EAT
The Rice Table Rijsttafel Dinner
Vincent 1475 W. Balmoral Ave. 773-334-7168
Treat your palate to a 13-course tasting dinner—plus an amuse-bouche and dessert—with such Dutch-Indonesian delicacies as sambal goreng udang (stir-fried spicy shrimp in coconut milk) and sateh babi (grilled marinated pork skewers with peanut sauce). Balinese dancers and a cash bar with Indonesian-inspired cocktails complete the experience. 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday. $45. Tickets: thericetable.com.
Brunch Fiesta
Mercadito 108 W. Kinzie St. 312-329-9555
Kick off Cinco de Mayo weekend with a la carte brunch options such as pambazo (Mexican bread dipped in guajillo salsa, filled with potatoes, served with chorizo and queso fresco; $12) which you can pair with $35 bloody mary or margarita bottles or an $11 tequila-based Kiss Me I’m Mexican Punch. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Derby Day
Little Market Brasserie 10 E. Delaware Place 312-640-8141
Make like you’re in Louisville with traditional Kentucky Derby fare including a hot brown sandwich ($13.50), derby pie ($8.50) and mint julep cocktails ($6). Then, root for your favorite horse during a viewing party with raffle prizes (approximate post time—5:24 p.m.). 11 a.m.-midnight. Saturday.
DRINK
Nu: The Outer Space Disco Dancing Society of Chicago
Neo 2350 N. Clark St. 773-528-2622
Midnight Magic singer Tiffany Roth joins resident DJs Mork, Alinka, Trancid, Chris Grant and Ryan Paradise with her own DJ set, which you can groove to with $3 Tecates. Your swag gets rewarded, too—display your individualism through creative dress and your cover charge is waived. 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday. $5 before midnight; $10 thereafter.
Wicker Park-Bucktown Tap Festival
Dolphin 2200 N. Ashland Ave. 773-384-2672
Join 18 area beer-brewing and craft beer-purveying bars—including The Map Room, Piece and The Bluebird—for a neighborhood ale festival which includes a commemorative glass, your choice of 10 six-ounce tastings, appetizers and live music, all of which benefits the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. 1-5 p.m. Saturday. $35-$45. Tickets: wickerparkbucktown.com.
DO
Vintage Heaven Fair
Heaven Gallery 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-342-4597
Jazz up your spring wardrobe with vintage fashions and accessories from a dozen local vendors including Dethrose Vintage, Venus Meets Vintage and Rehab’d Vintage while you take in an art exhibition featuring works by Claire Valdez, Charles Fogarty and Ilene Godofsky. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. No cover.
Skyline Plunge
The Wit Hotel 201 N. State St. 312-628-0210
Cheer on more than 80 daring Chicagoans as they rappel in pairs down 27 stories of the hotel’s exterior—rain or shine—to raise funds for the Respiratory Health Association. Seeking a thrill yourself? Call ahead or register on-site, but bring your generous friends; there’s a $1,000 fundraising minimum to participate. Tip: For the best view of the action, head to the median at State and Lake Streets. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free for spectators.
The Nerdologues: Cinco de Bilbo
The Public House Theatre 3914 N. Clark St. 800-650-6449
Geek out with the nerd-themed comedy troupe as they debut a new sketch show featuring swords, sorcery, evil villains and the Cubs—plus a post-show screening of the 1977 animated flick, “The Hobbit” with a sing-along component and a cash bar. 7 p.m. Sunday. $10. Tickets: pubhousetheatre.com.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
Get tickets now for the St. Jude Young Professionals’ Harvest Moon gala in October: harvestmoonstjude.org.
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.
