CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, River North, Andersonville, Evanston

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Have you seen a Blackhawks game yet this season? Join Lottie’s Pub for their Blackhawks bus trip! The Blackhawks play the Wild on January 10 and you want to be there to see it! Tickets are $80 and include a bus ride to and from the United Center. Find more information on their website, here!

Lincoln Park: The Magic Cabaret hosts its last show of the year on December 27. Hosts David Parr and Joe Diamond lead the audience through the evening with enthusiasm, charm, and mystifying magic. The longest-running magic show in Chicago, it’s been delighting audiences for 10 years. Get your tickets here!

Lakeview: Start your NYE celebrations with a trip to see the Blue Man Group! Performances are at 1 and 4 pm on December 31, at the Briar Street Theatre. In addition to the fantastic show, there will be face painting, early NYE countdowns and more! Blue Man Group also has shows at 7 and 10 pm. Audience members will receive festive party hats and a champagne toast! Get your tickets here!

River North: Kick off Christmas Eve with a fantastic brunch! Bub City is hosting a Southern BBQ brunch and DIY Bloody Mary bar from 10 am to 3 pm, this Sunday, December 24. In addition, they’ll be serving $5 draft beers all day long! Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater and get your pipes ready for live Carol-oke beginning at 10 pm. The top three contestants who get the loudest rounds of applause will compete for two tickets to the New Year’s Eve party and $100 in Bub City gift cards. Make your reservations here!

Andersonville: Mark your calendars! A vegan bake sale benefitting World Animal Protection is coming to Hamburger Mary’s on January 7. Admission is free and 100% of the proceeds will go to WAP. Donations of baked goods will be accepted until 9 am the morning of the bake sale. The bake sale begins at 11 am. Please bring your own Tupperware or eat your sweets on site; no to-go containers are available.

Evanston: Have your kiddos always wanted to learn how to ice skate? This is the perfect opportunity! This Saturday, December 23, at Robert Crown Center, bring your first time skaters from 10 am to 12 pm. Skaters aged 4-12 will learn the basics of skating! Admission is free and skate rentals are available for $3. Kids will meet and skate with their favorite fairy tale characters, like Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Elsa, and Ariel. Bundle up and get ready for a fun-filled morning!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO