CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, South Loop, Andersonville, Oak Park

Lakeview: Ready to get your laugh on? Come on down to Hitch Cocktails at the Annoyance Theatre! The show runs every Friday at 10 pm until December 29. It starts with an audience suggestion, then the players create a full length thriller in the style of Alfred Hitchcock. The stage is complete with a wet bar and the actors are forced to partake as the plot develops! The show also features live music and parlor games, so the audience can have refreshments as well. General admission tickets are $20, $15 for students. Buy your tickets here now!

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret is hosting a rockin’ Christmas show. Mark your calendar for “Mistletoe and Martinis” on December 15 at 8 pm. Jordan Von Haslow and Jennifer French are going to croon you into the Christmas spirit. In the spirit of the giving season, 2 U.S. Marines will collect Christmas toys before and after the show for “Toys for Tots”, for less fortunate children in Cook County. Bring at least one new, unwrapped toy, and get ready to sing along to your favorite holiday songs! Buy your tickets now!

Lincoln Park: One of Chicago’s favorite Christmas activities is back! Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is the perfect holiday event for the whole family. Zoo Lights opens on November 24! The lights are showing from November 24-26, December 1-3, 8-23, 26-31, and January 1-7. Hours are 4:30 to 9 pm. Festive activities include photos with Santa (through December 23), 3D displays, warm spiced wine and frosty lager, holiday snacks, holiday gift shopping, live ice-sculpture carving, musical light shows, and more! Find more information here.

South Loop: With the weather getting chillier, it’s the perfect time for a beer tour. Check out the Sin and Suds Beer Tour in the South Loop! A trained guide will lead you on a 1-1/2 mile walk through the Loop and South Loop neighborhoods. In 3 hours, you’ll learn about Chicago, beer, and taste some fantastic local brews. You’ll visit an old Chicago speakeasy and restaurant, one of the oldest bars in the city, a blues club started by Buddy Guy, and a new microbrewery. Find more information and buy your tickets here!

Andersonville: Come to a traditional Swedish Christmas dinner at the Swedish American Museum. Julmiddag, a festive Swedish smorgasbord will be served at the museum on December 17 at 5 pm. Children are invited to participate in a St. Lucia procession, there will be a special visit from Tomten, and dancing around the Christmas tree. Cost is $60 for members, $70 for non-members, $20 for children 12 and under, infants 12 months and under are free. RSVP by December 13 on the museum’s website or at the Museum. Prepaid and confirmed tickets are required. No refunds are available for cancellations with five days of the event.

Oak Park: Get into the holiday spirit at the Oak Park Conservatory’s Winter Greens Market! It’s the perfect place to find a hearty selection of winter greens for your home. An array of fresh greens are available, including balsam, fir, boxwood, winter berries, magnolia tips, and spruce tops. You can even drop off a container and have your arrangement done for you! Limited space is available- call 708-725-2400 to reserve a spot. The market opens on November 21 and is open during regular conservatory hours, Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm. Find more information here!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO