Orion Ensemble
New season kicks off

The nationally recognized Orion Ensemble, a five-member chamber music group, announces its 16th season, with series in Geneva, Chicago and Evanston.
Works by two women composers are among the highlights, and the final program features music from film and opera. Joining the musicians on two of the four programs is Baird Dodge, principal second violinist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble members are Kathryne Pirtle (clarinet), Florentina Ramniceanu (violin), Diana Schmück (piano), Judy Stone (cello) and Jennifer Marlas (viola).
The Geneva Series is set at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, 227 East Side Drive, with performances at  7 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 28, Nov. 16, March 22 and May 24. For tickets or information, call (630) 628-9591 or visit orionensemble.org.

Anne Hills
Singer to star at Fine Line

Anne Hills, singer-songwriter, poet and actor, will appear at the second annual Autumn’s Musical Celebration in the Kavanagh Gallery Friday evening, Sept. 26, at The Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles.
For tickets, visit www.fineline.org or purchase them at The Fine Line shop. The evening opens at 5:30 p.m. with a light supper of soups, salads and desserts, followed by the concert at 6 p.m.
Hills, who plays guitar and banjo, won The Kerrville Music Foundation’s Outstanding Female Vocalist of the Year Award in 1997. Her duet children’s recording with Cindy Mangsen, “Never Grow Up,” was chosen for the Parents’ Choice Award. She and Tom Paxton released a duet recording, “Under American Skies,” which won a WAMMIE for best traditional folk recording.
Visit the Web site for details on The Fine Line’s year-round classes diverse media.

Painting outdoors
Plein-air Fest set

The community is invited to peer over the shoulders of Midwest plein-air artists (French for open-air) who will paint the beauty of Fabyan Forest Preserve during the first Plein Air Paintout presented by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27.
Any artists working in any media may participate. There is no charge; no instruction will be provided; and all artists must bring their own supplies. The event is part of the nationwide Great Paint Out series sponsored by the Oil Painters of America in Crystal Lake.
Artists may locate themselves anywhere in the preserve, and the Japanese Garden will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 28. Fabyan Forest Preserve is off both routes 25 and 31, north of Fabyan Parkway and south of Geneva. For more information, visit www.genevarts.org.

Overnighter
Flea market to go dark

“A Night Under the Moon” is the title of the all-night version of the Kane County flea market, which begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, and continues until 2 a.m.
The fairgrounds are on Randall Road between routes 64 and 38 in St. Charles. For more information, visit www.kanecountyfleamarket.com or call ((630) 377-2252. The daytime flea market returns Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4 and 5.

Global releaf
Rocker to help trees

Chicago rocker Marty Casey of television’s “Rockstar-INXS” will make a special appearance at the Morton Arboretum Store for the retail launch of the Marty Casey Silver Elements Collection. In conjunction with his hit song, “Trees,” the premiere item is a Trees dogtag necklace. Each purchase supports the planting of five trees through American Forests and its Global Releaf effort.
The first 100 people to purchase the Trees necklace will receive a free compact disc of the single, a special acoustic version performed by Casey and Dave Navarro. Casey will sign the CDs and give autographs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, followed by an acoustic mini-concert. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. For details, call (630) 968-0074. The gatehouse fee is $9. Visit www.martycasey.com.

Leslie Nielsen
Movie great to appear

Comic actor Leslie Nielsen will appear for audience question-and-answer sessions before a screening of “The Naked Gun” at 7:30 p.m. and “Airplane!” at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Hollywood Boulevard Cinema, 1001 W. 75th St., Woodridge. His new films will be “An American Carol,” co-starring James Woods and Kelsey Grammar, and “Slap Shot 3.” Tickets are available online at www.atriptothemovies.com.

Quilters gather
Major show to open

The Prairie Star Quilters Guild of St. Charles announces that the Prairie Treasures Quilt Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28, at the Fox Valley Park District Prisco Community Center in Aurora, where area quilters will be demonstrating not only their sewing skills, but their “gardening skills.”
In addition to the nearly 300 quilts on display, viewers can enjoy a special section of challenge quilts inspired by pages from the Burpee Seed Catalog. Nearly 45 quilters have created a garden of fabric flowers, some abstract, others more traditional. Guests at the show, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and until 4 p.m. Sunday, can vote for their favorite. The Burpee Seed Co. has donated a gift certificate for the winner.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets for raffle baskets will be donated to the Hesed House shelter in Aurora. The Prisco Center is on Route 31, 1.6 miles south of Interstate 88. For all the activities, visit www.prairiestar.net.

Bulb sale
Arboretum to color spring

The Morton Arboretum Annual Bulb Sale will offer nearly 150 varieties of tulips, daffodils and specialty bulbs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, in the Arboretum Store, 4100 Route 53, Lisle.
To find recommended bulb varieties, visit www.mortonarb.org and under Plan Visit, choose Events and Activities, and then Bulb Sale. It provides details on bloom time, plant height, colors and more attributes.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized, 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world.

PBS ‘Raggs’
Kids show to visit Arcada

Characters from the public television show “Raggs” will perform a 90-minute interactive dance party for kids and their families at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in The Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles.
The Raggs Band, featuring Raggs, Trilby, Pido, B. Max and Razzles, will perform a dozen of their hit songs. The group’s wise-cracking cat, Dumpster, also will appear.
For tickets, call (630) 587-8400 or visit  www.raggs.com.