>> WED 12/9 Jump to: THU 12/10 | FRI 12/11 | SAT 12/12 | SUN 12/13 |
Champagne tasting
Where: Webster’s Wine Bar
Sample 30-35 sparklers from the French region of Champagne and discuss wine-making techniques. 7:30 p.m. Cost: $55. RSVP required.
Sam Adams dinner
Where: Brownstone Tavern & Grill
Sample beers and appetizers before tucking in to a three-course dinner with pairings from the Boston brewery, including Black Lager. 6:30 p.m. Cost: $40.
‘Soup and Bread’ release party
Where: Hideout
Martha Bayne and Sheila Sachs collected recipes from local chefs, artists and friends at the Hideout during their Soup and Bread parties last winter. Pick up a copy of their new cookbook for $20. 5 p.m. Cost: No cover.
Free! Holiday shopping
Where: Belmont Avenue and Broadway
Get at least 25 percent off select merch and eats at 40 Lakeview East spots, including a 25 percent off all denim at menswear boutique Cram. 5-9 p.m. Map and locations: lakevieweast.com
Kinky X-Mas
Where: Debonair Social Club
Holiday cheer gets a sexy upgrade at this burlesque show featuring Angela Eve, Eve’s Parlor and Miss Pussykatt, plus DJ duo Team Bayside High. Two shows: 10 p.m. and midnight. Cost: Donations help pay for medical bills of Angela Eve’s mother.
White House dinner
Where: C-House
You don’t have to crash a White House party to dine on presidential fare. Chefs Nicole Pederson and Toni Roberts recreate the state dinner menu they helped prepare two weeks ago in Washington, D.C. Cost: $54; $74 with wine.
Free! ‘Freaks’
Where: Chicago Cultural Center
See Tod Browning’s 1932 horror flick about carnival performers, presented in conjunction with Silent Theatre’s “Carnival Nocturne.” Includes live original music. 7 p.m.
Bubble Bath X
Where: Bin 36
‘Tis the season for bubbly, and Bin has the mother lode tonight. Sip more than 75 sparklers and nibble appetizers. Also, pick up featured bottles at a 20 percent discount. 6 p.m. Cost: $50.
>> See all Wednesday events
>> THU 12/10 Jump to: WED 12/9 | FRI 12/11 | SAT 12/12 | SUN 12/13 |
Ugly sweater party
Where: J Bar
Trot out your worst pullover or cardigan and you could win a party package at the bar. Includes appetizers. 8 p.m. Cost: No cover.
‘Trust Us, This Is All Made Up’
Where: Gene Siskel Film Center
See Alex Karpovsky's new doc film that follows Chicago improv vets TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi around New York City for a day, culminating in their live set at the off-Broadway Barrow Street Theatre. 9 p.m. Cost: $5-$10.
‘Delight Before Christmas’
Where: Theatre Building Chicago
Girlie Q Productions riffs on Craigslist personals in this holiday themed GLBT variety show, teeming with Burlesque and boylesque, drag, juggling and more. 8:30 p.m. Through Dec. 19. Cost: $15-$20.
Two Brothers dinner
Where: Otom
Chase down five courses with six small-batch beer pairings from the Warrenville, Ill., brewery, including Bare Tree weiss wine and Heavier Handed IPA. 7 p.m. Cost: $65.
Bordeaux MatchMaking
Where: Y
Plant your lips on wines from Southern France after completing a survey about your taste preferences at bordeauxmatchmaking.com (it doubles as your RSVP). Includes appetizers. 7:30 p.m. Cost: No cover.
>> FRI 12/11 Jump to: WED 12/9 | THU 12/10 | SAT 12/12 | SUN 12/13 |
After Hours
Where: Robie House
Explore the historic Prairie style home while indulging in cocktails and appetizers. 6 p.m. Cost: $30-$35.
Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer
Where: Mary's Attic
Order a brew and settle into the irreverent holiday musical about a cross-dressing reindeer and his misfit friends. 7:30 p.m. Through Jan. 2. Cost: $10-$15.
Cocktails and Clay
Where: Hyde Park Art Center
Take a 45-minute group lesson on sculpting clay, then get to work. Includes materials; cash bar. 8 p.m. Cost: $15 suggested donation.
Ugliest sweater contest
Where: Timothy O'Toole's
Show off your worst holiday apparel and you could win a $200 gift card to Water Tower Place. Also, get $8 domestic pitchers. 9 p.m. Cost: No cover.
Free! Caroling at Cloud Gate
Where: Millennium Park
Embrace the season by singing carols with students and teachers from the Old Town School of Folk Music. 6 p.m. Continues through Dec. 18.
Benefit bash
Where: The Tin Lizzie
Kick off your weekend with a party package of domestic drafts and bottles, cocktails, wine and pics with Santa. Proceeds benefit Toys for Tots and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. 8 p.m. Cost: $30.
>> SAT 12/12 Jump to WED 12/9 | THU 12/10 | FRI 12/11 | SUN 12/13 |
TBOX pub crawl
Where: Cubby Bear
Dress in your most festive drinking gear for the 14th annual 12 Bars of Christmas Pub Crawl through more than 30 Wrigleyville spots. 8:30 a.m.; opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Cost: 30. Tickets: festaparties.com
Christmas and Winter Beer Tasting
Where: Delilah's
Get into the holiday spirit with this offering of nearly 100 brews from around the world, including seasonals from Anchor, Sam Smith, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Summit and King & Barnes. Noon. Cost: $20.
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival
Where: Congress Theater
With three stages and 12+ hours of music, you'll forget the winter blues. Hear Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Dr. Dog, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, The Giving Tree Band and scores more. Cost: $35.
Chili Cook-Off
Where: Harrigan’s
Warm up with homemade recipes from more than a dozen amateur chefs and wash it down with samples of Goose Island seasonal brew. 2 p.m. $5.
Free! 'Dance Your Ass Off' casting
Where: Warehouse behind Symphony Center
Need help losing weight? Try out for Season 2 of the Oxygen reality show that pairs plump contestants with pro dancers in a weight-busting odyssey. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bucktown Holiday ArtShow
Where: Holstein Park Fieldhouse
The shopping marathon continues with handmade art and gifts from more than 100 crafters. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Sunday. Cost: $2.
>> SUN 12/13 Jump to WED 12/9 | THU 12/10 | FRI 12/11 | SAT 12/12 |
Rudolph Ramble
Where: Lincoln Park
Run or walk an 8K course with a costumed crowd of Santas expected to top 1,200. 7 a.m. race-day registration; 9 a.m. start. Cost: $30-$35.
Get Gorgeous
Where: Flirty Girl Fitness
Shop for Akira dresses and accessories while sipping $5 mimosas and martinis cost $5. VIP tickets ($25) include an hour-long pole dance class, beauty treatments and a gift bag. 10 a.m.
>> See all Sunday events
Check back daily for more of our top picks. Want to submit an event listing? Click here for a form.
Rebecca Palmore is the Metromix events producer. rkpalmore@tribune.com
