EAT
CHEAP DATE
Red Violet
121 W. Hubbard St. 312-828-0222
Kick back with a dim sum brunch featuring salad, an appetizer of taro fries and pork dumplings and a dim sum platter with two each of bites such as shrimp shu mai, clear prawn dumplings, crab xiao long bao and vegetarian steamed buns-plus a lychee mimosa, spiced cucumber bloody mary, coffee or tea. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $20 for two.
ROASTING CHESTNUTS
Bar Toma
110 E. Pearson St. 312-266-3110
Looking to light up your life? Head to the (heated) patio to view the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (5:30 p.m.) and fireworks (6:55 p.m.) with light bites from the outdoor oven including roasted chestnuts ($5) and small pizzas ($8-$10) and warm yourself up with hot spiced apple cider ($4) and Italian-style thick hot chocolate ($4.50). 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.
DRINK
TO THE DUNGEON
Spin
800 W. Belmont Ave. 773-327-7711
Make your dreams come true-or at least your fantasies, anyway-at Dungeons & Drag Queens: Leather and Lace IV, where local entertainer Teri Yaki hosts fetish and fantasy-themed performances. Admission includes two well cocktails, beers, wines or soft drinks and the evening benefits the One Heartland Birch Family Camp program for families affected by HIV/AIDS. 7:30-10 p.m. Friday. $20.
DO
TURKEY TIME
Headquarters
950 W. Wolfram St. 773-665-5660
The beercade-yes, that's an arcade with beer-hosts a Don't Be a Jerky, Donate a Turkey drive to collect frozen Thanksgiving birds for Lakeview Pantry. Drop one off, then reward yourself with a $7 Brickhouse Brewery American pale ale ( the gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival) and 37 vintage arcade games including Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and the newest addition, The Simpsons. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday. No cover.
KELS INTERACTIVE
Music Box Theatre
3733 N. Southport Ave. 773-871-6604
Get your rhyme on at the "Trapped in the Closet" Sing-Along, which features a screening of R. Kelly's 22-chapter hip hopera-in which a man's affair with a preacher's wife spins out of control-complete with on-screen lyrics, props such as condoms, spatulas and toy Berettas and a chapter-break R. Kelly dance party. 11:59 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $12. Tickets: musicboxtheatre.com.
TREATS FOR EATS
Florodora
330 S. Dearborn St. 312-212-8860
Get back when you give at the shop's Holiday Trunk Show, Sale and Food Drive, where each canned good donation-which benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository-earns you a 50 percent additional discount on a clearance item. Looking for the latest? The event also features a Nougat London clothing line trunk show with 20 percent discounts both days. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
NYC IN THE HOUSE
Spybar
646 N. Franklin St. 312-337-2191
The Martinez Brothers-whom you may have seen as brand ambassadors for both Blackberry's Be Bold campaign and the Mi Pepsi promotion for Latino artists-bring their New York City brand of house music to Chicago for a late-night set. 11:59 p.m. Friday. $7-$20; free for ladies before midnight. Tickets: residentadvisor.net.
50 SHADES OF DIRTY
Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-935-6100
Local improv troupe Baby Wants Candy gets down and dirty-and funny-with "50 Shades! The Musical," a parody of the bestselling book about a naive woman who discovers dark desires during an affair with a domineering man. The original production features 11 original songs with titles such as "They Get Nasty" and "There's a Hole Inside of Me." 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Tickets: apollochicago.com.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
'Tis the season to be busy. Plan ahead with the 2012 Chicago holiday season guide on chicago.metromix.com.