EAT
Feliz Navidad
Mercadito
108W. Kinzie St. 312-329-9555
Holidays in Acapulco? If you can't swing the plane fare, you can still master the cuisine during the Mexican Holiday Cooking Demo, where chef Patricio Sandoval demonstrates a five-course meal from his hometown including pan-seared scallops with potato-leek fundido, served with take-home recipes and cocktail pairings. 6:30 p.m. $55. RSVP required.
Try a Pie
McGee's Tavern & Grille
950 W. Webster Ave. 773-549-8200
Grab your friends, pool your spare change and head to the Lincoln Park spot for a 16-inch, one-topping pizza for $5. Over slices, make plans for where you'll spend the cash you just saved on dinner. 5-10 p.m.
DRINK
Be the Bartender
Cafe 28
1800 W. Irving Park Road 773-528-2883
The restaurant's in a temporary BYOB phase, so mixologist Ardit Dizdari unveils a MYO (mix your own) cocktail program, where you BYO spirits and the bar provides $4.50 mixers including a Latin 28 (tangerine-lavender honey, lemon, club soda; for silver rum or sparkling wine). 5:30-9:30 p.m.
DO
(Free!) Work in Progress
Expo 72
72 E. Randolph St. 312-554-9800
Watch the next Sam Shepard or Suzan-Lori Parks at work during the League of Chicago Theatres' Storefront Playwright Project, where playwrights set up shop in the window and their work is projected on a screen so you can see its creation in real-time. The kick-off playwrights are Philip Dawkins ("Failure: A Love Story," 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Liz Ellison (2-6 p.m.). Through Dec. 22.
Got Milk?
Hungry Brain
2319 W. Belmont Ave.
Get ready for festive free cookies and even more festive tales at the Two Cookie Minimum reading series featuring comic book artist Neil Brideau, author Jason Fisk ("Hank and Jules"), The Eternal Flames singer Piper Pennigan, former Gapers Block Book Club editor Rosamund Lannin, Back to Print Publishing editor Elizabeth Tieri and local writer Lisa Mrock. 9 p.m. No cover.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
Through Dec. 14, bring a toy to Sprinkles (50 E. Walton St.) and get a free cupcake.
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.