EAT
Holiday Treats
Dinkel's Bakery and Cafe3329 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-281-7300
Take home a two-pound loaf of signature stollen fruit cake made with Joseph Dinkel's 1922 recipe ($24.95), a hand-decorated yule log ($25.95) or a decorate-it-yourself gingerbread house including candy and icing ($39.95). Spend $25 and receive a sealed red envelope containing a gift-such as a cake decorating party or free cafe sandwich-which can be redeemed in January. 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday; 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Now Open
The Brixton 5420 N. Clark St. 773-961-7358
The new restaurant in the former Brasserie 54 space features bar bites including $4 jerky; small plates such as chicken liver pate with huckleberry jam and pickled mustard seed ($8); and large plates including scallops with cauliflower, chestnut, leeks and black truffle ($23). 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Sunday.
DRINK
Fugly Sweater Holiday Party
Drop1909 N. Lincoln Ave. 312-291-9584
Bad taste rules at this celebration of truly terrible holiday apparel with a soundtrack courtesy of headlining DJ Naveen Kumar (midnight) and drink specials such as $5 Half Acre Daisy Cutter pints and $5 Drop specialty shots. 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday. No cover.
Grand Opening
Sportsman's Club 948 N. Western Ave. 872-206-8054
The rebirth of this neighborhood tavern-courtesy of Heisler Hospitality group (Revel Room, Bangers & Lace)-features the original art deco bar plus a fire-lit backyard, an amaro liqueur machine, carry-out liquors and a bar goods shop. The daily-changing spirits menu by Jeff Donahue (The Aviary) and Wade McElroy (Trenchermen) includes the $8 signature Sportsman Cocktail made with amaro, tart cherry and absinthe. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Sunday; 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. Cash only.
A Very Surly Catsmas
Northdown Cafe and Taproom3244 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-697-7578
Reps from Minnesota's Surly Brewing Company stop by to celebrate the season of Krampus-and big cats-at this fundraiser where partial proceeds from your $6-$10 purchase of the dozen featured beers on tap-including Surly's Darkness, Cacao Bender, Dampfbier and Furious, plus an Off Color Brewing beer created exclusively for this event-benefit the Wildlife Sanctuary. 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. No cover.
"Christmas Vacation" Bash
Crossing2548 N. Southport Ave. 773-327-4900
Yule celebrate the tackiest holiday ever-as inspired by the 1989 National Lampoon film-with a themed costume contest where your rendition of a Griswold family character could win you a $100 gift card and drink specials which include $5 eggnogs and $5 Rumple Minze shots. 8-11 p.m. Saturday. No cover.
DO
Bitter Betty Bazaar Last Chance Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Innertown Pub 1935 W. Thomas St. 773-235-9795
Grab last-minute gifts from 10 vendors based in Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, West Town and Logan Square featuring spices, vegan bath and body products, vintage glassware and dishes, leather and faux leather jackets and more. Sip while you shop with $6 cocktails including peppermint schnapps hot chocolate, Irish coffee and bloody marys from a full bloody mary bar. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. No cover.
(Free!) Bad Grammar Theater
Powell's Bookstore1218 S. Halsted St. 312-243-9070
Step into the back room-and into the world of the unknown-at this drop-in reading series featuring horror, fantasy, science fiction and pulp fiction stories by Chicago writers Lawrence Santoro, Richard Chwedyk, Ben Solomon, Maggie Wagner, Harold Holt and host Brendan Detzner. 6-9 p.m. Friday.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
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Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.