EAT
Avec Friends Brunch Series
Avec615 W. Randolph St. 312-377-2002
Since brunch is all about sharing with friends, the West Loop spot debuts a program to share their kitchen with friends, including CH Distillery food and beverage director Krissy Schutte and chef JP Doiron, who serve up such dishes as breakfast paella with confit chicken, snail boudin sausage, eggs and tangerine aioli ($20) and a champagne-based Early Bird Special cocktail ($10). 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
Friday Fish Fry
Frontier1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-4322
Stop in for a traditional Southern fish fry featuring a rotating selection-this week, it's cod-served with hand-cut fries and hush puppies. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday. Through April 11. $15.
DRINK
Pardi Gras
Coup d'Etat at The Shrine2109 S. Wabash Ave. 312-753-5700
Dive into bayou culture with the Lesbifriends #NotSafeForWallflowers party promoters at this Mardi Gras-style queer bash featuring complimentary masks, beads and hurricanes until 11 p.m. ($9 thereafter), a New Orleans-style brass band, DJ sets from All The Way Kay and Gemini Jones and sexy giveaways from Tulip Toy Gallery. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. $20-$30. Tickets: pardigras.brownpapertickets.com
St. Practice Day Pub Crawl
Timothy O'Toole's622 N. Fairbanks Court 312-642-0700
Whether or not you need to rehearse for Chicago's annual St. Patrick's Day drink-fest, you can get a head start with this four-bar crawl where you don your green, pick up a wristband and Irish-themed swag and sip $4 20-ounce green drafts, $4 Leprechaun shots and $5 Jameson shots till 9:30 p.m. The party then travels to D4, Quay and Lizzie McNeill's for additional drink specials. 7:30 p.m.-midnight. Saturday. No cover.
Virtue Cider Ledbury Release
Sportsman's Club948 N. Western Ave.872-206-8054
Transport yourself into the British sporting life with a glass of the new English-style cider ($8) or such cocktails as the Fox Hunt (Ledbury cider, gin, honey, lemon juice, bitters; $10) served with complimentary English cheddar and savory pies. Pay it forward during an art supply drive-bring a donation for Chicago Public Schools programs. 8-11 p.m. Sunday. No cover.
DO
'Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton'
Logan Theatre2646 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-342-5555
See a screening of the documentary about Stones Throw Records-which features Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Common, Questlove and others-and meet founder Peanut Butter Wolf during a post-screening discussion. Then, head to Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Ave.) for a 9 p.m. performance featuring four Stones Throw artists including Wolf. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $15 per event. Tickets: emptybottle.com
The Wicker Collective
Chop Shop2033 W. North Ave. 773-537-4440
Drop in for one-stop shopping on men's and women's clothing and accessories from a dozen neighborhood boutiques and designers, including Moon Voyage, Trillium, Penelope's, Stock Mfg. Co., Study Hall, Milk Handmade and more at this inaugural twice-yearly event featuring deep discounts on winter items and showcases for new inventory and collections. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. No cover.
'Water By The Spoonful'
Court Theatre5535 S. Ellis Ave. 773-753-4472
Henry Godinez directs the Chicago premiere of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Quiara Alegria Hudes ("In the Heights"), which travels from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia to San Diego to Japan to explore the struggles and triumphs of both a family and the members of an online addiction-recovery community. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $35-$45. Tickets: courttheatre.org
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
Register for the Unofficial in Chicago bar crawl which takes over Wrigleyville Saturday: unofficialinchicago.com
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.