MON 1/29
Love connecting
You’ve tried the hair flip and coy laugh combo (girls) and sensitive, thoughtful questions (guys), but you’re still as single as a dollar bill. Need some help? Learn how to Flirt Smarter and Date More at Jak’s Tap. Flirting pro Jessie Fisher gets you back on the romance track with tips on how to strike up conversations, make a dazzling first impression and increase your odds of finding love. But the advice doesn’t come cheap: the class sets you back $35 to $45. 7:30 p.m. 901 W. Jackson Blvd. 888-243-9765. Registration required: moxieinthecity.net.
Paradise lost
One look at the morning’s weather report and your spirits went as dark as the clouds. Cheer up, because “DESPAIRadise” illustrates how fun the dark side can be. The new musical-in-progress tells the story of Nihilist European filmmakers who learn the meaning of despair when their director discovers love and happiness. A reception follows. 7 p.m. $10. Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. 773-327-5252.
Cash and a cocktail
You warmed up over the weekend with rounds of hot toddies and buffalo wings, but your money supply went south (to warmer climes, perhaps). Try a Mexican warm-up at Agave Bar & Grill. With $3 bottle beers, $4 glasses of sangria and $5 house margaritas, you’ll be feeling warm and toasty in no time. 5 p.m. No cover. 3115 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-404-1800.
TUE 1/30
Bad taste
Your rules for life are the same as your rules for food: Keep it spicy. If recent days have been bland, add this to the mix: “Bad Touch: Unsavory Improv.” Annoyance Theatre ensemble members Rebecca Sohn, Rich Sohn and Josh Walker perform uncensored, R-rated improv. Founding member Mark Sutton directs. 9:30 p.m. $5. The Annoyance Theatre, 4840 N. Broadway. 773-561-4665.
Wine opining
You can’t pair wine with food to save your life, but you have no problem pairing it with your palate. At Bistro 110’s Sommelier for a Day event, learn how to taste like a pro. Sample more than 20 wines and rank selections on a scorecard. Top picks in each category land a spot on the restaurant’s spring wine list. Includes appetizers. Reservations recommended. 6 p.m. $30. 110 E. Pearson St. 312-266-3110.
Movie masters
Gear up for Black History Month with a film screening. The Gene Siskel Film Center kicks off African-American Auteurs, a series of 14 films by four renowned African-American directors, with Oscar Micheaux’s 1920 silent film “Within Our Gates.” There’s also live musical accompaniment and a post-screening lecture by Northwestern University associate professor Jacqueline Stewart. 6 p.m. $5-$9. 164 N. State St. 312-846-2800. Series continues through May 8.
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