TUESDAY FREEBIE
Light it up
Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.
312-744-3315.
If Black Friday didn’t kick you into holiday mode, don’t miss the City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Local choirs The Melodeers Chorus, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and others kick things off at noon; Mayor Daley and actress Keri Russell flip the switch on the 85-foot “tree” (comprising 113 balsam firs) at 12:30 p.m.
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Forget the coasts
Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard St. 312-642-4222.
Show your pride for homegrown filmmakers at the Midwest Independent Film Festival’s Best of the Midwest Awards. Presenters Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”), John McNaughton (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) and others present awards to this year’s winners. Nominees include Steve Conrad (“The Promotion”), Patrick Creadon (“I.O.U.S.A.”) and Keith Bearden (“Train Town”). The bash includes appetizers, cocktails and St. Pauli Girl beers. 6 p.m. $50.
Shutterbug show
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. 312-747-4050
Whether you’re a photog fiend or a casual magazine flipper, the work of Annie Leibovitz surely has crossed your path. Meet the celeb-snapping photographer when she discusses her new book “Annie Leibovitz at Work.” No reservations needed; seating is first come, first served. Doors open at approximately 5 p.m. Discussion begins at 6 p.m. Free.
Downsize it
Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-404-9869.
Busy with all things holiday? Economize your time at Pecha Kucha Night Volume 7. Taking its name from the Japanese phrase roughly meaning “the sound of conversation,” Pecha Kucha plays host to 10 presenters who show the audience 20 slides of their artwork for 20 seconds each. Tuesday’s guests include artist Derek Erdman, educator Jean Linsner, publisher Jon Mueller and others. 8 p.m. $10.
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Who needs a coat?
Vines on Clark, 3554 N. Clark St. 773-327-8572.
Don’t let old man winter keep you from outdoor adventures (especially of the drinking variety). Wrigleyville resto-bar Vines on Clark launches its weekly Pack the Patio Polar Bear Party to ease you into Chicago’s cold season with a heated outdoor patio, $1 Miller Light bottles and half-price appetizers. 6 p.m. No cover.
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Funny guy
Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. 773-472-3492.
Exploring the effects of smoking marijuana for 30 days straight might sound like a slacker’s pipe dream, but Doug Benson turned it into documentable research for his film, “Super High Me.” Catch the comic, also a regular on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and “Comedy Central Presents,” when he returns to the Lakeshore for a stand-up set. 8 p.m. Through Saturday. $20. Tickets: lakeshoretheater.com
