EAT
Grand Opening
Links TapRoom1559 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-360-7692
Turn your focus away from the weather and onto this new craft beer-and-sausage-focused bar which features eight different links for $7 each including Chicago Steak & Ale (with sirloin, bacon, Bell's Amber ale, horseradish) and the Vegan (portobello mushrooms, black beans, tamari). Pair it with one of 36 American brews on tap; current offerings appear on a digital screen. 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. No cover.
Winter Menu
Municipal Bar & Dining Co.216 W. Ohio St. 312-951-2125
Executive chef Donald Penza has stepped up from his former position as sous chef to helm the kitchen with a winter menu featuring a lobster roll with lemon aioli and shallots ($15), Philly cheesesteak egg rolls wrapped in wontons ($12) and more seasonal fare. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday.
DRINK
Recess
Riff 2239 S. Michigan Ave. 312-965-4488
Dress to impress at this new club party where you can unwind-and think about summer on a playground, perhaps?-with $7 Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka cocktails as DJ Marco and DJ Kaos turn up the heat. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. $10; free before 11 p.m. with RSVP: eventbrite.com
Snowball Kick-Off Party
The Underground56 W. Illinois St. 312-644-7600
Gear up with The Lurie Children's Hospital Junior Council at this more casual, season-launching pre-party prior to its Feb. 8 formal bash where your donation-which nets you vodka cocktails, beer and passed desserts-benefits the hospital's pediatric and adolescent HIV and AIDS programs. 10 p.m.-midnight. Friday. $35. Tickets: juniorcouncil.org
DO
(Free!) That's All She Wrote
Swim Cafe1357 W. Chicago Ave.
The beloved West Town cafe-which closed in December due to owner Karen Gerod's illness-reopens one last time to host BYOB readings by WBEZ's Don Hall, Chicago Dramatists resident playwright Tania Richard, solo performer Judi Goshen, Chicago writer Faraz Hussain and series founders JH Palmer and Angela Benander-served with free espresso drinks. 8 p.m. Sunday. No cover; donations accepted for drinks. More: thatsallshewrotechicago.com
Court Theatre5535 S. Ellis Ave. 773-753-4472
Resident artist Ron OJ Parson directs the late August Wilson's blues musical drama-the 1940s entry in his 10-play, decade-by-decade cycle about the African-American experience-in which six characters gather in a Pittsburgh tenement yard to mourn their friend, a Chicago musician who died just as he hit the big time. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 9. $35-$65. Tickets: courttheatre.org
'Forgiveness'
The Cornservatory4210 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-650-1331
Nothing cries out for parody more than angsty 20-something films, and you can see Corn Productions' world premiere satire of the genre by local playwright Julia Weiss in which a manic pixie dream-girl attempts to teach a brooding, narcissistic young man to open his heart. BYOB. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through Feb. 15. $7-$15. Tickets: cornservatory.org
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
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Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.