THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Christmas & Hanukkah Top the List!

They’re here! Yep, Christmas and Hanukkah will top the list for this weekend’s activities here in Chicago.

Saturday (11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) will be your last chance to visit the Christkindlmarket Chicago held at the Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.) in The Loop. This open-air, German-style market features a variety of vendors selling authentic German products, beer steins, clothing, hand-blown ornaments, jewelry and wooden handicrafts as well as German food and drink such as bratwurst, schnitzel, potato pancakes, chocolates, hot spiced wine and more! Celebrate the final day of this Holiday market with the Christkindlmarket team and Christkind himself from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.!!

Chicago also offers a variety of Holiday-themed plays presented at local theaters and other establishments some of which include –

A Beer Carol at the Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W. Randolph St.) in the West Town neighborhood this Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This tale of Bud Miller, the evil CEO of Milweiser brewery, the largest brewery in the world of “crap” beer who is visited by ghosts of four ingredients of beer who try to persuade him to brew good craft beer is performed as a live radio show with sound effects and music!

Barney The Elf at The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood this Saturday & Sunday at 11:45 a.m. This musical parody of “Elf” will leave the audience wondering if this wicked son of Santa Claus with his not-so-jolly reign as the new head of Christmas can truly leave Christmas behind for a new life in the big city!

The Nutcracker at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.) in the Noble Square neighborhood this Saturday & Sunday at 7:30 p.m. This annual engagement of the all-original, ballet-free Nutcracker has been re-imagined this season with new design elements and an updated script as young Clara takes a journey to save Christmas in the face of grief with the help of a magical nutcracker!

Perhaps you would like to take in a Holiday Movie at the Logan Theatre (2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in the Logan Square neighborhood with the following features being shown: Home Alone (1990) (Saturday at 6:00 p.m./Sunday at 3:00 p.m.); Elf (2003) (Saturday at 3:00 p.m./Sunday at 6:00 p.m.); and Scrooged (1988) (Sunday at 11:00 p.m.)!

For those celebrating Hanukkah …

The Matzo Bash! takes place this Saturday (9:00 p.m.) at the Sound Bar (226 W. Ontario St.) in the River North neighborhood. This Christmas Eve gala offers two levels of schmoozing in the lounge or dancing the night away in their club as well as 7 bars for your convenience. Your ticket also includes a cocktail, an appetizer reception and more! I’ve heard it’s the party everyone will be at!!

Hanukkah Wonderland takes place this Sunday (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at the Lubavitch Chabad of Skokie (4059 Dempster St.) in Skokie. Enjoy activities and crafts that include time-tested favorites and exciting new ones such as the Dreidel bounce house, make your own donut, take a picture with Judah Maccabee, wood etching, Hanukkah gelt, prizes and more!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO