young love casts a powerful spell in “Beautiful Creatures,” Arnold Schwarzenneger returns to action in “The Last Stand,” Jude Law writes a prescription for disaster in “Side Effects” and Pacino, Walken and Arkin have a big night on the town in “Stand Up Guys.”

Billboard awards are Taylor-made

Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards. Swift won eight of 11 awards, including top artist and top Billboard 200 album for “Red.” She told the crowd: “You are the longest and best relationship I ever had.” She also had a colorful performance of her hit “22” — starting backstage and working her way to the main stage on the back of a bike with help from a dozen background dancers and a flurry of red balloons.

Arts and entertainment calendar for May 23

Check out the variety of fun events and activities in your area this week!

Have piano skills, will travel

Rock music done duo-piano style isn’t something you see — or hear — every day, especially on Steinway concert grands. That’s one good reason to be there when Wilmette native jazz pianist Adam Kromelow and Angelo Di Loreto perform the music of Genesis May 21 and 22 at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Northbrook and in Hinsdale.

Movies opening, still in theaters

Michael Shannon kills for a living in “The Iceman” and the crew of the Enterprise warps back into action in “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Table Hopping: To taste Paris, head to Mundelein

“When I was three years old I said to my mom, ‘I want to become a chef,’” said Claude Bouteille, the long-time chef and baker who has been plying his craft in the north of Chicago for the past 22 years.

Family Friendly: Botanic garden celebrates children

Craft projects, music and traditional folktales will teach families about children’s celebrations in Japan during the Malott Japanese Garden Children’s Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 and May 19 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe.

A concert of classical lullabies

A pair of successful Music Institute of Chicago alumni will give a recital Saturday from their new CD, “Violin Lullabies,” which has been getting national attention for its unusual focus and beautiful sound.

Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ a fitting finale for Heatherington

On the evenings of Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18 Maestro Alan Heatherington will conduct the Lake Forest Symphony in Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony,” with the Chicago Master Singers, two of the three groups, including Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, he has directed for dozens of years.

Writers’ Theatre founder being honored

Twenty-one years ago, Michael Halberstam had the goofy idea of opening up a theater in the postage stamp-sized back room of Glencoe bookstore. To put it mildly, it was a venture that seemed unlikely to succeed.

Spotlight: People to watch

Clear choice: Maggie Cain of Glenview is reprising her role as Amanda, a faded southern belle clinging to the past, in Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co’s restaging of its acclaimed production of “The Glass Menagerie.”

See a show, do a good deed at NU

Quick: When was the last time a theater gave you $1,000 just for showing up at a performance? Odds are the answer to that is a resounding never. The transactional model most theaters subscribes to is a one-way street. Pony up the price of a ticket and you get to watch a show.