EAT
Happy New Year
Pasteur5525 N. Broadway 773-728-4800
Celebrate the Vietnamese New Year-also known as Tet-with a four-course Year of the Snake prix fixe including a traditional appetizer sampler, mango and ground shrimp salad, choice of braised pork belly or cognac-marinated beef steak and chocolate dipped fortune cookies with green tea ice cream. 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $50; $75 with wine pairings.
Orange Carpet Bash
Nellcote833 W. Randolph St. 312-432-0500
Dress to impress as you arrive on the orange carpet for the Orange Carpet Oscars Viewing Party and Social Media Bash, where pop culture expert Kelly Ryan O'Brien of the Chicago Blogger Network hosts festivities and the menu features signature pizzas ($11-$39), pastas made with house-milled flour ($6-$37) and $10 themed cocktails. RSVP in advance (oscars@nellcoterestaurant.com) for two complimentary drinks (5-7 p.m.). 5-11 p.m. Sunday. No cover.
DRINK
Agave Heaven
Nacional 27325 W. Huron St. 312-664-2727
Cantina Laredo508 N. State St. 312-955-0014
Zocalo358 W. Ontario St. 312-302-9977
Taco Joint158 W. Ontario St. 312-337-8226
Four River North restaurants join forces for National Margarita Day to give you plenty of excuses to say "Salud!" Choose from seven $8 varieties at Nacional 27 including Meyer lemon from 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; $4 Casa Ritas (regularly $9.25) at Cantina from 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; six flavors at Zocalo ($8-$12) including tangerine-ginger ($10) from 11:30 a.m.-midnight; and seven options at Taco Joint ($8-$10) including the Black & Green, a Negra Modelo beer poured over a frozen margarita ($8) from 11 a.m.-2 a.m.. Friday. No cover.
Sweet Sours
Small Bar2049 W. Division St. 773-772-2727
Wild fermented ales and traditional lambics take the spotlight at Sour Night, which features such brews as Bockor Cuvee des Jacobin Rouge, New Belgium Tart Lychee, Evil Twin Femme Fatale Brett and The Bruery Tart of Darkness for $9-$12 per pour. 6 p.m. Friday. No cover.
Speed Racer
The Pony1638 W. Belmont Ave. 773-828-5055
Start your engines with $6 pitchers and $3 Fireball shots at a Daytona 500 viewing party where the action is screened on overhead TVs plus individual table screens. The first 43 attendees are assigned a competing car and the winner receives a free two-hour party at the West Lakeview bar. Noon. Sunday. No cover.
DO
Solid Gold
Reggie's Rock Club2105 S. State St. 312-949-0120
Atlanta-based hip-hop recording artist Trinidad James-who's been christened the "Gold Gang" godfather since the release of his Billboard-charting single, "All Gold Everything"-takes the stage in support of his debut mixtape, "Don't Be S.A.F.E." 7 p.m. Saturday. $20-$25. Tickets: reggieslive.com.
Cocktails for a Cause
Chuck's Manufacturing224 N. Michigan Ave. 773-271-5110
Head into the Hard Rock Hotel's new lounge for the Vital Nights Oscar Viewing Party, which includes savory bites, themed Svedka vodka cocktails, wine, champagne, Goose Island beer, raffles, beats by DJ Megan Taylor and Garrett's sweet popcorn treats. Proceeds benefit the Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care. 6 p.m. Sunday. $65. Tickets: heartlandalliance.org.
Live Large
Music Box Theatre3733 N. Southport Ave. 773-871-6604
Visual clarity is at the forefront during the 70mm Film Festival, which features screenings of Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 drama, "The Master;" Jacques Tati's 1967 comedy, "Playtime;" Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise's 1961 musical, "West Side Story;" Kenneth Branagh's 1996 tragedy, "Hamlet;" and Tobe Hooper's 1985 zombie flick, "Lifeforce;" all shot in the large format. Friday-Sunday. $9.25 each. Schedule: musicboxtheatre.com.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
RSVP for RedEye's Best Bartender 2013 event on Wednesday: redeyechicago.com/bartender.
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.