48 Hours

A Quick Guide to Weekend Entertainment Options AROUND TOWN Countdown: The 36th annual Chicago Air & Water show blasts off todayand Sunday along the lakefront, with the show's activities focused atNorth Avenue Beach. For a more complete schedule, see Page 6. Planes will follow a new flight path. Instead of turning at NavyPier to head back to Glenview Naval Air Station, the planes will notturn until they get to Rainbow Beach at 79th, which gives people awider range of spots from which to see the planes.

The Exide Batteries Chicago Offshore Grand Prix Powerboat Racesopen the show at 9:30 a.m. The racecourse is between Diversey Harborand Navy Pier. More than 50 professional racers compete for the$60,000 purse and championship points for the U.S. Offshore NationalAssociation competition circuit.

For more information call (312) 744-3315 or the TT/TDD number at(312) 744-2964. BITS & PIECES Bang, not whimper: Michael Rossi, who calls himself "The MostExplosive Stuntman," makes a spectacle of himself at 8 tonight duringthe stock car races (which also start at 8 p.m.) at LaSalle Speedway.Admission is $8 for adults, $1 for kids 6 to 11. The speedway is 11/2 miles southeast of the I-80 and I-39 interchange on U.S. 6 inLaSalle. Call (708) 957-5698. A real scream: Horror fans can feast on two of Italian auteur DarioArgento's films, to be screened tonight at the School of the ArtInstitute's Film Center Theater, Columbus and Jackson. Not only willviewers be treated to the chilling classics of "Suspiria" and "FourFlies on Grey Velvet," but the director himself will make anappearance. "Suspiria," begins at 6 p.m. "Four Flies on Grey Velvet"begins at 8. Admission is $5. (312) 443-3737. ART FESTIVALS North suburb: The 10th annual Port Clinton Art Festival runs todayand Sunday in downtown Highland Park. More than 250 artists displaytheir paintings, lithographs, watercolors, photography, sculpture,glass, wood, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media and fiber art. Admissionis free and so is parking in adjacent commuter and city lots. Call(708) 433-5306. Northwest Side: The Bucktown Arts Fest runs today and Sunday atSenior Citizens Park, 2300 N. Oakley (Oakley and Lyndale) on the NearNorthwest Side. More than 120 artists exhibit and sell their works,which range from photography, oil painting and watercolors tojewelry, textile art, sculpture and pottery. There also are foodvendors selling ethnic cuisine, a beer and wine tent, live music(jazz, rock, folk), poetry readings, theater performances and a kids'activity area. Admission is free. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. todayand noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call (312) 489-4662. Far northwest suburb: The Elgin Fine Arts Festival runs today andSunday at the Civic Center Plaza at 150 Dexter Court in downtownElgin. Activities include arts and crafts, kids' activities and liveentertainment. Hours are 1 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4p.m. Sunday. Call (708) 931-5613 or the Elgin Area Convention andVisitors Bureau at (708) 695-7540. North suburb: The 10th annual American Craft Exposition & Sale runstoday and Sunday at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion on the campus ofNorthwestern University, on Lincoln Street at Lake Michigan inEvanston. More than 130 juried artisans sell their creations. Hoursare 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admissionis $8. Call (708) 570-5096 or (708) 570-5095. On Sunday from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m. there will be a "Show of Hands," a free trolley tour ofall major Evanston galleries, museums and restaurants. The trolleywill stop at Sherman Avenue and Grove Street in downtown Evanston.Call(708) 328-1500. AND MORE FESTIVALS Yum! Yum!: Barbecued alligator and shark top the menu at theClybourn End of Summer Fest today and Sunday on the Near NorthwestSide. More than 100 art vendors, 30 food stands for local eateriesand musical entertainment round out the activities. Festival gatesare at Sheffield and Marcey and Willow and Marcey (between NorthAvenue and Clybourn). Festival hours are noon to 9 p.m, daily. Thesuggested donation is $4; free for kids under 12. Call (312)348-6784. Greek style: A Greektown Street Festival kicks off today and Sundayon Halsted between Monroe and Van Buren. Highlights include ethnicfood, arts and crafts vendors, and two stages of live entertainment,featuring Greek and American music. Festival donation is $2. Hoursare noon to midnight, both days. Call (312) 868-3010. Rock on the Fox - A Taste of Aurora runs 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. todayat the Water Street Mall between Galena Boulevard and Downer Place(one block west of Illinois 25) in downtown Aurora. Festitiviesinclude food booths from local eateries, beer garden and live musicfeaturing '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll, and blues. Admission is free.Call (708) 844-3640.